Buglari (Bvlgari) was really proud of the fact that no Maserati branding was on the dial of their special edition Octo watch for Maserati. Turn the piece over and you'll see the famous Trident logo, but the word "Maserati" does not appear anywhere on the watch itself. That is interesting and perhaps wise.

Logically, an intersection between a famous auto and watch maker coming together to make timepieces makes sense. Though in reality few have succeeded in such an endeavor. Ferrari had its famous claim to shame with Panerai, and other brands have had less than stellar results with similar cooperations. A positive example comes from the Breitling/Bentley connection - though I don't care much for the watch designs of that ilk. That is OK, they sell well enough without my artistic seal of approval. Ferrari just got with Hublot - which hopefully will make magic out of the relationship. Suffice it to say that when car and watch makers play, it is risky business. Did Bulgari and Maserati get it right?

Only sales success will really prove anything, but I think they got the design and branding right. Verbally indicating that "Bulgari made this watch for Maserati" sounds good. Though the watch itself should speak those words in a much, much lower volume. I once had a seasoned watch industry executive tell me that the key to killing a co-branded watch was to place both brand names on the dial. While that is not a universal rule, it seemed to make sense. Bulgari must have had that same conversation.

In fact, there are two names potentially missing from the dial of this watch - Maserati and Gerald Genta. The base watch is the Octo from the Gerald Genta collection. Until this point Bulgari was dual branding these watches, but in this case Bulgari gets the exclusive title glory. If you want to see the Gerald Genta name you'll need to check the rotor on the automatic movement. This particular Octo for Maserati watch is a prototype - which unfortunately has a too opaque blued sapphire crystal over the movement. The final versions will have crystals that are more transparent. Still blue with the Maserati trident, but still clear enough to offer a view to the caliber GG7800 automatic chronograph movement.

That movement is really nifty. It includes the famous Gerald Genta retrograde minutes and jumping hour system of telling the time (which the Gefica Hunter GMT watch I reviewed here also uses). The lower dial is a retrograde date indicator. Then you have a cool retrograde 12 hour chronograph using the two fan shaped dials on the sides of the watch. What a marvelous dial all around. Quad retrograde hands, jumping hour, and a gorgeous symmetry. This would have made the late Mr. Genta proud. Note how the chronograph hand points down versus up in the resting position. Bulgari did a sweet job designing the dial with silver and blue tones to match the Maserati theme. Wonderfully classy and eccentric at the same time.

Years later the Octo case is still a healthy mixture of cool avant garde and architectural inspiration. Here in steel, the case is 45mm wide and more comfortable on the wrist than it may appear. The strap is tightly integrated with the case and is modeled after the leather seats of many Maserati cars. That includes the padded sections and perforation for air ventilation.

Bulgari wasn't really clear on how many pieces they would be making. The Octo for Maserati piece is billed as a "special edition". Effectively, I am not sure what that means. It is special though - right? What I think is that Bulgari is going to be make a limited run and see how they sell through Bulgari dealers, and maybe some Maserati dealers. Maserati makes a few models that are higher-end, but this watch will likely cost a healthy chunk of a car's price. Overall really nice and likely as good as you can get when it comes to subtly having a watch brand produce a piece for an auto maker. When it comes down to it, Bulgari feels that both they and Maserati are Italian - so it could make perfect sense to the consumer.

No related posts.

Typically known for their race car aesthetic themed watches, French BRM (Bernard Richard Manufacture) has recently announced a new collection of watches that are meant to pay tribute to historic bomber planes. These new "Bombers" watches are pretty swanky - with a unique look that does feel plane inspired and celebrates the colorfulness of the unique brand.

The Bombers watches (that forced plurality is going to get annoying. Is each just a "Bomber?") are playful and fun. They comment on the pop culture and the art historically found on military bomber planes and other flying fortresses. Each of the Bombers' dials are decorated with graphics that resemble nose and fuselage art, as well as military markers and emblems.

For once, I see very well done propeller style hands. The large hands are used for the hour and minute hands, while more traditional aviator-style hands are used for the chronograph subdials. Legibility is very high here - which I very much appreciate. According to BRM, the style of the watch case and dial are heavily taken from aircraft such as the Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, and the Mitsubishi Zero. Come to think of it, are any of those bomber planes versus fighters? It doesn't really matter in the end - you get the idea.

The 45mm wide case is a work of art. I love the rivets on the case that hearken to bodies of older aircraft. Not since the famous Tiffany & Co. Streamerica have I seen rivets that look this nice on a watch. The steel case is brushed and in some models offered in black PVD. The rivets however are polished to standout nicely. You then have the hinged articulating lugs for comfort (and style). Over the dial is a sapphire crystal, and the case is water resistant to 100 meters.

You can see that BRM developed a new parachute style logo to go with this collection. The logo is right on the dial with the Bombers name. Rarely is the model name of a watch located on the dial. The dials again are a mix of instrument, art, and plane aesthetics. You can see elements like a compass in there, as well as features taken from traditional aircraft cockpit gauges. BRM did a nice job with the dials, especially given that there is a healthy variety. There are even more dial versions than shown in this article. Doesn't something about the look remind you of classic baseball art styles?

The super-sized crown and chronograph pushers are part of the charm. They are meant to look like plane noses or lights. The crowns have decorative cabochons that come in a few styles as well. On the rear of the watch is another area that has various art styles. Inside the BRM Bombers watches are Swiss ETA Valjoux 7753 automatic chronograph movements. I really like these pieces for their style, casual yet sophisticated appearance, and theme. Available starting in July 2012, the BRM Bombers collection will be 5,400 Euros in brushed steel or 5,850 Euros in black PVD.

No related posts.

While it does not surprise me much, I can't say that I would have guessed Rado would bring out a watch with the aesthetic of Tron. In a way I get it. Rado had a nice time in the 1980s when it started to popularize ceramic cased watches, and Tron came out in the 1980s. Both were futuristic in their own avant garde manner. The Rado R-One (R-1) isn't per se a "Tron watch" as there is no official connection, but you'd be amiss to find the R-One's design not wholly inspired by the movie franchise.

It is a limited edition for 2012 and it is quite expensive. Rado, like other large group owned brands, deserves some fun in design without having to focus on purely marketable timepieces. There is no mainstream appeal to the R-One, which is one reason why Rado will only produce 300 pieces. It does however offer a cool factor and you may want to look closely at Rado again.

Rado at Baselworld 2012 had one of the biggest new collections around - especially with their massive new collection of HyperChrome watches (that I debuted here). What Rado also needed was something interesting to get media involved, and something Rado retailers could have in their showcase that would attract people. Come for the R-One, leave with the HyperChrome (or something else). Rado is pushing to be big again, especially in the Western world where the brand hasn't quite been able to keep up with popular trends. Though with Swatch muscle and ceramic DNA, they are actually in a good position to engage consumers looking to spend between $1,000 - $4,000 on a Swiss watch with a neat look.

Rather than go ultra complicated with something like a Rado tourbillon, they instead wanted to bank in on the pop-culture inspired futuristic look that has been popular as of late. The R-One does have that hallmark - enough though it is a decidedly strange watch. No designer would ever make something like this as a mainstream piece - it is art.

The case design is pretty cool for this watch. Like a curved rectangle, it is in ceramic and titanium being 48.5mm tall by 34.5mm wide. A notable feature is how the straps are attached. There is a sort of retainer tube (that you can see right through), on the side of the case that holds the strap in place. I think it is probably clear that only Rado will be able to change the strap for you. The angular look of the case is still nicely curved where it counts. There is a fine mixtures of angles and organic curves on the case.

For the dial, Rado chose a unique route. The watch face itself is petite at best, residing in the center of the dial with lots of empty space above and below it. While it is smaller in comparison to the rest of the dial, the watch face is legible and well done in Rado fashion. Note that the little Rado anchor logo actually moves around like a small rotor. Inside the watch is a rarely used movement which is the Swiss ETA 2094 automatic chronograph. Think of it as a smaller version of the 2894 chronograph. You can see the movement through the caseback window with a custom Rado automatic rotor.

The dial, like the case is black ceramic. Rado mixes glossy polished and matte ceramic throughout the case design. There isn't too much contrast but it helps the design from feeling too flat. The "Tron-esque" aspect of the watch are strips of glowing blue piping. They do glow in the dark and are matched to the colors of the hour and minute hands. The blue lume strips run on the sides and middle of the case. With a slightly different color of blue - the decorative line from the center of the watch continues on the rubber strap.

Over the dial is a sapphire crystal, and you'll notice that is has a unique shape with an indented center section. This piece along with the uniquely cut ceramic case are more than likely to be the most expensive parts of the R-One watch. With the unique look and limited production, Rado is rather ambitious with the price. Each of the 300 pieces is priced at $15,000.

Related posts:

1. Rado D-Star Basel Special 2011 Watch ...
2. Rado HyperChrome Automatic Watches ...
3. Rado D-Star 200 Dive Watches ...
4. Bell & Ross BR01-92 Ceramic Watch Hands-On ...
5. Ralph Lauren Sporting Chronograph Black Ceramic Watch Hands-On ...

The Chopard Mille Miglia watch is an icon. There have been dozens of them and in a sense, these are like the first Hublot Big Bang watches. What do I mean? Hublot popularized the Big Bang collection by starting with a cool sporty chronograph and offering a range of different versions that all fell under the same product family umbrella. Chopard did the same thing, but started before Hublot got into the Big Bang game back in around 2004. To date, the number of Mille Miglia watches is countless, and here is one of the limited edition models for 2011.

This is the Mille Miglia Rosso Corsa limited edition of 1000 pieces watch. In this instance, the Mille Miglia comes full circle in celebrating Italy once again as the Mille Miglia itself was an Italian race. Rosso Corsa is the Italian tradition of coloring their race cars red. Different teams use different shades of red, but all you need to know is that Italian racing simply equals the color red. That should explain the bright red face of this watch. Fashion types who love red will appreciate the color without understanding the nature of Rosso Corsa.

As a red watch this Chopard is rather red. They didn't go nuts with the color, but few watches share such a richly red hued dial. Nevertheless, the dial isn't just a red wash. There are white and silver tones in there as well. Chopard was able to color the large chronograph subdials with a different color, and the chapter ring outside of the hour markers is also black and white with red five minute markers. While the tachymeter scale is there, Chopard really down plays it as it is placed on the polished bezel - probably a good idea.

Legibility is really good, and there is lots of SuperLumiNova lume on the hands and hour markers. One of the main reasons I am such a fan of most Mille Miglia watches is the fact that Chopard keeps them easy to read. One element I have mixed feelings about is the placement of the 12 and 6 o'clock Arabic hour numerals on the bottom of the sapphire crystal. This is a look that I believe Chopard started in earlier Mille Miglia GTXL models. Given that this model is technically in the GTXL collection, it has them too. Basically Chopard uses thin outlined numbers over the dial. They look nice but are a tad bit distracting. At the same time they do add some depth to the dial. After wearing the watch for a while I hardly noticed them, but am not sure what value they add to the piece overall.

Over the dial is a AR coated sapphire crystal. There is a reverse mounted magnifier lens over the date - which is on a black disc actually. A cool little touch I think. While the red color is novel, this is a dial design that has more or less been around for a little while. Lovers of this watch should be mostly interested in the dial color and Rosso Corsa limited edition honor.

At just under 44mm wide, the case wears comfortably and feels like a good size. One thing that isn't actually easy to notice is that the case is titanium. Chopard executes an extremely good steel-like polish all over the case. You can barely notice the slight hint of gray that titanium has over steel. Really an excellent use of high-grade titanium - which of course lightens the weight of the case. The case is water resistant to 100 meters and has a mixture of polished and brushed surfaces. One thing I really like about the GTXL are the chronograph pushers. They are squared to visually integrate with the case, but are still easy to use. A lot of people have attempted this look and Chopard does it rather well.

The appearance of the dial is really one of those things that either inspires you or deters you. Some days I found that I really wanted to wear the bright red dial and other days I felt it was just too bright. It did seem like an interesting piece to have around for days when it felt right for the wrist. How often those days will come are totally up to your own personality. I do have to say that the watch does get a lot of attention. Nothing like a flashy bright red watch dial to catch a person's gaze.

Inside the watch is predictably a Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement. Chopard gets the nicer version of the 7750 possible with fancy polishes, but sadly no blued screws. Of course there is a custom Chopard movement done specifically for the Mille Miglia GTXL watches. It is true that the movement view is obstructed by the "Rosso Corsa" emblem - but at the same time it is a 7750 - and you've probably seen it a number of times before.

This watch doesn't have the famous tire tread style rubber strap of many Mille Miglia watches. Here Chopard uses a quite attractive padded black leather strap with red contrast stitching to match the dial. The strap pieces are also punched with portholes to make them more racing and sport themed. The buckle is also in titanium and has an engraved Chopard logo.

Like I said, the Mille Miglia GTXL Rosso Corsa is limited to 1000 pieces (and this model I am reviewing is cool being the first one produced). It is an interesting watch fit for the right person - but the bright red color of the dial will no doubt be polarizing. If it is, then have no worry because Chopard has a lot of other Mille Miglia watch options for you. Price for the watch does feel expensive, but it doesn't lack quality for the money. Price is $9,570.

No related posts.

"Oh, hello carbon fiber. Yeah, I haven't seen you in a while. I know you used to hang out here a lot, but over the last few years ceramic has been stealing a lot of the attention. We didn't always get along when you were popular, but you did have your moments." This carbon fiber-based Hublot watch almost feels like a blast from the rather recent past. With an almost all-carbon fiber case and bezel, there is a reason this watch is named the Hublot UNICO All Carbon.

Carbon fiber was really starting to get overdone a few years ago when it started showing up all over the place. The worst was the legions of cheap watches with fake carbon fiber dials - yuck! The watch industry really put carbon fiber on the backburner as a material lately. Like I said, materials such as ceramic and titanium started to get so much more popular, and were so versatile, that carbon fiber just didn't get as much attention from designers.

Then all of a sudden I see this UNICO All Carbon watch from Hublot and suddenly remember why carbon fiber was interesting in the first place. I also probably like it so much because there is no carbon fiber in the dial. Just lots of Hublot style skeletonization with a view to the movement. The name UNICO is part of the watch and placed on the movement. UNICO is a title given to some of Hublot's in-house made movements. Based on a modified ETA Valjoux 7750 architecture, the UNICO is a totally in-house manufactured automatic chronograph movement. One of the improvements over the 7750 architecture in this caliber HUB1240 movement is the use of a column wheel in the chronograph. You can see the column-wheel right in the dial near 6 o'clock. The chronograph also has a flyback feature.

I don't know what the status is right now, but early UNICO movements I saw even used carbon fiber plates. I don't think that is the case with this model though. While the dial of the watch is skeletonized, it is not done in a way that you can't read the watch. Hublot was especially careful with this model to promote legibility as well as visual interest. On the rear of the watch you can see the movement through the sapphire crystal caseback window.

To create the look of the dial, Hublot used a tinted sapphire crystal for much of the dial. On it are applied ruthenium-coated hour markers with bright white lume and matching hands. The chronograph here has only one subdial and measures 60 minutes. The movement also has the time and date of course. Over the dial is another sapphire crystal that is AR coated.

For the UNICO All Carbon, Hublot uses a King Power chronograph case. The 48mm wide case is actually carbon fiber, as is the bezel. There are PVD black titanium screws used for the case and bezel. A ring of rubber lines the side of the bezel. The black carbon fiber case looks cool, and the visual texture of carbon fiber is really at its best here with the high-quality material. The case is very light and strong despite the size.

Matched to the case is the typical cool looking rubber strap you see on many King Power Hublot watches. The overall look and feel on this UNICO All Carbon is impressive. Hublot mixed a focus on the material with an in-house made movement for a truly unique timepiece. The UNICO All Carbon (ref. 701.QX.0140.RX) isn't a limited edition model, but will probably be produced in limited quantities for a couple of years.

Related posts:

1. Hublot King Power Unico GMT Watch ...
2. Hublot Cathedral Minute Repeater Tourbillon And Column Wheel Chronograph Watch Hands-On ...
3. Hublot Masterpiece Watch Hands-On Exclusive ...
4. Hublot Oceanographic 4000 M Diver Hands-On ...
5. Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Watches Hands-on ...

Linde Werdelin is a brand with a very focused energy. Their watches are technical, masculine, and all exhibit their unique perspective on modern watch design. Few of their watches better express their brand DNA than the very cool SpidoSpeed Chronograph, which was launched at BaselWorld in 2011. The SpidoSpeed represented the combination of both the SpidoLite case design and the LW03, an exclusive automatic chronograph movement made by the Swiss manufacturer Concepto. Linde Werdelin has now announced the newest member of the SpidoSpeed family, aptly named the SpidoSpeed Gold.

With the new SpidoSpeed Gold, Linde Werdelin has taken the hugely complex case design of the original SpidoSpeed and then produced the entire 32 piece case in 18k gold. The precious metal exterior is then satin finished and ready to be worn. Linde Werdelin has managed to preserve what made the original SpidoSpeed so great: lightness; an avant-garde case design; and a sophisticated but rough-and-tumble demeanor which begs to be worn on a wrist. Weighing in at a reasonable 126g and measuring 44 mm across and only 15mm tall, the SpidoSpeed Gold will be comfy for most wrists and capable of fitting under most cuffs.

The calling card for the entire SpidoSpeed series is the dramatic case design which I think is both radical and beautiful. I think case design is a bold pantomime which changes its tone depending on the type of finish. While the DLC version of the SpidoSpeed is rather stealthy, this new gold version exhibits a very muted luxuriousness. The matte satin finish does not hide the gold's color but rather reins in its overall bling factor, making it an excellent choice for those who could never understand the appeal of a gold Rolex Datejust. More to the point, Linde Werdelin has managed to make gold cool. In almost any instance, I won't give a gold watch a second look, as my taste lies in stainless steel or titanium. There is something about gold watches that always seems to be too flashy or too cruise-boat-chic for my tastes, but the SpidoSpeed Gold looks youthful, aggressive and the satin finish is an excellent match for its complex case and detailed dial design.

Hidden within the futuristic skeletonized case is the LW03 Concepto, an automatic chronograph movement which provides a power reserve of 48 hours and even incorporates the use of a ceramic bearing for the oscillating weight which winds the movement. This fully-decorated caliber can be viewed through the SpidoSpeed's sapphire display case back.

The Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Gold is limited to only 100 units in its initial run, which will be available starting later this month. The base SpidoSpeed Steel carries a price tag of $15,000 USD but, with gold being gold, the new SpidoSpeed Gold will carry a price tag of $38, 500 excluding VAT. I think that there is a considerable group of buyers (myself included) who shy away from gold watches because they are fearful of the flashy or even cheesy image that they may project while wearing a gold timepiece.  I am a big fan of the original SpidoSpeed and this new gold version proves that when it's done correctly, gold can be a fitting platform for a modern and aggressively styled sport watch.

Written by James Stacey

Related posts:

1. Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Chronograph Watch ...
2. Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Chronograph Watch Review ...
3. Linde Werdelin SpidoLite Rose Gold and All Black Titanium DLC Watches Hands-On ...
4. Linde Werdelin SpidoLite II Watch ...
5. Linde Werdelin Journalsitic Piece On Selectism.com ...

For 2012 Eberhard & Co. will release these two rather clean looking sport watches called the Champion V. These are new versions of older Eberhard Champion watch collection pieces released about 20 years ago. The same sober looks are maintained while the Champion V watches are more modern in every way. I don't know why, but in their press release each time they write "Champion V," the Roman numeral 5 is done in a red font.

There are going to be two distinct Champion V models. One will just be called the Champion V and the other will be called the Champion V Grande Date. While they are both decent watches I must admit to not understanding why the two models exists. I think they should have just made the Champion V Grande Date. Let me explain...

Both versions offer multiple dial styles and colors. The styles range a lot actually and dial colors can come in blue, black, or white with different trims. The two watches have the same case - which is 42.80mm wide and 14.45mm thick. So what is the difference? Well they have different movements.

The standard Eberhard & Co. Champion V will have a Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph. This movement is pretty straight forward and offers a 12 hour chronograph and day/date complication - though Eberhard & Co. chooses just to indicate the date. The Champion V Grande Date has a La Joux-Perret caliber LJP 8210 automatic chronograph. This movement is likely based on the Valjoux 7750 but features a big date complication (that has the date on two discs). As you can see, even though there are two movements, the layout of the dials is only slightly different and the functions are exactly the same. I have never before quite seen this done and as far as I can tell Eberhard & Co. does not offer an explanation.

Eberhard & Co. gives the standard Champion V watch a slightly more retro look with an hour indicator bezel and cleaner dial with baton markers. There is a tachymeter scale printed on the flange ring, and again the dial will come in a range of color styles. More modern and sporty is the Champion V Grande Date. While I don't tend to think that tachymeter scales have more than a vestigial cosmetic value, the Grande Date makes better use of it on the bezel and the Arabic numbers supplementing the dial help give it a more purposeful look. Perhaps I just like it more because it is on a metal bracelet. For some reason it is hard for me to take sport watches seriously that are not on metal bracelets.

Those of you interested in straps have options as well, but go for a metal bracelet in my opinion. As a sport watch the Champion V pieces do suffer a bit from only 50 meters of water resistance. Eberhard & Co. could easily double that to get a lot more street cred. The case does have a convex sapphire crystal and likely some nice fit and finish for a few thousand bucks. The Champion V with its 7750 movement will be nice but nothing special as sport watches with that movement are a dime a dozen. The Champion V Grande Date on the other hand is a bit more unique given the big date complication and the less than typical movement. It will be priced a bit more I am sure, but will offer a more unique ownership experience.

Related posts:

1. Marvin Sebastian Loeb World Rally Champion Watch ...
2. Botta Design Watches Available Through Kenmar Watches ...
3. Oceanus Watches On Sale With Free Shipping: Analog Solar Atomic Watches ...
4. Marvin Loeb Rally Collection Watches ...
5. Jaeger-LeCoultre Watches On Tony Stark In Iron Man 2 Movie ...

This is the Tissot PRC 200 Danica Limited Edition ladies watch that was given away on aBlogtoRead.com in March 2012. Thank you to winner Cindy for her follow-up images and thoughts:

"It's just the right combination of sporty/feminine for my tastes. I really like the robust, clean design with the big '7' in orange that matches the strap stitching. Also love the diamonds on the dial. I also think that the hefty thickness of the watch is attractive. At first I thought "Wow, that's big" but when I have it on, it doesn't look too large on my arm. I am going to wear this watch proudly!"

Thank you again Tissot and Cindy for the follow-up - enjoy the watch. Also thanks to everyone who enters the monthly watch giveaways here on aBlogtoRead.com.

Related posts:

1. LAST CHANCE: Tissot PRC 200 Danica Limited Edition Watch Giveaway ...
2. Tissot PRC 200 Danica Limited Edition Diamonds Ladies Watch Giveaway ...
3. Tissot T-Race Danica Patrick Chronograph 2009 Limited Edition Watch ...
4. aBlogtoRead.com 2CAN Watch Giveaway Winner ...
5. Swatch Automatic Chrono Watch Giveaway Winner Is Happy ...

I was waiting for someone to do this. It was only a matter of time before the watch world was able to release a budget version of the Corum Bridge watch. Storm UK was the one that did it. Of course this is not a replica or the same watch, but the concept is the same. A mechanical watch with a thin bridge-style movement in an otherwise empty and see-through dial. It certainly looks cool on the wrist.

Let's be honest, you can't precisely compare a Corum with this Storm Mekon. While they exist in the same thematic family, this Storm will never replace a Corum in terms of pure horology. Where the Mekon does win is digestability. For just a few hundred bucks you can have the look and feel of something that would otherwise cost many thousands. Most people can handle that.

I don't necessarily get the name "Mekon." Is it pronounced "mech-on," or perhaps "meek-on." I want to say the latter because of the word "Yukon." Whatever, the pieces speak for themselves. Storm rustled up a mechanical movement that is long and thin and aligned it horizontally across the dial of the watch. More than likely Chinese in origin, the movement is manually wound and has just an hour and minute hand. I would count on it for looks but not necessarily accuracy. There is an hour marker scale around the periphery of the dial. The movement is pretty easy to understand given how exposed it is. Corum actually told me that some watch making students in Switzerland use the Golden Bridge movements to study the basics of how a movement works.

Here the movement looks decent for the money, and has that cool semi-suspended look. The case of the Mekon isn't half bad looking. It is in polished steel, with a black IP or gold coated version available also available. The case is 38mm wide and 50mm tall (including the lugs). That is a pretty good size for Western-sized wrists. Over the dial and rear of the case are mineral glass crystals.

Attached to the Mekon watch is a leather strap and each of the models are limited editions (of either 2,000 or 3,000 pieces). Many people will enjoy the novel look of the watch and the relatively affordable price. The Storm Mekon piece will range from between $249.99 - $299.99 in price. Currently they are exclusively available via Watchismo.

Related posts:

1. Alain Silberstein Tourbillon Black Storm Watch Available On James List ...
2. Storm Caspa Watch Review ...
3. Storm Chrono Terrain Watch Review ...
4. HourTime Show Watch Podcast Episode 103 ...
5. Corum Admiral’s Cup Minute Repeater Tourbillon Watch ...

For 2012 Omega released a new 18k red gold version of the Seamaster Planet Ocean three-hand and chronograph models with a new type of "Ceragold" bezel. Ceragold is more or less the gold version of Liquidmetal (that I discussed in more detail here). It is a special process that Omega uses to inset gold in the engraved ceramic bezel. In a sense, this is Omega's answer to Rolex's Cerachrom.

So why isn't it just "gold Liquidmetal"? Because it isn't. The Liquidmetal process is very similar to Ceragold, but uses a different type of metal. Ceragold actually uses gold. In a nutshell, the ceramic bezel is formed and then the numeral and index holes are engraved in the ceramic bezel disc. After a conductive layer is formed in the engraved area, layers of 18k red gold are applied using an "electroforming" process. Next, the excess gold is polished off and the Ceragold bezel is finished. Omega details the Ceragold process rather well here.

So as you can see, Ceragold is similar to Liquidmetal, but not quite the same. Plus, it is a cool term. Note that as of now it only applies to the forming of the bezel. Each of the watches I have photographed are 18k red gold on black, but there are also white with gold models available. The black and gold models are extremely sexy though.

These watches are the 45.5mm wide versions of the Seamaster PO. There is the chronograph and three-hand version available with the Ceragold bezel - both look pretty fantastic. Omega will also offer the smaller three-hand Seamaster PO in the 42mm wide case with the Ceragold bezel. The watches contain in-house made Omega automatic movements. For more information about the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean watches see my review here.

Being gold models these watches have the higher-end 8501 or 9301 calibre movements. These versions of the 8500 and 9300 movement range have 18k red gold bridges and rotors. At this time I don't think there is a matching 18k red gold bracelet, but the watches do come on black alligator straps. Omega makes a damn solid diver and nothing is lost here with the 18k red gold versions of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ceragold models. Prices are $22,500 for the 42mm PO, $25,000 for the 45.5mm PO, and $33,000 for the 45.5mm PO Chronograph Ceragold models.

Related posts:

1. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Automatic Calibre 8500 And Chronograph Calibre 9300 Watches For 2011 ...
2. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Watch With “Liquidmetal” Ceramic Bezel ...
3. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Co-Axial Chronometer Watch Review ...
4. Omega Presents The 2011 Seamaster Planet Ocean Watch Collection ...
5. Omega Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial Chronometer Watch Hands-On ...