Watch – Pax Journal

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Quatuor Blue Cobalt

Switzerland is known everywhere in the world for producing some of the most beautiful and fascinating watches in the world and this blue beauty is right up there with the best we’ve ever seen. The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Quatuor Blue is a wonderful piece of machinery that stands out not just because of the price, which when it was first launched costed a measly $1.1 million, but also because of the design. The blue overall tone of the whole watch is contrasted by the golden and silver four small balances set at 45 angles each and it is an incredible example of craftsmanship. Although the price may hurt some customers, the design, combined with all the features of it are definitely made to impress.

The design

When you first lay eyes on the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Quatuor Blue, the first thing you notice is the design. The belt is a beautiful shade of blue that goes perfectly with the dial of the watch and the four balances set at 45 degrees. The combination of colors of the watch, blue, silver and golden goes great together and emphasizes the core materials that make up the watch. The red dial is very thin and you can barely notice it, but it draws your eyes to the dial of the watch and makes the blue belt stand out thanks to the red threat. Although the design contains a lot of colors, they are so wonderfully put together that the final product does not look tacky at all. On the contrary, it spells elegance and will gently stand out with any outfit.

According to the producer, the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Quatuor Blue is made up of over 500 pieces and the main material of all these pieces is “cobalt blue”. The “cobalt blue” is a combination between case, bezel, caseback, and crown. The producer prefers keeping the exact quantities of each material that is used to create the alloy a secret but one thing is for sure: the final product is heart stopping.

When the watch starts spinning, you can’t take your eyes off of it. The precise nature of the movement of the hands, coupled with the four tourbillons that are set in a square shape in the dial of the watch are fascinating to watch. These four tourbillons are connected to five different gears and they all move at the same time.

The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Quatuor Blue is definitely a watch that will stand out. You can wear it with any outfit regardless of the colors, it will only complement it and not make it look tacky.

Patek Philippe Calatrava “Squelette”

Patek Philippe’s ‘Squelette’ is by far one of the most striking watches on the market at the moment, drawing your attention towards it as soon as you lay eyes on it. The components sprinkled with 18K gold combined with the overall skeletonized look immediately draws all looks, but this is not the only innovation of this model. Here are others that we believe will convince you to purchase this model:

Precision and beauty

Developing this model is not easy, particularly because in order to achieve the skeletonized look, as well as the miniature drawings and engravings placed on these components. Everything is done manually and the watchmaker has to go through different stages in order for the Squelette to be ready. First, the watchmaker has to create each skeletonized component which requires precision and knowledge about this type of design. Only an experienced watchmaker knows when a component is ready and how slim it can be before it breaks.

Next, the second step in this process is placing the engravings and the drawings on the skeletonized components of the watch. Hundreds of hours are dedicated to this meticulous process, with the entire process of developing the watch taking more than two weeks. Only experienced watchmakers are chosen for this job.

The transparent case

The crystal glass and case emphasizes the skeletonized look of the watch while also being strong enough to protect the inner components from water, dust and other such impurities that may affect the watch’s precision in time. The case is also made of sapphire, once again emphasizing the richness of the model.

A perfect mix

On a first look, the Squelette focuses on beauty and on looks. However, this is not the case. Following the Patek Philippe tradition in precise watches, the Squelette’s precision is unmatched, the worst case scenario being -2 or +3 seconds ahead of the real time. The watchmakers focused primarily on mixing the skeletonized look coupled with 18K gold components and sapphires with precision in showing the time. This is the perfect mix between precision in counting the time and beauty.

All in all, the Squelette is a brilliant piece, handmade and focused on precision, a watch which will definitely impress.

Hublot Big Bang Unico 45 Italia Independent

Baselworld is the center of everything that has to do with watches; from manufacturers, to huge brands, famous stars and every new innovation that promises to change the way we perceive time and timepieces.

One of the biggest brands in the world when it comes to luxury watches, Hublot, has revealed one truly exceptional limited edition piece at this year’s expo, respectively the Hublot Big Bang Unico 45 Italia Independent model.

The watch represents a new collaboration between the Swiss luxury watchmakers and Italia Independent. The series comes in two colors, which truly manage to give the watches a distinct character as well as a stylish and fresh appearance.

Another key aspect of these Hublot Big Bang Unico watches is the Texalium material used to make the majority of the bezel and casing. The design of the watch can be considered quite bold, particularly the blue model. The texalium material provides an interesting and new pattern which only reinforces the quality and uniqueness of the watches.

While the build quality is as high as can be, the watches are certainly fashion oriented so the light blue and cool grey can certainly be great accessories for trendy clothes all year round.

The collaboration with Italia Independent reinforces the fashion element of the watch, adding an air of youth and exuberance to the watch. For people who haven’t heard of Italia Independent, it is an eyewear brand which produces pieces for both men and women. While their products aren’t addressed to an entirely luxury market, a good amount of attention is given to design and quality. The watch is meant to bring together the hip and young market of Italia Independent with the luxury oriented expertise of Hublot.

Texalium, the main innovation when it comes to the technical aspect of the Hublot Big Bang Unico Italia Independent is a material much alike carbon fiber. It is a fiberglass material with a high degree of flexibility, particularly when it comes to weave thickness. It has a thin aluminum coating on its surface which gives it its unmistakable look and texture.

Another distinctive feature that makes this watch truly stand out is the series of studs inserted on the belt. The studs come in titanium for the light blue model and black titanium in the gray model.

The model is a 45 mm version of the Hublot Big Bang with a Hublot movement. The watch is water resistant up to 100 meters.

Breitling Chronomat Airborne

The Breitling Chronomat Airborne was first designed for the Italian air force’s acrobatics team, the “Tricolori” and since then, the watch has become one of the main reference point when it comes to aeronautical chronographs, as it is an extremely useful tool for those working in this field.

The Breitling Chronomat is also known to have saved the company as it was released in a time when mechanical chronographs were not as popular since the quartz watches just started being produced. However, the beautiful Breitling Chronomat Airborne was an incredible hit and everybody wanted to wear one. The watch, however, was designed for pilots and included a few interesting features to help them during their flights; however, the general population found it extremely pleasing. Since then, the watch has been recreated to fit a more modern crowd and some of its updates have been recently presented. The bezel is simpler, the Arabic numerals are gone and the watch has a rougher feeling; the rubber inserts certainly show that the brand is moving in a new direction, a direction that will focus on more modern designs. The dial has also been redesigned and is now available in two colors: a black classic shade and a more silver beige color. It is very minimalistic but watchmakers wanted to keep a sort of aged feeling so they added a few elements to suggest that. The watch comes with a 41 or 44 mm dial measure so that it fits everyone. The strap also comes in two styles, military style or pilot style.

The power reserve on the watch is minimum 70 hours and a chronograph with 1/4^th second, 30 minutes and 12 hours. The watch has a steel case and it’s water resistant to 300 meters. It also features a cambered sapphire crystal with glare proof on both its sides.

It’s safe to say that Breitling managed to make a lovely homage watch for a younger crowd while maintaining the timeless feel older watches used to have. It is an excellent accessory for someone who wants something sporty and casual but also something that will last for generations as the Breitling Chronomat Airborne is definitely made to last.

Breitling Avenger Blackbird

Just as its name suggests, the Breitling Avenger Blackbird is something that is easily picked by someone who wants something rough, something special in a military kind of way. The watch has an imposing diameter created with a light and very sturdy titanium case and an incredible dial that shows off all the features. There are also black elements with technical and very sophisticated touches that are observed on closer inspection, not to mention the fact that the watch wraps around your wrist by using a military like strap. One thing is for certain, if you want the best precision and an amazing mechanism, this is the watch for you: a performance like no other in the history of Breitling, the Avenger Blackbird was created for outstanding results.

Its huge 48 mm case is extremely imposing and definitely not something everyone would choose, but it isn’t supposed to be worn by anyone; it will certainly be desired by those who have a true passion for technology and precision. Despite its huge appearance, the watch does have a very ergonomic design and has been produced with a slimmer case to take away from the bulkiness. It was also designed with titanium and inward curving lugs, all of which will allow for a lighter weight. So, this watch only looks extremely heavy but it’s quite comfortable to wear.

At a closer inspection you will notice the bold design on the dial by showing oversized hands and large elements. There is also luminescent coating on the dial so that the wearer sees everything in the dark. Inside, the watch has been equipped with a Breitling Caliber 17 self-winding movement with a high frequency. It also has a calendar function at 3 ‘o ‘clock and a sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating.

The watch has been built with a water resistance of 300 meters which makes it perfect for swimming but should be taken off while diving. Overall it has a wonderful feel and remarkable functionality that will be noticed immediately. However, Breitling Avenger Blackbird does not feature a classic design and is a better option for those who love sport watches.

Cartier Santos 100

Cartier has been around since the 19^th century, creating jewelry watches that were worn by those who wanted something extra special. This particular watch was created by Louis Cartier for his friend, the aviator Alberto Santos Dumont. The watch was created in 1904 and was especially made so that the aviator was able to check the time during his flight. The dial was rounded and had exposed screws which were the elements that made this timepiece one of the most iconic in watchmaking history. The fact that the Brazilian Aviator considered pocket watches as unsuitable for flying led to the creation of the first wristwatch in history. He complained to his friend about the fact that he was unable to check the pocket watch in a timely manner during his flight. Soon the watch became a hit and was even manufactured in ladies sizes with the main material being either solid steel or gold.

Nowadays a variety of straps and various colors are available for those who want to wear the watch that made history. The timepiece has been modernized and changed in the course of a hundred years but the main elements remain the same: the watch shines through its simplicity and elegance. A Cartier Santos 100, could never be properly replicated and is now one of the most popular wristwatches in the world. The newest modern Cartier Santos 100 features a steel case with a steel octagonal crown that has been set with a faceted synthetic spinel. The watch is an incredible addition to a suit or any other formal attire and it’s a great accessory for business men and women no matter what their overall style is. It features a sapphire crystal with silvered opaline dial and Roman numerals for a traditional touch. The sword-shaped oxidized steel hands are luminescent and go really well with the rest of the elements. The watch comes with a beautiful and comfortable alligator skin strap with a steel double adjustable deployment buckle that is very specific to this model. The movement is mechanical with a self-winding Cartier caliber 049 that comes with water resistance up to 300 feet. This means that those who want to wear the Cartier Santos 100 all the time should be careful when diving and make sure that they protect it from too deep waters.

The case dimensions are 51.1 mm with 41.3 and 10.34 thickness making this watch a pretty robust one perfect for those who want something elegant but more striking.