Monday, May 30, 2016

SPEAKE-MARIN – London Chronograph Special Edition
















SPEAKE-MARIN London Chronograph Special Edition NEW

This spring, Speake-Marin unveils a special edition dedicated to the early years of the British
watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin, “The London Chronograph”. This special edition will only
be available in the Fine Watch Room at Harrods, in
London during summer where it will be
officially launched.


The London Chronograph is a tribute for Peter Speake-Marin to his first steps as watchmaker
when he restored antique watches in the Piccadilly arcade in London.
After qualifying as a horologist at London's Hackney College, Peter went to Switzerland to
deepen his knowledge of watch making at the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and
Education Program (WOSTEP) in Neuchâtel. Following his first three commercial
watchmaking positions which were short lived, due to his hunger to grow as a watchmaker, he
met Georges Somlo in 1990 and stayed in the arcade restoring all manor of early pocket and
wrist watches during 6 years.

The London Chronograph is a special edition in many ways, by its number of pieces being
made, but also by its heart. It is powered by a Valjoux 92 made during the 1950’s and 60's. As
with many mechanical calibres the quartz revolution in the late 60's cut short the life of such
calibres.

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The movements used for the London Chronograph were purchased by a collector of vintage
movements and stocked in a safe for many years, waiting to be part of this special edition,
dedicated to the roots of Speake-Marin.

Today these calibres are rare, it was chosen by Peter for this project, because it is the same
type of movement that he restored during his time in London during the 1990’s.
The Valjoux 92 was a popular chronograph movement from the 1950's. Succeeding the
popular Valjoux 23 family (including the Valjoux 72), the Valjoux 92 was similarly sized at
13 ligne (29.5 mm) but used very different technology. It was an oscillating pinion design,
distinct at a glance for having two rather than three chronograph engagement wheels visible at
the back. Although both Valjoux movements are column wheel designs, the Valjoux 92 has
seven pillars versus the nine of all other Valjoux movements. Historical Valjoux chronograph
movement were used by companies ranging from Patek Philippe to Rolex and Tag Heuer,
they were one of the largest and most successful of movement manufacturers.

The London Chronograph is housed in a 42mm titanium case with a three dimensional white
dial. On the dial, the Arabic numbers alternate with Roman numerals to bring a vintage touch,
first seen on the Gothic Velsheda limited edition. The red 12 has classical connotations and
associations with early pocket and wrist watches made in England where on some classical
designs the entire dial numbers were in black with the exception of the 12.

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The centre seconds chronograph is married in colour to the 30 minute recorder hand located at
3 o’clock on the dial. The two subsidiary dials for the 30 minute recorder and the seconds dial
are both seen to float on the dial and below them is found the Speake-Marin topping tool logo
wheel fitted to the hour wheel turning with the hour hand.

The Central Speake-Marin signature “Foundation” style hands in heat blued steel bring the
final touch to this very special edition.

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This special edition will only be available in the Fine Watch Room at Harrods, in London
during summer as part as the Made with Love and Precision campaign. Made with Love and
Precision is a celebration of the horological offering which has established Harrods as the
ultimate destination for Fine Watches. Throughout July and August 2016, the luxury
department store will hero twenty three of the world’s most important fine watch houses
through a stunning exhibition of timepieces launching exclusively at Harrods, a dedicated
Brompton Road window takeover and innovative retail theatre. This celebration will continue
throughout the store, where extraordinary craftsmanship will be brought to the fore with
highlights including exciting product exclusives and engaging retail activity.’

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Reference: 11001

MOVEMENT 
Valjoux 92, mechanical hand wound movement
INDICATIONS 
Central hours and minutes
30 minute counter at 3 o’clock
Constant seconds hand at 9 o'clock
Central chronograph seconds hand ,
FREQUENCY  18000 beats per hour
JEWELLING  17 jewels
POWER RESERVE  ~ 40 hours
CASE 
Iconic Piccadilly case in titanium with brushed 'DLC' sides.
Front and back sapphire crystal treated with anti-reflective coating
DIAMETER  42 mm
WATER RESISTANCE 3 bar (30 meters)
DIAL 
White three dimensional dial
Black minute and second indications
Roman and Arabic numerals
Red “12” Roman numeral
HANDS 
Central Speake-Marin signature “Foundation” style hands in heat blued steel
STRAP  Black Rubber
BUCKLE  Folding buckle in titanium

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Should you need additional information, feel free to contact our Communications
Department by email: veronique@speake-marin.com or by phone at :+41 21 695 26 56.
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Saturday, May 28, 2016

ARNOLD & SON – Métiers d’Art HM Koi Unique Piece
















ARNOLD & SONMétiers d’Art HM Koi Unique Piece NEW


Arnold & Son unites exquisite, hand-painted
dials with the fine art of Haute Horlogerie


The Métiers d’Art HM Koi Unique Piece from Arnold & Son will appeal to watch connoisseurs who appreciate the finest-quality watchmaking combined with beautiful arts and crafts. The hand-painted miniature represents two koi swimming in harmony. This motif is inspired by the koi depicted in traditional ink-wash paintings. The subtle, soft colours set off to perfection by the shimmer of the dial in white mother-of-pearl. The exclusive nature of this wonderful reference is underscored by its limitation to just one piece.

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HM Koi Unique Piece
Manufacture Arnold & Son A&S1001 calibre,
hand-wound, hand-painted miniature on white mother-of-pearl dial,
18-karat rose gold case, diameter 40 mm

© Arnold & Son

Through perseverance and endurance, the koi were able to become mythical beings. The koi fish is part of many ancient legends. Legend has it that King Shoko of Ro presented Chinese philosopher Confucius a magoy, a black carp, as a gift at the birth of his first son in 533 B.C. So impressed was Confucius by the koi’s strength and ability to swim up the falls of the yellow river that he named his son after the fish.

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Two thousand years later and the koi fish still symbolizes positive attributes in life like perseverance, endurance and courage.

The Métiers d’Art HM Koi Unique Piece from Arnold & Son was created to celebrate this fascinating fish. Adorning the mother-of-pearl dial is a hand-painted miniature of two koi, depicted in traditional Chinese ink-wash paintings. Nuances of colours, from red-orange to blue-grey, are achieved by the tiny brushstrokes and texturing gradually to build-up the entire image with an astonishing richness of details. Each koi is executed with exquisite delicacy of touch and features fine details that evoke its shimmering skin.

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The art of painting miniatures by hand calls for infinite patience and consummate skill. As Philippe Boven of Arnold & Son explains: “The art of hand-painting miniatures takes many years of concentrated practice to perfect, and these exquisite koi presented our specialists with an ideal opportunity to showcase their skills.” The sumptuousness of the koi is a counterpoint to the simplicity of the white mother-of-pearl dial, which shimmers entrancingly with the play of light and perfectly mirrors the water in which the koi live.

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This unique piece boasts the ultra-thin A&S1001 manufacture movement with over 90 hours of power reserve; the movement is housed in an 18-karat rose gold case, with a black alligator strap.

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Manufacture Arnold & Son mechanical movement calibre A&S1001 hand-wound,
diameter 30 mm, thickness 2.70 mm

© Arnold & Son

The watch is powered by the A&S1001 movement, which is just 2.7 millimetres thick and manufactured entirely in-house. Its twin barrels, which generate a 90-hour power reserve, guarantee a more constant force and in turn a more constant rate and greater accuracy. All the plates and bridges in the movement are hand-chamfered and decorated – a further indication of the traditional craftsmanship and Haute Horlogerie upheld by Arnold & Son throughout the company’s long history. 

The Métiers d’Art HM Koi is limited to just one example. If desired, the watch is available with a diamond-set bezel.

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Technical Characteristics

Ref. 1LCAP.M01A.C110A/111A  HM Koi Red Gold Case 40mm - Unique Piece

Movement                                
Calibre: A&S1001
Manufacture Arnold & Son mechanical movement, hand-wound, 
21 jewels, diameter 30 mm, thickness 2.7 mm, 
Power reserve 90 h, two barrels,
21'600 vibrations/h
 
Functions:
Hours, minutes.
Movement decoration:
Nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: 
hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, 
fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, 
blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads 
Dial:  
Hand-painted miniature on white mother-of-pearl
Case:   
18-karat Red Gold
diameter 40 mm, available with or without diamond-set bezel, 
cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides, 
see-through sapphire case back
Strap:
Hand-stitched brown or black alligator leather, 
18-karat Rose gold buckle with Arnold & Son logo
Water resistance: 30 Meters

Limited edition: Unique piece

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Boulevard des Eplatures 38
CH – 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds
Switzerland
info@arnoldandson.com
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