True blue watch enthusiasts know who Max Büsser is, and he’s getting the Grail Watch 1. This isn’t a new watch from his brand, but the Grail Watch 1 is the first watch collaboration between Ressence and Alain Silberstein together with Grail Watch and Busser will receive piece number one.
Max Büsser, the founder of MB&F, was presented the idea of the Grail Watch by notable watch enthusiasts and writer Wei Koh. Büsser expressed his interest in the first Grail Watch. Since then, the Grail Watch 1 has made rounds among the watchmakers and watch aficionados as the latest timepiece to acquire.
Designers: Benoît Mintiens and Alain Silberstein
The Grail Watch 1 is a project by Ressence × Alain Silberstein. Ressence Watches is a brand headed by Benoît Mintiens. Ressence is known for its pragmatic displays, minimalistic mechanical designs, and high prices. Meanwhile, Alain Silberstein is the first man to deliver art, architecture, and playfulness to modern watchmaking.
The two working together resulted in the Grail Watch 1. It is the first from a new company that aims to create and make dream watches real. The brand comes up with limited edition watches that are not opportunistic but rather imaginative and ambitious.
Grail Watch 1 shows us what Ressence and Alain Silberstein have to offer. The Grail Watch brand celebrates independent watchmaking, and founder Wei Koh believes the limited series will offer the watch owners meaning, positivity, and inspiration. Alain Silberstein and Benoît Mintiens were the first watchmakers Koh approached.
The Grail Watch 1 will remind you to seize the day and every moment in your life. Officially called the GRAIL WATCH 1: RESSENCE × ALAIN SILBERSTEIN “CARPE DIEM”, this timepiece is based on Ressence’s Type 1 design. The design is then layered with Alain Silberstein’s iconography.
The limited edition watch combines the designs by Mintiens and Silberstein. Mintiens’ Ressence is usually minimalistic, but the Grail Watch 1 is bold. Silberstein then included some of his favorite paintings as part of the design—the Vanitas, Still Life with Tulip, Skull, and Hour Glass—by French artist Philippe de Champaigne. It offers a poetic meaning as the tulip, skull, and hourglass remind us time is passing.
The Grail Watch 1 comes with a price tag that reads $24,300. It will be ready by the end of May 2022. Only 36 pieces will be available as a tribute to Judaism’s Lamed Vav Tzadikim concept. Silberstein’s idea was to honor the 36 righteous individuals in every generation according to his religion.
Bvlgari is a brand known for fine jewellery and luxurious watches. It releases classic timepieces that are elegant and can be considered as must-haves for every watch aficionado. One of the more interesting watches collection is the Octo, which continues to be a legend as the brand breaks its own record for the ultra-thin watch.
Now on its eighth consecutive year, the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Ultra watch continues to be another ultra-complicated timepiece. It proves excellent Italian design and mechanical performance only Bulgari can offer. Beating records in eight consecutive years tells us the brand is committed to excellence and innovation.
The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Ultra is now the world’s slimmest mechanical watch. You can’t find anything close anywhere else with its thinness of only 1.8mm. That is about the same as an American dime, so you can just imagine how thin it is.
The new milestone was hit by Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra as the thinnest mechanical watch in the world today. We can expect Bvlgari to beat another record once the next model is ready. This is 0.2mm thinner than the Piaget Altiplano, which is 2mm-thick. It can be challenging to win next year, but we have no doubt Bvlgari can do it.
Bvlgari has crammed about 170 tiny parts of the movement into the super-thin case. The design included the dial and case in the movement. The case back is also the main plate which is the foundational structure of the watch.
The thin watch is possible with lightweight but durable materials. The 40mm-wide case is made of titanium, while the case back is tungsten carbide. The materials allow the watch to maintain its durability and rigidity. Instead of a crown, you will rather see two horizontal knobs. One is for setting the time, and the other one is for winding. The color scheme is monochrome, but the case middle, lugs, and bezels are sandblasted titanium.
The Octo line is Bvlgari’s flagship series which is now in its tenth year, never failing to wow the audience. It is known for ultra-thin watches, and the Finissimo Ultra is the latest model to be in the spotlight. The luxury watch comes with a laser-engraved QR code on the ratchet wheel. It comes with an NFT to help with authentication and to make it more relevant. The QR code takes you to an exclusive NFT artwork plus access to the watch’s history, design, and production process.
The watch appears two-dimensional, and you may probably not feel anything on your wrist because it’s light but rest assured, the expensive watch will never fall off. Bvlgari has proven that innovation when it comes to watches will never end. We can’t wait to know how thick/thin the next Bvlgari watch will be. Unfortunately, though, Bvlgari said this would be the final watch model.
Only ten units of the Octo Finissimo Ultra are being produced. Each one costs $440,000, which is not affordable. Of course, Bulgari has a particular target for such watches, and we have no doubt each piece will be picked up swiftly.
The Octo collection is now considered iconic, even if it’s only a decade old. For the past ten years, the Blvgari Octo collection has been recognized worldwide with 60 international awards. It’s a new take in the centuries-old watchmaking industry as it combines mechanics and the digital arena. If you’re a luxury watch lover, you may want to invest in this one because it will be worth a lot a few years from now, especially if this is the final model from the collection.
Bulgari’s watchmakers teamed up with Concepto, a movement specialist, to make the thinnest manual wind movement. This won’t just be another luxury or novelty watch; this will be another proof that you can marry modern technology with tradition. Bvlgari has also implemented eight patented solutions here to ensure premium quality. There are patents related to the Bulgari Singularity software, bimetal case manipulate/case back, modular structure, oscillator module, differential display, glass assembly, bracelet, and barrel structure. The watch comes with 50 hours of power reserve.
Bulgari enters new dimensions with the Octo Finissimo Ultra. The Octo watch saga ends with this ultra-thin mechanical timepiece. It’s a perfect example of how the physical and digital worlds are bridged since it comes with an NFT linked to a surprise piece of art.
What to do when you have a few million dollars to spend? Most rich guys will tell you to get a luxury sports car like the latest Bugatti Chiron, but that one costs $3 million. And if you have a couple more millions to spare, get the Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal to go with it. If you can afford a luxury car, you can also afford this one-of-a-kind timepiece made by Jacob & Co. You are one truly lucky guy if you can buy both at once. We’ll then celebrate with you and ask for a joyride or wear the million-dollar watch for a moment.
Only the luxury watch aficionados will understand all the work that went into the newly launched Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal. They will only be the ones who know Jacob & Co too. True watch lovers and experts will agree that this new timepiece is something to watch because only one is made in the world. We want to see whose wrist it will fit for a long time.
Intricate details in luxury watches are a given, but there are very few who marry the high-end world of watchmaking and automotive design with such symphony. Jacob & Co teamed up with Bugatti to develop this special edition Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal that costs about $1.5 million. It is not the first collaboration between the two as there were already the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon last year and the Epic X Chrono and Twin Turbo Furious watches before that. The Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon is already an exciting piece because it features a smaller version of the Chiron’s 8-liter, 1.5HP W16 engine. Every piece created by Jacob & Co and inspired by the Buggati brand delivers visual drama, style, and sophistication.
The Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal, as the name suggests, comes with a sapphire crystal watch case. It is mainly patterned after the Jacob & Co Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon but now with a fresh look as the colors of most watch parts have been changed. Bugatti’s own 16-cylinder engine has become iconic in the past years, so it is only right that this design is extended onto a watch. It may only be the smaller version of the engine used on the Chiron sports car, but that makes this a unique timepiece. The shape of the watch is also patterned after the Chiron, so you can notice the same graceful curves. It arrives with the same lines and texture, but you’d probably spend more time figuring out the engine as the turbochargers spin and all 16 pistons pump.
The Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal is proof that watchmaking can still level up and steal the spotlight. The watch case is fully sapphire crystal and results from thousands of hours of work—from processing to hand-polishing of the materials. In addition, the components of the watch’s JCAM37 manual wound caliber—all 578 of them—have been decorated and assembled by hand. It’s another reason why the watch is that expensive.
Like the car inspiration, there is so much work and intelligent design poured onto the watch. The sapphire crystal case alone was challenging to achieve because of the Blue color while maintaining transparency. Beyond the aesthetics, the luxury watch shows off a one-of-a-kind engine animation. A replica Bugatti W16 engine will be activated when you push the right crown. There are 16 pistons pumping up and down, giving a quick preview of a Bugatti combustion engine. Unlike the real engine on the Chiron with four, this one only has two turbochargers. They’re mainly for visual design and not really to make the watch go fast because there is no need.
The movement is mainly controlled by the crowns found at the bottom of the watch case. The right-hand crown starts the animation, while the middle is for winding the movement. The left crown is to set the time. The watch has 60 hours of power reserve after a complete winding up. The whole system looks complicated and seems impossible, but the watchmaker was able to come up with a patented automotive-style jointed transverse system. This results in crown posts being protected during movement.
Combining watches and engines has not been thought of until the launch of the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon last year. Jacob & Co has continued to use the Buggati aesthetics and technology to produce a watch that is beautiful, innovative, and awe-inspiring—like a masterpiece.
The Bugatti Chiron luxury watch’s case-back is transparent, so you can fully see the mechanism. Inside, you will see the two separate barrels and ratchet wheels that include timekeeping and engine animation movement. The movement also comes with 51 jewels that will convince you this watch delivers true craftsmanship and fine art, as Jacob & Co claims.
Both Jacob & Co and Bugatti have pushed the limits in watchmaking and further extending beyond what is mechanically possible. Sophistication is just one of the many requirements, and we believe this particular watch has that quality. If you see a Bugatti Chiron on the road, you will probably have the same reaction upon seeing the Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal.
In all fairness, what the Swiss watchmakers do is incredibly difficult, but the Rotate Watches give you a small taste of what it is like to assemble your own timepiece together. The all-in-one watchmaking kit comes with everything you need, from the watch parts to even the tools you’d require to assemble, maintain, and repair the watch. For obvious reasons, the mechanical movement comes pre-assembled, given how critical that part is and how intricately it’s built… but you do get to put the rest together, sandwiching the movement between the two metal halves, laying in the sapphire glass display, and finally fixing the straps to your watch. You even get to fit the watch hands onto its face, giving you quite the thrill of playing a real horologist!
Founded by a group of artisans and tinkerers dedicated to keeping analog alive (and a woman-owned, minority-owned business based in Los Angeles, California), Rotate Watches package the experience of building your own timepiece. The watches come in a variety of styles with leather as well as metal jubilee straps, and each watch also has its own difficulty rating, from moderate to complex! The kit contains everything you’d possibly need, from the watch parts to tools like pliers, pry-bars, tweezers, screwdrivers, glue, and even nitrile gloves to help you assemble your masterpiece without creating a mess. Your purchase also gives you access to a complete watchmaking guide on Rotate Watches’ website, technical support from Rotate’s team, and a lifetime warranty on your timepiece. Each unit is quality-checked before shipping from Rotate’s Los Angeles facility, and you can even ask them to engrave 2-3 characters (preferably your initials) on the watch upon purchase!
Designers: Jennifer Zhang and Rebecca Lee of Rotate Watches
We were awed by Rotate’s DIY kit when they first launched as a Kickstarter campaign. Following a very successful crowdfunding effort, the company’s now established its practice in LA, selling a variety of watch styles. Showcased here, is the Galileo, with its golden body and radial-brushed blue watch-face.
For obvious reasons, the mechanical movement comes pre-assembled. Given how complex some of these movements can be, often ending up with hundreds of small parts that have their own specific purpose and require expert knowledge, the movement comes pre-built. As co-creator, you get to put the rest of the watch together, understanding its materials, assemblies, and details along the way. It also helps you build an appreciation for analog watches that smartwatches can never match!
The kit contains everything you need, from watch parts to even the tools and equipment you’d require to put your haute horologerie together. At the end of the assembly process, Rotate hopes that you inherit an interest and affection for watches, and you even form an emotional bond with your timepiece that goes beyond just picking a wristwatch from a display case and wearing it. With Rotate’s watches, you end up involving yourself in the watch’s creation, forming a strong bond with your masterpiece along the way.
The watches are available in 5 styles [from Left to Right] – Eiffel, Wright, Edison, Galileo, and Newton, each with their own unique design, assembly, and difficulty level.
How do science fiction and futuristic tech meld with the design of a non-electronic watch? The creators behind the EMC TimeHunter blend these two concepts quite seamlessly with this Stormtrooper-inspired watch face. Because the design pulls from such an iconic image, it immediately catches your eye (apart from the natural contrast of white on black). The numbers on the watch face have a subtle glow … which looks like an LED screen, but in actuality, it’s just fluorescent-green and white paint, contrasting with the black background. The bright and crisp colors emphasize the futuristic aesthetic of the timepiece.
Aside from the Star Wars-inspired look, this watch has a well-designed surface. It offers more information than just the time of day … providing a peek into the clock’s inner workings. Let’s describe these modules, one by one. First, the center of the watch features the standard hour/minute clock face. On the top right (the 1 o’clock position), there’s a counter for the seconds in each minute. The module in the top left measures the TimeHunter’s rate of accuracy compared to “real-time.” Why does this matter? See, the EMC TimeHunter is a mechanical watch, and occasionally it needs to be rewound to maintain its precise timekeeping. Sometimes the ticker slows down by a hair, and those minor delays add up. In the bottom left, another module tracks the “life” left in the power-source that fuels the precision tracker (not the clock itself). This module mimics a gasoline tank for its design, which I personally thought was a cute touch… and while this product may have been inspired by Stars Wars, it’s a gift that all watch-wearers would love!
You could either strap a screen to your wrist to look hip and voguish, or you could wear a classic timepiece to look… well… classic. There are rarely any crossovers in this department, which means you’ll seldom find a smartwatch that can look as exemplary as a Swiss timepiece, and you’re rarely going to stumble across a well-built mechanical wristwatch that can pull off the savvy, cool look the way a smartwatch can.
The crossover is rare, but it exists. Take for instance the Edgemere Reserve from Martenero, a classic mechanical timepiece that consciously deviates from the mechanical watch aesthetic, looking modern on your wrist, but staying true to its mechanical roots on the inside. A variant of the original Edgemere, the Edgemere Reserve, as its name suggests, comes with a 40-hour power reserve. With a clean design and a circular body, the Edgemere Reserve sits well on your wrist in any social gathering, both formal and informal. The CMF detailing brings out the watch’s modernity, with a watch-face that has an embossed stripe texture, and a fresh, eyecatching color scheme that plays with blacks, whites, blues, and reds.
The watch comes with a Miyota 9132 on the inside and multiple complications, including a date-window, a 24-hour dial, and even a dial that indicates the amount of power left in the reserve. The 316L case comes with a double-domed sapphire crystal glass on the top (complete with an anti-reflection coating) as well as a sapphire glass exhibition back. You’re even spoilt for choice with a wide variety of hypoallergenic leather straps that come in some spectacularly rich colors. Every single one of Martenero’s watches is assembled and tested in the USA, at a second-generation watchmaker workshop right out of Brooklyn. Subjected to a world-class level of scrutiny and quality testing, each Edgemere Reserve timepiece comes with a 2-year warranty.
Martenero’s latest release is the Edgemere Reserve. A new version of their original Edgemere model, it’s a 40 mm nautical-themed watch inspired by the marine chronometer. It includes a power reserve, 24-hour time subdial, and date window.
The design of the watch is loosely based on a marine chronometer. At the heart of the design is the dial. An elevated hour ring stands out against the base of the dial, and for each colorway the hour ring contrasts noticeably with both the interior and outer ring. This adds a lot of complexity and nuance to the design, and helps give it such an original look. They then added very distinctive colors to each dial in order to better highlight certain design features. Every piece of the dial design is unique to Martenero.
They then made sure that all of the hands are all balanced and work in harmony together. Since there are five hands in total (hour, minute, second, power reserve, 24-hour time), it was important to get this detail right as any inconsistency would throw the design out of balance.
While it’s one design, the five different options feel like totally different watches. There’s white if you’re looking for something understated; blue or dark blue if you want something sporty; silver for something a little more dressy; or black if you prefer a look that’s a little more stark.
BLUE
Our flagship version of the Edgemere Reserve, this is the most colorful and eye-catching version of them all. The multi-colored dial stands out on the wrist, but still maintains its balance through the carefully selected colors.
WHITE
Our most restrained version, the white dial is perfect for those who prefer something a little more understated on their wrist. Despite its low-key design, the blue and red accents give the watch a very unique look.
SILVER
The dressiest version of them all. Bursts of silver and light blue give the watch a dressy touch that makes it perfect for any occasion.
DARK BLUE
The deep blue color on this dial is for those who want something sporty yet versatile. Touches of red break up the otherwise all blue aesthetic.
BLACK
In contrast to our more colorful options, the black version is for those who prefer to wear something a little more stark. Touches of blue and mint add character to the otherwise subdued looking watch.
POWER RESERVE
The watch has a 40-hour power reserve, and through the index at the top of the watch you can always see exactly how much of a charge you have built up. The hand will be pointed to the right at a full charge, straight down when it’s halfway charged, and to the left when the charge is running low.
24 HOUR TIME
This is a subdial (dial within a dial) that sits at the 6 o’clock position. It doesn’t ever need to be adjusted, and gives a representation of the time in a 24 hours context.
DATE WINDOW
A clean, framed date window sits at the 3 o’clock position, not only displaying the date but also helping to balance the dial design.
The dial has three layers between the base, hour ring, and applied numerals. This creates a visual stacking effect on the dial which is not seen on most watches. We then added texture to the base layer of the dial, framed the date window, and selected colors that best complement the design. It’s a very complicated construction that brings out the details in this design.
The case is made of stainless steel, and it’s an original design with both brushed and polished finishing. The crystal is a double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, which means that it won’t get scratched and there won’t be any reflection or glare when you’re checking the time.
The Edgemere Reserve is powered by a Miyota 9132 movement that registers at 28,800 beats per hour. This is a very high-quality Japanese movement used by premium watch brands, and it’s similar in accuracy to much more expensive Swiss movements.
One feature of the movement is that it’s automatic, so it will wind itself naturally as you wear it. It’s also hacking, meaning that the second hand stops when you set the time, allowing for more accurate time setting. And with a power reserve of 40 hours, this is a watch you can set aside for a while and it will continue to tick.
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