IWC "Ingenieur Ceramic"

At last! An Ingenieur that turns heads. The future looked good with the new INGENIEUR series, yet the misfortune of making it an AMG Limited Edition was a bit too much "tuning" for my taste. A shame, since in the new series the AMGs where the best looking of the bunch. Putting something like that diminishes a product and makes it worthy of a display at a car dealer. A place you don't want to go buy a watch. Let's hope they stopped that nonsense by now.

It is only recently that I have seen in the flesh. I have been confronted with pictures many times, but I guess this Ingenieur is like some watches that just don't shine in pictures. This one in real life jumps at you and hits you in the eye! I looks great on medium to large sized wrists and is comfortable beyond your highest expectations. A really awesome addition to the collection.

What is especially comfortable is the Ceramic bezel that takes away the worry of scratching it. That in it self is reason enough for purchase. For those that love the Barrichello II because of its scratch proof bezel but can't afford it... this Ingenieur might just be the one for you. Granted, both have nothing to do with each other but it is a interesting non-chrono alternative. The face is incredibly detailed and well finished, right now I have only seen L.U.C. from Chopard with faces that have such depth. In spite of its size the whole shape of the case wraps around your wrist like a glove. It's so comfortable it just disappears. Plus, there is the "stop function" that sets the seconds hand at 12 o'clock for precise tine setting. That is one little option that most watch lovers like to see.

My only "but" is the sapphire back. Purists would probably like more antimagnetic properties than the view of the movement. I guess that it was put there for commercial reasons. In spite of this it is still waterproof to 120 meters which is a very acceptable ratting. The price is around the 7,000 Euros. Not cheap, but honest.

Nice work guys!

IWC...

Big Bang "Ayrton Senna"

I am not a Hublot fan, plus I find Limited Editions "banking" on famous dead people not so becoming... but it is signed by Senna. I have a soft-spot for Senna.

This BB also looks the part if you ask me and there is no doubt that it might be one of the few Hublots to fetch a better price than list. The key is the price of course. Since there will be 500 of these I would expect them to be in the very low 20's, or even below that. Bare in mind that a gold Big-Bang is in the 18 hundreds... If this should be the case than they will be in high demand. Should they tag this in the 30's or above than you might see them around for a while.

From the picture it looks like a two pusher Rattrapante. Interesting... although I think I have seen this before. I am pretty certain Hublot will claim a 100% in-house movement built and engineered from scratch in this beauty. Who knows, it might be so, why not? What is certain is that very few things are engineered from scratch these days. Even the big boys cheat once in a while. In any case I would love to read Velociphile's take on this. If anybody can debunk them that would be him. he has done so in the past and in numerous occasions.

If you are a Hublot fan and don't frown at the price (for a Hublot), you should consider making a stop at your closest Authorized Dealer. If the price for this baby is indeed close to the 20's than there will be not a single one left for you by the time they are presented at basel this April.

Hublot...

Rolex "Milgauss"

Have just been confronted with the "Milgauss", and I like it. I was not very keen on the seconds hand designed by "the Flash" and the greenish sapphire glass. Surprisingly the result is quite interesting. The whole design just works. It is not understated but it does not scream like a Daytona.

Like the entire "new" Rolex lineup, the Milgauss has a more than just good enough finishing compared with Rolexes from only five years ago. The bracelets and clasps feel much more robust and are more in tune with a watch considered to be a luxury leader. This was certainly not the case several years ago.

Looking around I must say that the price is competitive enough to make this a backordered product like a Yacht-Master or Submariner. Although I don't think it will be a coveted item like a Daytona, that is for now at least.


Rolex...