My first impression of Harry Winston Opus 14

Cometh the hour, cometh the opus! In another interesting turn of events, the makers of Harry Winston recently released the successor of one of the most prestigious models in the sphere of Horology. 
The Opus 14 that has elegantly carried the legacy of its predecessors has already started making the headline. The flagship model of the iconic Opus that was unveiled almost a month ago & undoubtedly it is an epitome of class & impeccable design. 
Opus does seem to be a fresh beginning!
Post 14 successful iterations, the scion of imperial Harry Winston Opus family appears to be getting bigger and better. 
The three working disks, inspired by mid-century American theme, split neatly with each other & seizes your attention. 
The dynamic disks can be personalized as per your needs. The lustrous frame wears a look of the molten silver cast into a muscular frame with the all essential oodles of charm. The premier complication projects it's working like a Jukebox, transporting you right back to your salad days. 
Formidability is lent by the three disks encrusted in an 18k white gold frame & stretches over 50 mm in width. 
They are assigned to the unique display of local time, GMT, the date & lastly a star at 2 O' clock, bearing the signature of Mr. Harry Winston, a reference to the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The design aesthetics of the Harry Winston flagship timekeeper draws its inference from iconic record changer machine of the 1920s. 

Image Courtesy: Watch Insider

The Opus 14 boasts of a whopping 1,066-part movement, which is hand-wound and comes with a silicon balance spring. At the back, there are 31 bridges- a replacement of standard plate with a series of plates or bars (an attraction for the lovers of intricacies), and two mainspring barrels – one for the timekeeping and the other for the automation functions. 
Both the GMT and the date indications can be set through corrector pushers at the 12 o'clock position of the case that is highlighted by the eminent engravings made on the pushers while the time can be adjusted by using the crown at 2. 
Aesthetically speaking, this watch has a lesser element of unconventionality & more of a style automation mechanism that places it in a different league altogether.

On paper, the opus 14 was a three-and-a-half year project, but the detailed contours render it as an architect's imagination. 
Blancpain's testing facility has tested the agility of Opus 14 by subjecting it to the optimum level of endurance testing procedure. One of the front runners of Swatch group, Harry Winston, appears to have escalated its brand value after being acquired by the world eminent Swatch group & the technology of independent watchmaking has accomplished the unthinkable.

Commemoration of new lieutenant in the legion of Spartans, Harry Winston Opus is just the timepiece you were planning to buy. Swatch must be thanking their stars for having Harry Winston 14 in their rank.

Bovet Amadeo Fleurier Braveheart- The Flying Tourbillon

The key difference between a striking watch & insanely grand watch lies in the dedicated hours of craftsmanship that goes into it. Skeletonized the watch, higher its pedantic quotient is. Similar were my thoughts when I first lay my unsullied gaze on this 45.2 mm golden dial cast out of 18k red gold, white gold or platinum, well accompanied by a seeking brown alligator leather strap. Drawing inspiration from the traditional pocket watches, the crown along with crown-guard sit atop the dial at 12 o’ clock. A sight of Bovet Amadeo Fleurier Braveheart is sufficient enough to give you jitters, but that won’t count for that surge of unadulterated anxiety that you are likely to experience after you know about the capabilities of this Luxury Timepiece. So, starting from the sitting positions, the Braveheart from Bovet can transform into three different luscious position, i.e. it can be your wrist watch, transform into a table clock & serve the purpose of a contemporary pocket watch.

One specialty of Amadeo series of Bovet timepieces is that it boasts of convertible cases. Thus enabling you to wear with either side on the top. The Braveheart seems to be a deserving heir to the Virtuoso family. For the lesser mortals, Virtuoso series from the house of Bovet is a predecessor to the Braveheart. Everything said & understood, I tell you that the glitz & intricacies of the crafted frame of this Bovet attraction have the appeal to charm anyone in a flash.

This masterpiece from Bovet encrusts an assimilation of the main features that separates it from other tourbillon timekeepers of its league. First up the cylindrical hairspring, which makes for an immiscible addition to the regulation system. Regulation system is precisely the heart of the watch, so technically speaking, the tubular hairspring is the reason behind isochronism or in layman’s term more accuracy, which is often a sales pitch for most of the accomplished watchmakers. I wonder how many of them justify this proclamation. For your information, cylindrical hairspring isn’t a lately induced feature, rather it is one of those sought after characteristics of a mechanical timepiece that accords added charm to the gorgeousness of skeletonized dial such as Braveheart. And yeah, it looks cool in the 3D appearance as well. 

Next up is Bovet Dimier caliber, which is a replacement of traditional balance wheel. Rather it’s just a felly that is again a three-pong balance device, which has three big sides accounting for lesser weight & is more aerodynamically accurate, in the technical term I call it a reduced air drag. It has been designed in such a manner that you can be assured of no inertial or gravitational interference & thus making it a relatively reliable accomplice of a connoisseur. The felly is one of the six patents (it is going to be one hell of a high-performance timekeeper) in the watch & a genuine visual treat for those beholding its sight. Apart from all the movement nit grit, axis & visibly great movement, there is more to it. It is the flying tourbillon feature with a new system (again a patent). The flying tourbillon is good enough for an improved efficiency & breathtaking view of tourbillon from either side of the watch. Yes, if you are the lucky wearer (presuming that you own it sooner) you have the luxury to wear it with either side being on top. Of course, it has beautiful dials on both the sides with a slightly changed dial that shows the time. The crown winding system uses an impressive looking spherical gear to wind both the massive mainspring barrels simultaneously which is the source propelling the movement.

Moving on to some basic tech aspect, the Braveheart boasts of a comparatively low frequency at 18000 bhp (2.5Hz) frequency, which doesn’t sound too great for a watch as highly pegged as this. On the brighter side, the manual winding surprises you with 22 days of prolonged power reserve (hey, it has an indicator too).

The makers of Bovet Braveheart have released it in a limited range of 30 units along with the unique model in platinum that comes with a matching bracelet covered with diamonds & would cost you a fortune, yes $1,161,500 is the exact quoted amount. Apart from it, the fully bedecked horological marvel comes with a price tag of $557,700 for 18k red gold, $569,200 for white gold. While writing, I fantasized its presence on my wrist. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comment section below.

Link to the official Bovet website.

Omega Seamaster 300 & Aqua Terra 150 Bond edition watches!

The much-awaited Bond movie, Spectre is all set to hit the big screen on 26 October & with the movie comes the captivating range of hot machines that add up to create the suave demeanor of James Bond that we see onscreen. Ian Fleming’s iconic character has been known for his fondness for women & gadgets. Of them all, the iconic Omega Seamaster has stayed firmly on Bond’s wrist since 1995’s Golden eye. It's the first time that a limited edition Bond series watch is already up for grabs. The two Omega special ‘Spectre’ edition watches, Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m & Seamaster 300 limited edition carries the legacy of Omega & have done every bit of justice to it. Here’s how!

 Image Courtesy: Omega Watches

The Seamaster 300 throws a packed punch with its robust casing & striking dial bearing the insignia of Bond, 007, on the keeper of the strap. The timepiece comes housed in a robust stainless steel case with a sleek, black & grey NATO strap- a strap that is made up of Ballistic Nylon, and is also a significance of the original NATO strap worn in Goldfinger & Thunderball. Talking of the machinery prowess, the bond’s accomplice is powered by OMEGA Master Co-Axial calibre 8400, a revolutionary movement that is resistant to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. A closer look of the machinery sensation reveals a striking black dial adorned with the rhodium-plated hands with a coating of Super-Luminova – a material that lights up the dial even in sheer darkness and a second’s hand that resembles a ‘lollipop’. Quite similar to its predecessors, the watch, includes a main hour hand & triangular hour markers. Each timepiece has a unique serial number and a ‘SPECTRE’ logo on the case back. A bi-directional rotating bezel, made up of polished Black ceramic adorns its sleek frame. LiquidMetal 12-hour scale ushers the limited edition watch with its alloy technology, which enables people to stay abreast with the timings across the globe.

Image Courtesy: Omega Watches

OMEGA Seamaster has represented James Bond for the past 20 years. The stories have evolved, and so have the affluent watches. Spectre brings us the unique blend of character and watchmaking prodigy, together in the Seamaster 300 "SPECTRE" Limited Edition. As the watch is limited to 7,007 models, it is highly recommended to book one timepiece for yourself, lest you become the 7,008^th person to enroll for the watch.

TECHNICAL DATA

Crystal: Domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment inside
Case - Steel
Dial - Black
Water resistance- 30 bar (300 metres / 1000 feet)
Size - Case Diameter: 41 mm

Another watch donned by Bond in the movie is Seamaster Aqua Terra 150, which is also a limited edition timepiece. The anticipation of the upcoming Bond movie is at its peak so is the hype around the iconic Seamaster Aqua Terra 150. Talking about the patterns, the watch bears an enticing pattern of the Bond family coat of arms, which is visibly evident on the Blue PVD dial & presents for a beautiful spectacle made by the entwined patterns. Indeed, it speaks high of the traditional insignia of the iconic Bond family that lived in the 10th century. The same logo is also affixed at the tip of the yellow central second’s hand. Another remarkable feature of this Seamaster chef-d'oeuvre is its oscillating weight. This component has been smartly cut & shaped to resemble a gun’s barrel. 

Image Courtesy: Omega Watches

The design marks the entry of Bond in the film. This Omega masterpiece is immune to the magnetic field greater than 15,007 gauss, which implies that the watch’s functionality won't be affected even if it is exposed to the intense magnetic field. The limited edition serial number is engraved at the case back. Powered by Omega master Co-Axial caliber 8507, this gorgeous beauty is better than many. The case finished in sapphire crystal over the front & the rear, and the transparent case back makes it truly a looked-for masterpiece. The watch is available only at leading Omega boutiques. 

Image Courtesy: Omega Watches

Two power-packed watches await you. Don one of these classical pieces and take pride in calling yourself a real life 007.

TECHNICAL DATA

Crystal: Domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment inside
Case - Steel
Dial - Blue
Water resistance- 15 bar (150 metres / 500 feet)
Size - Case Diameter: 41.5 mm

Source: Omega Watches- Seamaster 300, Aqua Terra.