Ulysse Nardin introduced the El Toro timepiece at Baselworld 2010 last month. The “Moonstruck” style case comes in a 43 mm diameter, in either gold or platinum. Inside, is UN’s legendary perpetual calendar movement, the automatic calibre UN-32. This in-house COSC-certified chronometer movement has 34 jewels, a white gold rotor and 45-hour power reserve. The bezel and pushpieces are black ceramic. The El Toro features an exclusive fast-action time-zone system, permanent indication of the original time, forward and backward adjustment of all the date indicators, and the synchronized adjustment of these elements using the hour hand.
Functions are hours, minutes, seconds, second time zone, perpetual calendar, large date, day, month and year. An anti-reflective sapphire crystal is used on the front and back. Water-resistant is 100 meters. The strap comes in rubber or leather with titanium/ceramic folding clasp, or crocodile with red gold or platinum folding clasp. Limited to 500 pieces worldwide.
Retail is $50,000+
Source: Ulysse Nardin
For the watch enthusiast with a passion for innovation and ingenuity, the new must-have timepiece is the Tread 1. This engineering masterpiece, the debut watch from the new line of timepieces from Devon, is a big, bold, sexy declaration of independence from the status quo.
The Tread 1’s unique functionality reinvents the watch, extending far beyond the boundaries of traditional watchmaking. The movement of the Tread 1 is a mesmerizing display of Devon’s patented interwoven system of time belts. This series of belts expresses hours and minutes in exacting motion, while the seconds indicator runs in continuous motion. To ensure temporal accuracy, a proprietary optical recognition system monitors each belt position at all times.
The sleek, bold Tread 1 has a unique aesthetic unlike any other timepiece. Design inspiration for this luxury watch came from industrial conveyor belts and motorcycles.
Four extremely compact microstep motors, powered by a lithium polymer rechargeable cell that will run for up to two weeks on a single charge, drive the movement of the four belts with efficiency, exacting power and steadfast accuracy. The belt assemblies are mounted on a central chassis, which allows for the perfect clearance of the moving parts and also creates the illusion that the parts are floating within the case. Fiber-reinforced glass nylon allows for belts that are only 2/1,000 of an inch thick while being strong and stable enough to ensure continuous accuracy.
The design of the Tread 1 tested the limits of current watchmakers, so Devon went to an industry experienced in pushing the limits of engineering, physics and even gravity. Devon enlisted a California aerospace engineering company to help develop the intricate technology required to support the revolutionary movement of the Tread 1. As Devon founder Scott Devon says, “In the aerospace industry, people go to work every day to make the impossible happen.” Working with California-based talent also syncs with Devon’s other mandate: “Our timepieces will be wholly developed and manufactured in the U.S. in order to capture the unique character of American dreams.” To articulate this vision and launch the brand, Devon enlisted the expertise of Peter Arnell of world-renowned multidisciplinary brand and product invention firm Arnell to oversee brand identity and communications. As Chairman of Arnell, Peter Arnell spearheaded strategic brand planning and ideation, including logo design, digital brand identity, website, brochure and collateral design.
Whether working on a car, motorcycle or watch, Scott Devon’s challenge to his design team is both simple and daunting: “We seek to create a design that redefines the category. We consult with experts in a variety of fields in order to build new innovations and keep pushing boundaries.” He demands that his team of artists, inventors and designers work together to deliver technological breakthroughs and fresh, modern, never-seen-it-before designs.
All of this adds up to head-turning aesthetics. With Tread 1, Devon immediately establishes a leading-edge vision and an exquisite command of the artistry of watch design. This must-have timepiece is an essential addition to any serious watch collection. The Tread 1’s groundbreaking design raises high expectations and anticipation for future luxury products from Devon.
Retail $15,000
Source: Devon
