Tag: Limited Editions

MONTBLANC Presents 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Blue LimitedEdition

Post author By ukwatches
Post date July 12, 2016

The vintage looks of the collection have been one of the reasons for their popularity (another has been the entry price into the collection). The 1858 is named for the founding year of Minerva, now a part of Montblanc, and so it finds itself into the replica watch as well.

Following last year’s launch of its 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter in rose gold, which itself was part of a new collection whose new pilots replica watches have been a market success, Montblanc has extended the collection with the addition of a stainless steel case version of the Chronograph with a dark blue dial, in a limited edition of 100 pieces.

The historically-inspired cathedral hands, typeface and dial design are now familiar, but being a modern replica watch, the hands and numerals are coated in SuperLumiNova. It comes in a 44mm sized case (height of 13.15mm) and on a blue alligator strap to match the dial colour. The size of the case is basically down to the fact that the movement is a rather significant 38.4mm.

Inside is the manual-wind Montblanc Caliber M16.29, a pocket-watch style monopusher column-wheel chronograph, with both a large screwed balance and swan neck regulator. It is inspired by the Minerva 17.29 movement from 1929 and is hand-finished. As you can tell, if you are into replica watch photography then this will probably provide you with many hours of enjoyment. As @initialjh who photographed it likes saying, the devil is in the details – of the chronograph. The movement has 252 parts and you can see how much work has gone into it.

I liked the pilots’ replica watches when they were released last year and have not seen the rose gold version of this one to compare, but this blue and stainless steel version is a good looking replica watch and a fitting tribute both inside and out, to its 1930s inspiration. This is very much a replica watch for the chronograph fans amongst us.

Tags chronograph, Hands-on, Limited Editions, SIHH 2016, Switzerland, Watch movements, Watch Profile

Hands-on Men Watch Swiss Replica Urwerk Replica

URWERK Presents the UR-105T-Rex

Post author By ukwatches
Post date July 11, 2016

In 2014 Urwerk introduced the manual-wind UR-105 via the Iron Knight and Dark Night, followed in 2015 by the automatic UR-105 TA (Turbine Automatic) Knight, whose movement is regulated via dual air turbines visible on its back. There were then some rather perplexing (to me) bright coloured versions in orange and yellow. I rather think that you either ‘got’ the colours or you didn’t, and not being one for yellow or orange as a general rule, I fell into the latter camp.

Inside is the same automatic Calibre 5.02 UR as used in the TA model, with a 48-hour power reserve. The time display features four satellites each showing three hour intervals, driven by a carousel rotating device and running over a 60-minute track. The satellite hours are bronze beryllium Geneva crosses and the carrousel and three mainplates in brass. Markers, dials, indexes and satellites all have Super-LumiNova.Rolex Day-Date Replica

On the case back we find Urwerk’s usual ‘interactive’ component to their replica watches – turbines that allow regulation of the winding of the replica watch (with three positions: ‘FULL’, ‘REDUCED’ and ‘STOP’).

This bronze bezel is decorated, bead-blasted, micro-blasted, oxidised with a brush. Yes the patina on it has been quite specifically created, although of course if you end up being one of the 22 owners of this piece, the patina’s development will be entirely up to you.

In 2016 Urwerk has released perhaps an equally perplexing (but in a different way and probably to a different subset of people) variant – the UR-105 T Rex. This is one of two (the other being the EMC Time Hunter) that they launched at SIHH 2016.

This new URWERK UR-105 T-Rex is based on the UR-105 TA, with major cosmetic changes. Pretty much as ‘major’ as is possible. Rather than steel, titanium, gold or PVD, it’s scaled up to full reptile mode and gone bronze.

For the T-Rex the bezel (and I almost hesitate to call it this, in a way, as it somehow seems inadequate a descriptor when it comes to Urwerk at times) covers most of the top of the case, with only the 60-minute track and the lower part of the trademark satellites, visible. It has been meticulously engraved with a pattern intended to mimic that of a T-Rex of course. The rest of the case remains black PVD-coated titanium.

Having seen the replica watch in the press release before I handled it I have to say that it is better in the metal. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it when I saw the initial photos, but ended up being rather taken with it, especially in terms of how tactile it is. There’s something quite engaging about it ‘in the metal’. Nonetheless, this is clearly a replica watch that will generate quite polarised views. However, if we take it as the latest addition in the ‘bronze age’ of replica watches, it’s definitely one of the (if not ‘the’) more interesting manifestations.

Although a rather large 39.50mm x 53mm x 16.800mm on its black alligator strap with PVD titanium buckle, it sits surprisingly easily on the wrist, as you can see above (@initialjh’s wrist errs a little on the smaller side). The price is 65,000 CHF before taxes.

Tags Hands-on, Limited Editions, SIHH 2016, Switzerland, URWERK, Watch Profile, watches

Dress Watch H.Moser &Cie Replica Hands-on

HANDS-ON With H.Moser Cie Swiss AlpWatch

Post author By ukwatches
Post date July 6, 2016

Remember this video? As a piece of low cost guerilla marketing it was inspired, with its coverage far and wide amongst tech press, many (most?) of whom didn’t really seem to get the point, or humour.

If nothing else, the dial makes it unmistakably Moser but when I held it, did I think of the Fruit Replica Watch or the Swiss Alp? Interestingly (to me), the latter. When it came out, when I posted the video, all I could think of was this replica watch as a ‘statement’, but it’s really more than that.

I found that I was not thinking that this is one brand’s playful message to the Fruit Replica Watch when I held it, when I tried it on. I was simply on what was before me. As one would expect of a well made white gold replica watch it feels solid, enduring. This isn’t a wrist piece with a very short shelf life, and as a replica watch (versus as a ‘reaction’) it does stand on its own.

Inside is something that doesn’t have an inbuilt obsolescence – the in-house manual wind Calibre HMC 324 (18,000 VPH) with hacking seconds and four days of power reserve (a power reserve indicator is visible on the back). This is a movement that measures 32.0mm x 36.0mm x 4.80mm, made to fit snugly into the case, and hand finished and decorated.

So yes the video is an err ‘homage’; the shape is the same, the size similar (38.2mm x 44.0mm x 10.3mm), the lugs similar (although wire lugs are hardly new to replica watches) to the Fruit Replica Watch, but it is made of white gold, and otherwise vastly different.

With its signature Moser fumé sunburst dial with leaf-shaped hour and minute hands and coming on a kudu leather strap in ‘Moser green’, the Swiss Alp is limited to 50 pieces and priced at USD 24,900.

Would I wear it? Possibly.

Tags H. Moser & Cie, Hands-on, Limited Editions, SIHH 2016, Switzerland, Watch Profile, watches

Greubel Forsey Replica Hands-on Men Watch Swiss Replica

GREUBEL FORSEY Presents Signature1

Post author By ukwatches
Post date July 2, 2016

Greubel Forsey recently hit the headlines for the rather head-exploding price realised by their first Naissance ‘School Replica Watch’ (photo of the prototype below) at a Christie’s auction : HKD 11,296,000. For details on what is so special about this replica watch, go to this link, but I would hazard a guess that even Messrs Dufour, Greubel, Forsey and Boulanger would not have guessed it would fetch such an astonishing amount.montre replique rolex

The first model of this new series is the Signature 1. The creation of Didier J.G. Cretin, a long time replica watchmaker at Greubel Forsey, it is a simple manually wound replica watch with three hands, with not a tourbillon in sight.

Not only is it sans tourbillon, but at 41.4mm x 11.7mm it is also considerably smaller than the usual Greubel Forsey replica watch, and will be made in rose gold, white gold, platinum, or stainless steel.

The movement of the Signature 1 has a power reserve of fifty-four hours and is notable for featuring a large new exclusively designed Greubel Forsey 12.6mm balance that beats at 18,000VPH.

The hands of the all-gold offset dial are finished and countersunk by hand, the indices engraved into the gold dial and then enamelled. Bridges are decorated with Geneva stripes (a first for a Greubel Forsey replica watch) or with a frosted black PVD treatment.

For followers of independent brands one thing that becomes evident is not just the collaboration that can happen between them, but also that it is not uncommon for the independents to support their own replica watchmakers in a public way such as this. Other recent examples are Kim Djapri (whom I met in Dresden in March and then at Baselworld 2016) who has been a replica watchmaker for Lang & Heyne and is now at the Tempus Arte boutique, who has had the support of Lang & Heyne and even assistance from their master engraver for his AHCI candidacy replica watch the Bélier (which those of you who follow me on Instagram will have seen already) or new brand Oscillon, whose founders are doing R&D and CAD work at Urwerk during the day.

The Naissance (full name ‘Le Garde Temps – Naissance d’une Montre’) project is one focused around the preservation and continuation of skills, and at SIHH 2016 Greubel Forsey introduced a new series called ‘Signature’, which continues this theme.

In a nutshell, for each of the Signature replica watches one replica watchmaker will be able to give full flight to his or her skills, with the assistance of Greubel Forsey, and the final replica watch will be co-signed by the replica watchmaker and Greubel Forsey.

For those who have wanted a leaner cleaner Greubel Forsey replica watch, this may tickle your fancy. Perhaps it doesn’t have the hallmarks of the brand to which we have become accustomed, but it is more wearable, and it is at a lower price point (although clearly still not inexpensive), and it is an elegant replica watch with a pure and simple aesthetic. As it was a prototype I saw, it will be interesting to see how the end product looks from a finishing point of view, since Greubel Forsey’s replica watches are known for their beautiful high levels of finishing.

There will be a total of sixty-six Signature 1s made : eleven each in rose gold, white gold, and platinum, and thirty-three in stainless steel (eleven of which will have a blue dial). Although these are more simple pieces than your usual Greubel Forsey, they are still Greubel Forseys with the commensurate prices, which start at 150,000 CHF for the stainless steel version.

Tags Greubel Forsey, Hands-on, Limited Editions, SIHH 2016, Switzerland, Watch Profile, watches, Watchmaking

Hands-on MBF Replica Sport Watch Technical Watch

MBF Presents LM1Silberstein

Post author By ukwatches
Post date June 27, 2016

Once inside the meeting room we saw today’s replica watches, which are not only the latest Performance Art pieces to be launched by MB&F, but also their second partnership with Silberstein.

Known for his primary colour dominated playful replica watches of his eponymous brand, which ceased in 2012, you may be familiar with his 2009 MB&F Performance Art collaboration, called the HM2 Black Box.

The Legacy Machine series, whilst commencing with more conservatively styled aesthetics, has grown into a horological playground for partnership, notably with Xia Hang with his endearing Mr Up/ Mr Down, and now with Silberstein and the LM1.

So I was at Baselworld 2016 waiting for my appointment when I noticed a familiar looking person. I stood there wracking my brains, trying to match a name. Then I glanced down at his wrist.

It was Mr. Alain Silberstein, of course.

The dual time zone and vertical power reserve indicator are where Silberstein has left his mark, with the use of the red, yellow and blue trio he is known for, and the triangle, square and circle, all shapes which are prominent features of his own replica watches. However, you will also note that the bridge is sapphire, which not only adds an interesting visual contrast from a material point of view, but also grants an unobstructed view of the balance wheel.

Powering it all is of course the now familiar manual-wind movement developed for MB&F by Jean-François Mojon/ Chronode and Kari Voutilainen with its (newly styled) 14mm balance wheel floating high above the movement and two dials.

Another thing you will notice is that the sub dials are now concave, making them look like small metal bowls, almost.

The first MB&F Alain Silberstein collaboration is very difficult to track down. Even then, there is little getting around the fact that it’s a replica watch of proportions that don’t suit every wrist. This new threesome in rather more ‘user friendly’ proportions now gives a new opportunity for fans of the first, Silberstein fans, and MB&F fans, to scratch their ‘watch itch’.

Each of the three versions of this new Legay Machine are in a 42.5mm case with a thickness of 17mm. This is in contrast to the original LM1, whose measurements are 44mm and 16mm high.

Engraved in French between the lugs of LM1 Silberstein is something special to him : “Le vrai bonheur est d’avoir sa passion pour métier” (“Making a profession of your passion is true happiness”).

This new LM1 Silberstein timepiece comes in three variants with a limitation of twelve pieces per model as per below :

Grade 5 titanium (79,000 CHF + VAT)
Grade 5 titanium treated with black PVD (79,000 CHF + VAT)
18 carat red gold (88,000 CHF + VAT)

Strap-wise, you will get a black hand-stitched calfskin strap with black top-stitched seams with the red gold model and straps with red top-stitched seams for both titanium case models.

Tags Baselworld 2016, Hands-on, Limited Editions, MBF, Switzerland, Watch Profile, watches

Hands-on Korona Replica

Unique Korona K3 Northern Stars BlackEnamel

Post author By ukwatches
Post date June 25, 2016

Stepan Sarpaneva’s Korona K3 has come in a number of forms, including a quite amazing white enamel dialled Northern Stars (amazing because the enamel dial somehow seems more stark and pristine than your usual enamel dial) which I only fleetingly saw at Baselworld 2016 before it was snapped up by one of his retailers (the last of the limited edition of eight). However, I did get the opportunity to see his new ‘follow up’ model, a black enamel version.www.swissrolexrex.co.uk

The use of blue and silver steel Sarapaneva-styled grates, which do double duty as both decoration and indices, really stand out against the almost pitch-black blackness of the dial. It’s one of the strengths of Stepan Sarpaneva’s Korona replica watches that they are so identifiably his; there’s no mistaking the case shapes, the grates, and of last but never least, his endearing moon.

The new black dial model comes in an 18 carat red gold case measuring 42mm x 10.2mm. Inside is the now familiar modified Soprod Calibre A10 automatic movement with Mr Moon.

Perhaps it is because of the manner in which the high-fire enamel dial was created, but the blackness of this dial is really deeply black. Feel free to disagree with me, but black dials really do seem to vary a lot in terms of ‘blackness’, and this one is not only REALLY black, but also has a very real sense of depth to the colour as well. However, as well as being quite beautiful, it is also a challenge to photograph, so if you click on this link you will find an official photograph of it from Sarpaneva.

With a limitation number of ten pieces, this new piece can be yours for the price of €26,000 (plus taxes).

Tags Baselworld 2016, Hands-on, Limited Editions, Sarpaneva, Switzerland, Watch Profile, watches

Bremont Replica Dress Watch Hands-on Men Watch

BREMONT’s new RegattaChronographs

Post author By ukwatches
Post date June 22, 2016

Both the OTUSA and the Bremont Regatta AC use a modded chronograph, adapted to create the five minute countdown function situated at 12 o’clock for the sailing function. When you press the chronograph pusher the white window progressively reveals the word “START” and the red arc counts down from 5, changing to white. At the end of five minutes the two arcs recommence their cycle. As well as the centre chronograph seconds there’s a running seconds at 9 o’clock and a twelve hour counter at 6 o’clock.

If you follow Bremont, Giles or Nick English on Twitter/ Instagram then you will be well aware of the enthusiasm with which Bremont has entered into their relationship with the America’s Cup ORACLE Team USA.

At Baselworld 2016 they announced the addition of four new chronograph Regatta replica watches to add to their America’s Cup Collection in the form of new limited edition pieces – Regatta Oracle Team USA (OTUSA) White, Regatta OTUSA Black, Regatta AC Stainless Steel, and Regatta AC Rose Gold. All the new pieces are 43mm in size, and I am sharing one of each with you today.

The movement is an automatic one made for them by La Joux-Perret with a power reserve of forty-two hours and is COSC-certified. You will also note the America’s Cup decoration on the rotor.

With its polished case Regatta AC is more classically styled of the two new designs, particularly with the use of Arabic numerals and blued hands for the stainless steel version. The Bremont Trip-Tick® case has a scratch resistant DLCd case barrel.

Whereas the AC models have a chronograph centre seconds. running seconds at 9 o’clock, date and 12 hour counter at 6 o’clock and a 5 minute countdown at 12 o’clock, the OTUSA has a 15 minute Regatta timer and 5 minute countdown at 12 o’clock.

The Regatta Oracle Team USA replica watches have one detail that you may not know at first glance is that high-grade carbon fibre taken from the yacht foils of the winning 2013 Oracle Team USA AC72 yacht is incorporated into each of the crowns.

There will be a limitation number of two hundred and thirty five for this model, and one hundred and thirty five for the rose gold version.

As mentioned above, the Regatta Oracle Team USA will also be in black or white dial variants with a limitation of two hundred and thirty five pieces for each colour. Both colours have a titanium case with the same DLCd case barrel as the other model, their bi-directional rotating bezels lumed with Super-LumiNova. Indices and hands are also lumed.

The America’s Cup replica watches are not just Bremont’s first regatta replica watches, but they told me that they are also the first English regatta replica watches, which is definitely something to be celebrated for them.

All the new models bar the 18 carat rose gold have a Temple Island rubber strap and titanium pin buckle; the Regatta AC Stainless Steel has a blue strap, the OTUSA a black one. The 18K rose gold model is supplied with a brown alligator strap with matching 18K rose gold pin buckle.

Tags Baselworld 2016, Bremont, chronograph, Hands-on, Limited Editions, Switzerland, Watch Profile

Calendar Watch Hands-on Men Watch Sinn Replica

Take A Look At SINN 910 Anniversary SplitChronograph

Post author By ukwatches
Post date June 15, 2016

For those who may not know a splits-second function has two chronograph hands that both start in alignment when the chronograph function is actuated. Then another pusher, which in the case of this replica watch is at 8 o’clock, is depressed to stop one of the hands as as the second continues to advance. Pressing the pusher a second time makes the ‘stopped’ hand jump to the position of the moving hand, and they continue in unison.repliques montres

So what is the anniversary to which the name alludes? Well it’s Sinn’s 55th birthday. Both the limitation number (x/300) and ‘1961 – 2016’ are engraved on the case back.

Although I acknowledge that it is (pardon the double negative) not an inexpensive chronograph, it is nonetheless a good looking one.

Sinn have used the ever reliable Valjoux 7750 with a La Joux Perret mod to create a ratchet colunn wheel chrono with split seconds function. The chronograph actuation is very smooth.

Back to the cream dial. In keeping with their ‘vintage look’ approach for this replica watch they’ve gone for black applied indices and a classic use of red for counter hands and on the tachymeter.

At Baselworld 2016 Sinn, a favourite German ‘tool replica watch’ brand of many, came out with a number of new releases including one or two rather dressy pieces as well as a camo dial that is probably something you will love or not (I don’t), but the clear winner for me was the limited edition 910 Anniversary Split Chronograph, and so I shall talk about it first.

Their first split chronograph, the dial is not perhaps ‘groundbreaking’ in its design, but you don’t always need something adventurous, and the rather pure old school classic chronograph look of this one, with its creamy dial, is just spot on and attractive.

Size wise it is a 41.5mm stainless steel case and comes with both a bracelet and a shell cordovan strap. My vote goes to the strap. Also included in the kit are a strap replacement tool, spring bars, a loupe, and a polishing cloth.

The RRP is 5,500 EUR and in Australia, AUD 7,863.64 ex. GST and AUD 8,650.00 incl. GST from Define Replica Watches in Brisbane.

Tags Baselworld 2016, chronograph, German watches, Hands-on, Limited Editions, Sinn, Switzerland, Watch Profile

Omega Replica

OMEGA : Globemaster Master Chronometer AnnualCalendar

Post author By ukwatches
Post date May 9, 2016

Basel2016OmegaGlobemasterAnnualCalendar9_zpsikssmfht

At Baselworld 2015 Omega introduced the 39mm Globemaster in stainless steel, Sedna, platinum and bi-coloured version.s A year later and at Baselworld 2016 they launched a new Globemaster Annual Calendar to add to the family.

Movement-wise, it is a Co-Axial Master Chronometer powered by the in-house developed and manufactured Calibre 8922 (and 8923 for the limited edition model, which has a Sedna gold rotor). As it is METAS certified, it is labelled as ‘Master Chronometer’. For those who do not know, this newish certification was established by Omega and METAS (the Federal Institue of Meterology) because they wished to go beyond COSC-certification. Click on the link above for all details. Sixty-two references are now Master Chronometer certified and Omega hopes to certify nearly all its mechanical replica watches as Master Chronometers by 2020.

At a larger 41mm, it comes in stainless steel with a tungsten carbide bezel and blue dial, Sedna, bimetal (stainless steel and Sedna), and also a platinum version.

When the first photos of this came out the responses online were mixed, and these focused on the writing on the dial. There is little question that in terms of legibility, it leaves nothing to be confused about, but the placement and typeface of the writing caused a lot of animated discussion. As always, I had a response but not a definitive one, as replica watches are mostly objects about which it is best not to have a definite opinion until you can see them in the metal. I was in the camp of those who didn’t find myself drawn to the writing, and I wondered why they decided to do it that way. Sometimes, even if something is not to your taste, if you are able to ask why something was done and understand this reason, then things are different.

So when I got the chance to see them I asked the question. The answer was continuity; they wanted to have the text there and the choice of font was on the basis of it being the same as the ‘Globemaster’ text on the dial. Which is totally fair enough, having too many typefaces on a dial can get a bit tricky and messy. The month indicator hand on the dial for the calendar function is nice and discreet, and if the goal of the pie-pan dial’s design is legibility of functionality and to make it basically as foolproof as possible for someone buying it (bearing in mind that many who buy it may not be familiar with annual calendars) then it meets those goals. The one thing I would note is that it is interesting that the decision was not made to make the month indicator hand another colour, for contrast.

The platinum Globemaster Annual Calendar (shown at the top) has both a platinum case and platinum clasp and has some heft, as you can imagine. The platinum case and clasp are milled from an alloy of platinum (950Pt) and gold (20Au). The dial is also (sandblasted) platinum with 18 carat white gold markers filled with burgundy enamel. On the reverse you can see that the burgundy theme is carried through to a burgundy enamel Central Observatory medallion on the movement, which also has a Sedna gold rotor and balance wheel.

As mentioned at the outset, the new Globemaster Annual Calendar comes in stainless steel, Sedna gold, bi-metal (stainless steel and Sedna), and platinum. The platinum version is limited to 52 pieces only and comes on a burgundy leather strap which I was told is inspired by Chesterfield chairs. Australian RRPs are as $11,300 for stainless steel, $14,200 for the bimetal model, $31,150 for the Sedna, and $63,000 for the platinum edition.

Tags Baselworld 2016, Hands-on, Limited Editions, Omega, Switzerland

Sinn Replica

Replica SINN : 910 Anniversary SplitChronograph

Post author By ukwatches
Post date April 15, 2016

For those who may not know a splits-second function has two chronograph hands that both start in alignment when the chronograph function is actuated. Then another pusher, which in the case of this luxury replica watch is at 8 o’clock, is depressed to stop one of the hands as as the second continues to advance. Pressing the pusher a second time makes the ‘stopped’ hand jump to the position of the moving hand, and they continue in unison.

Sinn have used the ever reliable Valjoux 7750 with a La Joux Perret mod to create a ratchet colunn wheel chrono with split seconds function. The chronograph actuation is very smooth.

So what is the anniversary to which the name alludes? Well it’s Sinn’s 55th birthday. Both the limitation number (x/300) and ‘1961 – 2016’ are engraved on the case back.

Although I acknowledge that it is (pardon the double negative) not an inexpensive chronograph, it is nonetheless a good looking one.

The RRP is 5,500 EUR and in Australia, AUD 7,863.64 ex. GST and AUD 8,650.00 incl. GST from Define Replica Watches in Brisbane.

Tags Baselworld 2016, chronograph, German watches, Hands-on, Limited Editions, Sinn, Switzerland, Watch Profile