Categories
Panerai Replica

PHOTOS : Replica Panerai’s new Radiomir 1940s – PAM574, PAM575 andPAM620

At Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 Panerai officially launched new versions of the popular 42mm Radiomir 1940s that came out two years ago, containing the new manual-wind Calibre P.1000, replacing the P.999. The new movement has a seconds at 9 o’clock, a power reserve of three days (up from sixty hours, thanks to twin barrels versus single), beats at 28,800VPH versus 21,000VPH for its predecessor, and the most notable change, a seconds reset feature. For those who are unfamiliar with this, it stops the balance and ‘resets’ the seconds hand to zero when time-setting, to allow for perfect synchronisation with the reference time.

The PAM574 is the stainless steel model, and PAM575 the red gold. The former is water resistant to 100m and the latter, 50m.

The mainplate is brushed, and you will note some nice bevelling and polishing.

So. The green alligator strap.

Perhaps the most pronounced feature of the PAM00574 is this boldly coloured strap. However, if we hark back a little bit, it is not a new thing as such. This was part of a range of eight brightly coloured straps that were released last year (see this link) for the Radiomir 1940 (42mm), Luminor 1950 (42mm) and Luminor (40mm). The rose gold version comes on a more sober black strap. Panerai have simply chosen to put it on this new model as the default strap. It is certainly more likely to grab attention because of this.

There’s only one other dial design amendment to the earlier models. The Super-LumiNova has gone from the faux-vintage colour to green.

As well as these two new manual models, Panerai have released an automatic version of the Radiomir 1940 42mm. Available only in stainless steel, the PAM620 contains the Calibre P.4000. Superficially the dial only has the addition of ‘Automatic’. Power reserve is the same as for the PAM574 and PAM575 and there is again a micro-rotor, visible through an open caseback.

Each of these new Radiomirs will have limitations : 500 pieces for the PAM620, 1000 for the PAM574, and 200 for the PAM575. Prices in EUR are :

PAM00574 manual, steel: €7,400
PAM00575 manual, rose gold: €17,600
PAM00620 automatic, steel: €9,700

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Montblanc Replica

NEW : Replica Montblanc 1858 Collection Pilots’Watch

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[NOTE – You may find that this post sounds familiar. Unfortunately I did not know at the time of its original posting that there was a worldwide embargo on the new collection of which these form a part until its launch at SIAR in Mexico on October 20, 2015 so when I found out, I took it down. Said embargo has now been lifted.

For those in Sydney, the models in this post are available at the Montblanc King St boutique. Prices for Australia are $4,500 for the model on the brown leather strap and $4,970 for the Milanese model.]

A quick interstitial type of post of an unexpected thing that happened on my final day (the day after Replica Watches & Wonders 2015) in Hong Kong.

Although purportedly slated for a Mexico release and not on display in Montblanc’s booth at the fair, the new Montblanc 1858 Collection pilots’ replica watches (aka the 1858 Collection Small Seconds, of which there are limited and production models) which had already been seen by some turned out to be already available, in Hong Kong and Paris boutiques. Perhaps others in other countries as well?

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It was with some surprise that I saw them in the Pacific Place boutique’s window when I happened to be passing by (followed up by a second trip to their Time Square boutique, which also had them on display in the front window), so I popped in and snapped a few quick phone photos (apols for their quality) to share with you.

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With the old-style logo on the dial to reflect the vintage pilot look of the design, which features the classic hands (now white lumed in these pieces) and large clear numerals associated with such luxury replica watches, inside is what is marked as the ‘MB2320’ movement aka Unitas 6498. It’s more about utility rather than decoration for this replica watch, so a closed case back could have been an option perhaps.

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In a stainless steel case of 44mm (although it feels more like 42mm) with a onion-style crown typical of the replica watches it is recognising, it is available in both a strap and (nicely solid) Milanese version. They have apparently been selling like the proverbial hotcakes in Hong Kong since they became available almost two months ago, particularly the strap version, which costs HKD23,500.

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Simple, attractive and solidly built versions of this eternally popular replica watch style, they are boutique-only, so if you’re interested, you know where to go.

Categories
Piaget Replica

Replica WATCHES WONDERS 2015: Piaget LimelightStella

One of the foci of luxury Piaget’s Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 releases was that of their first automatic complication replica watch for their women’s collection in the form of the Limelight Stella replica watches. The complication in question? A moonphase, courtesy of the new automatic Calibre 584P.

Designed and developed in both of Piaget’s La Côte-aux-Fées and Geneva locations, its display of the lunar cycle is via a two large moons framed by a diamond-set v-shape opening at 12 o’clock. Surrounding the moons you will see the celestial features of Ursa Major and Minor.

The moon phases appear on a disc adorned with stars and two moons that is driven by a 135-toothed wheel that requires a correction only after 122 years, so don’t stress too much about it.

This new Calibre 584P has a 42-hour power reserve, is 21,600VPH, a circular-grained mainplate, bevelled bridges, blued screws, circular Côtes de Genève, and the Piaget coat-of-arms on the oscillating weight.

In terms of the exterior, it is a very nicely sized 36mm in diametre (thickness of 6mm), which is what gives it enough space to have such a prominent moon. It is of special note that the case design is that of an oval ‘inside’ the circular case. There are fourteen brilliant-cut diamonds accentuating the moonphase complication, with delicate applied hour-markers and a sunburst motif on the dial. There is also an added bit of charming whimsy via the star on the end of the seconds hand. Close-up, it really is a beautiful dial on an elegant replica watch.

For women who are used to wearing replica watches smaller than 36mm you will find that the lines, especially in terms of the ‘shape within a shape’, add a softness to the size, and the lugs are very short and snug, so it is far less likely to hang over your wrist. For those accustomed to replica watches of around 36mm and above, and this is an increasing number of women, then you will have a fair idea of how this might sit on your wrist.

Available in three versions, the pink gold Limelight Stella comes in polished or gem-set bezel verions, whilst the white gold version features a gem-set bezel. They all come on alligator straps with matching pin buckles.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 at the invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Baume & Mercier Replica

Replica WATCHES WONDERS 2015 : Baume Mercier Clifton 1830 PocketWatch

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In this the year of its 185th birthday Baume & Mercier has chosen to mark it with an unexpected offering that was launched in Hong Kong at Replica Watches & Wonders – a five-minute repeater pocket replica watch.

Named after the year in which they were founded, the Clifton 1830 Pocket Replica Watch’s five-minute repeater function, courtesy of a movement provided by Dubois-Depraz Called the D73, chimes the hours and then the number of five minute intervals past the hour. It may not be as precise as a minute repeater, but with Baume et Mercier wanting to keep the cost of it down, as much as anything, it makes sense. For those unfamiliar with repeaters, activation is via the (traditional) protrusion on the side of the case.

The movement, visible through the case back, has skeletonised bridges and blued screws. Power reserve is forty-six hours.

On the front it is pure Clifton in its clean dial with red gold Arabic numerals and indices, and an opaline silvered dial.

At 50mm in diametre with a thickness of 14.4mm, it is in 18k red gold and comes on a black calfskin leather strap, which makes it a lot lighter in terms of being able to be used. You’re not likely to have it anywhere near water, but don’t worry if there’s a small splash onto it, it’s 5ATM.

Admittedly the booth was rather noisy when we listened to it, but upon activation the pocket replica watch was audible but with a touch of could-be-louder. However, in a nice touch the pocket replica watch comes with a JMC Lutherie ‘resonance tray’ soundboard made of spruce wood and Kevlar. Putting it atop makes it louder as well as providing an interesting ‘stand’ for it. Perhaps for the bedside?

The new anniversary Clifton 1830 ‘Emblematic Piece’ pocket replica watch comes in a numbered limited edition of 30 and costs AUD70,000.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Cartier Replica

WATCHES WONDERS 2015 : Replica Cartier Clé de Cartier MysteriousHour

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The new Clé (key) shape was revealed by Cartier at SIHH 2015 and covered earlier by us at this link. There are two distinguishing features to this new collection – the ‘key’ of the name which refers to the new crown design, and the new case shape of a round shape within an ellipse.

At Fashion Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 Cartier expanded the Clé line with a number of new models, including a new ‘mysterious hour’, a complication most closely associated with Cartier. This new piece is a variation on one of the mystery replica watches featured at this link but in the new case rather than the Rotonde.

As you can see, the hands float ‘mysteriously’, mounted on two transparent discs of sapphire crystal, and ‘moved’ via the outer ring of the case. Inside is the Calibre 9981 MC manual-wind movement with a forty-eight hour power reserve that is visible through the open caseback. This is the same movement as in the Rotonde Mystery. Made from 158 parts, the 4.61mm thick 9981 MC movement operates at 4Hz.

The standard Cartier Clé ‘men’s’ replica watch is 40mm wide, but the Clé de Cartier Mysterious Hour is 41mm wide, with a thickness of 11.25mm. It will be available in 18k pink gold or 950 palladium. The dial is a partially skeletonised as is similar with the Rotonde model, with a brushed plate and Cartier Roman numerals.

I actually like the Clé case shape more than the Rotonde, and the blue sapphire of the ‘key’ more than the cabuchon of the Rotonde, but these are very personal preferences. With this and a new flying tourbillon model added to the existing pieces in this new line in less than twelve months, Cartier have released models at all ends of the horological spectrum in this new shape, so I guess in a few months we will find out what comes next, and whether it will be other Rotonde movements in this new case shape.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]