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For her appearance at the 2009 TV Land Awards, America’s favorite housewife Teri Hatcher chose favored jeweler, Piaget for the big night.

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Teri Hatcher Pictures at the 2009 TV Land Awards – Piaget Events

Posted May 31st 2009 12:01PM by Ariel Adams
Filed under: Timepieces

Now up to 45mm wide (up from 43mm) the Baume & Mercier Riviera Magnum XXL beats the older XL in size and design for the look of the sportier version of the standard Riviera watch that wasn’t exactly stuffy to begin with.

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Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Baume & Mercier Riviera Magnum XXL Flyback Chronograph Watch

Posted May 30th 2009 10:00AM by Ariel Adams
Filed under: Timepieces, Events

This is something you should certainly see if you are in, or going to be in Paris at the right time. Breguet watches will be having a special exhibition at the splendid Louvre museum in Paris, France from June 25 until September 7, 2009.

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Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Breguet Timepiece Exhibit June 25 – September 7 At The Louvre Museum In Paris

LUMINOR POWER RESERVE 44 MM

A limited edition of 1,000 numbered pieces, aimed first and foremost at connoisseurs of classic models: Officine Panerai presents the Luminor Power Reserve 44 mm, the new ‘all black’ Luminor with automatic movement and a 42-hour power reserve. The watch will be available from the month of July 2009 at Officine Panerai authorized dealers worldwide and – by way of exclusive preview – from June at Panerai Boutiques.

This is not simply a reissue of the watch launched in 1998 but rather a significantly updated version, particularly regarding the dial and case. In the new Luminor, in fact, the carrure, the bezel and the device protecting the crown are made of stainless steel which is no longer blackened with a PVD coating – the new model is coated in DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon). This is a special process which coats the surfaces with a vaporised, diamond-structured layer of carbon that adheres perfectly to the metal. The ultra-thin coating obtained creates a harder-than-steel external layer, especially resistant to corrosion, scratching and wear.

The case, measuring 44 mm in diameter as with all classic models, is water-resistant to a depth of 300 metres, even if the water-resistance tests to which Panerai watches are submitted are always carried out at pressure levels that considerably exceed the certification. The carbon coating is also applied to the crown-protecting device and its lever – distinctive features of Luminor models – while the case back is made of brushed steel. Twelve-sided and screwed down, the case back is engraved with the individual issue number and the number of annual production.

As in the ‘90s models, the dial has a Clou de Paris decor, a feature that lends it significant depth, highlighting the large Arab numerals and hour markers, as luminescent as the index hands. The workmanship on the dial means the traditional sandwich style cannot be achieved, but the night-time luminosity of the hands and markers is equally very high. At 6 o’clock there is a semicircle indicating the power reserve remaining. This position is identical to that found on historic models, but with a different design for the smaller auxiliary dial. Reading of the date is facilitated by a small, 2.5mm thick magnifying lens applied to the anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

The new Luminor’s automatic movement is the Panerai Soprod 9040 calibre, 11½ lignes. With 24 jewels and oscillating weight at 28,800 alternations/hour, this movement passed the control tests to obtain the official C.O.S.C. chronometer certificate.

Identified by the reference PAM00028, the Luminor Power Reserve 44 mm is equipped with a leather strap and a Panerai personalized buckle, also DLC-coated. It is also supplied with an extra rubber strap and a small screwdriver for a quick change of the strap itself.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Movement: Automatic mechanical, SOPROD 9040 calibre, 11½ lignes, 24 jewels, monometallic Glucydur® balance, 28,800 alternations/hour, Incabloc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 42 hours. Chronometer Certificate (C.O.S.C.).

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve indicator.

Case: Diameter 44 mm, steel with special hard black coating.

Bezel: Steel with special hard black coating.

Back: Screw, brushed steel.

Device protecting the crown: (protected as a Trademark) Steel with special hard black coating.

Dial: Black with Paris hobnails decoration. Luminous Arabic numerals and hour markers. Date at 3 o’clock, power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock, central seconds hand.

Crystal: Sapphire, formed of corundum, 2.5 mm thick, magnifying lens at 3 o’clock. Anti-reflective coating.

Water-resistance: 30 bar (300 metres).

Strap: PANERAI personalised leather strap and steel buckle with special hard black coating. Supplied with a steel screwdriver and a second interchangeable rubber strap.

Reference: PAM00028

Bulgari celebrates the 125th Anniversary of its founding with the first retrospective in the brand’s history. It is scheduled to open on May 20 at the prestigious Il Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome; it will be open to the public from May 22 to September 13, 2009.

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Bulgari retrospective ‘Between History and Eternity: 1884-2009′ | Frillr

Officine Panerai for Ferrari California

Officine Panerai, licensee for the watches of the House of Maranello, could not fail to mark the occasion of the presentation at the Paris Salon of the latest model from the Prancing Horse, the Ferrari California. This is an extremely innovative car but one which in its philosophy recalls the spirit and character of a great Ferrari of the past: the 250 California of 1957, an open car of absolute elegance, born to race, which over the years has become a symbol not only of sporting character and superior performance but also of exclusivity; a masterpiece of craftsmen’s skill and great sophistication. Little more than 100 examples were produced from 1958 to early 1963, about half of them the short-wheelbase version; they were designed by Sergio Pininfarina with bodywork in steel or aluminium, hand-beaten by Sergio Scaglietti. At the wheel of these most beautiful cars were several of the most famous actors in Hollywood, such as Steve McQueen and James Coburn. The French writer Françoise Sagan also owned one, which she drove with bare feet on the roads of the Côte d’Azur, like a rebellious teenager.

The new Ferrari California is a car with sporting DNA, a convertible with a retractable hard top that is distinguished by great innovations, capable of ensuring great driving pleasure and enjoyment as well as being flexible in use. In line with Ferrari tradition, this model has many original features, and it has the first V8 engine in the history of Ferrari road cars to be mounted in the mid-front position.

Panerai too, with its unmistakable look, has decided to link its own collection with the glorious moments of the Prancing Horse, by producing a watch; the hands of which set the pace together with another emblem of the Ferrari universe, one which is destined to become a must not only for enthusiasts but also for dreamers.

The watch is a flyback chronograph with two counters, produced in a unique edition of 300 examples. With its stylish characteristics and its use of special materials, it combines the classic and the modern in the same way as the latest production born under the sign of the Drake, as Enzo Ferrari was known.

Technical specification

Movement: Automatic mechanical, Panerai OP XIX calibre, 13¼ lignes, 30 jewels. Glucydur® monometallic balance, 28,800 vibrations/hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device. Power reserve 42 hours. Côtes de Genève decoration, blued screws. Rotor engraved with the prancing horse. C.O.S.C. chronometer certificate.

Functions: Hours, minutes and small seconds, flyback chronograph with two counters, tachymeter scale.

Case: Diameter 45 mm, steel with polished finish and brushed edges, screw-down chronometer push-pieces and winding crown with the Ferrari logo; rims with square grill decoration.

Bezel: Steel with brushed finish.

Back: Steel and carbon, screw-down, with engraving of the prancing horse; on the edge is engraved the inscription “Engineered by OFFICINE PANERAI”. Personalised engraving below the prancing horse.

Dial: Black with the Ferrari California logo, minute scale in 60ths, applied markers every 5 minutes, tachymeter scale on the outer edge, continuous small seconds at 9 o’clock, minute counter at 3 o’clock. Hands of the counters, central chronograph seconds hand, hour and minute hands and the first 15 minutes in red.

Crystal: Sapphire, 1.9 mm thick, with double anti-reflective treatment.

Water-resistance: 100 metres (10 bar).

Strap: Black alligator with contrasting sewing, the inner part of red cayman with red sewing, brushed steel personalised adjustable buckle with polished edges of the closure. Spare rubber strap inscribed with the word “Ferrari”.

Reference: FER00030

Unique edition of 300 examples

I bet you’ve never seen this Patek Philippe watch before. That is because it was not known to exist, and is a one of a kind made in 1936. Earlier this month in May, this watch sold for just over $1.7 million dollars at a Christie’s auction in Geneva.

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Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Via WatchTime.

Patek Philippe Pilot Watch Goes For $1.7 Million At Christie’s Auction

Luxury Watches: An exceptionally fine and rare 18K rose gold perpetual calendar chronograph Patek Philippe wristwatch with moon phases and baton numerals from 1960 is expected to fetch a record price at Christies Important Watches sale in Geneva on May 11.

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Million-Dollar Patek on Offer in Geneva

Jewellers Chopard lit up the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday night (21May09) by raining millions of dollars worth of gems on stars like Oscar winner MARION COTILLARD, EVA HERZIGOVA, CLAUDIA SCHIFFER and MICHELLE YEOH.

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Marion Cotillard – Stars Sparkle In Chopard At Cannes – Contactmusic News

ROME — A "Roman Holiday" atmosphere permeated Wednesday night as 1,400 guests flocked to Bulgari’s 125th anniversary festivities that kicked off with a retrospective of historic baubles at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni.

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Roman Holiday: Bulgari’s 125th Anniversary Party – Lifestyle News – WWD.com