De Bethune DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon

De Bethune DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon

In watchmaking, Tourbillon is extremely complicated timepiece designed to counter the effects of gravity.  De Bethune’s Maxichrono Tourbillon was one of the highlights of Basel 2014. The watch is remarkable for its use of five hands from the central axis of the movement. There are no subdials to be found, just five hands anchored at the center of the dial. Traditional hour and minute hands are marked by circular openings at their tips, and chronograph hours, minutes, and seconds hands track up to 24 hours along inset rings.

In 2002, David Zanetta, a collector with a passion for art, history and timepieces, decided to join forces in founding De Bethune with Denis Flageollet, the son, grandson and great-grandson of watchmakers, they were both keenly aware of sharing the same vision of tomorrow’s watchmaking.

A subtle blend of time-honoured skills and the latest scientific breakthroughs, devoted to the service of extreme chronometric precision. The quest for fine craftsmanship pushed to its very limits, to the point where aesthetic and technical aspects meet and merge, where form marries function in the pursuit of perfection. 

De Bethune is focused in research and development with a laboratory making use of cutting-edge technologies implemented in the spirit of the great 18th century master watchmakers.  De Bethune is place where all that counts is time measurement, but where time is never counted. It is a place where things are tinged with a sense of adventure reminiscent of the epic intellectual endeavours of the Age of Enlightenment. 

Okay... If you are wondering De Bethune DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon is a limited edition of 20 pieces, all in rose gold and priced at $270,000.

Source: De Bethune

Courchevel 1850: Chalet Le Petit Palais

Ski season is around the corner, and Courchevel 1850 has earned a reputation for being one of the world’s most glamourous resorts. 

Courchevel is part of the vast 3 Vallées ski area which extends across the Meribel Valley and the Val Thorens Valley, making it the world’s largest ski  area with world class skiing facilities.

Courchevel and the rest of the 3 Vallées has a modern and efficient lift system so even if there are queues at busy periods they tend to move fairly fast. 

If you are looking for an ultimate luxury ski chalet, to rent, where every imaginable indulgence awaits you, then Chalet Le Petit Palais would definitely meet your requirements.

A quick glance at the details is enough. From the private nightclub, cinema room and spa to the team of dedicated staff to the exclusive location in Courchevel 1850.  Chalet Le Petit Palais is designed in the kind of faultlessly chic and cool contemporary manner that would measure up to the most demanding international icon.

Newly built, in a secluded yet central nook on the upper slopes of Courchevel 1850, Chalet Le Petit Palais is ski in, ski out with six floors and jaw-dropping facilities within your own private palace.  The layout proceeds from the delectable living area at the top, with separate TV room and mezzanine library, to the enormous, world-class spa in the basement.

Chalet Le Petit Palais has it  own private bar, complete with dance floor, DJ mixing desk and nightclub light and sound system. There is no need to leave the confines of your own chalet when you are surrounded by such extravagance.  I should mention that it has a wine cellar, and a dedicated playroom so the children won’t feel left out. 

Source: FireFly Collection

Tres Caracoles

Tres Caracoles 

At the BASELWORLD 2014, Miki Eleta presented his latest opus - a masterfully created, complexly endowed, and delicate piece of art, he called, Tres Caracoles.

The complex clock features some of the most sought-after complications from the world of watches, an extremely precise moon phase, a day of the week and a world time indication as well as a retrograde minute. Additionally, Miki Eleta integrated a music work, which plays a unique little tune for about 20 seconds, composed by kinetic principles. Centuries pass before the same sequence is repeated. During the musical phase seven miniature dancers and four musicians give a performance. The clock relies on an Eleta’s own escapement, which has chronometric precision.

Miki Eleta is an artist and self-taught watchmaker;  who mainly work on kinetic art and clock building (various commissions for interior rooms and exterior areas). Since 2004 he has mainly concentrated on private commissions and exhibitions relating to clockmaking.

Selected private commissions and exhibitions:

• 2002 6 x 10 m tall kinetic sculpture in the area of Friesenberg in Zurich.
• 2003 Fountain at the entrance of the Musée International de l’Horlogerie, La-Chaux-de-Fonds.
• 2003 7 x 5 m tall kinetic sculpture with music-playing harlequins above the entrance of the Museum CIMA.
• 2005 – 2007 Various private commissions both at home and abroad.
• 2006 Participation at Baselworld 2006 and 2007 as candidate of the AHCI.
• 2007 Participation in the exhibition ON TIME at the Museum of Design Zurich. Realization of a wrist watch with patented cyclical indicator. Participation in the AHCI exhibition in Dresden.
• 2008 Participation at the Basel World. Admission as a member of the AHCI. Participation in the exhibition in Vienna Time Vienna.
• 2009 Exhibition in Berne.
• 2011 Sirene Operntheaterfestival in Vienna. Exhibitions in Salzburg, Dresden and Club Horloger in Geneva.
• 2012 Exhibitions in Shangai and Hongkong. Fountain sculpture in St. Theresia Zurich.
• 2013 Exhibition in Geneva Mad Gallery MBF.
• 2014 Participation at the exhibition in The Clock and Watch Museum Beyer Zurich.
• 2014 Exhibition in Shangai.

Source: Miki Eleta

Alberto Giacometti's Chariot Walked Away with $100.97 Million on the Hammer...

Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale on November 4, 2014, at Sotheby's New York was marked with a record sale of $442.1 million. Lot #25 Alberto Giacometti's Chariot sold for $100,965,000.

Alberto Giacometti's Chariot

See here for catalogue note.

Coming Up at the Auction: Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication

Lot 345 of the Important Watches Auction by Sotheby's on November 11, 2014, was  commissioned by New York banking tycoon Henry Graves in 1928 and delivered in 1933, the Patek Philippe watch features 24 complications, 430 screws, 110 wheels, 70 jewels, two faces, nine dials and 18 pointers.  See the detailed catalog note here