Wrist Watch Weblogs

Swiss watch brand Dubey & Schaldenbrand is back after a slight hiatus and some internal reorganization. Their US distribution is also brand new. The newly livened Dubey & Schalden-brand (get it?) features three new models including this pretty Grand Dome collection. Set in a tonneau style case, this is the result of a lot of internal work in-house.

While some brands stress the production of their own movements, it is sort of the reverse at Dubey & Schaldenbrand right now. At Dubey, they make their own cases, dials and hands. While they produce some modules and decorate and finish movements – right now they mostly use base ETA movements. The production of their cases and dials is really a plus for them and collectors. This means that they have a lot of control and flexibility in their designs and parts – which benefits everyone.

The Grand Dome models come in steel or gold (or two-tone) cases. Size is 37mm wide by 52mm tall. I wouldn’t call it large, but it isn’t a small watch either. On the wrist, tonneau-shaped watches look interesting, but it is a look that you need to try on your wrist to get a feel for. The case is all polished and feels good to the touch. Quality is there and the design is classic and attractive in my opinion.

Dial designs are quite interesting. You can see that the layout of the 7751 has been reduced to make the display symmetrical. There are a few different dial displays – and each is both three dimensional and attractive. One version has a more retro dial that will appeal to some people as well. By the way, the watch is technically called the Grand Dome DT. Not sure what that DT stands for. Hmm. Most of the dials really excite me. They are really well done and I like the finishing, detailing, and the hands.

The simple act of removing the subsidiary seconds dial mixed with the synchronized 24 hour hand on the left really cleans up the dial a lot. You are still left with more or less all the functions that you need. If you want to measure the seconds you can just use the chronograph. The 7751 functions that remain are the 12 hour chronograph, time, moon phase indicator, and annual calendar. What I also like is how Dubey shrank the peripheral date ring. The 7751 uses a large hand to indicate the date around the periphery of the dial. Frankly I am not a fan of this the majority of the time. Here, the Grand Dome uses a shorter hand and smaller ring to display the date in a much more attractive manner. Textures and colors are great overall.

According to Dubey & Schaldenbrand, the movement finishing and decoration is done in-house. As you can see, on one limited edition model of the Grand Dome there is a lot of hand engraving and decor on the automatic rotor as well as on a movement bridge. It looks quite nice. This is another one of those instances where a brand is able to take something common like a 7750/7751 base and make it look really nice using a lot of their own in-house talent and effort. It goes without saying that the movements are visible through a rear-mounted sapphire caseback window.

What I said to Dubey & Schaldenbrand is that the Grand Dome watches have a distinct look but also feel acceptably traditional. That means they look unique but are also not outside the range of “I can visualize myself wearing that because it is a look I am familiar with”. There is a lot of cool stuff coming from the brand – and even a new tourbillon for 2012. The brand wants to offer nice stuff at a mid to higher-range luxury price point. Even the Grand Dome models come in versions with diamonds (also ladies pieces). Prices start at $11,300, jump up to about $15,000, then up to around $30,000, and then top out at $75,850.

No related posts.

Collectors often reflect on the 1970s as being the most dynamic decade in Heuer’s history, a case that’s easy to mount when you look at the combination of the ground-breaking Chronomatic movement and a roll-call of famous names-? Monaco, Carrera, Autavia, Silverstone and Montreal, to name but a few. The other reason that the 1970s stands out is that at the same time as Heuer was developing innovative mechanical chronographs, it was also at the forefront of high-precision digital quartz technology. Pin It The interest in electronics was very much driven by Jack …

American automotive legend Carroll Shelby passed away recently. He worked up until the end of his life and helped changed the face of what was cool in American automobiles. He is most well-known for his long partnership with Ford producing many versions of the Shelby Mustang, as well as the famous Shelby Cobra car. Just before he died, Shelby American released a new version of the Shelby Mustang called the Shelby 1000. It is meant to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the company, and has 1,100hp. So where does that 1000 number come from? I really don’t know.

Shelby partnered with David Yurman for a special limited edition version of their Revolution sport watch called the David Yurman Revolution Shelby 1000 Limited Edition. Actually there are two versions of the watch. One is strictly limited, and the other will have a “limited production.” The cool watch gracefully embodies the spirit of the Cobra and the famous sport’s mark marque. Other brands such as MARCH LA.B have worked with Shelby before. This one however is specially made for the Shelby 1000 and the 50th anniversary of the car maker. At the same time it can live alone as a cool Shelby Cobra themed chronograph.

The already handsome David Yurman Revolution received a few impressive modifications for this limited edition piece. Wait a minute, since when does David Yurman make cool sport watches? Well as of recently I guess. The long time watch maker has seemingly gotten more involved with sport watches and this is proof they more or less know what they are doing. I guess that means David Yurman is back on the list of brands to watch.

The Revolution Shelby 1000 watch is 43.5mm wide in steel. The limited edition version is in black vulcanized rubber coated steel. The normal version has some rubber elements with a brushed steel case. The bezel has a tachymeter (of course), and the sides of the case are black on both models. I really like how the chronograph pushers are integrated into the design to look like crown guards. I have always had a weakness for this design style.

On the dial are the signature Shelby double racing stripes and of course the cobra. It just isn’t Shelby without the cobra figurine. While I typically don’t like shared dial branding, I think the David Yurman and Shelby names co-exist in a reasonable way on the dial. As an American car lover, it is pretty sweet. Cooler still is the strap. Now that is a clever piece of design. David Yurman continued the look of the cobra snake body into the rubber strap. How sweet is that? I really like this design element a lot actually – even though on paper it could sound cheesy.

Inside the watch is a Swiss ETA Valjoux 7753 automatic chronograph movement. On the back of the case is Carroll Shelby’s signature (no he didn’t sign each one). The 12 hour register was removed on the dial to offer a cleaner bi-compax chronograph layout. It works for the design, and I appreciate the instrumental design of the chronograph subdials.

Coated in black rubber the David Yurman Shelby 1000 watch will be limited to 150 pieces and be priced at $8,600. The steel version that is not limited to a specific production amount (will likely be make for a year or so before production ends), will be priced at $7,200. Seems like a rather large price gap between the two right? The watches are very cool and look for availability in November 2012.

Related posts:

1. Clerc Hydroscaph Limited Edition Chronograph Watch Review …
2. Seiko Ananta Spring Drive Titanium Chronograph GMT Limited Edition Watch …
3. Oris RAID Chronograph Limited Edition Watch …
4. Bremont HMS Victory Limited Edition Watch …
5. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli Limited Edition Watch …