Y. Chan – Luxury Watches Expert, Timepiece Consultant, Watch Stylist, Meehna Goldsmith

An anniversary pocketwatch from Longines

March 19, 2012 By Y. Chan 3 Comments

As Martin has noted, it is too easy for many models to get lost at Baselworld amidst the buzz of the newest thing, the shiniest thing, the new model with the biggest marketing team behind him. Sometimes, these under-the-radar releases are not wrist watches.

One of Longines’ 180th anniversary releases is a pocket watch, the yellow gold Longines Lépine 180th Anniversary Limited Edition (180 pieces of course). Fitted with a manually wound mechanical movement, it is a homage to the first pocket watches produced by the brand’s founder, Auguste Agassiz, with a guilloché back cover that opens to reveal an engraved caseback, with the model’s number. The white lacquered dial features black painted roman numerals and blued steel hands.

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Filed Under: Longines, Men's Watches, Women's Watches Tagged With: Basel 2012, pocketwatches

Police identify man behind 2011 Baselworld theft

March 2, 2012 By Y. Chan Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: Robberies are unfortunately a common occurrence in the watch and jewelery business that has easily portable valuables. It’s not as feasible to steal a house, car or sculpture and get away with it. If you can outsmart the security, then tucking away a watch in a briefcase, sock or pocket makes the getaway a lot easier. Most recently Blancpain had to shut down their exhibit due to theft. Well, hope is on the horizon and the good ol’ coppers are on the case. Y. Chan brings us an update and shows why crime doesn’t pay. There are easier ways to make a buck.

You may remember the headlines last year when there was a 8 million Swiss Franc (6.6 million euro) diamond robbery at Baselworld 2011, when thieves took off with a set of four diamonds after distracting the dealer’s staff, who did not notice the loss until 15 minutes after the thieves left the exhibition.

Although the diamonds have not been recovered, a suspect has finally been identified and an international arrest warrant has been issued for an unnamed 54-year-old Croatian, who is reported to be on the run. Swiss authorities say that eight people participated in the robbery. They have not all been identified, but investigations have indicated that they are part of a syndicate specialising in the theft of jewellery, precious stones and antiques.

A new appeal for witnesses has been launched.

Last year was not the first time that Baselworld has been targeted. In 2009, someone stole 13 million Swiss Francs (10 million euros) worth of jewellery, but was rapidly caught, and in 2007, thieves made away with more than a million francs worth of jewellery.

Otherwise known online as ‘aptronym,’ Y.Chan’s first watch was a gift from her grandmother when she was 8 – a blue dialled quartz stainless steel Citizen on a bracelet. A member of various watch fora, and an Australian Paneristi, when not writing for The Watch Lady she can be found blogging about watches and food at The Sydney Tarts.

Filed Under: Basel 2011

Introduction: Blancpain’s new Villeret Retrograde Seconds

February 15, 2012 By Y. Chan Leave a Comment

Blancpain has announced a pre-Baselworld 2012 release, the Villeret Retrograde Seconds, which to me is in many ways the essence of a classic Blancpain – understated, elegant, and with an identity that clearly belongs to the brand.

They are a brand for which I have a soft spot; it was the first luxury brand I fell in love with, and a rare example of an advertising campaign actually influencing me. I do have to confess that I’m necessarily convinced by what they’ve been doing in the past little while, and part of me wonders what they ‘stand for’ nowadays. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blancpain, Men's Watches, Women's Watches Tagged With: Basel 2012

The Patek Ref. 6000G : an unexpected ‘love at first sight’

January 30, 2012 By Y. Chan Leave a Comment

One of the things that it takes time to realise, in the crazy world of watches, is that a watch you can become enamoured with in photos can often turn out to not have the same appeal when you see it in the flesh and conversely, a watch of which you’re vaguely aware but have been ambivalent towards can suddenly grab you by the innards when you see it.

For me, an unexpected encounter with a white gold Patek Calatrava Reference 6000G-001 turned out to be one of the latter.

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Filed Under: Men's Watches, Patek Philippe

LVMH acquires ArteCad, one of its main dial suppliers

December 6, 2011 By Y. Chan Leave a Comment

LVMH has acquired, for an undislosed sum, 100% of the shares of ArteCad SA, one of the leading Swiss manufacturers of watch dials, enabling it to reinforce its industrial integration in watch-making. Founded in 1885, ArteCad SA has 215 employees in its main facility located at Tramelan. It manufactures more than 350,000 watch dials a year and has been owned and managed by Philippe Hubbard and Christophe Gouthier since 2004. They will continue to serve as co-directors of ArteCad SA. This forms part of a trend by brands towards buying suppliers (and even investment in diamonds, in the case of Swatch) to reduce reliance on other companies. The influence of the Swatch Group’s stance on watch movements, this is not to be underestimated.