Just say the word “tourbillon” and you’ll have most watch enthusiasts drooling. But even in such a rarified field, the Chopard L.U.C. Engine One Tourbillon stands a breed apart.

The outcome of years spent participating in motor racing on the part of the company’s owners, the Engine One Tourbillon draws its inspiration from a car’s motor, both in style and substance. The manual movement – which like any tourbillon rotates inside its case once every 60 seconds to stay accurate and double as a second hand in and of itself – is attached to rubber mountings and three lever-arms. The 60-hour power reserve at 12 o’clock – uncluttered by the hour indices which have been etched into the sapphire crystal – looks like a fuel gauge, mounted on a face that would look at home under the hood of a Bentley.

All that is housed in a titanium case and strapped down by hand-stitched alligator with a titanium clasp. But don’t start drooling just yet: Chopard’s only making 150 examples, and each is tipped to sell for more than $100,000.

Source : Luxist

The Jurassic Tourbillon, whose dial contains fragments of authentic fossilised dinosaur bones, takes us on a journey into the past, around 130 million years ago. Qualified as exceptional by experts, the colour and veining of these precious witnesses to our past underwent a meticulous process of preservation. A veritable initiatory exploration, this first piece of a limited series of 12 watches comes in a time-travelling case: the Time Explorator. This “treasure chest of origins” features an “engine-room” comprising counters, handles, levers, gear-trains and pipes in copper and brass. Made of acajou, the Time Explorator is three metres long and two metres high. Its nine windows, which represent the key dates in the history of man, are an invitation to make unexpected discoveries.

Source : swisstime.ch

Hublot strikes hard with a less-than-innovative, but still satisfying large Big Bang watch with a host of luxury features. First is the new type of gold alloy used for most of the case called “King Gold.” It is basically what looks to be rose gold with less rose in it. Think of it as a hint of white gold as it has 5% platinum in it. Interesting that Hublot is not the only brand this year to make up a new gold. A. Lange & Sohne have released their Honey Gold alloy as well.

The Hublot Gold King Power Tourbillon GMT is also the first watch to have a tourbillon as well as a second timezone and retrograde date indicator. Does this really feel innovative? Again, no – but you do have “technical” bragging rights. The case is large at 48mm wide in King Gold, titanium, ceramic, composite resin, and rubber. The dial has a nice look in theory, but a lot of it likely gets lost as the tones as similar. Meaning the watch is not super easy to read. Still, it looks pretty sharp, and that is what Hublot watches of this caliber are going for. In The dial is a mix of a real dial with hour indicators on it and the exposed movement. You have a view of the tourbillon as well as some of the major gears that power the watch. Price will of course be expensive by this is part of a limited edition of just 28 pieces. Hublot collectors are getting giddy as I speak. More details closer to release at Baselworld 2010 in March. It might sound as though I am speaking both negatively and positively at the same time out the watch – this is true. I am irritated that Hublot does not need to try hard anymore to have nice watches, but am happy that they have such a winning formula.