Tag Archives: watch making

Independent Watch & Art Salon 2017, Taipei, Taiwan

Ateliers deMonaco participates to the Independent Watch & Art Salon 2017, Taipei, Taiwan which takes place between September, 28th – 30th.

NOBLESSE OBLIGE

 

Fifth Annual Independent Watch and Art Salon Exhibition Taiwan Unfolds on 28 September

Asia’s Premium Independent Watch Event Lines Up 10 Independent Swiss Watchmaking Brands. Presenting this year’s theme “Steampunk”

 

Devoted to the passion to independent watchmaking, the now fifth Independent Watch & Art Salon Taiwan (IWST) will be held on September 28, 2017 at the Art Gallery located at B1, Bellavita. Due to its rapidly growing success, the event is now one of the key exhibitions for independent watches in Asia with now 10 major brands participating. Apart from showcasing latest creations by these prestigious independent watchmakers, as in its tradition, IWST will once again work with Taiwan’s local artists to visually interpret the essence of IWST as well as fusing the creativity of the East and the West. In addition, taking the theme of “Steampunk”, IWST will take us back to the glory of the Victorian Era.

 

Reflecting on the past year, the haute horlogerie industry, mostly headed by watchmakers from Switzerland, faced an extremely difficult year. All the leading players implemented drastic strategies and decisions as response to the market crisis, including change of ownership. On the other hand, independent watches, each with its innovative and creative styles and lower in production volume were able to maintain its success. These watches have become more and more collector’s pieces. As the result, they still stand out with excellent market performances. This success is reflected in this year’s IWST exhibition with the same impressive lineup of participating brands. And their innovative designs will for sure to appeal to more and more audience in the future.

 

10 Prestigious Independent Watch Brands, 10 Luxurious Watchmaking Arts

As the distributor of numerous premium independent watches, Swiss Prestige presents an impressive list of participating brands for IWST: Atelier deMonaco, a watchmaking brand that takes inspiration from the rich culture and heritage of Monaco to create the world’s most precision mechanical movements, will be attending the event for the first time. Christophe Claret, a symbolic brand for premium Swiss independent watches that always stir up the industry with its creations, will be attending for the fifth time in a row. Greubel Forsey, an expert in finely crafted precision mechanisms in pursuit of zero time error, is also making its attendance as usual. HYT, the watchmaker that pioneers in fluidics watches, will be presenting more innovative creations this year.

 

MB&F, a highly acclaimed brand with rare but highly sought-after watches and a brand that is very highly regarded at top international auctions is expected to introduce a mysterious new creation at this year’s IWST. M.A.D Gallery, also from MB&F, will also undoubtedly be presenting several enchanting mechanical devices.  Manufacture Royale, a brand established by French philosopher Voltaire, will be introducing its latest works that feature unimaginable complications. Speake Marin, an innovative watch brand established by the visionary English watchmaker, after the change of management, will for sure be bringing us more ingenious watch pieces. Romain Gauthier, a brand that only manufactures 50-60 timepieces each year and viewed as the true apprentice of Philippe Dufour, another visionary pioneer in independent watchmaking will be attending for the first time this year. And lastly, URWERK, an award-winning brand known for its revolving satellite complications and a brand whose watch was the designated watch for Robert Downy Jr. in the film “Spider Man: Homecoming” will also be making its attendance.

 

The Glamorous Steampunk at IWST 2017

Following the success of annual themes of “Infinity Gear” and “Watchmaking Wonderland” in the previous years, IWST introduces “Steampunk” as the theme for 2017. The exhibition starts with blueprints of the Industrial Revolution of the past century and moves through motifs from the Victorian Era and contemporary sci-fi details, bringing to us the various elements, including gears, watches, mechanical devices, and more from the films of Japanese film director Miyazaki Hayao. And to echo the spirit of this theme, the exhibition also presents artworks of Taiwan’s artist Tsung- Ti Huang, an artist whose works are full of industrial artwork style that focus on handwork details. These works mixes the forms from Chinese mythology “Classics of the Mountains and Seas” with Punksteam style.

 

2017 IWST exhibition will start on September 27, 2017 at the Art Gallery located at B1, Bellavita. The first day for the 4-day exhibition is a private opening party. And September 28 and 29 will be reserved for VIP private views. The exhibition will be open to public on September 30. Please do not miss this rare opportunity to look inside the world of independent watchmaking and experience it from a different perspective.

Baselworld 2017 – Ateliers deMonaco launches two new timepieces: La Sirène Diamant & La Sirène Rubis

In 2009, Ateliers deMonaco created La Sirène inspired by Princess Charlene of Monaco. This timepiece celebrated Ateliers deMonaco’s first entry in high jewellery segment. For the design of the dial, the brand used the King Protea pattern which is the national flower of South-Africa – home country of Princess Charlene. This first timepiece featured light blue topaz stones reminiscent of the colour of the princess’ eyes.

Eight years after the creation of this beautiful timepiece, and especially for Baselworld 2017, Ateliers deMonaco decided to enrich La Sirène collection with two new models: La Sirène Diamant & La Sirène Rubis.

La Sirène timepieces are powered by the in-house automatic dMc-700 calibre which is wound by a 22K solid gold rotor engraved with the shield of the Principality of Monaco. These watches have a power reserve of 42 hours and have a frequency of 28’800 beats per hour. Fully respecting the Ateliers deMonaco aesthetics, these calibres are housed in an 18K white gold case of 39mm diameter. As a final touch, the decorations of each components are executed with precision and passion.

La Sirène Diamant

Entirely decorated with G – Top Wesselton diamonds, the colour and the brightness of this timepiece resembles the purity of the woman’s soul. Shrouded in a case set with 297 diamonds, a bezel set with 300 diamonds and a crown set with 20 diamonds; it’s a pure marvel.

A delicate artwork was created on the 18K solid gold dial which is adorned with 120 diamonds set in a flower pattern. The centre dial features a white mother-of-pearl which reflects the light and makes the watch even more feminine.

When the first La Sirène Diamant watch was produced, our research & development team came up with the idea of creating something even more impressive: La Sirène Rubis.

La Sirène Rubis

Considered by many as the most powerful stone, it exudes energy, courage and love. Qualities emanating from every woman. Resilient and inspiring, ruby is the true colour of a women’s heart.

La Sirène Rubis is decorated with three different stones: the Ruby, the Sapphire and the Diamond, which give impression of a red rainbow. The bezel is set with 16 baguette cut rubies, 28 baguette cut sapphires and 2 baguette cut diamonds. Following the same colour shading, the dial embraces 24 rubies, 21 sapphires and 3 diamonds set in flower pattern. In order to highlight this masterpiece, the crown is decorated with one ruby and the strap is as red as the ruby stones.

Ateliers deMonaco is continuously thriving to create iconic timepieces that are derived from passion to challenge existing convention to leave a true legacy.

 

Ateliers deMonaco opens its first boutique in the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo in Monaco.

Ateliers deMonaco is back where it all began, the brand’s first boutique opened its doors early 2017 in the heart of the Principality of Monaco.

Ateliers deMonaco was founded in 2008 with the intention of creating highly intricate complications using the noblest materials. Historically, the Ateliers deMonaco manufacture and headquarters were based in the Palais de la Scala in Monaco. In 2015, in order to bear the prestigious Geneva Seal certification the brand moved to Geneva, Switzerland.

The first Ateliers deMonaco boutique is located in the Salon Bouderie of the prestigious Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo. The watch manufacturer showcases its most beautiful timepieces offering a unique experience to its clients.
The Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo has been chosen by the brand because of its history and beauty. It is the symbol of glamour, tranquillity and harmony. Located in Monaco’s renowned and lively centre, amongst the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris, it sits in the very core of the city’s sophisticated lifestyle.

Fine watchmaking lovers have the opportunity to discover and try on the latest Ateliers deMonaco timepieces in a discreet atmosphere. The Poinçon de Genève, the Admiral Chronographe Flyback, the Ronde de Monte-Carlo, the Quantième Perpétuel, the Tourbillon and the Tourbillon Répétition Minute lines are all displayed and ready to be discovered by watch aficionados and globe trotters alike.

We are pleased to welcome you in our boutique between 9AM and 6PM where our Ateliers deMonaco representative will have the pleasure to present you our timepieces.
Do not hesitate to contact Mrs Naira Manoukian to set a private appointment at [email protected]

Noblesse Oblige

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The next innovation……

About a year ago, we re-iterated our commitment to innovation, crisis or not. In Basel, we will launch the latest chapter of the Ateliers deMonaco innovation story….but for those die-hard fans and passionate supporters, we wanted to reveal a huge milestone we passed this weekend…after several proto-types, the first final movement was functioning!!! “I know it sounds funny, but it is always a very emotional moment to see something completely functional after several years of uncertainty if it will ever work…..giving birth is a painful but rewarding process” Pim Koeslag, Master Horlogier and the father of 2 young children smilingly admitted. For those of you that think you know what the next innovation is Pim has been working on for so long, please take a guess…as you came to expect from us, it is something never done before…. !!!

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From the Master Horlogier

Watchmaking anno 2010 – an art or a science?

Nowadays, a lot of innovation brought to the market are masterful pieces of engineering that do not always work as well. Double Tourbillon, triple axes…It sometimes feels that form has taken over from function. Although we do get excited by these master pieces of engineering, we can also still get very excited by a movement that actually works, and works very well and very precise. Function first! We got a lot of inspiration from Henry Royce that set out with a very similar vision when he created the foundation for the Rolls Royce brand as we know it today.
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So when we are in technical meetings and people get overexcited by the solutions or new technical inventions, I often ask: “So what is the problem we are trying to solve with this new technology?”

Thus, when we were working on our Grand Tourbillon XP1, the issue at hand was clear. The TB is invented to deliver higher precision than a normal mechanical watch. However, the vertical positions have variations of amplitude and precision caused by the TB cage itself. But we felt there was an opportunity to minimize the force used for the escapement in the cage, and if we could eliminate oil or grease in the escapement with the use of modern materials, then this would be a plus as well.

We believe we have made a huge step forward in the precision of the TB movement. Key enablers for the step forward have been our Patented Perfect Balance Cage and the silicium escape wheel and lever with silicium oxide coating to avoid unnecessary power and efficiency loss. We can guarantee all our movements between 0-2 seconds/24hours, and we have already produced one that did much better!
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Can we do better? The aim is to come as close to zero as possible, so we have a mechanical movement that is always accurate. Wouldn’t that be cool? We believe it is possible, and for sure it is a nice aim to pursue. 

Personally, I believe our Ateliers deMonaco watches are pieces of art, that have embraced modern science to make them also functional as perfect as possible. Like the painter who studies his subjects for a long time before he can reach the highest level of perfection, our pieces feel they get better and more perfect with time as well. Let’s talk in 20 years to see how close to our dream we could come.
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Pim