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"Watches are a demonstration of our individuality. Owning a wristwatch that 'speaks to us' in a sense makes that watch more meaningful."

Franck Muller

Up to this point, I have not mentioned the name Franck Muller yet, perhaps for the same reason that I have not added more pictures of watches by Breguet: I'm not sure whether I like them all that much, although I am of course aware of their quality. Franck Muller entered the watch industry in the 70s, a critical time because of the arrival of quartz. After graduating from the École d'Horlogerie, he first produced watches by request, and soon established himself as the master of complications. In fact, between 1986 and the present (except in 1988), his company produced a "world première" every year.

The version of his trademark Cintrée Curvex on the left, a minute repeater with perpetual calendar, would set you back about $220,000, while the astonishing Classic Round perpetual calendar with tourbillon, equation of time, and chrono rattrapante on the right hovers in the vicinity of $330,000.

Anyone unsure whether he likes this particular IWC on the left or not should immediately consult a physician (the same goes for he vehicle on the right!). It is up to now IWC's supreme creation, "Il Destriero Scafusia." Personally, I would be more comfortable both to wear and to pronounce the name of the Mark XII, and at the moment would also have a problem raising the necessary US$325.000 for the purchase, but this watch literally does it all: all the functions of the Grande Complication, plus tourbillon and split-seconds chronograph. Production is limited to 125 pieces, and I would not be surprised if they are already sold out!

As might be expected, Vacheron Constantin produces watches that are not only among the most stunning, but also among the priciest timepieces to be found on the market. Tucked away in a vault at Vacheron Constantin's Geneva headquarters is a $9 million watch. The one-of-a-kind diamond watch, called Kallista (Greek for "the most magnificent"), was designed by the artist Raymond Moretti in 1979 for Vacheron Constantin. Made of 118 flawless emerald-cut diamonds, the 2.2-pound timepiece must be blindingly brilliant to behold, yet it is rarely seen. The world's most expensive watch is almost never worn, for its owner --rumored to be an Arab sheik--has entrusted it to Vacheron Constantin for safekeeping. Depending on the country of purchase, the skeleton minute repeater from the "Les Historiques" collection above on the left will add about $550,000 to your Visa bill, the Minute Repeater with perpetual calendar, however, is a bargain at about $500,000, while the minute repeater on the left costs a mere $450,000. Just imagine winning the grand prize in the lottery: you could buy all three and perhaps even have enough left to fill up your tank!

There is something very recognizable about a Daniel Roth watch. It is unique in shape, creative, and simply beautiful. All parts are worked singly, all edges are chamfered, and everything is made according to the oldest traditions. Every mechanism is set in motion by a single watchmaker - at the same time both a major work of art and an honor for the few existing true masters of their trade.

	With his name, Daniel Roth stands by each of his masterpieces. His standard knows no compromise and no tolerance. The prices of his products are aptly elevated, considering quality and uniqueness: his Perpetual Calendar (top left) retails for around $170,000, the Minute Repeater (center) goes for about $130,000, the Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeater on the right is also close to $170,000, while the Tourbillon on the left is a measly $80,000.
		The Casino in Monaco: the prime reason why residents of the Principality pay no income tax!

	The BLANCPAIN 1735 Grande Complication (center) is the quintessence of six Blancpain masterpieces. It features displays of: hours, minutes, seconds; perpetual calendar with moon phase disk, chronograph with 30- minute counter and fly-back hand (split-seconds); minute repeater movement and tourbillon.
Movement: Self-winding caliber 1735, built in the form of a Grande Complication with additional functions mentioned above; diameter of 19 1/2 lines, or 31.5 mm, total height of 11 mm; 740 parts; 44 jewels; balance wheel in beryllium; flat balance-spring; 21,600 vibrations/hour; 48-hour power reserve; polished and beveled bottom-plate and bridges, 18 k pink gold bottom-plate, 950 platinum central rotor mounted on ball bearings; chronograph commanded by click-wheel, minute tourbillon, striking- mechanism. Case: 950 platinum with sapphire crystal pressed-on back. Price: 850,000 CHF (limited series of 30 watches).

Well, you know, there are no bargains in Patek Philippes, and the reasons are understandable. You can always dream of going to the beach somewhere on the Côte d'Azur and find something like the Chronographe Rattrapante on the left (perhaps Mick Jagger lost one and did not want to waste precious minutes looking for it). Or just go over to Monaco and decide whether to spend $200,000 to $250,000 on one.

It may seem as though they have been around forever, but Corum was actually founded only in 1955. The company has since established a worldwide reputation for highly imaginative luxury wristwatches. René Bannwart and his cousin Simone Ries started the company with her father Gaston, who had been operating a small watch company in La Chaux-de-Fonds since 1924. Among the quirky things they produce are wristwatches with cases made of meteorites or gold coins. On the left is a minute repeater tourbillon, for which you should anticipate a disbursement of about $450,000.

The famous, mysterious Golden Bridge on the right, while not cheap, should retail for much less than that. Even more affordable is Corum's latest watch, the Tabogan. The startling beauty of the rectangular watch lies in the originality of its design, which is a masterpiece of balance between shape and function. The watch is opened out and clipped back in by applying pressure to two small push-buttons situated on each side of the case. Various versions of the watch are available in steel, white gold set with diamonds, yellow or pink gold, both available also with diamonds. The model is fitted with a quartz movement or a mechanical movement with manual winding. The watch is mounted either on a leather strap or a steel bracelet.

Page 1: hello	Page 2: nice things	Page 3: Audemars Piguet	Page 4: IWC, JLC	Page 5: Patek Philippe
Page 6: Flieger	Page 7: more Flieger	Page 8: Zenith, Eberhard	Page 9: chronographs	Page 10: big money!
Page 11: mo' money	Page 12: more chronos	Page 13: less known gems	Page 14: moonstruck	Page 15: pictures & links