The Breguet Marine Tourbillon Ref. 5839 High Jewellery Chronograph Watch = Semper FLY!

"In the watch world diamonds seem to make just about everything better. This Ref. 5839 Marine Tourbillon High Jewellery watch is a diamond encrusted version of the Ref. 5937 from a few years ago. Breguet outfitted the watch case and dial with an impressive amount of diamonds, but still was able to retain that signature Breguet Marine watch look.

The 43mm wide 18k white gold case as about 11.77 carats of stones on it. One of the neatest parts is how Breguet was able to maintain the coined edge of the case using specially cut diamonds. Also not the unique pattern the diamonds create for the bezel. On the dial smaller diamonds are set in the middle of the dial and don't overshadow the hands. The dial itself is silvered 18k gold. Overall Breguet did a great job giving a men's jewelry watch a functional face.

Inside the watch is a Breguet caliber 554.4 manually wound tourbillon movement with the time and a chronograph complication. The watch has 50 hours of power reserve with special features that include a silicium balance spring and escapement wheel."

Information Courtesy Of: Luxist.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Although a strong case can be made that bacon, when added to x__________________________ (insert the name of otherwise mundane food of your choice here), can make any meal better the same cannot always be said for diamonds when applied to the high end world of horology. As we have discussed @ length here @ Livestyle, simulated diamonds birthed from chemistry labs have taken the jewelry world by storm, much to the dismay of purists like myself. Additionally, even natural diamonds - especially when plastered recklessly across a watch - can make for a gauche show of perceived riches. Indeed, a balance between fancy and function can be hard to strike. However, leave it to the masters of complications @ the House Of Breguet to score a perfect landing with their Breguet Marine Tourbillon Ref. 5839 High Jewellery Chronograph Watch.

Awash in 186 pieces of baguette-cut diamonds (NOTE: Weighing a total 11.77 carats) this watch is the diamond laced direct descendant of the Marine 5837 introduced in 2007. Ensconced under sapphire crystal this classy chronograph features an 18KT white gold body with a rose gold Tourbillon engine dancing across the dial.

Exceptional by any standard, the hand-wound tourbillon movement Marine 5839 High Jewellery Chronograph Watch represents yet another milestone achievement for the Breguet firm. Good show old chap. Good show!

Helloooooo Ladies: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Tourbillon Wild (Art Deco) Watch = HBO®'s Boardwalk Empire Approved!

"Each year luxury Swiss watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre releases a few so called "jewelry watches." These rare creations for both men and woman are experiments in (often) excess, and design. This is where to look if you prefer your watches diamond covered, but also where you'll find some beautiful artistic creations. For 2010 one of the haute jewelry watch from Jaeger-LeCoutlre is the Master Tourbillon Wild. In an 18k rose (also in white) gold case, the piece is really quite stunning. Decorated with diamonds on the bezel and the lower edges of the case and bezel, it fees like a building outlined with lights. The art deco style motif on the dial feels like an abstract cityscape to me. The buildings emanating from the tourbillon in the center. More diamonds decorate the ring around the tourbillon aperture, in addition to other places on the dial. Inside the piece is a in-house made Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 978 automatic tourbillon movement. Likely sized for ladies, this is a rare and beautiful creation."

Information Courtesy Of: Luxist.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: The much heralded tourbillon movement may indeed be the most terrific exemplar of both true artistry and mechanical ingenuity in the watch world today. Originally introduced in 1795 by the French-Swiss master watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet as a very practical means to deftly combat the adverse effects of gravity when a timepiece is rotated, the tourbillon complication has now become the ultimate symbol of watchmaking virtuosity and very few luxury firms do it better than Jaeger-LeCoultre.

No stranger to precedent setting innovations themselves, this storied house of horological majesty, founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre, has continued to excel in the arena of high end complicated achievement. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Tourbillon Wild (Art Deco) Watch is yet another beautiful addition to their brilliant "Master" series.

Where other cloudy after-market diamond studded watches fail, such pieces as the Master Tourbillon Wild watch succeed because this is far from your typical "iced out" rapper's nouveau riche simulated stones wet dream. No, Jaeger-LeCoultre has taken 1 step back to take 2 enormous design steps forward, producing a visually and technically complex 18k rose (NOTE: Also available in white gold) encased work of art that tells a whirlwind of a tale (NOTE: "Tourbillon" is French for "whirlwind" ... suckaaaaaaaaaas!) through a miniature metropolis cityscape set ablaze in diamonds. The unmistakable look of this watch combines all of the decadently decorative elements of the Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, and Futurism movements that together have made Art Deco design an enduring symbol of romantic 20th Century elegance.

Although I have found no conclusive reports, this watch seems to be *Cue Lord Finesse "Funky Technician" Voice* "Strictly for the ladies" ... lol. Yeah, Fred Astaire would most definitely have blessed Ginger Rogers with 1 of these dandies ... lol. Good shit!


BONUS:

Uno.



Dos.

In Livestyle I have endeavored to create a destination that acts as both a trusted cultural touchstone and an aggregator of all things "fly". To that end, today it is my great pleasure to introduce Y.O.U. to HBO®'s next surefire hit series: Boardwalk Empire. I've got more than a few homies in the New York City based movie industry and I had the privilege to be on set a number of times during the filming of this epic saga. Boardwalk Empire represents true Prohibition Era ganxta @ it's finest as envisioned by Emmy® Award winning writer of The Sopranos, Terence Winter, and as exquisitely captured by the unparalleled legendary lens of Academy Award® winning director Martin Scorsese. A new era of mafioso chic is upon us. Message To The Loyal Livestyle Reader: Say hello to your newest "idiot box" addiction! See Y.O.U. in September. Soon you'll understand.

The Breguet Classique Grande Complication 7639 = "No Time For Fake Ones"

"The Breguet Classique Grande Complication 7639 is a unique watch in every sense. The watch uses the Breguet Caliber 567/2 manually wound movement forty hour power reserve with a minute repeater which chimes the minutes at the press of a button. Breguet consulted with leading sound-system specialists in order to make the sound pure though the use of diamond conduction. The dial is paved with three hundred and ninety two princess cut diamonds set upside down so that they appear not to be set. The case is made of eighteen carat white gold and set with one hundred and seventy eight baguette cut diamonds whilst the clasp is set with forty two baguette cut diamonds."

Information Courtesy Of: Sybarites.Org

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: While I exited the super gaudy diamond watch train a looooooooong time ago, when such unique acoustic brilliance as the Breguet Classique Grande Complication 7639 is achieved, there is always room for exception.

Breguet's latest horological masterpiece is an 18kt white gold, invisibly set diamond beauty that actually chimes @ the push of a button. Yes, the legendary firm that introduced the tourbillion technology has done it again!

Featuring a pristine hand-wound movement and a “Clou de Paris” pattern-like dial, this decadently decorated minute repeater watch beautifully illustrates the juncture of expert craftsmanship and ballin' out of control! LOL. Finally, a timepiece that nouveau riche novices and demanding connoisseurs can both enjoy. The time has come.




BONUS:

Seriously, although my random references can often be Machiavellian in nature, there is some shit that Y.O.U. just have to know. The allusion to Lil Kim in the title of this post is 1 of them. Shout out to my sister-from-another-mister Shaka Don (Her story will be told) and cousin Chaney smoking cigars on the escalator (NOTE: This was filmed in the late, great World Trade Center) in this video ... O.G. Gabbana Girls for real. Holla @ ya boy in BK!

Keep An Eye On The Eggs: The Theo Fabergé St. Petersburg Collection Flying Tourbillon Model 117 Watch.

"Last year the Theo and Sarah Faberge family entered the watch making business - mindful of the highly collectible decorated-egg making past. The newest line of watches from the luxury house is the St. Petersburg collection with the Model 117/118 (one in 18k yellow gold and the other in white gold). Its a manually wound flying tourbillon movement based watch with a skillful amount of guilloche decoration on the dial. Cleverly, the tourbillon aperture window, as well as date dial, are egg-shaped. No explanation is required to explain that design element choice.

The overall design is highly reminiscent of Breguet watches with an emphasis on gold, proud looking Roman numerals, and a richly decorated dial that enhances rather than hinders telling the time. The rear of the watch is one large sapphire crystal caseback with a view into a skeletonized and decorated movement. The brown or black alligator strap is hand stitched (I would expect nothing less from Faberge), while the watch itself is hand made (and polished) in Switzerland. Price is just north of 63,000 Euros for these limited edition timepieces."

Information Courtesy Of: Luxist.Com


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Aside from a willingness and, indeed, a GOD given ability to see miles ahead of the curve with regard to matters of style, music and, more recently, money, I actually have a deep conservative streak that runs throughout my life. That's right, I'm a traditionalist dammit and I don't appreciate it when people become increasingly reckless in misguided attempts to over expand their already dominant single lane. Such fundamental values assure Livestyle's optimum performance and are the reason that I will probably never post a watch made by Gucci, Louis Vuitton and/or Hermès. While I respect these iconic fashion houses greatly, it is precisely because they are such incredible fashion houses that specialize in crafting only the finest in shoes, handbags, luggage and scarves that I don't really take their timepieces as seriously as I do, say, an A. Lange & Söhne or IWC watch.

For the ladies (especially those of Y.O.U. in New York City), consider that Y.O.U. may go to the Dominicans for your hair and the Koreans for your mani/pedi, but would probably never test fate by having these pros in their respective fields switch duties and roles. Nah, as simply, yet profoundly stated by Mandalay Jay's mother Kazan (AKA "Kazan Can Cook" AKA my other mother), Y.O.U. just have to trust people and let them do what they are good @ ... period. With that said, the father and daughter team of the late Theo Fabergé and Sarah bring a level of artistry to their creations on par with more than a few world class watchmakers.

The celebrated Fabergé name (world renowned for the intricately constructed and brilliantly adorned eggs designed by Peter Carl Fabergé from 1885-1917 which are ridiculously collectible and regularly command double-digit millions @ auction) connotes an air of luxury and this Model 117/118 Tourbillon from Theo and Sarah's St. Petersburg Collection is a refreshing addition to the Fabergé family's tradition of excellence. I fuxs with this watch. The successful combination of old and new sensibilities - the Fabergé legacy and classic style applied to contemporary watch design - is the type of thing that, in any industry, I L.O.V.E. to see and be a part of. Now, @ approximately $120,000 USD, more than likely I will not be copping this bad boy just yet, but the kid can look, right? Right. LOL. Good shit.

GROW UP: Breguet Cufflinks.

These cufflinks were introduced late last year, but seem to only be getting exposure like that now. Subtle yet remarkable accessories like these will make you an impact player in ANY league. Trust me. Get ya mind right.


"Watch maker Breguet have released a collection of watch themed cufflinks which accompany their watches perfectly on the wearers wrist. The cufflinks are made of in the form of a watch’s case and features an oscillating weight similar to that which Breguet use for their automatic watches. The cufflinks are available in both eighteen carat white, pink or yellow gold with a choice of onyx or brown enamel for the dial. The cufflinks are also available in a white gold version which is set with seventy two diamonds."