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.

Helloooooo Ladies: The Limited Edition Van Cleef & Arpels "Le Pont Des Amoureux" Ladies Watch = Poetry In Motion.

"Love is in the air at Van Cleef & Arpels, but then again it never really left. Van Cleef & Arpels only exists because Alfred Van Cleef fell head over heels in love with Estelle Arpels. So it makes perfect sense that love should be a theme that the company holds dear. So for all you incurable romantics out there, here is a timepiece to fall in love with."

"The Van Cleef & Arpels Le Pont des Amoureux watch which translates as the "lover's bridge" is designed and assembled by Van Cleef & Arpels in their Paris atelier with a movement built in Jaeger LeCoultre’s workshops. The watch features a unique movement centered upon the design of the dial. The dial depicts a bridge with the silhouette of a woman and a man walking across it, the silhouette of the woman represents the hour whilst the silhouette of the man represents the minutes. Twice a day they will meet in the middle of the Bridge. The case is made of white gold and set with diamonds with an enamel dial and white alligator strap."

Information Courtesy Of: Sybarites.Org x Opening Quote Courtesy Of: Europastar.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Sadly, the infection that is "mass fashion" has taken on pandemic proportions, affecting not only clothing, but, also, timepieces as well. With the advent of new watch companies (NOTE: Most notably starting in 1997 with the wildly-popular-turned-wildly-corny Technomarine® watch) promising "old world" integrity @ relatively low-tariff costs, for the uninitiated, the art of horology has largely been reduced to low-on-complications-high-on-bling-wattage monstrosities for public consumption. Prestige brands have dedicated decades (and in some cases even centuries) to carefully cultivating a discerning consumer loyalty where it is understood that an expectation of high quality will come @ a high premium ... there's just some shit that Y.O.U. should NOT "bargain hunt" for ... lol. Diamonds can be a wonderful additional instrument in the opulent orchestra of fine watches, however, everything and I mean EVERYTHING must be in tune and not simply an "iced" over cover-band mimicking elegance. To that end, I present to Y.O.U. the incredible Van Cleef & Arpels "Le Pont des Amoureux" Ladies Watch.

Much as the beautifully white gold sculpted lovers march across the dial marking time to meet and kiss briefly once every 12 hours, the "Le Pont des Amoureux" (Translation: "Lover's Bridge") is a marriage of gallery-worthy artistic intelligence meets innovation. The storied Van Cleef & Arpels firm, is 1 of those rare houses whose polyamorous L.O.V.E. for all things luxury has blithely escorted them into the worlds of watchmaking, fine jewelry and perfume without wavering in the craftsmanship department.

Yes, the pioneers of the stunning "Mystery Setting" technique (A meticulous procedure where precious stones are set using no visible "claws") have once again succeeded in decorating a magnificent watch without defaming its character. This limited edition, numbered masterpiece features a nicely sized 38mm case in white gold bezeled with round diamonds, a back-lit "Contre Jour" enamel dial upon which the romatic white gold "Lover's Bridge" scene is set, Jaeger LeCoultre Swiss movements and a white alligator strap.

Message To My Livestyle Ladies: This is most definitely NOT your homegirl's Coach watch ... lol. Hey, Y.O.U. don't have to be ready to cop a ticket and board the plane today ... just learn the flight schedule ma. Holla @ ya boy in BK!

UPDATE: Ralph Lauren x The Richemont Group Introduce Watch Series #1 - The "Stirrup Collection".

"As the luxury watch market feels the pressure from the economy on its shoulders, you wouldn't expect to see new brands popping up. Regardless, this partnership between Polo Ralph Lauren and the Richemont Group took seed before the economic hit really began and there was no stopping this seemingly immune connection of fashion and haute horology.

The new Equestrian line from Ralph Lauren is separated into three collections. The first of which is the aptly named "Stirrup Collection" due to the shape of the watch case. No, it isn't the tombstone collection. These are no mere fashion watches as can be seen from their unveiling at which occurred at the luxury watch show SIHH 2009. Richemont is the name behind many luxury brands, some of which the Ralph Lauren collection borrows from literally and thematically.

Inside the Ralph Lauren Stirrup collection watches are all Jaeger LeCoultre (Richemont owned) movements, such as the caliber RL750 in the power reserve version of the watch. The 18k rose gold case has a domed anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal, with a water-resistance of 30 meters. The watch designs look to me like a cross between Cartier (Richemont owned) and Hermes (not Richemont owned). Think of the Roman numbers (Cartier) and the shape of the case that looks like the Hermes lock-shaped watch. The stirrup collection is mounted on a wide crocodile band that is almost like a bund strap given how the lugs are attached. It's attractive and sober looking - just what the economy needs right now."

Information Courtesy Of: Luxist.Com


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Per our conversation last week, Ralph Lauren Polo may actually make me eat some of my words with regard to not purchasing timepieces from historically non-watchmaking companies. True to Ralph Lauren's classic Anglo-American aesthetic, the 1st series of watches unveiled @ SIHH 2009 is the "Stirrup Collection". Inspired by majestic polo matches and tournaments attended by trust funders worldwide, Ralph Lauren has supplied the unmistakable style for this watch, while The Richemont Group has provided the labor-intensive Swiss precision necessary to make this a viable contender in the high-end horology market.

Admittedly smitten with the design of this watch and the Jaeger-LeCoultre mechanisms that power it, because I have not seen any prices yet I will withhold a complete Livestyle co-sign. Like I said in the previous post concerning these watches, as much as I L.O.V.E. Ralph Lauren, if the retail on these bad boys is too pricy, I would rather spend my 5 stacks on a Breitling or, even, a good starter style steel Rollie instead. Real talk.

Grow Up: Be The "Jaegermeister".

"To celebrate their 175th anniversary this year Jaeger LeCoultre have released the limited edition Master 8 Days Perpetual watch. The Master 8 Days Perpetual watch features the JLC calibre 876SQ automatic movement which has a eight day power reserve and features a perpetual calendar and moon phase indicator. The watch features a rose gold case with a clear dial and brown alligator strap. Only one hundred and seventy five will be made and will be available exclusively from Jaeger LeCoultre."

Information Courtesy Of: Sybarites.Org


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: It is no revelation to those that personally know me or now, thanks to this blog, those who have been introduced to my Livestyle ideology, that I L.O.V.E. fine watches.  Jaeger LeCoultre is a company that I have come to know and respect as a creative force in the timepiece industry that has brought not only their brand of watches to the market, but have, over the years, collaborated with and supplied mechanisms and movements for such stellar watches as those by Cartier and Patek Phillipe, to name a few.

Anyway, this Jaeger LeCoultre 175th anniversary Master 8 Days Perpetual watch is a beast my nigga! I mean, just look @ the skeleton back and appreciate the technical complications for a minute ... after all, that unparalleled craftsmanship is what Y.O.U. truly pay for when investing in a world class timepiece. Can I afford this $14,000 limited edition wrist wear work of art right now? No. Can I focus on it and possibly get it in the future? Yes. Just watch me.

Oh yeah, while we're on the topic of wrist watches, I don't care Whether Y.O.U. are right-handed OR left-handed, no adult should wear a watch on their right arm ... ever! I have spoken ... lol. On the real though, whatever Y.O.U. do homie, make sure that Y.O.U. do it right. Remember, class cannot be bought. Holla @ ya boy in BK!