RALF TECH WRX ''A'' Auto NIGHT & DAY

By TLex Introducing the new WRX "A" Automatic Chronograph from RALF TECH. Building on the success of its predecessors, the WRX "A" Hybrid and WRX "A" Automatic, RALF TECH have extended their WRX divers family. The new watch is directly derived from the two previous French military models developed and used by commando HUBERT�s Navy Special Forces, and by the GIGN COS (Command Special Operations).



Its 47.5mm diameter (excluding crown) case is constructed from 316L surgical grade Stainless steel. It is fitted with a 5.9mm thick domed Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on its inside, a steel 120-click type unidirectional rotational divers bezel with an aluminum insert with time scale for displaying elapsed dive time, a screwed and engraved with serial # solid steel caseback and a signed screwdown crown with protected by case integrated crown guards.



It combines the powerful looks of those watches with a sporty new chronograph caliber. However the WRX "A" Automatic Chronograph is first and foremost a professional and ultra reliable diving tool. It has a NATO approved water-resistance of 300m /1000ft, but also complies with ISO 6425 for diving watches. Its index are in professional luminescent material, SuperLuminova� C3 or C1 (depending on finish) for enhanced night reading. It comes in a variation of 4 sober finishes Featured here, the NIGHT is in black DLC and the DAY in brushed steel.



The watch houses an RTAC001 caliber derived from the venerable Valjoux 7750 chronograph with 25 jewels, 28'000 A / h, 4 Hz, incablocs � and a power reserve of 40 hours. Functions include: hours, minutes, seconds, day, date and chronograph. RALF TECH will release the watches in a Limited Edition of 300 pieces, which includes 25 pieces that will be available prior to Baselworld where the new watch will be show cased. The remaining 275 pieces will be available from the first September 2013.



The WRX "A" Automatic Chronograph comes with two 26mm tactical straps, a hypoallergenic black silicone divers strap and a second hand-stitched calf leather band. The watches are delivered in a small NATO approved waterproof case. RRP is 2990� (pre-production) or 3490� (September). For further details please contact RALF TECH directly via EMAIL or by following link embedded in the logo below. . .

Read my in-depth review the WRX ''A'' HYBRID and see live images of the WRX ''A'' Auto DLC

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ALPINA Sailing Yachttimer COUNTDOWN

By TLex Here's something nice for a little above the waves action! Alpina extends its Sailing & Yachting collection with a new model aptly named the Yachttimer Countdown, which features a countdown window from 0 to 4 running into a fluorescent START indicator for when the action starts!



Because it's the seconds that count when yacht racing, the triangular seconds hand stands out in fluorescent orange. The hour and minute hands are also clearly identified with a white luminescent application. The watch sports a uni-directional timing bezel with a Sapphire crystal inlay and compass graduated over 360�.



The Sapphire crystal display back affords an amazing view of the complex AL-880 calibre. The watch is presented on a black rubber 'divers' strap. While the Yachttimer Countdown is more at home skimming over the waves, it's 44mm Stainless steel case, which has a water-resistance of 300m should insure that it survives a mishap over board and more!

Check out the Alpina Extreme DIVER collection . . .

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BREITLING Chronomat 44 Limited Edition 'Els for AUTISM'

By TLex Breitling have collaborated with professional golfer, Ernie Els' for Autism Awareness Month, which this April.



The specially created version of the Chronomat 44 sports chronograph watch boasts a Stainless steel case with a water-resistance of 500m, a unidirectional rotational timing bezel and a blue dial with silver chrono-dials. It is presented on a solid steel-on-steel 'Pilot' bracelet.



The caseback is engraved with the 'Els for Autism' logo. Ernie will wear watch #1 of the 88 piece Limited Edition. Breitling will donate a portion (20%) of the proceeds to support Ernie Els' Autism Organization.



Like this? Read up on the 2012 Chronomat FLYING FISH . . .

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VintageVDB CHRONO & Robert HELENIUS

By TLex Here's some interesting news for Vintage-VDB and boxing fans -



World ranked number 1 IBF boxer, the talented Robert Helenius will step into the ring for his next important fight on March 23rd in his new white Adidas shorts -



sporting the VintageVDB logo on the back, the vintage-vdb.com url across the waistband and the upcoming VDB CHRONO printed on their front. 



He is scheduled to face Wladimir Klitschko some time next year. Wishing him the very best of luck!

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BREGUET Type XXII Rose GOLD

By TLex Here�s a pre-Basel tease of the stunning new gold version of the Breguet Type XXII 3880 Ref. 3880BR/Z2/9XV, the first series-made mechanical chronographs with a 10 Hz frequency � the chronograph movement is with silicon escapement and flat balance spring of which the frequency has been raised to 10 Hertz or 72,000 vph.



It is endowed with exceptional regulating power. Its chronograph seconds hand effecting a complete rotation in 30 seconds: therefore its start function and readout are twice as precise. Its round 44mm case is in 18-carat rose gold a with fluted caseband. It features: round-ended horns, a unidirectional rotational timing bezel with 60-minute scale, a screwdown crown and water-resistance of 10 bar / 100m.

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HEXA K500 Premier EDITION

� OceanicTime

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AQUADIVE Bathyscaphe BRONZE Black EDITION

By TLex Aquadive have made available the last 50 remaining pieces of the BS100 Bronze Black, so if you missed out on the initial batch, here's your chance to grab one now before they're all gone! The watch was a Limited Edition of just a 100 pieces. Its German made case was CNC machined from a solid block of salt water resistant Bronze alloy. You can see how it was made HERE . . .



The 43mm case is fitted with an engraved bronze alloy screwdown caseback and 120-click type uni-directional rotational divers bezel with laser-cut ratcheting spring, a scratch-resistant ceramic insert, engraved with elapsed dive time scale and a SuperLuminova coated 12hr marker. It has a water-resistance of 1000m. It doesn't feature an HRV.



The dial is galvanized black; it sports markers that have 8 layers of SuperLuminova! The watch is powered by a Swiss made ETA 2836 movement with hours, minutes, sweep second, self-winding mechanism with ball bearing rotor, stop second device regulator system, ETACHRON and regulator corrector, 28.800 vibrations per hour, 4Hz, 25 jewels.

Its retail price is 1690USD exc. taxes and shipping. Follow the link HERE to order yours! Read my in-depth review of the BS300N DLC . . .

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MAGRETTE Moana Pacific PROFESSIONAL Rose Gold PVD

Follow the link HERE for further details and HERE to see sample shots of other versions . . .

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BOREALIS Francis Drake DIVER

By TLex Introducing Borealis, a start-up Portuguese watch brand and their debut divers� model, the 'Francis Drake' named so after the famous 16h Century English sea captain and navigator. The watch owes its classic good to both Rolex and Tudor, but more specifically Tudor from which it is most heavily influenced.



It looks a lot like the lovechild of the Black Bay (dial) and Pelagus (case). Its most prominent feature being the iconic �Snow Flake� handset that Tudor used for their vintage models back in the day. A design that was only recently resurrected for the two said divers models that were released at Basel last year.



The Francis Drake, which is powered by a Chinese made Seagull ST210 automatic movement is bound to find favor with collectors who are on a more modest budget, but is likely to incur the wrath those who revere Tudor, who are right now making steps towards being a great name again and having just recently announced a return the US market! 

Still the Francis Drake is a good-looking watch, but then again, why wouldn�t it be given its inspiration! There's also a very fine line between homage and rip-off: what do you think?



The Francis Drake has a 316L Stainless steel case the diameter of which measures 42mm with a thickness of 12mm, a lug to lug width of 50mm and a lug size of 22mm. It is fitted with a domed uni-directional rotational divers bezel with red insert (not sure what material its is), a Sapphire crystal with AR-coating on its inside and a screwdown crown and caseback engraved with a ship�s anchor. Water resistance is of 300 meters. The dial is with Swiss Made C3 Superluminova applied hands and markers.



Borealis expect to receive their first stock in May. Its price will be of 349USD + shipping. It comes with a 12 months warranty. Follow the link below for further details . . .

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VULCAIN Nautical Cricket 1970 LIMITED EDITION

By TLex Vulcain preview the new Nautical Seventies LE dive watch, due to be officially unveiled at Basel 2013 - and it's an absolute beauty! When they first launched the Cricket Nautical in 1971 it was considered a truly groundbreaking dive watch in all respects.

Firstly (for the first time ever) it had a water-resistance capability of 300 meters, the equivalent of around 30kg/cm2 of pressure, but more remarkably it featured an audible warning system that alerted its wearer when it was time to surface. It did this while precisely indicating the various decompression stops as indicated on its dial. For its day it was a revolutionary dive watch!


 
Developed by a team carefully chosen by the Vulcain Manufacture - that included three experts who would create the first divers watch equipped with an underwater audible alarm, the Cricket Nautical caused an immediate sensation in the world of scuba diving. It was endowed with the required technical characteristics that met diver safety requirements, but it was what was under its hood that made such an impact on dive watch horology, as it was powered by the already legendary Cricket alarm calibre.

Hannes Keller, a multiple record-holding diver and mathematician; explorer and film director Max-Yves Brandily; and Arthur Droz, national diving instruction and representative of the French C.I.A.S. (Centre d'Investigations et d'Activit�s Sous-Marines) drew upon their great wealth of knowledge and experience to help the Vulcain Manufacture create the first dive watch with an alarm, a clear indication of decompression steps, as well as a guaranteed water-resistance of 300m.


Vulcain introduced a new version of its legendary Nautical watch in the 70s, which featured a redesigned display layout. This has been resurrected today in a 300 piece Limited series. Although the 2013 Nautical 70s LE has been made using the latest in technical innovations, it has faithfully maintained the original vintage character of the 70s model.

Features include: a manually-wound Cricket V-10 caliber capable of sounding its alarm in a clearly audible manner for up to 20 seconds underwater. It is equipped with twin barrels: one to supply the energy required for hours, minutes and seconds, and one to power its alarm function. It beats at a speed of 18,000 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of 42 hours.

Just like the original, the 42mm watch case has a water-resistance of 300 meters. It features alternating polished and satin-brushed finishes, and is distinguished by its emblematic triple case-back, which acts as a resonance chamber for the alarm thus ensuring its maximum effectiveness. This intensity is further accentuated by a hesalite watch crystal of the type used by the original 1970s model - again serving to amplify the sound of the alarm.



The watch dial is an identical reproduction of the original dial from the 1970s Nautical model, the Nautical Seventies Limited Edition owes both its aesthetic and its technical features to its predecessor. The central dial indicates decompression details in orange . It remains fixed in place, while the 60-minute graduated rotating internal divers bezel is activated by a screwdown crown at 4 o'clock. Thanks to generously applied luminescent materiel the hands and square hour-markers will offer excellent readability of the watch, remaining optimal even underwater in low-lighting conditions.

Finally this magnificent watch is presented on a comfortable yet sturdy water-repellent leather strap - adding the finishing vintage touch to the Nautical Seventies!

Read up on the 2012 Nautical HERITAGE Limited Edition

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