A Watch for Safari Hunters

This unconventional detail was suggested by the African tribal art featuring the similar body painting on bronzed skin and geometrical shapes.The dial of the Gefica Safari, revealing the brand's distinctive jumping and retrograde displays, is an unforeseen composition of shape and structure. At 12 o'clock there is a jumping-hours aperture. The upper part of the dial sports a retrograde minute display, while a retrograde date display is found in the lower part. The Gerald Genta Gefica Safari is powered by an automatic movement beating at 28800 vibrations per hour. It offers a 45-hour power reserve. The brand's specialists have based the movement on a Girard-Perregaux 3100. The timepiece goes on a hand-sewn alligator leather strap with titanium triple folding clasp.They were struck by the idea of developing a timepiece for hunters. The company wanted to produce an avant-garde haute horlogerie watch with the bezel edge shaped to remind the rim of a volcano crater. You will also notice the twin rows of titanium beads on the middle of the case and the crown.

A Watch for Safari Hunters

The idea to use bronze initially appeared in 1988, the year when the company, at that time owned by the prominent watch designer Gerald Genta, developed the first Gefica watch. The original model of the Gefica was meant to satisfy the needs of hunters. The watchmakers opted for bronze as the metal is matte, not gleaming in the sun - thus not giving away the hunter's location to his prey. According to the company, the name of the Africa-inspired timepiece is composed of the initial letters of the last names of three friends - Geoffroy, Fissore and Canali (GeFiCa). The friends got involved into a big-game hunt in Africa.he new Gerald Genta watch has united two different realms - the one of the Swiss watch*** and the African savanna. The Gefica Safari creation was inspired by the arts and landscape of Africa. The sophisticated architecture of the model reminds the volcanic topography of the country and the geometric lines of its Primitive Arts.The two-tone case is produced from bronze and titanium. The Gerald Genta company is the first to introduce such combination of materials.

Chocolate and Romance for Ladies by Frederique Constant

The Romantic Volute is driven by the same movement and offers the same functions (only with rhodium-plated hands) as the timepiece described above. Its steel case with anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal and screw-down transparent sapphire crystal back is of the same size as the Gourmet Chocolate and comes with a satin or alligator leather strap.The both new Frederique Constant timepieces are created for ladies who enjoy life with its sweet and beautiful things. The Gourmet Chocolate and the Romantic Volute will equally match a business atmosphere of an official meeting and a romantic atmosphere of a date.The timepiece traditionally displays centrally-placed hours, minutes and seconds with pink gold plated hands.Sweet and voluptuous - these two words are the best way to describe one's impression of the Gourmet Chocolate. It goes on a satin or alligator leather strap with a buckle or a folding clasp.The second ladies timepiece, the Frederique Constant Lady Double Heart Beat Romantic Volute, reflects infinite femininity and delicacy. The mother-of-pearl dial of the watch reveals gentle marbled reflections. The center of the dial and bezel are set with 109 diamonds (53 diamonds in the center and 48 diamonds on the bezel), adding to the timepiece's contemporary and chic look. There are 8 diamond hour-markers. At 12 o'clock there is an opening onto the movement in the shape of two interlaced hearts.

Chocolate and Romance for Ladies by Frederique Constant

The case of the watch measures 34 mm in diameter. It is crafted in 10-micron pink gold plated or steel. The bezel of the watch is paved with 48 diamonds. The timepiece features anti-reflective slightly curved sapphire crystal and screw-down transparent sapphire crystal back. The watch is 60-meter water-resistant. In the heart of the Gourmet Chocolate there beats an automatic movement - FC-310 caliber. The mechanism has bridges decorated with Cotes de Geneve and circular graining. It offers the advantage of 42-hour power reserve.In 2007 Frederique Constant has introduced two new watch models to join its Lady Double Heart Beat collection. The new ladies' watches are called the Gourmet Chocolate and the Romantic Volute. Even the names of the watches reflect ladies' passion for sweets, and especially chocolate, as well as love for everything romantic. The Frederique Constant Lady Double Heart Beat Gourmet Chocolate is an elegant timepiece embellished by diamonds. It reveals flickering copper-brown reflections. The mother-of-pearl dial of the chocolate color sports the middle part with chocolate-like pattern. The overall look is finely completed by 8 diamond hour-markers. The watch features the exclusive detail of the Heart Beat collection - two open hearts placed at 12 o'clock.

Omega Adds a New Bond Seamaster

What I find interesting, however, is that to my knowledge, Rolex never made a limited edition commemorative James Bond Submariner while Omega has released a couple Bond Seamasters. I'm guessing the idea of soldering a "007" to the end of a Submariner second hand, or adulterating the dial with some Hollywood inspired action graphic made the folks at Rolex swoon. Frankly, I'd have to be a pretty big James Bond fan to drop that kind of money on a movie souvenir, but I suppose if you're a collector, there's nothing like the phrase "limited edition" to get you on the phone with your favorite authorized dealer.Omega and James Bond have had a long and mutually profitable relationship. It used to be a Rolex Submariner that Q modified with non-standard complications and handed over to Sean Connery to get him out of tight situations, however starting with Pierce Brosnan in Golden Eye the Omega Seamaster became the choice of British spies. Omega seized the opportunity to not only make James Bond a brand ambassador, but they also created the special James Bond Omega Seamaster.Now that there's a new Bond, Omega has taken the opportunity to outfit him with a new tool: the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean. I've written about the Planet Ocean and handled several under the watchful eyes of jewelry store clerks, and they are truly majestic watches -- very fitting of Bond, and an excellent choice for a fresh beginning of the Bond franchise.