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Watch News: Citizen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, more
Citizen Watch Company of America Inc. announced recently that it has introduced its first ladies’ watch that utilizes atomic timekeeping, an innovation previously available only in men’s models.
Radio-controlled in North America, the UK, Europe, Japan and China, the ladies’ World Time A-T from Citizen keeps time in 26 time zones and has a perpetual calendar, power reserve indicator, alarm and is water resistant to 100 meters.
The watch has a dual time feature, meaning the wearer easily can switch between the primary and secondary time zones. It is available with either a bracelet ($550 retail) or a strap ($575 retail), with brightly colored accents on the dial and, in some models, a mother-of-pearl dial.
The ladies’ World Time A-T is available for retailers now.
Jaeger-LeCoultre lands among the stars
The latest timepiece from luxury brand Jaeger-LeCoultre takes its inspiration from the same night skies the Swiss company says has inspired its watchmakers for years.
The Rendez-Vous Celestial is a 37.50 mm automatic watch powered by the brand’s Calibre 809 movement, which is assembled and decorated by hand and has a 40-hour power reserve.
The watch has an 18-karat white gold case with a diamond and lapis-lazuli dial. On the dial, there is a zodiac calendar that shows the positions of the constellations at any point in the year, with the watch’s movement rotating the disc once every 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds.
In addition, a crown moves a “shooting star,” seen above at about 7 o’clock, so the wearer can set the time for any rendezvous.
The watch retails for $62,000.
Seiko keeping time at international competition
For the 12th time, Seiko is serving as the official timekeeper of the IAAF World Championships, an international track and field competition taking place in Moscow this week.
Among the systems introduced to measure competitors’ times and distances Seiko created is an LED-equipped field event board and new, larger starting blocks.
The Japanese brand has a new TV commercial connected to the event that was created using the “time-slice” method. Time-slice gives users a 360-degree view of athletes in motion by installing cameras in a circle and clicking the shutters simultaneously. The 30-second spot took seven days and 36 cameras to shoot.
Seiko, which has an entire website dedicated to its
sponsorship of the IAAF World Championships as well as YouTube videos, also unveiled a new slogan connected to the games, “Time is More Than Just a Number.”
Maurice Lacroix spiffs up ‘Zest’ program
Swiss watch brand Maurice Lacroix now is offering the sales staff at its authorized retail partners a branded, re-loadable debit card as part of its “Zest” cash incentive program.
The card is provided to salespeople as a perk for selling the brand’s timepieces. Retail store employees register sales of Maurice Lacroix watches online, and a sales commission is loaded onto the card within 24 hours.
It functions as a debit card to withdraw money at ATMs and as a pre-paid Visa card. The balance on the card can be checked via mobile devices and cardholders also can receive emails alerts and texts when their account has been debited or credited.
Richard Mille makes new limited-edition model for Americas
Richard Mille has a new watch designed exclusively for sale at the brand’s boutiques and authorized retailers in North and South America.
The Rm 030 Americas Limited Edition has a 50 mm x 42.70 mm x 13.95 mm black carbon case and is powered by the caliber RMAR1 movement, which has a rotor that declutches automatically. It has a 55-hour power reserve with a bright orange upper flange, crown protector and hands.
Richard Mille is making 30 of this particular watch, and it retails for $135,000.
The launch of the RM 030 comes on the heels of success with the RM 011, 016 and 028 watches, which also were limited-edition timepieces sold only in the Americas.
Maurice Lacroix spiffs up ‘Zest’ program
Swiss watch brand Maurice Lacroix now is offering the sales staff at its authorized retail partners a branded, re-loadable debit card as part of its “Zest” cash incentive program.
The card is provided to salespeople as a perk for selling the brand’s timepieces. Retail store employees register sales of Maurice Lacroix watches online, and a sales commission is loaded onto the card within 24 hours.
It functions as a debit card to withdraw money at ATMs and as a pre-paid Visa card. The balance on the card can be checked via mobile devices and cardholders also can receive emails alerts and texts when their account has been debited or credited.
Richard Mille makes new limited-edition model for Americas
Richard Mille has a new watch designed exclusively for sale at the brand’s boutiques and authorized retailers in North and South America.
The Rm 030 Americas Limited Edition has a 50 mm x 42.70 mm x 13.95 mm black carbon case and is powered by the caliber RMAR1 movement, which has a rotor that declutches automatically. It has a 55-hour power reserve with a bright orange upper flange, crown protector and hands.
Richard Mille is making 30 of this particular watch, and it retails for $135,000.
The launch of the RM 030 comes on the heels of success with the RM 011, 016 and 028 watches, which also were limited-edition timepieces sold only in the Americas.
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