THE BEST OF HAUTE HOROLOGY 2010: JAEGER-LeCOULTRE’S EXTREME LAB 2

Last week, the King family of King Jewelers Nashville and King Jewelers Aventura met with Philippe Bonai, president of Jaeger-LeCoultre, at the Richemont headquarters in New York City for the post-SIHH 2010 show. While my family had the opportunity to view some amazing new timepieces up close for the first time, we were all most impressed with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new Exterem Lab 2 watch. This masterpiece of haute horology will compete with Richard Mille’s creations for just a fraction of the cost and offers much more accurate time precision. This is the coolest watch of 2010!!!

The Master Compressor Extreme LAB 2 redefines the standard for extreme timepieces. Its new Calibre 780 and 781 for the Tribute to Geophysic offers unprecedented functions, developed to ensure ergonomic and highly functional use. This automatic chronograph has a large double-digit minute counter and a function selector integrated in the crown. The titanium version pays tribute to the historical Geophysic watch while exploring avant-garde solutions to protect the movement from magnetic fields.

JAEGER-LECOULTRE CALIBRE 780 and 781 (amagnetic version)
Ref. 2032470 18-carat pink gold/TiVan15, limited series of 200.Ref. 203T470 TiVan 15, limited series of 300.

The Master Compressor Extreme LAB 2 will be available at King Jeweler’s Nashville and King Jeweler’s Miami in late 2010. For more information, visit http://www.kings1912.com/ or http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/.

The King Power Alinghi seals watchmaker Hublot's association with the Swiss Alinghi team

Hublot's CEO Jean-Claude Biver unveiled the chronograph sporting the
colours of the Swiss Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup at the Hublot MiniBasel based in Miami Beach this past weekend in which David King of King Jewelers was in attendance to marvel at the new masterpiece of haute horology.

Swiss Made expertise was the toast of the hour this weekend at the exclusive Fountainbleu Resort where limited edition Hublot "King Power Alinghi" watch made its debut. The pride of the participants was swelled by immense motivation felt on all sides to defend the Swiss colours together in a few weeks' time, when Alinghi and Oracle do battle on the water.

The King Power Alinghi echoes the expertise and precision of the Defender yacht
built for the America’s Cup. New developments, cutting edge technology and
materials, a focus on the excellence of resources and sharing the highest level of
skills are qualities which link the two companies.

Jean-Claude Biver hopes that the King Power will bring the catamaran luck in this extraordinary challenge: "Alinghi already has an enormous range of skills and qualities, as well as the motivation to win, and we wish to demonstrate to them how proud we are to be their partner and to show them our support through this chronograph in the yacht's colours!".

KING POWER ALINGHI
Technical details
Case “King Power”, diameter 48 mm in microblasted black ceramic
Bezel Microblasted black ceramic with moulded black rubber, with 6 relief
black PVD H-shaped titanium screws
Crystal Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective treatment
Bezel Lug Black composite resin
Lateral Inserts Black composite resin
Case-back Microblasted black ceramic
Crown Black PVD titanium with black rubber insert
Push-pieces Black PVD titanium with black rubber insert
Screws Black PVD titanium
Water resistance 100 m or 10 ATM
Dial Sapphire with anti-reflective treatment, multilayered, additional matt
black counters, index with black nickel, black SuperLuminova™, Alinghi
logo at 9 o'clock
Hands Satin-finished microblasted black nickel with black SuperLuminova™
Movement Mechanical skeleton chronograph with automatic winding, carbon
bridges, calibre Hublot HUB4400
No. of Components 252
Jewels 27
Bridges Microblasted black chrome
Screws Black PVD
Oscillating Weight Tungsten carbide with black PVD treated dimpled surface
Main plate Microblasted black chrome
Barrel With reinforced spring
Escapement Glucydur hairspring
Power Reserve 42 hours
Wristlet Adjustable articulated black rubber
Clasp Microblasted black ceramic and black PVD steel
Edition limited to 333 pieces numbered from 01/333 to 333/333


The King Power Alinghi is available exclusively at King Jewelers in Nashville, TN where the timepiece will be on display at their Hublot corner shop.

About David King, King Jewelers

David King is the owner of King Jewelers Nashville who has a passion for watches and writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in English and Chemistry, David and his brother Jono King are the fifth generation to own and operate King Jewelers.Established in 1912, King Jewelers has proudly styled jewelry and timepiece aficionados from around the world. A pioneer among independent couture jewelers, King Jewelers has built an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value and first-class customer service. King Jewelers is an authorized dealer for over forty luxury Swiss watch brands including Bell & Ross, Bulgari, Breitling, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, Hublot, Girard-Perregaux, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Jaquet Droz, Montblanc, Swiss Army, and TAG Heuer. With store locations in Aventura, FL and Nashville, TN, King Jewelers has won numerous awards as the Southeast's top jewelry store and diamond wholesaler. King Jewelers is a member of the American Watch Guild, an IW Leading Watch Retailer, and offers Nashville watch repairs and watch refinishing. For additional information, please visit our salon in Green Hills located at 4121 Hillsboro Road, call (615) 724-5464, or log onto http://www.kings1912.com/.

TAG Heuer Limited Edition Silverstone Calibre 11 Chronograph available on King Jewelers TAG Heuer E-Shop

Originally introduced in 1974, the Heuer Silverstone was named for the Silverstone Circuit, a legendary English racing track. As part of TAG Heuer’s year-long celebration of its 150th anniversary, the Silverstone Chronograph has just been re-issued this March 2010 as a limited-edition timepiece.

The TAG Heuer Limited Edition Silverstone Calibre 11 Chronograph is a truly original limited edition piece with only 3,000 available worldwide (1,500 Blue TAG Heuer Limited Edition Silverstone Calibre 11 Chronographs and 1,500 Brown TAG Heuer Limited Edition Silverstone Calibre 11 Chronographs). Each timepiece is numbered and inscribed with “150th Anniversary 1860–2010” while featuring the Vintage Heuer logo highlights 150 years of watchmaking legitimacy.

While the chronograph watch is a quintessential sports watch and one of the most popular complications amongst mechanical automatic timepieces in the world, the TAG Heuer Limited Edition Silverstone Calibre 11 Chronographs will surely win the hearts of purists and modern-retro collectors around the world. Invented by a Frenchman named Rieussec in 1821, a chronograph is a chronometric (time-measuring) device which contains a mechanism that allows to stop at least one hand to facilitate reading of the elapsed time. The Greek words "chronos" and "graph" stand for "time" and "writing".

The TAG Heuer Limited Edition Silverstone Calibre 11 Chronographs are both available for sale exclusively on-line at http://kingjewelers.tagheuereshop.com/. TAG Heuer timepieces are also available at King Jewelers Aventura and King Jewelers Nashville. For further information, visit http://www.tagheuer.com/ and http://www.kings1912.com/.

New Hublot President to Oversee the US Expansion Strategy

Hublot, the luxury Swiss watch company known for its innovative fusion of elements in its timepieces, is proud to announce the appointment of Beatrice de Quervain Blanchard as U.S. President. De Quervain Blanchard will join Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver and Managing Director Ricardo Guadalupe to oversee the US expansion strategy.

At Hublot, Beatrice de Quervain Blanchard will focus on gaining market share through a diverse marketing program that will include the opening of new boutique stores, a strong wholesale network and newsworthy communications initiatives. “I am very excited to join such a formidable brand as Hublot,” says de Quervain. “I have worked with Mr. Biver and Mr. Guadalupe before, and I am greatly looking forward to fusing our minds together to increase the brand’s presence in the U.S. market.”

About Hublot
In just five years, Hublot has become one of the most sought-after high-end watch brands with some of its timepieces making watch history, such as the One Million Dollar Big Bang, All Black Big Bang and Mag Bang watches. Jean-Claude Biver and his team is undoubtedly leading the company's guiding principle of "Fusion," which combines unusual materials such as gold with ceramic, tantalum, magnesium and titanium with a modern version of Hublot’s rubber strap.

About King Jewelers Nashville

Established in 1912, King Jewelers has proudly styled jewelry and timepiece aficionados from around the world. A pioneer among independent couture jewelers, King Jewelers has built an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value and first-class customer service. King Jewelers features exclusive jewelry designers such as Mikimoto, Kwiat, Roberto Coin, and Charles Krypell, offers in-house custom designs, private label jewelry collections, and is an authorized dealer for over forty luxury Swiss watch brands including Bell & Ross, Breitling, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, Hublot, Girard-Perregaux, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Swiss Army, and TAG Heuer. For additional information, please visit our salon in Green Hills located at 4121 Hillsboro Road, call (615) 724-5464, or log onto http://www.kings1912.com/.

Where in the world is Carlos Dias???

Does anyone know where Carlos Dias is? Has anyone heard from the former dictator of Roger Dubuis? Is he working on a secret new project, skiing in the Alps, or examining his head on a long black couch? Since the Richemont Group acquired Manufacture Roger Dubuis last year, the brand has made tremendous strides in correcting its troubled movements and improving overall customer service while Carlos Dias has simply vanished.

Carlos Dias is the founder and visionary behind one of the finest luxury Swiss brands in the world. While a true genius for design and a pioneer of the modern watch industry, Dias was an extremely controlling, maniacal tyrant who struck fear throughout his manufacture while rattling the world of haute horology. With his keen eye for progressive design and his understanding and respect for the history of the watch industry, Dias overwhelmed the Swiss with his cutting-edge concepts. He embraced the exclusivity of luxury, and at the same time, whimsically toyed with the emotions of the fashion elite, most notably in the Asian markets.

A few years ago I had the opportunity of dining with Mr. Dias in Geneva during the SIHH show. As an authorized dealer for Roger Dubuis timepieces for almost eight years, I had developed an excellent professional relationship with Mr. Dias as he was an extremely impressive and refined individual. Talking over a glass of red wine and delicious lamb (his personal favorite), I asked the simple question, “Where do you get the names for your beautiful watch collections?” Dias put his wine on the table, smiled at me and replied in English, “It is really just a joke on the people. First, I gave the people my Hommage. Next, I gave them my Sympathie. Then I gave them Much More, and when they were ready, I gave them Too Much. Now they can all Follow Me.” And follow me the watch industry has.

So where in the world is Carlos Dias? The answer is everywhere. While absent from the forefront of haute horology, Carlos Dias and his Manufacture Roger Dubuis continues to revolutionize the modern watch with his bold and eccentric designs while influencing hundreds of watch brands from Switzerland and beyond. Today, it is amazing to see the power of Dias’ reach of designs, most notably the Excalibur collection whose sleek, grooved bezel has had a global domino effect throughout all price point brands. While people may second guess the leadership and management of Carlos Dias, one may never question the genius and passion of an outsider who pioneered the modern timepiece as we know it.

About David King, King Jewelers

David King is the owner of King Jewelers Nashville who has a passion for watches and writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in English and Chemistry, David and his brother Jono King are the fifth generation to own and operate King Jewelers.

Established in 1912, King Jewelers has proudly styled jewelry and timepiece aficionados from around the world. A pioneer among independent couture jewelers, King Jewelers has built an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value and first-class customer service. King Jewelers is an authorized dealer for over forty luxury Swiss watch brands including Bell & Ross, Bulgari, Breitling, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, Hublot, Girard-Perregaux, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Jaquet Droz, Montblanc, Roger Dubuis, Swiss Army, and TAG Heuer. With store locations in Aventura, FL and Nashville, TN, King Jewelers has won numerous awards as the Southeast's top jewelry store and diamond wholesaler. King Jewelers is a member of the American Watch Guild, an IW Leading Watch Retailer, and offers Nashville watch repairs and watch refinishing. For additional information, please visit our salon in Green Hills located at 4121 Hillsboro Road, call (615) 724-5464, or log onto http://www.kings1912.com/.

3 Basics Ways to Maintain Your Chronograph Watch

The chronograph watch is the quintessential sports watch and one of the most popular complications amongst mechanical automatic timepieces in the world. Invented by a Frenchman named Rieussec in 1821, a chronograph is a chronometric (time-measuring) device which contains a mechanism that allows to stop at least one hand to facilitate reading of the elapsed time. The Greek words "chronos" and "graph" stand for "time" and "writing". Around 1910, the chronograph was introduced as a wrist watch. It quickly became a very sought after type of watch, only to gain in popularity through the years. When the Swatch watch company started the production of affordable and fashionable chronograph watches in early 1990, they sold like wild fire, as did the later versions. Today, with almost every respectable watch company claiming a chronograph within its collection, one can ensure optimal health for their chronograph watch with three simple steps:

1) BEWARE OF THE DATE: Most watch salesman will never tell you about one of the most essential DO NOTS when it comes to chronograph watches, but it is best to NEVER change the date function on a chronograph watch when the time is between the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions. Therefore, it is best to change the date when both the hour and minute hands are in the lower half of the watch between the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions (for example, think 6:30). By following this simple step you will eliminate stripping gears within the chronograph movement and provide better precision over time.

2) WIND YOUR WATCH: We all take for granted the fact that most automatic watches are still running when we pick them up to wear, but realize that when you’re not wearing an automatic chronograph watch it loses power and precision over time. As the coil in the mainspring slowly unwinds releasing energy through the power train of the watch movement, it generates power throughout the movement that eventually fades with the uncoiling of the mainspring. As horology improves the power reserve and energy efficiency of movements, it is best to appreciate the fine Swiss movement and wind your watch to ensure full power energy levels… but never over wind your watch!!!

3) WEAR & CARE: The most basic maintance of a chronograph watch, and all watches for that matter, is to wear and care for your timepiece. Think of your chronograph movement as a sports car engine that you need to keep well lubricated and full of energy. It’s best to frequently run these high performance engines, but in the case of timepieces that don’t get much use, consider investing in a good and affordable watch winder such as an Orbita that will wind your watch for you when not being worn and keep all of the oils and lubricants as fresher, this requiring less maintance in the long run.

About David King, King Jewelers

David King is the owner of King Jewelers Nashville who has a passion for watches and writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in English and Chemistry, David and his brother Jono King are the fifth generation to own and operate King Jewelers.

Established in 1912, King Jewelers has proudly styled jewelry and timepiece aficionados from around the world. A pioneer among independent couture jewelers, King Jewelers has built an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value and first-class customer service. King Jewelers is an authorized dealer for over forty luxury Swiss watch brands including Bell & Ross, Bulgari, Breitling, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, Hublot, Girard-Perregaux, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Jaquet Droz, Montblanc, Swiss Army, and TAG Heuer. With store locations in Aventura, FL and Nashville, TN, King Jewelers has won numerous awards as the Southeast's top jewelry store and diamond wholesaler. King Jewelers is a member of the American Watch Guild, an IW Leading Watch Retailer, and offers Nashville watch repairs and watch refinishing. For additional information, please visit our salon in Green Hills located at 4121 Hillsboro Road, call (615) 724-5464, or log onto http://www.kings1912.com/.

TAG Heuer selects King Jewelers Nashville as official TAG Heuer E-Shop

Luxury timepieces manufacturer, Tag Heuer recently chose King Jewelers to head its E-Commerce division. The entire Tag Heuer catalog will be available for retail purchase as early as February, 2010. Tag Heuer is the first brand to offer an entire line of luxury watches for secure purchase online. Backed by King Jewelers almost century long legacy of authorized shopping and customer service, this new luxury portal will offers clients luxury shopping in any setting they choose. Browse and shop the entire King Jewelers Tag Heauer Collection at http://www.kingjewelers.tagheuereshop.com/

Established in 1912, King Jewelers has proudly styled jewelry and timepiece aficionados from around the world. A pioneer among independent couture jewelers, King Jewelers has built an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value and first-class customer service. With store locations in Aventura, FL and Nashville, TN, King Jewelers has won numerous awards as the Southeast's top jewelry store and diamond wholesaler. King Jewelers is a member of the Jewelers of America, American Watch Guild, and the American Society of Appraisers. King Jewelers has GIA Certified Gemologists and offers expert jewelry and watch repairs. For additional information, please visit our salon in Green Hills located at 4121 Hillsboro Road, call (615) 724-5464, or log onto http://www.kings1912.com/.