Save E-mail

Send this URL to a friend:

* - Denotes a required field.
Your Name*
Your Email Address*
Friend's Name*
Friend's Email Address*
Subject*
Message*

Print

Las Vegas--Ernst Benz rolled out new models at the Couture show held last week in Las Vegas, while other watch brands jetted to Monaco for the glitzy Grand Prix weekend.

New from Ernst Benz at the show was the “Chronodiver,” a men’s watch made only in the brand’s signature size of 47 mm.

The Chronodiver features an exhibition caseback, Valjoux 7750 movement and is modeled after an airplane gauge, a nod to the company’s eponymous founder who was making airplane gauges before he got into the watch business.

Ernst Benz is creating a limited-edition run of 250 Chronodivers in black-and-white or black-and-orange and featuring a special treatment on the case and dial.

Prices range from $5,500 to $7,000 for the limited edition.

Also at the show, Ernst Benz introduced the 40 mm “Chronolunar” woman’s watch, a female interpretation of the brand’s vintage style for men, crafted with mostly alligator straps.

The Chronolunar is available with diamonds around the bezel or without. Prices range from $4,000 to $12,000.

Meanwhile, in Monaco, festivities surrounding the annual Monaco Grand Prix Formula One race kicked off on May 26 when Hublot unveiled a watch studded with more than 140 carats of diamonds (below).

Bernie Ecclestone, president of Formula One Management, joined Tina Zegg from Monaco jeweler Zegg & Cerlati in presenting the timepiece, dubbed the “2 Million Euros BB.”

The one-off timepiece contained 637 baguette diamonds and took 45 gem cutters and 2,000 hours of work by master gem setters to create.

On May 27, TAG Heuer participated in a charity event, the Amber Lounge Fashion Show, held at the Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel. Formula One race car drivers teamed up with models to showcase evening wear by British designer Matthew Williamson and the latest timepieces from TAG Heuer.

Hosted by H.S.H Prince Albert de Monaco, his bride-to-be Charlene Wittstock and the BBC’s Jake Humphrey, the event raised funds and awareness for the Special Olympics. During the event, two TAG Heuer watches were auction off for charity.

A “Mc Queen Monaco” chronograph with the iconic blue dial of the original worn in the 1970 race film Le Mans garnered about $32,000 for charity while a “Formula 1 Lady” steel and ceramic chronograph with a diamond dial and diamond bezel went for about $23,000.

On Saturday, TAG Heuer held an exclusive party on a private yacht, during which guests met the brand’s racing ambassador and Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and his girlfriend, American singer and dancer Nicole Scherzinger.

Also in Monaco, TAG Heuer launched three new chronographs in its Monaco model, the “Monaco V4 Rose Gold,” the “Monaco V4 Titanium” and the single-piece creation, the “Monaco Mikrograph.” Hamilton, left, is seen with the Mikrograph below.

The Mikrograph will return to Monaco on Sept. 22 for the “Only Watch” charity auction, which benefits research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.