Chopard’s new L.U.C Engine One Tourbillon will definitely have you well-heeled pistonheads talking. The watch features an in-house caliber with a power reserve of 60 hours that sits under an engine block-inspired dial design complete with a fuel gauge-style power reserve indicator.

Check out a close up after the jump!

This year Audemars Piguet is of the brands releasing a lot of new watches. The most visually exciting of which is this Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix watch collection. Each is in a limited edition, so these aren’t permanent additions to the collection. There are three luxurious versionl each has ceramic and lots of forged carbon. You have a choice of complimenting it with titanium ($34,500), 18k pink gold ($56,300), or platinum ($94,300). These come in a limited edition of 1750 pieces, 650 pieces, and 75 pieces, respectively.

Photos after the jump

Surely watch fans will be excited to see some of the timepieces rolling out at Baselworld next month. One model that caught our eye is the U-Boat 1001 Diver. According to Professional Watches: The 1001, before its unusual features are unveiled, will be presented to the public in an aluminium technological casket, visible only through a riveted port hole, reminiscent of a deep abyss. On opening the box, the unusual nature of the 1001 will be immediately apparent, starting with the 55-millimetre diameter grade 2 natural titanium box, with the distinctive position of the rim protection on the left, helium valve and titanium plate bearing the serial number.

Credit: swipelife.com

The Oris TT3 is back – with a vengeance and it’s ready to wipe the track with other motor sports watches. Excited by the Type 997 Porsche cars driven in competition by Darryl O’Young, the PCCA Double Class A Champion, Oris has designed two watches with a cool, sporty and technical look. Each model is limited to 997 units – a nod to the Type 997 Porsches.  Influenced by the technical features on the awesome Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and the 911 GT3 Cup, both sizes of watch (43.50 mm and 41.00 mm) guarantee maximum wearer comfort. The curved cases are black DLC coated for durability as well as added style. The sporty rubber strap with its flexible lugs ensures a snug fit on the wrist.

Depeche Mode and Hublot launch the auction of the most exclusive collector’s pieces in the history of Rock and Roll with all proceeds donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Bidding begins February 8th and terminates February 24th Twelve unique timepieces bearing the album artwork of Depeche Mode’s legendary studio albums will be sold via an online auction with all proceeds from the sale going to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

More info and watch images after the jump…

On February 17th Depeche Mode will open the 10th season of concerts organised by the charity Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) at the Royal Albert Hall in London with The Horrors announced as their special guests.

On this occasion, and in support of this cause, Depeche Mode and Hublot have joined forces to produce twelve exclusive boxed sets. In side these exquisitely designed presentation boxes, fans of Depeche Mode will find a treasure chest of exclusive materials chosen by the band.

Each box contains:
- A deluxe vinyl version of the album
- A USB Key containing a digital edition of the album and documentary about the making of the album
- An original album artwork print and a framed gold CD.
- In addition each box will boast a photograph signed by all members of the group who contributed to the album including Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder.

Now online, the auction site can be accessed directly from:
www.hublot.com
www.depechemode.com
www.teenagecancertrust.org

Officine Panerai delivers an exclusive edition of its Radiomir, which features made-over aesthetics and technology, plus all the usual trimmings you’d expect. Say hello to the Radiomir Tourbillon GMT Ceramica – 48 mm. The main novelty of the new timepiece is the refined skeleton structure, clearly visible from the dial. In fact, the dial shape allows the numerous parts of the movement to be seen, including the tourbillon regulator at 10-11 o’clock. The dial is protected by sapphire crystal made from corundum, with double anti-reflective coating.

Despite the technical complexity of the tourbillon movement, this watch is 100-meter waterproof, thus qualifying as a true traditional Radiomir. Comprising 277 parts, the movement is the result of exceptional work by the maestro watch-makers at Officine Panerai and, thanks to its three spring barrels, enables a power reserve of six days, indicated by a hand that can be seen through the back plate moving through the arc of a circle. It comes on a leather strap with adjustable buckle in scratch-resistant burnished steel. The watch case measures 48 mm diameter and is sculptured from a zirconium oxide ceramic. The new Radiomir watch, which carries a dizzying price tag of $160,000, will be available in a limited edition of just 30 pieces. 

More pictures after the jump

Confrérie Horlogère upmarket watch brand’s “Les Masters” collection is the venue for the presentation of outstanding movements born of pioneering mechanical and engineering research. A prime example is “La Clef du Temps” tourbillon watch featuring a hand-wound mechanical movement providing three days of power reserve.  Truly unusual in design, issued in a very limited series of 24, each of which corresponds to a timezone, “La Clef du Temps” is the brainchild of Mathias Buttet, founder of Confrérie Horlogère.

Credit: watchhappening

This extraordinary mechanical timepiece conveys the idea that “true luxury and wealth lie in the possibility to manage one’s time”…

“La Clef du Temps” houses a sophisticated mechanism that allows the wearer to “modulate the speed of the time”. How, exactly? Simply actioning a three-position crown opposite 9 o’clock alters the running speed of the hours and the minutes – the latter displayed at 2 o’clock.

Crown position 1 : the pace of time slows by half (so that the value of one normal hour is displayed as a half-hour on the dial of “La Clef du Temps”).

Crown position 2 : the pace of time remains the same (i.e. one hour remains one hour).

Crown position 3 : the pace of time is doubled (so a standard half-hour becomes a full hour on the dial of “La Clef du Temps”).

Price: $200,000 – $300,000