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Letter from the Editor
Here at Lex Tempus we have had an amazing summer, both relaxing and rewarding. We hope you too have had a relaxing and rewarding season. Summer has gone by so quickly and now we are awaiting the spectacular fall colors that are just around the corner. In the meantime, here is the fall issue of Timepiece Magazine for your entertainment and enlightenment. While we have been exploring the world of timepieces through assorted articles over the past six issues of Timepiece, I have come to see how watches have become such a vital part of our lives. I always knew that, but it has been brought home to me how the tactile and physical properties of a watch leave lasting memories. A friend of mine has her father’s watch. He has been gone for a long time. But she tells me when she holds it and looks at it, she remembers him wearing it. The associations go back over forty years. And that’s true for us. Our watches that we wear either in our daily lives, or pursuing a hobby where the watch is an essential instrument, remind us of precious moments in time. In this issue, our theme in part is the incredible diversity of watches. From the watch that traveled to the moon and back, to the watches that scaled the Himalayan peaks, to the wide array of watches that you can buy for the price of an Apple Watch, and, finally, to all those versatile and reliable watches you take sailing, caving or hiking, or whatever activity you choose. It really brings it home how valuable a companion they can be—and how they really are a vital part of our lives. And because Timepiece is a lifestyle magazine, we have taken this opportunity to praise those three American heroes who, without hesitation and at risk to themselves, tackled a terrorist wielding an AK-47 on a high speed train in France. We hope you enjoy this issue of Timepiece Magazine.
E. Mark Baran
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C o n te n t Smartwatches challenge the Mechanical Watch Market How do smartwatches match up to the esthetics and artisanship of mechanical watches?
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Heroes: Three men who are the real McCoy You and I and the rest of the world owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Alek, Anthony and Spencer. They are the real McCoy.
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The Making of a Watchmaker – Part V A rare glimpse into the journey of becoming a master watchmaker.
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Watches can boldly go Once upon a time, watches went boldly where few had gone before.
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Around the world in 80 watches Series 6
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Smartwatches challenge the Mechanical Watch Market How do smartwatches match up to the esthetics and artisanship of mechanical watches? By Máire O’Callaghan Mechanical wristwatches and wearable computer watches such as the Apple Watch bookend the history of watches—from the seventeenth century through to the twenty-first century. You cannot compare these two types of watches. Mechanical watches are works of art and contain hundreds of years of evolving technology. They are designed for the collector and discerning buyer. The Apple Watch is a new “device” that appears to be targeted at the millennial generation who grew up in an online and socially networked world, which makes them more responsive to the latest technology. When you look at the history of mechanical watches, and the history of Swiss watchmakers in particular, you see an evolution that has kept pace with the evolution of technology, one that has faced and survived many threats to its dominance in the watch market. And it will survive the Apple Watch and others of its ilk. Mechanical watches will survive because they are serviceable and built for the long haul—both as investments and as heirlooms. They are not dependent on a host phone for their functionality such as the Apple Watch, which is dependent on the iPhone for most of its functionality. Basically, the smartwatch is the convenience of a computer on your wrist. We looked at the costs, power source, life expectancy, and the characteristics of people who wear these two types of watches. As an example of a wearable smartwatch we used the Apple Watch, and for mechanical wristwatches we used timepieces manufactured by watchmakers such as Audemars, Omega, Parmigiani, Rolex, Seiko and Tissot—timepieces that are in the same price range as the Apple Watch.
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The price you pay Apple Watch
First, if you do not have an iPhone then you need to buy one. The new iPhone 6 is priced from US$549 to US$749. The Apple Watch is priced on the model you buy: •
Apple Sport Watch – US$349 to US$399. Available in 10 different models. Colors and metal range from silver or space grey aluminium, the display is protected by a lightweight aluminosilicate glass, the straps are durable fluoroelastomer, and, according to Apple, it is “An incredibly precise timepiece; a more immediate, intimate way to connect; a comprehensive health and fitness companion.”
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The Apple Watch – US$549 to US$1,099. Available in 20 different models. It is made from stainless steel that has been cold forged to make it less susceptible to nicks and corrosion. The display is protected by ultra-hard, polished, precision-machined sapphire crystal. The strap is the same as the Sport Watch but with a link bracelet and a Milanese loop. The high-end model has a PVD coated steel bracelet.
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Apple Watch Edition – US$10,000 for the 38 mm 18-Carat Rose Gold or Yellow Gold Case, and US$17,000 for the 42 mm 18-Carat Rose Gold or Yellow Gold Case. Available in 8 models. The custom gold alloy is up to twice as hard as standard gold, and the display is protected by ultra-hard, polished, precision-machined sapphire crystal.
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Mechanical Watch
If you had $10,000 to $17,000 to spend on a watch what would you buy? Everyone I spoke to opted for a mechanical watch such as Audemars Piquet Royal Oak or Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona. As a watch devotee said, “$17,000 can get you a lot of watch. I may be able to find one of my Grail watches on the pre-owned market for around $15,000. The F.P. Journe Chronometre Bleu retails for just under $20,000, so on the preowned market I am sure I could find one for $17,000, or less.” If you were to buy a mechanical watch you have many choices within the Apple Watch price range. You can also buy a watch or watches that fit your specific lifestyle. Here are a few:
$300 to $500 Range • •
Hamilton Khaki Field Auto – Around $392 New Tissot PRS 516 Automatic – Around $400 Pre-owned
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Early 2000s TAG Heuer® Aquaracer – Pre-owned Raymond Weil Tradition
Around $600
$1,000 to $3,000 •
Most Oris Watches – Powered exclusively by mechanical movements.
$5,000 to $8,000 • • •
Grand Seiko Quartz Diver US$4,100 Omega Seamaster – US$5,078 IWC Mark XVII Bracelet – US$6,100
• •
Rolex Submariner Date – US$8,500 Corum AC-One45 Chronograph (132.201.04/V200 AN10) – US$10,150 Parmigiani Fleurier Metrograph – US$12,500 Corum Admiral’s Cup Legend (38082.101.29/V200 PN10) – US$13,900 Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 White Gold – US$17,500
$8000+
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Wear a watch for a short time or for a lifetime Power source and power reserve
The power source for the Apple Watch is a battery, while the power source for the mechanical watch is the internal spiral mainspring, which turns the gears that move the hands. The Apple Watch battery lasts for just over a day. Your modern watch mainspring on average lasts around 42 hours. Seiko’s unique movement gives its watches a power reserve of 72 hours, and there are a few other watch brands that have power reserves of 8 days, 10 days, or 30 days. On its website, Apple says the Watch will take 90 minutes to go from 0% to 80%, and 2½ hours to go from 0% to 100%. Meanwhile, your hand wound mechanical watch just needs winding once a day—the first 75% of charge is more accurate than the last 25% (the last 25% tends to speed it up). The automatic has a rotor built in so as you wear it, it winds. Most watch manufacturers recommend a standard service that consists of oiling and adjusting your watch every three to five years.
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Life expectancy
Your Apple Watch life expectancy will be similar to the iPhone, you will probably replace it every couple of years. Your mechanical watch with minimal care and maintenance will last your entire lifetime, and decades more. It will never become obsolete because it is ageless: the tradition and craftsmanship, the esthetics and functionality of your watch can never be replaced by a commodity—one that lasts for only two or three years.
What makes a watch a watch
What you need to consider is that the Apple Watch is not actually a watch. It is an iPhone interface module on a strap that just happens to be worn around the wrist. There is no actual “value” other than “right now,” which is typical of new technology and its fleeting attraction. The Apple Watch is a single piece of technology that has only moments in time—it will soon be replaced by the next model with the next OS. Thus, regardless of how expensive the case the module comes in, the case is worth nothing once bought. With the Apple Watch you get the functionality and apps of your iPhone. But your phone has to be in its vicinity as the Apple Watch does not have a GPS receiver. There are some things the Apple Watch can do without its host iPhone. You can download the “Apple Pay” via the Apple Watch app and use it when you go shopping to pay for whatever you buy—as long as the store accepts the app. Then there is the Apple Passbook for storing whatever you scan such as electronic tickets and boarding passes. With its built-in Bluetooth, you have wireless music playback, and you can track your fitness and control your Apple TV. Then, of course, you can tell the time. With the mechanical watch your choices are infinite. You can match them to your active lifestyle whether you dive, sail or fly. You can wear them at black tie affairs or at car rallies—you can find a mechanical watch that will fit with any activity or with any attire. Some would argue that the Apple Watch is a watch because it has evolved from twenty-first century technology, leaving behind the mechanical watches that evolved from the “antiquated technology” of the seventeenth century. This evolution has enabled the Swiss watch market to grow. In 2014, the Swiss watch market exported over 28.6 million watches—worth 21 billion francs in revenue, almost half a million more than in 2013. (The Swiss and world watchmaking industry in 2014 Report, Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH.) Furthermore, according to the Deloitte Swiss Watch Industry Study 2014 Changing Times, “Mechanical watch exports have grown steadily over the last ten years, in terms of both value and volume. In 2013, mechanical watches accounted for 78% of exports by value and 28% by volume, an increase in both terms over 2012.”
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The characteristics of the people who wear the watches
The person who buys the Apple Watch differs considerably from the person who buys a mechanical watch. It really is not a question of the Apple Watch replacing the mechanical watch, or making major inroads into the Swiss watch market, it is a question of whether the people who are passionate and emotional about their mechanical watches will ditch them for the Apple Watch, or its equivalent. Apple Watch wearers tend to be hip and trendy, their purchasing decisions influenced or motivated by marketing and fads. They are early adopters and they want to wear the latest gadget, the shiniest new toy—they want to demonstrate an affinity with new technology. They also wear them for their functionality and ability to be an essential part of their daily lives. Then there are the wearers of high-end luxury timepieces who are curious and who will buy the Apple Watch just to satisfy their curiosity. People who buy mechanical watches will not ditch them for an Apple Watch. People who buy high-end luxury timepieces buy them because they are synonymous with prestige, success, spending power, refined wealth and good taste. They also buy them because they appreciate the mechanics. A watch collector I know will go on for days about how they are built. Just as much as people appreciate a fine car and what is under the hood, so do watch collectors and buyers appreciate a fine timepiece and what is under the case back.
Wearable technology such as the Apple Watch will eventually be usurped by something smarter—but not something that lasts longer. It is a commodity valuable for only a short timeframe—two to three years. As well, its use is curtailed by the 2½ hours daily charge cycle and its reliance on the iPhone. It is a matter of choice and personality. Most of us incorporate new technology into our daily lives with ease—whether Millennials (Generation Y), Generation X, or Baby Boomers. We lease new cars every few years for their innovative technology, wanting the most from our driving experience. We are used to living with the quick-turnaround characteristics of the technology industry with its constant upgrades and new releases—we are used to its fleeting nature and inevitable obsolescence. Mechanical watches are not ephemeral but enduring. Consider watches such as Parmigiani Fleurier’s Ovale Pantographe or NOMOS Glashütte’s Metro and their complex complications, they belong in a world of exclusivity, storied brands and lasting innovation—not in a world of fleeting technology. These exquisite works of mechanical art are timeless: they engender an emotional attachment and a love affair that lasts a lifetime. The Apple Watch has taken a flying leap into the world of horology with its host iPhone hanging about somewhere in the ether. For me, the Apple Watch is, as they say in my native Yorkshire, “neither nowt nor summat.”
People also buy them for their longevity and after-market value. A high-end luxury watch is an investment, both financially and emotionally. They can be worn for a lifetime so eventually they become intertwined with a family’s history. With the associations built over a person’s life, the watch that is handed down from father to son, from mother to daughter, is more than a watch—it is a treasured family heirloom with priceless memories.
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Heroes: Three men who are the real McCoy By G.F. McCauley
You and I and the rest of the world owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Alek, Anthony and Spencer. You remember them don’t you? Please tell me you do, please tell me you haven’t forgotten them.
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Oregon National Guard member Alek Skarlatos, U.S. Airman First Class Spencer Stone, and Anthony Sadler a student from California, were on a high speed train in France in late August of this year when a man with an AK-47 started shooting up the rail car. Here’s how Stone described the scene, “I was having a nap when it all began and Alek, who was sitting next to me, hit me on the shoulder and yelled, ‘Let’s go!” And go they did. Stone ran at the would-be killer and tackled him while Skarlatos grabbed the AK-47. But the gunman “kept pulling out more weapons.” These included a handgun and a box cutter which the gunman used to slash Stone’s left arm. In no time at all, Stone and Skarlatos with Sadler’s help subdued the Kalashnikov-wielding terrorist and tied him up. Lives were saved by these brave American men. Stone was among those injured, but managed to tend to another injured passenger who was bleeding heavily from his wounds. Sadler told CNN that Stone put “pressure to the neck wound before [the passenger] bled out.” Stone was among the wounded who were taken to hospital, but he is expected to recover. They are heroes, the real McCoy. This is important to note because we live in a world in which the word “hero” has become the go-to descriptive for anyone who does anything beyond the commonplace. Just as coinage was once debased by decreasing the amount of precious metal in a coin, so a word can be similarly debased by extending its applicability to a point where the word becomes meaningless. When the chance of being badly maimed or losing your life is negligible, when your actions don’t register on the Richter scale of importance, what you do may be commendable, but it is hardly heroic. If my brother, at the advanced age of 75, climbed a tree, limb over limb, to rescue a neighbor’s terrified cat from a perch high in a sprawling oak tree, he probably deserves a warm hug and a grateful pat on the back from the cat’s mistress. But he doesn’t deserve the Medal of Honor for an act “of valor above and beyond the call of duty.” All of us have a need to believe in archetypal figures that embody bravery, justice and noble deeds, men like television’s Jack Bauer, the counterterrorism guy who thwarts assassination attempts, nuclear attacks and bioterrorism, who fights the bad guys of the world, sleeper agents, torturers and traitors, a day at a time. But television drama isn’t the real world, it is a fantasy world, a world of fairy-tales and nursery rhymes informing us that little girls were made of “sugar and spice and everything nice,” while little boys were made of “rags and tags and old paper bags.” In the real world, however, all of us are mixed bags, a little bit of rags and tags and a little bit of sugar and spice, a little bit of good and a little bit of bad, a little bit of saint and a little bit of sinner, a little bit of lion and a little bit of lamb. Major Michael Boire, a history professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, claims that people tend to fall into two categories: lions or sheep, and most of us are sheep. Lions “turn and face danger head on” while sheep tend to stand around and look for someone to do something. This is probably too harsh. Life isn’t always that black and white is it? But when it is, having a few lions around is a mighty fine thing. For the lives they save and the redemption of a badly over-used word. So thanks Alek. Thanks Anthony. Thanks Spencer. Thanks for what you did. And thanks for reminding us that a hero is much, much more than a submarine sandwich. May God bless you, each and everyone.
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V
Part The Making of a Watchmaker
The journey to become a master watchmaker continues By Måire O’Callaghan
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Some people are blessed with a passion in life. They know what they want to spend the rest of their lives doing. Not all of us are so blessed. Many people work to live. Much like the generalists where I used to work as a specialist in communications. They were moved from marketing, to human resources to business development, constantly shifting chameleon-like to blend in with their changing professional environments. As a specialist in that environment, I was presented fait accompli many times with turning myself into a marketer, business developer, or account representative. I dug my feet in and always said, “This is who I am; this is what I do.” And that’s where Bas is blessed. Because he knows where his passion lies and he knows who he is and what he is going to be—a master watchmaker. He discovered his career choice at age 16 while in Austria on holiday with his family. It was there that he was hooked into the world of horology and into the study and science of time and time keeping. It’s one thing to discover the hook, it’s another thing to follow through. And that’s where Bas has excelled. Since enrolling in Vakschool Schoonhoven, he has diligently worked hard to acquire the skills and knowledge he needs to realize his aspiration to become a master watchmaker. Since September 2014 we have been following Bas’ progress with his practical and theoretical lessons. He has had to study the names of all the parts inside a watch movement not only in Dutch, but also in English and German. He has had twelve hours of practical lessons a week, with three of those hours spent disassembling and assembling watch movements, and nine hours making things like brass plates and working on the lathe. Since September 7, 2015, Bas has been back at school after the summer break. Here are the latest updates from Bas, who has been conscientious and consistent in keeping us up to date on his progress. Making the ETA 6497 winding shaft (or stem) Bas started with a steel 2mm thick steel rod. He placed it on the lathe and turned the tip to a thickness of 0.5mm. Then he had to file the flat surfaces to enable the castle wheel (clutch) to slide over the square shape. Bas explains, “This is also done on the lathe, but the lathe is obviously not spinning so you have to lock it in place for every flat surface you make, quite hard to get it perfectly square.”
When this was done, Bas turned the rest of the stem to a thickness of 1.4mm and the last part to 1.2mm so he could turn the screw thread for the crown. Bas left the hardest part to the end. He had to turn a 1mm wide slot into the stem to a thickness of 1mm—this is where he snapped his first attempt in half. Once successful, he hardened and polished the stem so that now it can be used in an ETA (Unitas) 6497 movement. As Bas says, “It really takes a lot longer than one might think, but it is oh so rewarding when it is finished.” Working on the ETA 2824 watch movement Bas’ watch movement wasn’t working. He was having a tough time: the pallet fork’s rubies had come loose, probably due to a bad repair in the past; the shellac (resin) was old and dry, and there was far too much of it; the pallet fork was bent out of shape so it was basically beyond repair—it would take too long and it would be too expensive to repair so it was better to replace it. Unfortunately, the decision to replace it was hampered as Bas’ teacher told him that they were all out of new pallet forks for that movement. They did have some pallet forks with a separate axis, but Bas didn’t have a tool small enough to place the axis into the pallet fork without breaking the pivots. Eventually, he says, “We came up with the crude idea of holding it and then just pushing it into the pallet fork—and it worked.” Bas then finished cleaning, assembling and lubricating the movement and regulating it to COSC specs. Planning for his internship Bas’ course schedule has changed. He will now be doing his internship in the first six months of school year three, commencing end of April 2016 and lasting until the fall break of the school year. His second internship will be in the last six months of school year four in 2017. He is planning on doing his first internship at a Rolex service center. An impressive choice and one where he will learn much about the art of being a watchmaker while building his knowledge and experience. In Issue 7 of Timepiece Magazine we will continue to follow Bas’ progress as he works through the thousands of hours it’s going to take him to become a master watchmaker. But Bas knows who he is, and he knows where he is going, so as he continues on his journey we know, like him, where and what he’ll be when he arrives at his destination.
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Watches can boldly go Once upon a time, watches went boldly where few had gone before. By Máire O’Callaghan Watches have travelled faster and farther than most people: they have shot to the moon and back in shuttles. Watches have helped to win wars: they were essential equipment in World War I, and they were even more essential on bombing raids in World War II. Watches have had thrilling adventures: they have sailed, tested to the limits of their durability and performance, in both the Admiral’s Cup international yachting regatta, and the America’s Cup Challenge; and they have scaled the Himalayan peaks for over 80 years. Watches are rugged and tough. Endlessly enduring. And versatile and reliable companions. Look at the watches we have paired with an adventure destination. Perhaps there is a watch here you can strap on, an expedition to plan, and a new destination to explore?
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Go Caving with Bremont Supermarine S500 Black and Green
When in a cave you need water resistance, visibility and durability. This watch has all three. The larger case size and substantial super luminova make this watch easy to see, even when your light has gone out. It is water resistant to 500m, so even if you have to take a dip in a cave, you are covered. It also has a comfortable rubber strap for those long caving expeditions when comfort and flexibility, no matter how irrelevant they might seem when you start out, do help ease your passage. Where to go • Airmen’s Cave . Austin . Texas Airmen’s Cave is 3,444 meters long and is in Travis County, Austin, Texas. You can crawl, climb and squeeze through impossibly narrow passages for hundreds of meters, one of which is called the “Birth Canal,” a formfitting, restricting tunnel, which, if you are a novice spelunker, is quite daunting. After crawling and climbing for two hours you arrive at a sensational space called “Aggie Art Gallery,” consisting of a reddish maroon clay and dozens of handmade sculptures, all formed by cavers from malleable mud. If you are an experienced caver and can spend 16 hours crawling through these narrow passages, then you will reach a huge cavern completely covered in magnificent geode crystals. •
Skocjan Caves . Slovenia Skocjan Caves, considered to be one of the largest underground wetlands, are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These spectacular caves are a 413-hectare, four-mile or six-kilometer long system of passages that reach 223 meters underground. The Reka River carved the caves through limestone leaving behind 26 separate waterfalls. Visit the Great Hall, an enormous subterranean cathedral 12-meters long and 30-meters high. The vault is covered with stalactites and the stalagmites look like overgrown mushrooms. The Giant stalagmite in the shape of a melted candle stands 15 meters tall and is 250,000 years old. The caves have between 80% and 100% humidity, creating the wetlands and the creatures that live there such as cave salamanders, bats and beetles.
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Go Diving or Surfing with the Omega Seamaster 300m
The Omega Seamaster 300m was a watch designed in 1957 for divers and professionals who work underwater. More than 50 years later, Omega reintroduced the Seamaster 300 upgraded and enhanced. This new version of Omega’s iconic watch features a symmetrical case and lugs as well as a dark dial, lighter indexes and big hands and numbers for easier reading in various lighting conditions. Where to go • Surf the Lost Coast . California Visit the Lost Coast located along the 80 miles or 129 kilometers of California’s glorious northern wilderness coastline. You will find it nestled between Fort Bragg and Eureka: a surfing paradise that has a consistent year-round swell. Surfing is fast with long, curving sweeps—you will surf not just one wave, but many. Visit the fishing village of Shelter Cove then walk south from the boat ramp. The first break you come to is Foster’s, and is only chest high, but further south a short distance away is Deadman’s, which is much larger. After that is McKees, a rock that projects out into the ocean, providing the perfect point break. •
Dive Puerto Galera . Philippines Known for its numerous scuba diving spots, Puerto Galera was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1973. Located at the heart of the “Coral Triangle,” Puerto Galera offers some of the most diverse coral reef diving in Asia. The Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands and is home to diverse marine life and magnificent coral reefs. Thus, if you are a photographer as well as a diver, then Puerto Galera is the ideal destination for you.
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Go Hiking or Cycling with the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer
The expeditions that scaled the Himalayan peaks from the 1930s onwards, depended on the Rolex Oyster as their indispensable timepiece. In 1953, Rolex launched a dedicated model. The Oyster Perpetual Explorer is rugged, yet elegant. A timepiece that is water resistant to 100m, and made for temperatures as low as -50℃ (-58℉), icy conditions, threatening winds, and 70% less oxygen than at sea level. With its black dial and the contrast of the silver and luminous indices and hands, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer is a versatile companion—you can wear it anywhere under any conditions: intimate dining in a fine restaurant or riding the red-rock trails of Moab. Where to go • Cycle Moab . Utah If you want to mountain bike in an out-of-this world environment, then ride the red-rock trails of Moab. Ride the Porcupine Rim, Slickrock, and the Whole Enchilada, all well known trails. Or you can head out on lesser known trails that are just as spectacular: North Klondike, Sovereign, Klonzo, and the Brands. These all connect. You can ride sunbaked desert trails or high-alpine single track in the nearby La Sal Mountains. If you want to ride the Whole Enchilada, which starts above 3,048 meters, then the best time of year to go is in the fall. •
Cycle Sun Valley . Idaho At Sun Valley you have more than 400 miles or 644 kilometers of single track, which includes the lift accessed downhill trails of its ski area. You can ride the 30 miles or 48 kilometers of paved bike paths where you overlook some outstanding alpine views. Within a 10-mile or 16-kilometer radius of Sun Valley, the trails are fast and smooth. But venture further out, and you will cycle some tough terrain: rockier and more technical as you climb into the subalpine and alpine regionals. You have a choice of trails such as the lift-accessed biking on Bald Mountain where you can cruise down over 1,000 vertical meters of big mountain terrain. At Sun Valley, you will also find new beginner trails as well as intermediate.
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Hike the Zion Narrows . Utah The Zion Narrows is southern Utah’s premier hike. You can hike for 16 miles or 26 kilometers through a canyon that is in some spots over 600 meters high. Majestic ponderosa pines grow in nooks, and hanging gardens sprout incongruously from the canyon walls. Take your camera as the contrasting colors are amazing, from the turquoise water to the terra-cotta cliffs. Be prepared: more than half your time you hike in the Virgin River, which is waist high with large slippery cobbles.
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Hike Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve . Alaska Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is Alaska’s largest national park. It is six times the size of Yellowstone, and it has Canada’s largest collection of glaciers with mountain peaks over 4,880 meters high. This is the place to hike if you want solitude. Many parts of the park are so remote and unexplored that glaciers, mountains and passes remain unnamed. If you want to break your own trail you can, but if you decide to do that consider hiring a guide. You can choose from bush plane accessed base camping and hike for several days, to a day’s hiking, to serious climbs, swift river crossings, or bushwhacking. It is remote and wild and an experience of a lifetime.
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Go Hot Air Ballooning with a watch from the Tissot T-Touch Collection
If you own a hot air balloon and ballooning is a hobby, or just like the occasional flight, a watch from the Tissot T-Touch Collection is an ideal companion. It has a touch-screen powered by solar energy—the first of its kind. It is easy to recharge, as the light touching the dial recharges the watch. The watches in this Collection also feature a touch sensitive sapphire crystal: using your fingers you can access a compass, altimeter, and barometer. In other words, you can see where you are headed, how high you are, and keep an eye on the weather. In addition, there is a countdown timer, chronograph, and an alarm. When you are flying high in a 725-pound vehicle that stands seven stories high and is 45 feet wide, it is essential you have the most accurate and finely tuned equipment available. Where to go • Balloon over the U.S. See the diverse and spectacular U.S. landscape from a completely different perspective. You can book a flight in a hot air balloon almost anywhere. Here are some examples. From Albuquerque, New Mexico, you can take a hot air balloon tour along the Rio Grande almost 300 days of the year (see Fodor’s Albuquerque Travel Guide). Quechee, Vermont, offers many national parks and preserves. You can hover over Lake Pinneo at such a low altitudes that you can even watch the birds swooping and diving for their breakfast (see Fodor’s Vermont Travel Guide). Visit Castile, New York, and fly above Letchworth State Park for stunning views of its 20 waterfalls and gorges that are up to 183 meters high (see Fodor’s New York Travel Guide). •
Balloon over France Founded 30 years ago in the Burgundy region, the France Montgolfières Balloon Company is one of the few balloon companies in France that is fully licensed to carry passengers by the Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC). You have a choice of takeoff sites such as Chenonceau and Amboise, Loire Valley; Fontainebleau, Paris area; Vèzelay and Beaune, Burgundy; or Forcalquier, Provence. You can explore France while enjoying your favorite adventure. You can take family and friends, booking a hotel and ballooning over several days while enjoying the food and wine of France.
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Go Sailing with Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer Manufacture
For over 166 years, Ulysse Nardin has been creating some of the most reliable marine chronometers in the world. Its Marine Chronometer Manufacture 1185-126-3T/43-BQ testifies to that. The watch perfectly combines its function as a sailing instrument with the exquisite blue and rose gold accents of a watch that looks elegant and perfectly in tune with its environment. It has a selfwinding movement, power reserve indicator, and is water resistant to 100m. It will guide you with exact precision and will enhance and validate your sailor’s natural senses. Where to go • Sail the Dalmatian coast of Croatia Both Moorings and Sunsail charters maintain fleets here, giving you a choice: you can skipper your own boat or sail along with others. You have over 1,000 islands to explore, with only 47 of them inhabited. All are unique and are packed with culture and history. Sail to Krka Waterfalls at Krka National Park or to the Kornati Islands where there are numerous fossils of crustaceans and fish, and 69 varieties of butterfly. The islands of Lastovo and Korčula are interesting spots to visit: Lastovo is a nature park, remote and uninhabited with many old churches. Korčula is referred to as “Mini Dubrovnik” as it is an old walled town. It has many little towns and anchorages on the island and is famous for wine tasting. •
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Sail the Great Barrier Reef . Australia Swim, snorkel, dive and sail the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, home to the world’s largest coral reef. It stretches for more than 1,200 miles or 2,000 kilometers along the Queensland coastline. For a place to relax and explore, sail to the Whitsunday Islands and hike the dense rainforests of the world-heritage listed Wet Tropics.
Go Traveling with Astron GPS Solar “Stratosphere” Rose Gold Plated SAS032
Whether you travel by land, air or sea, or whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, the Astron GPS Solar “Stratosphere” Rose Gold Plated SAS032 watch is an essential part of your packing. Who wants to be bothered fiddling with their watch and figuring out local time after the fatiguing, seemingly never ending, joys of waiting in line to go through security, taking off your shoes, unpacking your carry-on, removing your watch and laptop, boarding, deplaning, and the horrors of baggage claim. With the Astron GPS Solar you do not have to fiddle with your watch. It makes it easy for you to transition from one time zone to another: just press one button and the time automatically adjusts. This watch communicates with satellites to give you the accurate time, no matter where you are. This solar powered rose gold plated stainless steel watch has a perpetual calendar that will remain accurate until 2100, and a world time function with 39 time zones. The black dial features an etching of the globe, white Lumibrite hands and indices, rose gold overlaid indices, pushers and crown, and a date window at 3 o’clock. A subsidiary dial located at 6 o’clock features your home time. The charge status is shown in a sub-dial at 10, along with the display of the receiving process and the airplane mode indicator. Whether you travel frequently all over the world, or whether you travel occasionally, this watch is the perfect companion. You can wear it all the time. You have an important meeting, then this watch will impress. You have a dinner engagement, then this watch will enhance your style. Whatever you do, wherever you go, your watch will have meaningful memories and stories you can tell. Whether it is getting wedged on a rock inside a narrow tube, or finding yourself facing a bear while hiking, or suffering the worst wipeout in your surfing life, your watch reminds you. And then you have a story tell.
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Checking the time on my IWC Aquatimer—I think it’s telling me that every hour should be happy hour.
There seems to be a bar theme in my spare time. Well, a mojito will compliment my Maurice Lacroix.
Ok, so the watch is a Maurice Lacroix Diver—but diving smacks of effort... I’ll enjoy a drink first.
Yes, he’s about to fall. The watch—a Maurice Lacroix Pontos.
If you look really closely at this photo, you’ll see a Rolex Submariner.
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s that cowboy riding his horse in the store? Only in Texas! The watch Panerai laminar PAM005.
It’s always best to sit back and enjoy the view. The watch, a Rolex Submariner.
I seriously need to work on my short game. The watch—a Rolex Daytona. Just relaxing at the Lex Tempus HQ while checking out an Omega Speedmaster.
Loving this Omega Seamaster Chronograph while attending a local watch collectors event. Loving this Omega Seamaster Chronograph while attending a local watch collectors event.
Sporting the Rolex Submariner while enjoying the view on Santa Monica pier at the end of route 66.
Why go to a bar, when you can go to the source? The watch— a Cartier Santos.
Does it count if I never inhale? Enjoying cuban cigar, a mojito, and a Panerai Luminor Marina PAM005
National Daiquiri Da... so a daiquiri for every day of the week. The watch— a Panerai Luminor Marina PAM005.
You know what they say about men with big wrists? Nothing... they literally say nothing. Trying on three different Bremont Supermarine watches at Lex Tempus HQ
d l r o w e h t d n u o r A Serie in 80 watches s #6
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