World Lux News - Pens, Watches & More

Ceramics + Our top picks

wladmin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:51:34 +0000

With ceramic being one of the biggest trends right now I’d like to share some of our personal favorites. When I hear ceramic I think of RADO, but they’re the ones who have used ceramic since the 1990′s. As far as 2012 it seems ceramic has reached almost all watch manufacturers, but before sharing our personal favorites and what we own why not a little history on ceramic watches? RADO produced the first full ceramic watch in 1990, then in the early 2000′s they made the first platinum and white colored ceramic watches, but then in 2004 Techno Marine caught on to ceramic and made the first chocolate colored ceramic watch. Since then the use of ceramic has been revolutionized by a multitude of companies. Now back to 2012, with ceramic being such a widely used material how do you know what’s quality ceramic and what’s just for looks? Well your in luck because at World Lux we want you to have the best. Here come the top 5 picks by us at World Lux and why.

Sintra Jubile

1. RADO Sintra Jubile

A 100% hypoallergenic watch with solid ceramic links, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and just a touch of bling. Following RADO’s mission of “beauty that stays beautiful” the Sintra sets out to impress. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a watch that every time you accidentally let it tap the wall or hit the door handle you don’t have to look immediately and wonder “did I scratch it?”, with the Sintra you won’t be wondering that, you’ll just keep walking. You get home, take it off and with a wipe of the supplied cleaning cloth the appearing “scratch” is gone. It’s that easy.

: Cruise Ceramic Chrono Diamond

2. Techno Marine Cruise Ceramic Chrono Diamond

Recently redesigned the cruise proves fashion and functionality really can be put together and still dazzle! The chronograph function allows for precision timing and a quarter hour diamond section (.32ct) on the bezel let’s you know when times up. One of our very own sports this watch as much as she can and loves it. Fashion influence, Swiss production, and functionality join together to eliminate the competition!

: Conquest Auto Chrono Steel

3. Longines Conquest Automatic Chrono Steel

Okay so it’s not all ceramic, but it’s using ceramic to enhance durability and why argue with that? Equipped with an automatic chronograph movement (Valjoux 7750) and a solid stainless steel bracelet make this a must have for the man that doesn’t want to go so modern with a full ceramic watch. Also with a 300 meter water resistance it will appeal to all you divers as well.

: Ceramica Digital Automatic

4. RADO Ceramica Digital Automatic

Who says fashion can’t be paired with horology? This one is quite deceiving, look from a distance and it looks like a simple digital time displaying watch, but take a closer look, turn it over, and it’s actually automatic! Turn the crown in a downward direction to reveal the date. Show anyone the back and you’ll get endless questions. I purchased this one 6 months ago and have done a wide variety of activities and have yet to find one scratch. The ultra modern Ceramica has the perfect weight, it doesn’t pull your wrist down, but you don’t forget that you’re wearing a watch either.

: Diamond Flower Ceramic

5. Perrelet Diamond Flower Ceramic

Combining in-house watchmaking and chic designing, Perrelet presents the Diamond Flower! The P-181 movement is housed in a combination of steel and ceramic. See the lotus flower movement float around releasing pedals of diamonds onto the dial. You’ll also be able to view the intricate movement through a sapphire crystal. A graceful expression of femininity.

The Fascinating Perrelet Turbine Watches

wladmin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:53:26 +0000

In 2009 Perrelet released their first version of the “Turbine” watch. Taking the aesthetic design of turbine engines and combining their double rotor movement they create their now signature timepiece, the Turbine. Since 2009 they have come out with different case sizes (XL & XS), new case materials (Titanium & Gold), and new finishes (PVD & DLC). They’ve also added exclusive limited editions, which include: America, Playing with Fire, Poker, and Erotic. You won’t find a watch that turns as many heads as these do. Not only does the Turbine appeal to people with bold and unique taste, but also to the watch connoisseur; every Turbine carries the in-house manufactured and exclusive P-181 automatic movement. With automatic being Perrelet’s one and only movement they put in their watches it only makes sense that they would be the creator of something so bold and innovative.

: Turbine XL America LE

Brand Heritage:

Perrelet exemplifies the unique know-how of automatic movements: Abraham-Louis Perrelet and his son Louis Frederic left their mark on all of watchmaking with their respective inventions, the automatic winding movement (1770) and the split-seconds chronograph (1828). From this legitimate and prestigious heritage, Perrelet exudes dynamism and creativity with their exclusive movements and exceptional designs. Their various interpretations of time are housed in their distinctively fluted cases, and each is engineered from a long tradition of watchmaking expertise and bestowed with an international 3-year guarantee.

Demystifying The Watchwinder

wladmin — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:53:59 +0000

Whether you’ve already bought an automatic watch or are still deciding, consider protecting your investment with a watchwinder. Read below to learn why a watchwinder is worth your time.Do I need a watchwinder?
If you own more than one automatic watch, or if you occasionally don’t wear your watch, then you will appreciate the convenience of a watchwinder keeping your watch wound. If your automatic timepiece is left sitting for any amount of time, the lubricating oils tend to clump, which can cause errors in accuracy and wear on the balance wheel. For the mechanical health of your watch, the watchwinder ensures that your entire timepiece stays properly lubricated. You’ve made an investment in buying your fine timepiece, and a watchwinder is necessary to keep the mechanics in excellent condition.The more complicated your watch, the more beneficial you’ll find a watchwinder to be. Perpetual calendars, moonphases, multiple time zones, and other uber-complicated timepieces can be quite a nuisance to reset—so save yourself the hassle.Considering the proliferation of watchwinders on the market, what’s the value for the dollar? How about I go for the inexpensive one and spend the difference on another watch?
To some extent the price is about aesthetics . . . if you’re spending a significant amount of money on your watch, then you would naturally want to house it in a winder of attractiveness and quality. The effectiveness of the winder is a prime factor as well. Very low prices often mean you’re not buying a true winder; instead, you’re buying a cheaply-made box with a motor that spins your watch in one direction constantly, which will eventually damage your watch.Can a watchwinder damage my watch?
If it’s not an actual winder. There are many watch storage boxes with motors attached that cause the winder to continuously spin your timepiece. These are often made of plastic or particle board, sell for very low prices, require a manual shut down (versus the winder automatically programmed to “rest” your watch at appropriate intervals) and ultimately break down within a short period of time. The overwinding also stresses your watch, which means that the end result is damage to your watch and a higher toll on your bank account if you skimp on the winder. This is why it’s crucial that you buy your watchwinder from an authorized dealer, who can ensure that the product is, in fact, a watchwinder and not a “spinner.”A true winder allows for winding and resting—a closer approximation of how your wrist would wind your watch. The resting period is necessary to prevent your watch from being overwound. Your winder should be fully automated and controlled by an internal circuit, and your winder should function to automatically turn on a winding cycle without your intervention. The idea is to have the convenience of not having to monitor anything, so a true watchwinder will ensure that your watch is always ready to wear.

If I don’t wear my automatic watch for a few days, is there a benefit to winding my watch manually versus placing it on the winder?
Not really, but if you consistently wind your watch by the crown, you may put unnecessary stress on the mechanism. Automatic watches are made to be wound by movement, not daily winding. Many, if not most automatics feature screw-down crowns, and daily winding can wear out the O-ring gasket, and if that happens, you’re likely to lose water resistance and get water damage inside your watch. Manual winding wears at the threads over the long term and may eventually even cause the crown posts to break off—not an expense or inconvenience with which you’d be pleased. These are problems that occur only if you tend to wind the crown on a regular basis. If you keep your watch wound on a watchwinder, you won’t need to use the crown, and these potential problems won’t be an issue.

Watchwinders are a worthwhile investment to ensure that the inner workings of your watch run smoothly. They also save you time. A fully wound watch doesn’t need to be reset, so you have the convenience of wearing your watch whenever you wish. The price is a low priority in light of these factors. The fully-wound accuracy a watchwinder imparts is a peace of mind; rather than resetting hours and minutes you may save them, confidently wear your watch, and live your time well.


Wolf Design Rotators at World Lux	Orbita Watch Winders at World Lux
Wolf Design Corporate site	Orbita Corporate Site

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All About Automatic Watch Movements

wladmin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:53:02 +0000

If you’ve ever wondered about the advantages of wearing an automatic watch, then read on. Afterwards, look through our selection to find one that suits your lifestyle.Why automatic?
An “automatic” wristwatch is a mechanical wristwatch with a self-winding mechanism. In other words, one does not have to wind the crown periodically to keep the watch running. A “manual” or “manual wind” mechanical watch must be wound by hand, approximately every day, to operate continuously (an average 40-44 hour power reserve). Quartz watches are accurate and powered by batteries which will need to be changed every 1 to 2 years, but the mechanism will eventually corrode. A regularly serviced automatic watch (every 2-5 years) will last for generations, and it’s preferred by many because it possesses an heirloom quality that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.If you were going to own only a single watch, and wear it every day, an automatic would be a good choice, since the watch will be worn consistently enough to stay wound. You wouldn’t need to manually wind the watch and would only need to adjust the time to compensate for drift and changeover to daylight/summer time and back. If you have more than one automatic watch that you wear regularly, then you will want to acquire an appropriate number of watchwinders to keep them fully wound and ready to wear.

How does it work?
All self-winding watches work on the principle of converting arm motion (kinetic energy) into the winding of the mainspring (potential energy). This is performed by a half-disc of metal weighted at the edge called a rotor, which spins when the wearer’s arm moves normally throughout the day. Relatively speaking, this semi-circular piece is fairly heavy, and it is therefore affected by gravity. As you wear your watch, this piece will move so that it is always pointed toward the ground. As you walk with your arm swinging back and forth, the rotor spins inside the watch. This rotary motion is then geared down through the gear train to wind the central arbor of the mainspring. Each movement of your arm winds the spring a tiny bit, but since you move your arm so much it easily keeps your watch wound.

You cannot overwind an automatic watch if it is in good working condition and properly serviced. In a typical system, the mainspring, which is wound at the central arbor of the barrel, is not rigidly attached to the outside of the barrel. Instead, there are a series of detents along the outer edge of the barrel that allow a stiffly constructed “clutch-like device” called the bridle to allow the mainspring to slip inside the main barrel when this spring is wound to maximum. On some watches, a faint click can be heard when this happens; on others, it cannot be heard. This overwind protection is critical to avoid damage to the watch.

Automatic – in a minute
To ensure consistent performance, you should wind an automatic watch FULLY from a dead start before wearing it. This takes only a minute, and making this a habit will ensure that your watch is always at or near its peak power. The watch will then be less likely to stop in less time than its maximum power reserve (typically 48 hours, but this varies among brands). The combination of a sluggish or undersized rotor and non-active life style can result in a watch that is not fully wound and running slow.

A good way to keep the inner mechanism of your watch consistently well-oiled is to give the crown a couple of turns every morning. If your watch is new, simply hold your watch face up and “swirl” it around in the same motion with which you would swirl brandy in a snifter. Do this for 1-2 minutes and the watch will accumulate a couple of hours worth of power reserve. When you wear your watch, you’ll complete the winding to build up the rest of the power reserve. If you wind the watch then wear it all day, you should have a full power reserve at bed time.

Want to learn all about watchwinders for your automatic watch? Read our watchwinder FAQ here.

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