Complications

Romain Jerome Titanic DNA - A Relic on Your Wrist

If you love the unique and like more than a generous dose of real historic value in the watches that you wear, Romain Jerome has a watch for you.

The Romain Jerome Titanic DNA is, as it's name implies, constructed using part of the hull of it's namesake, the Titanic, an ocean liner that's been resting 3,840 meters beneath the sea since she went down after a collision with an iceberg in 1912.  Romain Jerome's Managing Director, Yvan Arpa, bought a piece of the actual hull from a collector that weighed almost 1.5 KG.  To transform the 'hunk of hull' to something watch worthy, Arpa, always one to seek absolute authenticity, took the piece to Harland & Wolf shipyards in Belfast, Ireland.  Harland & Wolf constructed the original Titanic and is currently working on a commemorative version of the ship that will be ready for it's hundredth anniversary in 2012.  H&W smelted the steel hull piece from the original Titanic together with some of the steel being used in the commemorative version... after some creative machining, the result is the bezel that you see on the example shown here.  The oxidized steel of the Titanic DNA bezel is striking against the black satin glimmer of the bezel straps and contrasts perfectly with the black dial (modeled, by the way, from coal taken from the wreck).  The design of the hands comes from design elements in the anchor of the big ship and the small seconds hand at 9 o'clock follows the counters used on steam engine dials.

Like it's namesake, the Titanic DNA is a large watch - 47mms at the bezel.  It's equipped with a Lajoux Perret movement and is limited to 2,012 pieces (commemorating the ships 100th anniversary in 2012). 

As far as 'historic' watches go, you'll most likely never find another one like this.  Wow!   

   

Upgrading the 'Beater' - From Timex to Rolex

The time has come to finally retire the remnants of the Timex Ironman that has served as my 'beater' watch since college (incredibly almost 20 years ago).  Truthfully, as you get older, the occasions and activities that actually require a watch that might not come back alive become fewer.  As the birthdays pile on, I'm also a lot less worried about the watch on my wrist than I used to be.  I guess the harsh truth is that I'd be willing to sacrifice something pretty damn nice in exchange for an unexpected involvement in some sort of activity that could actually take out a watch! 

Invariably, though, there will be times that call for a watch that can 'take a licking and keep on ticking'.  From today on, my Rolex Sea-Dweller will answer that call.  Already, it's been banged against many a wreck and tested extensively in 'golf like' situations... in both it's always done well.   

My 'dweller' has served as the testing platform for the evolution of watch scratch erasers that now make up our 'Ultimate Watch Refinishing Kit' - so it's a watch that's never looked 'lived-in' for too long.  Despite the fact that I've had it for almost ten years and wear it quite often, I often see 'new' examples in a dealers showcase that don't look quite as good.      

The truth is that I'm actually looking forward to not having to look at that old Ironman anymore.  I have a lot of really nice watches and it's just not much fun to look down at my wrist and see that beaten up old plastic thing staring back at me with it's uninspired yet always accurate LCD display that's barely visible through the scratched up 'crystal'. 

I remember some strange unions that seem to have the Ironman as their genesis.  There was a painfully long round of golf with the guy who thought it necessary to wear a heart rate monitor (complete with 'over the shirt' chest strap) on the course.  Much more frequently, there was the random old buck at the grocery store who would roll up his sleeve to reveal some sort of early wrist-top supercomputer that undoubtedly calculated a mean tip here and there and exchange a knowing glance when he spotted the plastic wonder strapped to my forearm.... 

I'll miss the old girl!  (ok- maybe not that much)

Wear Your Sunglasses at Night - TAG Heuer Style

It's easy to draw some not-so-flattering conclusions when you see someone who, 'no matter if it's day or night', is perpetually hiding behind dark lenses. 

TAG Heuer, a Goliath in sports watches, has just introduced a new lens for it's steadily expanding line of sunglasses that's specifically designed to be worn after the sun goes down. 

Originally designed for and distributed only to drivers in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, these 'Night Vision' glasses have quickly become favorites of F1 drivers (Sebastien Bourdais) and Indy 500 racers (Sarah Fisher).  The reception has been so uniformly positive that TAG has quickly made plans to offer these lenses to high-end consumer buyers in titanium frames of both Wide and Panorama configurations.  While a release date for 'operation night vision' is mysteriously missing in the press release from TAG HQ, industry insiders expect to see 'product on the shelves' by early May 2008.

The technology is surprisingly simple; use a pale yellow lens to contrast the dark blue and green surroundings that are the mainstay of night driving.  The result is a remarkable enhancement of perception and contrast, a dramatic reduction in glare, and a much more comfortable nighttime driving experience.

Never satisfied with just great, the design crew at TAG added their trademark 'reflex-type flexible temples' that adjust easily and fit comfortably under racing (and motorcycle) helmets. 

The next time you're driving after dusk and glance over to the high speed lane and see a driver wearing sunglasses... you'll have to decide whether he's on something or on to something!