Watches

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – June 01, 2018

duPont REGISTRY Couture Time 2018 Preview

By Roberta NaasToday’s watch brands are pulling out all the stops as they unveil new timepieces that run the gamut from classic to sporty, elegant and even three-dimensional masterpieces. With the Couture Time Show taking place this spring in Vegas, it’s a great time to zoom in on watches. Corum GOLDEN BRIDGE ROUND 39MMProving its technical prowess for women’s watches too, Corum deftly blends its jewelry expertise in this Golden Bridge Round 39mm watch. Crafted in 18-karat white gold, the piece is meticulously set with diamonds for a high-jewelry expression. The watch’s horizontal baguette movement is a manual windcaliber, CO 113, with 40 hours of power reserve. The watch is set with 76 Wesselton diamonds on the case and another 142 diamonds on the dial in leaf motif. In total, it boasts approximately 6 carats of diamonds. PRICE: $98,600. BUBBLE CENTRAL TOURBILLONA bold and alluring timepiece, the Corum Bubble Central Tourbillon watch, crafted in titanium, features an always-moving center tourbillon escapement. The tourbillon compensates for errors in timekeeping due to the effects of gravity when the watch is in certain positions on the wrist. Housed inside the famed 47mm titanium Bubble case, the complicated watch becomes a thoroughly modern and engaging timepiece. The hours and minutes are indicated via triangular markers and the tourbillon displays the seconds. The automatic movement offers 65 hours of power reserve. PRICE: $76,500. TITANIUM CASE SHOWNFOR MORE INFORMATION:CJW BRANDS954.279.122OCORUM-WATCHES.COM Arnold & Son DIAL SIDE TRUE BEAT (DSTB) A grand statement of haute horology, this Arnold & Son DTSB watch with off-centered hour and minute dial demonstrates the brand’s technical watchmaking prowess. Crafted in stainless steel, the 44mm watch is equipped with an exclusive in-house-made caliber, A&S6003, with true beat seconds indicated via a large sapphire dial (on the top left portion of the dial). Its mechanism is displayed dial side for added allure. The watch also features a domed white lacquered subdial at 4:00, and a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides for easy viewing of the complex mechanism. It offers 45 hours of power reserve and is finished with a hand-stitched alligator leather strap. PRICE: $30,750. HM DOUBLE HEMISPHERE PERPETUAL MOONElegantly crafted in 18-karat 5N rose gold, this 42mm Arnold & Son Double Hemisphere Perpetual Moon watch is a stunning rendition of time and the night sky. It boasts two of the biggest moon phase indications on the market: one each that displays the phases of the moon and the constellations as seen from the Northern Hemisphere and from the Southern Hemisphere. The moonphase is accurate for 122 years. The exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical hand-wound movement (A&S1512) is equipped with a “double barrel for 90 hours of power reserve. The magnificent translucent blue lacquer guilloche’ dial underscores the beauty of the night sky. PRICE: $31,000.FOR MORE INFORMATION:PROVIDENT JEWELERS561.747.4449PROVIDENTJEWELRY.COMARNOLDANDSON.COM Chronoswiss FLYING GRAND REGULATOR SKELETON OPEN GEARFor a more classical take on the Flying Regulator Open Gear watch, Chronoswiss unveils three versions of this skeletonized Sirius Flying Regulator Open Gear watch. Offered in either 18-karat 5N rose gold, stainless steel or black stainless steel, the watch features the off-center hours at 12:00, seconds at 6:00 and central minutes hand. Each version is created in a limited edition. The 44mm watch houses an automatic movement with stop seconds. It offers 42 hours of power reserve. It is offered on a horn back alligator strap and just 30 pieces will be made. PRICE: $8,93O. FLYING REGULATOR OPEN GEARIn a return to its roots, Chronoswiss unveils all-new regulator watches that are bold and modern statements of a watchmaking classic. This Flying Regulator Open Gear watch is a 41mm stainless steel timepiece with an innovative in-house made regulator movement (C. 299). The regulator dial depicts the hours, minutes and seconds are all displayed in different parts of the dial. The large minutes hand points to an outer minute track on the three-dimensional dial, while the hours are indicated via a raised, conical dial at 12:00 and the seconds also via a raised conical dial at 6:00. The open regulator train-wheel gear is also shown on the dial side. PRICE: $6,680.FOR MORE INFORMATION:BEAUGESTE, INC.212.847.1371CHRONOSWISS.COM Reservoir GT-TOURThe Reservoir GT-Tour watches are inspired by the era of Classic car races of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Each watch radiates with iconic accents from gauges found on the car dashboards. This version, crafted in black PVD 316L stainless steel, features a black sandblasted dial with a bold orange retrograde minute hand for incredible legibility. The Swiss-made watch features a jumping hour indication, and is powered by a mechanical automatic movement, caliber 2824 with an additional 97-part proprietary module built onto it to enable the jump hour and retrograde minutes. The screw-down crown and anti-reflective sapphire crystal ensures readability and water resistance to 50 meters. The watch is finished with a perforated leather strap to recall the steering wheel covers and vintage driving gloves. Just 371 pieces of this model will be made. PRICE: $3,900. AIRFLIGHT JETInspired by cockpit instruments from the fighter planes of half a century ago, the Reservoir Airflight watch features a black PVD-treated 316L stainless steel case and a black sandblasted two-level dial. The brilliant yellow accents harken to the on-board flight instruments. The jumping hour aperture is outlined in yellow and black, and the Super-LumiNova retrograde minute hand points to the minutes that are displayed using alternating white and yellow numerals. The “fuel indicator” at 6:00 is actually the power reserve indicator. There is also a date indication at 4:00 on the dial. Water resistant to 50 meters, the watch is finished with a black canvas strap with yellow stitching. PRICE: $4,050.FOR MORE INFORMATION:BEAUGESTE, INC.212.847.1371RESERVOIR-WATCH.COM

By Edward Jones – June 06, 2016

Tutima M2: Nothing Can Rattle

Good legibility, reliable functionality, high comfort level and water resistance, a large sweep minute counter, pressure-resistant for use to 15,000 meters above sea level, and shock proofed for blows, vibrations, and acceleration up to 7 g in all directions: these are the enormous prerequisites that the procurement office and forces alike put upon the Tutima NATO chronograph in 1984.Tutima's re-edition, the M2, even surpasses these prerequisites. In the classic from 1984, Swiss caliber Lemania 5100 kept the time. Since this is no longer in production, they have integrated their own caliber Tutima 521 into the M2. It is protected by a pure titanium case pressure-proofed to 30atm including a strong sapphire crystal coated with anti-reflective treatment on both sides and an additional casing of mu-metal. This nickel-iron alloy binds magnetic field streams so that they do not even reach the movement. The integrated push buttons are furnished with grooved neoprene inlays.The hour counter has its own scale. The less often consulted display of running seconds and 24 hours modestly step out of the limelight. The time and chronograph hands, as well as the hour markers are coated with luminous Super-LumiNova. This ensures good legibility, even under adverse lighting conditions. The Pioneer model variation additionally contains a nonslip rotating bezel with 14 luminous capsules so that set time intervals are easily recognizable even in full darkness.This model comes on a titanium link bracelet with folding clasp. The box that the M2 titanium bracelet model is delivered in additionally contains a Kevlar weave strap as well as a tool set for changing the strap.Learn more

By Edward Jones – April 11, 2016

The Tutima Saxon One: The New Aesthetic

The Saxon One is a wristwatch full of character – sporty and elegant at the same time establishing an entirely new style in the world of German watches. Sharp lines of light dominate the steely architecture and separate the finely satin-finished from the polished surfaces.The three-dimensional, pyramid-shaped bezel achieves a harmonious transition to a subtly designed rotating bezel, whose elegance finely underscores the dynamic chronograph. The screw-in crown is well protected between two high flanks, which harmoniously build a unit with the large pushers set well into the case.The mechanical movement of the Saxon One is outfitted with automatic winding and offers a power reserve of 44 hours. The heart of the chronograph is our own caliber Tutima 521; thanks to it, the Saxon One enjoys our own chronograph module, which displays the large sweep minute counter. The movement is shock-protected and water-resistant to 20 atm underneath a screw-down case back with a sapphire crystal window. The slightly domed crystal above the dial is also made of sapphire crystal and is anti-reflective on both sides, showcasing every detail of the dial with its applied markers and fine scales.The Saxon One is available as a three-handed automatic in a 42–mm case and as a – slightly larger – chronograph, outfitted with a choice of opaline silver white oropaline anthracite dial as well as a stainless steel link bracelet or hand-stitched alligator strap.Mens' Saxon One LineThe Saxon One is additionally available in a ladies’ version measuring 36 mm in diameter, which stands out in its elegance, particularly when outfitted with a diamond-set bezel.Learn More Ladies Saxon One Line

By Edward Jones – February 24, 2016

Tutima Glashütte’s First Certified Chronometer

Since Tutima’s return to Glashütte and its manufacture status, this family-owned brand has been introducing timepieces that are iconic, technical and professional grade. And the Grand Flieger Chronometer is no exception.The Grand Flieger models make up a new collection which inherits its DNA from The Classic Flieger chronograph from the 40’s, a timepiece which set many industry standards in terms of aesthetics and has become the personification of a classic aviation chronograph.Now, after decades of research and development, the Grand Flieger Chronographs have been improved in every aspect. The 43mm case has been reshaped to provide a more comfortable fit on the wrist, while improvements to the crown, pushers and crystal have allowed for a water resistance rating to 200m. But perhaps the most noteworthy addition to this new chronograph is what happens after the watch is fully assembled.In an independent facility, governed by the State department of weights and measurements of Saxony (SLME) and Thuringia (LMET) and in accordance with German DIN standards, each fully finished chronograph must pass a 15-day timing and climate test, to earn its title as a Certified Chronometer. “Chronometer” is a special classification issued to highly accurate watches like the ones developed for early maritime travel.The test, performed in a controlled environment, evaluates the accuracy of each timepiece in 5 different positions with temperature variants ranging from 8-38 degrees Celsius and an average daily deviation allowance of -4 to +6 seconds for every 24 hours. Moreover, since the test is performed on timepieces that are fully finished and assembled as they are delivered to the client, the results are far more relevant and reassuring.Every Grand Flieger Chronograph bears the engraving “Chronometer” on the case side and is presented with a Certified Chronometer certificate.Learn More

By Edward Jones – October 23, 2015

Tutima M2 Military Chronograph: Capable, Resilient and St...

Tutima, a renowned German watch manufacturing company since 1927, has created a new watch derived from the successful Tutima NATO chronograph, the official service watch of German army pilots: the Tutima M2. Introduced at Baselworld, the M2 was crafted with a number of features that make it light, capable and stunning.Tutima's military background started with making watches for German pilots in the early part of the 20th century. You see, pilots needed to be able to read the time with just the flick of a wrist, and Tutima was able to create watches that were resilient in battle and easy to read.In the 1960s, Dieter Delecate took over from founder Enrst Kurtz and aimed the watchmaker for unprecedented accomplishments. One of their greatest achievements was when their Tutima Military Chronograph ref. 798 was named the official pilot's watch of NATO in 1984.Building on the company's history and the technicality of the NATO watch is the new M2 Pioneer (6451-02) watch. The highlight of this timepiece is undoubtedly the chronograph movement, Cal. Tutima 521, which separates itself with a large sweeping minute hand. This chrono minute hand makes reading the movement quick and easy.Tutima's military roots can be quickly spotted in the robust Kevlar strap and large integrated chronograph buttons with neoprene inlay. These features, along with the M2's 1,000 ft water-restistance, make it a capable watch in any condition, even underwater.duPont REGISTRY CarsDisplaying the minutes is an easily-gripped, bi-directionally rotating bezel with luminous capsules. These capsules, along with the hands, hour markers and chronograph functions, are coated with Super-LumiNova pigments, making the watch easy to read in the darkest of nights.The magnetic-resistant inner workings of the watch are protected by a pure, pearl-blasted titanium case. On the watch's face is sapphire crystal that has anti-reflective treatment on both sides, making the face readable even on the brightest days.Tutima has called back to their military roots for the M2, resulting in a formidable watch that can withstand even the harshest conditions. For more information, be sure to visit Tutima.com or click the button below.More InfoMovement: Automatic chronograph Caliber Tutima 521. Diameter: 30 mm. Height 7.90 mm. 25 jewels. 28,800 vph (4 Hertz). Power reserve when fully wound 44 hours. Rotor antique grey with 18-karat gold seal. Polished screws.Functions: Date display. Hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds. Chronograph 60 second counter, 60 minute and 12-hour totalizer. Sweep second and minute counters. Permanent 24-hour display.Case: Pearl-blasted solid pure titanium,. Magnetic field protection. Water-resistant 30 atm. Integrated, large chronograph buttons with neoprene inlay. Sapphire crystal, anti-reflective on both sides. Screw-in crown. Screw-down case back. Diameter 46 mm. Height 15.5 mm. Pioneer model: Diameter 46.5 mm. Height 16 mm. Bidirectionally rotating bezel with minute scale and 14 luminescent capsules.Band: Kevlar strap with pure titanium folding clasp or solid pure titanium bracelet with folding clasp. Sponsored by:

By Edward Jones – July 09, 2015

Perpetual Manufacture by Ulysse Nardin: duPont REGISTRY W...

The ultimate icon in watchmaking, this new timepiece offers a taste of eternity with its manufacture movement UN-32 that allows the date to be adjusted both forward and backward.Time is a traveler on the road to eternity. To tame it, people have long learned to impose a rhythm on it, to shape it into a cycle. Thus watches were invented to keep time – but now at last comes one that casts light on eternity itself. Crafted in celebration of infinity, the new Perpetual Manufacture is powered by the incredible Caliber UN-32, a movement that features the most advanced perpetual calendar in the history of watchmaking. Allowing the date to be adjusted both forward and backward, this mechanical gem naturally accommodates the ebb and flow of time – in perpetuity. As a constant reminder, the dial is stamped with the symbol “∞” to watch over this emblematic limited-edition piece.The perpetual calendar is a highly sophisticated mechanism that takes into account not only the months with 30 and 31 days, but also the 28 days of February and the return of 29 February every four years. This means it possesses a mechanical memory of 1,461 days. The first time the Perpetual Manufacture will require manual adjustment will be in 2100, which would normally be a leap year but is an exception in the Gregorian calendar.(Related: Dual Time Manufacture by Ulysse Nardin) As well as the day, date, month and year indications, which can be adjusted easily by turning the crown in either direction, the Caliber UN-32 in this exceptional watch also offers a second time zone. The hour hand can be advanced or moved back by one or more positions simply by using the dedicated “+” and “-” push-pieces at 4 and 8 o’clock. The height of mechanical sophistication, the calendar functions synchronize automatically when the hour hand is changed. And the GMT hand, picked out with a bold red arrow, can be used to indicate either the original time or a second time zone.Such a horological gem deserves to be dressed in the finest robes. A worthy heir to the legendary GMT+/- Perpetual, the Perpetual Manufacture showcases a white ocean of infinite depth in the guise of a dial. While ensuring perfect readability, the openwork hour and minute hands add a delicate, light touch that characterizes truly timeless watches, while the GMT hand hovers over the flange marked with 24 hours. And to lend greater exclusivity to an already exceptional timepiece, the 43 mm case with its timeless design reveals a plate inscribed with the serial number on its side at 9 o’clock, making each piece totally unique. Just 250 watches in rose gold and 250 in platinum will be made.More Info Ref. - 322-10 (rose gold), 329-10 (platinum) Limitation - 250 pieces Movement - Caliber UN-32, 34 jewels Power-Reserve - Approx. 48 h Winding - Self-winding chronometer movement with official rating certificate (C.O.S.C). Functions - Perpetual Calendar adjustable over single crown; Second time zone on main dial with a patented quick setting mechanism;Permanent home time indicated by 3rd hand; Big date in double window. Case - Available in 18 ct rose gold or platinum Dimensions - 43 mm Water-resistance - 30 m Crystal - Anti-reflective sapphire crystal Case-back - Sapphire crystal Crown - Water-resistant Band - Leather strap with folding buckle Sponsored by: Exotic Cars For Sale

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