ROMAIN JEROME - Elite Traveler

omain Jerome 

romain Jerome’s cEo yvan arpa went on a quest to secure material so precious, so exclusive, that it could never be re-created. What he acquired 

was a piece of history, specifically, a piece of hull from the wreckage of the ocean liner, Titanic. arpa had the material smelted with steel, and it 

is now an integral part of romain Jerome’s collection that pays tribute to the great ocean liner. an official certificate of authenticity guarantees 

the origin of materials from the Titanic, which grace the cases and dials of these remarkable and complicated timepieces. 

ColleCtion HigHligHt 

The new Tourbillon Steampunk’s 50mm case, constructed using parts of the Titanic, features the collection’s signature rust bezel—inspired by 

the hull and boiler room of the doomed ocean liner—and comes in steel, ceramic or 18K pink gold. The only indicator of time on the dial-free 

watch is the roman numeral 12 that hovers above the rJ 2 mechanical automatic tourbillon movement. only nine pieces are available in each 

color, making this timepiece as collectible as parts of the ship themselves (from $149,132). 

corporate contact: paul Sheddon, (813) 926-3367; www.romainjerome.com

salvatore ferragamo 

Salvatore ferragamo, the legendary Italian fashion designer who dressed Hollywood royalty in the golden years of the silver screen, now has a 

line of timepieces within his namesake collection that are as fashionable as his iconic footwear. all pay tribute to the distinctly Italian tradition 

of craftsmanship, luxury and creativity. 


Salvatore, the first gentlemen’s watch available from the house, now has a feminine counterpart—the Salvatore lady. The round, 31mm stainless 

steel case is embellished with 136 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel and 30 more diamonds grace the mother-of-pearl dial. a blue genuine 

alligator strap, stamped with the brand’s original logo from the thirties, completes the elegant look ($4,950). 

corporate contact: Gilda deBartoli at Salvatore ferragamo in new york, (212) 759-3822; nyfifthavenue@us.ferragamo.com; 

www.ferragamo.com

sarcar 

carlo Sarzano, a representative of the most prestigious watch companies who achieved his dream when he founded his own Sarcar watch company 

in 1948, never strayed from his philosophy of “knowing how to be large enough to be strong, yet small enough to be free.” Today, Sarcar 

is strong in design and craftsmanship, and one glimpse at its creations indicates it remains small enough to foster artistic freedom in watch 

design. 


Two years of research and development finally came to fruition in Sarcar’s new Twister watch, which features a floating one-carat diamond on 

the dial—a hallmark of the brand. Highly decorative, the Twister’s 18K white gold bezel is adorned with brilliant-cut diamonds and a dial pavéd 

with diamonds and precious stones, including emeralds, rubies and sapphires representing the four elements of life—earth, fire, water and air 

(represented by diamonds). The watch retails for $290,000. 

corporate contact: pascal Savoy, (954) 600-9492; psavoy@crossbowinternational.com; www.sarcar.ch

speake-marin 

British-born peter Speake-marin, who studied the art and craft of watchmaking in the UK and Switzerland, in 2000, opened his own atelier to 

create the watches he always wished had existed. In all instances, the movements are classically designed and solid cases hold precious dials 

made from heavy enamel or gold. for evidence of the longevity of his timepieces, Speake-marin points to the strength of the design and craftsmanship 

of his winding crown and its tube in his timepieces, which he predicts will outlive him. 


after three years of development, Speake-marin unveiled his first in-house movement, the caliber Sm2 with a signature rotor that gives a 

glimpse of the base movement beneath. The graceful marin-1, the first model to hold the new caliber and a variation on his existing work, fea- 

tures an enamel dial-within-a-dial in the 38mm or 42mm titanium case and classic blued-steel hands ($33,830). 

corporate contact: martin pulli, (215) 508-4610; martinpulli@aol.com; www.speake-marin.com

tag heuer 

TaG Heuer’s origins began with the company started in 1860 by Edouard Heuer. It was known simply as Heuer until 1985, when Techniques 

d’avant Garde acquired the brand and the name became TaG Heuer. With complementary product lines for a similar, discriminating audience, 

the two divisions formed a powerhouse in the category of luxury sport watches. now a division of lVmH, TaG Heuer has a celebrity following that 

has included Steve mcQueen (he wore the monaco), Tiger Woods, leonardo dicaprio and maria Sharapova. 


a concept in 2004 is finally coming to actualization in TaG Heuer’s new monaco V4, the world’s first belt-driven watch entering the market at the 

end of 2009. The V4’s revolutionary features include a linear weight that moves up and down between four barrels to reduce the loss of energy, 

a relay of five belt drives that replace standard pinions, and the substitution of some of the synthetic ruby bearings with 11 micro ball-bearings. 

Its cutting-edge design, with the barrels mounted in a V shape, allowed the designers to simultaneously reduce the case depth, improve its ergonomics 

and also enhance its aesthetic appeal. limited to just 150 numbered pieces, the watch retails for $80,000. 

corporate contact: david Zuckerman at TaG Heuer in new york, (212) 925-0462; www.tagheuer.com

TechnoMarine 

Founded by entrepreneur Franck Dubarry in 1997, TechnoMarine reflected the hedonistic tendencies of its birthplace St. Tropez with an array of 

bright and flashy styles that quickly became a favorite of international jet-setters and celebrities. In 1999, TechnoMarine became the first brand 

to put a diamond bezel on a plastic diving chronograph and, later, was the first to introduce colored ceramic watches. Under the guidance of its 

recently completed leadership team, including Chairman Christian Viros, Group CEO Vincent Perriard and CEO of TechnoMarine North America 

Steven E. Cohen, the brand is undergoing a strategic re-focusing and re-energizing. Designs that are at once daring and streamlined, sophisticated 

colors with universal appeal and technical ingenuity will be the hallmarks of the brand. 


The newly launched Cruise Sport watch, part of TechnoMarine’s re-positioning, is an offshoot of the brand’s iconic pillar, the Cruise watch, which 

was the first ever to mix diamonds with plastic. The new Cruise Sport embodies the themes at the heart of the brand—technique and aquatic 

pursuit—in a streamlined and sophisticated design with a clever use of color. The Cruise Sport Chronograph, housed in a stainless steel case 

with black gel cover, is available in a 40 or 45mm case and in a range of color options ($425). 

Corporate Contact: CEO Steven Cohen at TechnoMarine USA, (305) 438-0880; steven.cohen@technomarine.net; www.technomarine.com

tiret 

founded in 2004 by daniel lazar, Tiret watches convey the time in powerful, bold designs that range from the inarguably masculine to dazzlingly 

feminine. Tiret also creates gem versions on a custom basis for clients, who include celebrities like Usher. 


part of the new york Gotham collection, Tiret’s new Gotham automatic chrono houses a specifically manufactured movement in a striking 

square case. But beyond the case shape, the wearer can customize the watch however he chooses. natural rubber, dials in precious materials 

and gemstones, ceramic columns, and 18K white, rose, yellow gold or stainless are all available options (from $7,000 to $365,000). 

corporate contact: Sonya Goldberg, (212) 921-8848; sonya_goldberg@tiretnewyork.com; www.tiretnewyork.com

Ulysse NardiN 

Founded in 1846 and purchased in 1983 by Rolf Schnyder, who stands as president today, the Ulysse Nardin collection is the product of a proud 

tradition of quality and mechanical innovation. Since its founding, the company has earned 18 international gold medals and 4,300 first prizes 

in chronometric excellence. And without a doubt, its specialty is in marine chronometers. In addition, the company continues to develop and 

produce specialized timepieces of the highest technical level—often incorporating patented inventions—in limited editions. 


Ulysse Nardin’s revolutionary new astronomical timepiece, Moonstruck, boasts an entirely in-house developed and manufactured caliber that 

displays one of the most scientifically accurate moon phase indications (precise for more than 100,000 years). By using two rotating discs, the 

Moonstruck simulates the rotation of the moon around the earth, as well as the apparent movement of the sun around the globe, which is displayed 

by another disc that rotates every 24 hours. The 46mm Moonstruck is available in red gold or platinum with a leather strap, limited to 500 

pieces of each ($83,000). 

Corporate Contact: Jodi Moro, (561) 988-8600; usa22@ulysse-nardin.com; www.ulysse-nardin.com

urwerk 

founded by felix Baumgartner and martin frei, one an expert in technical complications and the other an artist, the two found common ground 

in their fascination with the measurement of time. The company’s name translates to “original accomplishment,” with Ur also referencing the 

location in mesopotamia where the Sumerians first developed measurements of time. 


When you take one look at the new avant-garde addition to the emblematic Ur103 collection, the Ur103T, you’ll immediately realize what the 

‘T’ stands for—Tarantula. a four-armed rotating orbital cross, seen clearly beneath the transparent sapphire case front, crawls around the dial 

of the 60mm watch and only reveals the numbers on the hour satellites, which rotate simultaneously, when they are required to tell the time 

($65,000). 

corporate contact: Greg Simonian at Westime in Beverly Hills, (310) 205-5555; www.urwerk.com

vacheron constantin 

Jean-marc Vacheron opened his watchmaking business in the center of Geneva in 1755, and soon thereafter its complications, engine-turned dials 

and repeater watches fueled demand for the timepieces that led to an export business. In 1819, Jacques-Barthélemy, grandson of Jean-marc 

Vacheron together with françois constantin created the company name Vacheron et constantin, and in a letter that constantin sent to Vacheron, 

the company motto first took to the page: “do better if possible and that is always possible.” This richemont-owned brand now creates a broad 

but luxurious collection of timepieces that are adored by men and women, and is a favorite among the world’s diplomatic set. 


a tribute to the brand’s iconic Kallista, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, the new Kallania sets a record in the watchmaking world. 

Set with no fewer than 186 emerald-cut diamonds, totaling approximately 170 carats, the Kallania not only has the highest number of carats set 

on a timepiece but also features the thinnest mechanical movement in the world, the 1003 calibre, which was developed and manufactured by 

Vacheron constantin (price available upon request). 

corporate contact: director of marketing & communications Ellen Sorensen, (212) 3030-5030; ellen.sorensen@vacheron-constantin.com; 

www.vacheron-constantin.com

van cleef & arpels 

The maker of high jewelry and timepieces that can be counted on to set hearts aflutter naturally began with a story of love. Estelle arpels married 

alfred Van cleef in 1896, and at the turn of the century members of both families joined together to inaugurate the Van cleef & arpels boutique 

on paris’ place Vendôme. Generations from both sides grew the business, and by the 1930s Van cleef was one of the first prestige jewelry brands 

to cross the atlantic and open a boutique in new york. clients loved the collections’ immaculate gems, invisible “mystery” settings and whimsical 

nature motifs, including snowflakes, flowers and fairies. 


a dazzling complement to the house’s midnight in paris watch, the new Une Journée à paris (a day in paris) timepiece is a journey through iconic 

scenes of one of the world’s most romantic cities. part of the poetic complications, which not only tell time but also transport the wearer to an 

imaginary world, the day in paris timepiece features seven feminine silhouettes and one child superimposed on an onyx disc that are revealed 

strolling from notre dame to avenue montaigne to the Eiffel Tower as the mother-of-pearl dial rotates ($56,000). 

corporate contact: nicholas luchsinger at Van cleef & arpels in new york, (877) 826-3533; www.vancleef-arpels.com

versace 

The Italian fashion house of Versace rose to fame when founding designer Gianni Versace presented his sexy and intricately-crafted red carpet 

creations to the world. Immediately, confident women felt like goddesses in his collections. now, with the late Gianni Versace’s talented sister 

donatella at the design helm, the world of Versace is evolving to meet the demands and lifestyle dictates of today’s successful women, and men 

as well. The new Versace timepiece collection reflects the fashion collection’s use of precious materials, classic design details and the ornate 

craftsmanship that only exists in Europe’s great ateliers. 


The new V-master watch is a sophisticated, contemporary chronograph designed for men who want luxury without flamboyancy. The complexity 

of the movement—containing a triple-action chronograph with a moon phase at 6 o’clock, a 24-hour panel at 9 o’clock and a day/month calendar 

at 12 o’clock—is highlighted by the date indicator that makes its way around the edge of the black and white oval dial. The steel case features a 

steel crown with a Greek fret motif that is accented by a teardrop-shaped protrusion ($4,200.) 

corporate contact: renee cucurullo, (212) 317-0224; reneecucurullo@versaceus.com; www.versace.com

Vertu 

Vertu, the leading manufacturer of handcrafted 

luxury mobile phones established in 1998, unveiled 

its first product in 2002. Following this launch, the 

brand has since introduced three collections—Vertu 

Signature, Vertu Ascent and Vertu Constellation— 

to the market. Each collection, assembled by hand 

at the brand’s English countryside headquarters, 

showcases the company’s commitment to innovation 

and craftsmanship. Using groundbreaking materials, 

techniques and services, Vertu has defined 

itself as the standard-setting luxury mobile phone, 

an essential for the most discerning customers. 

| ColleCtion HigHligHt | To mark its tenth anniversary, 

Vertu launched its new Signature collection, 

the most highly crafted phone ever made. The first 

phone to be constructed by a single artisan, each one 

is made in very limited numbers and signed by its 

creator. Using only the finest quality materials, the 

Signature collection features a scratch-resistant, 

pure crystal sapphire face that takes more than two 

weeks to create in a 2000 degree furnace, and a patented 

keypad containing 4.75 carats of solid ruby 

bearings that slide on the surface to prevent friction 

and wear. All sounds generated by the phone were 

composed exclusively for Vertu by Academy Award 

winning composer Dario Marianelli and performed 

by the London Symphony. 

| VARiAtionS | Vertu Signature is available in stainless 

steel, yellow gold and white gold ranging in 

price from $12,600 to $39,000. 

Corporate Contact: Boutique Manager 

Matthew Brooks, (702) 650-5700; 

wynn-care@vertu.com; 

www.vertu.com

vianney halter 

Since 1998, watch maker Vianney Halter and his team of precision machinists and designers have devised new ways to indicate time from within 

their unpretentious manufacture in Switzerland’s Jura mountains. Science fiction literature, the novels of Jules Verne, antique scientific instruments 

and vintage cars have all influenced Halter’s personal design aesthetic. 


With his new classic Janvier Equation of Time lunar cycle, mr. Halter pays tribute to clockmaker antide Janvier, who excelled at creating time- 

pieces in the 1800s that represented the movements of celestial bodies. limited to 12 pieces produced exclusively in platinum, this 40mm round 

model displays the official time, the equation of time and the moon phase. a yellow gold hand bearing an image of the sun indicates the accurate 

solar time, while a double hand set with white gold and black discs converges to illustrate the phase of the moon ($165,500). 

corporate contact: Vianney Halter, 41-0-24-454-2948; vianney@vianney-halter.com; www.vianney-halter.com

vogard 

Vogard was established for a well-defined niche of watch aficionados: world travelers who have the luxury of planning their own agendas. and 

with its collection of world time watches, Vogard adapts the destinations applied to the watch bezels to the interests of its clients, from business 

executives to private pilots to motor sports fans. additionally, Vogard will create one-of-a-kind personal editions of its timepieces that display an 

owner’s selection of up to 36 time zone destinations. 


The groundbreaking 48mm titanium chronozoner from Vogard possesses the first chronograph to change time zones via the bezel, an innova- 

tion that improves the functionality of the complication by tweaking the arrangement of the winding crown and push pieces to make it more 

ergonomic. not only were the push pieces or ‘finger pedals’ modeled after a sports car’s control pedals, but also the dial design was inspired by 

dashboard instruments. The same method of changing time zones, by simply rotating the engraved bezel so the required city’s time zone is at 12 

o’clock, remains the same as earlier Vogard models (from $12,500). 

corporate contact: Brand manager manuela Jungo, 41-32-931-9000; manuela.jungo@vogard.com; www.vogard.com

volna 

a massively fortified watch used by Soviet submarine officers inspired a new collection of 100% Swiss-made masculine sport marine watches, 

named Volna. Watchmakers looked to the advanced metallurgy, complex security systems and overall technical excellence seen in nuclear submarines 

as sources of design ideas. 


The Typhoon Siberia SHcI (Security Hand chronograph Indicator), a limited edition of last year’s Typhoon watch, is a highly complicated time- 

piece whose construction was a triumph for the brand. crafted out of titanium G5, a particularly difficult material to work with, the 46.5mm 

Typhoon Siberia is an extremely durable, yet lightweight timepiece that’ll stand up to even the most rugged adventures. available in two versions, 

one in polished and satin-finished titanium and one in blackened titanium with double carbon treatment, it is limited to 125 pieces of each (from 

$13,360). 

corporate contact: francois candolfi, 41-22-741-2780; francois.candolfi@volna.ch; www.volna.ch

voutilainen 

finland is where Kari Voutilainen was born and first studied the craft that would win his passions—watchmaking. from there his natural move 

was to Switzerland where he not only completed his graduate studies but was selected by parmigiani to serve in the restoration department spe- 

cializing in extremely rare timepieces. finally, in 2002 Voutilainen established his own business in môtiers, and his hands create all that emerges 

from his workshop. from the technical to the aesthetic, he is totally involved in every detail of the watchmaking process. all of the watches are 

limited editions, and created from precious metals. 


Watchmaker Kari Voutilainen had the stroke of luck to find several observatory movements fabricated by longines many years ago. They inspired 

him to build a very limited series of watches using these remarkable calibers. mr. Voutilainen took each movement apart and also made many new 

parts, then adjusted and tested them before hand-finishing, gilding and frosting the movements to their highest levels. The dial and case design Voutilainen 

crafted for the historical movements includes chronometer 27’s 18K white gold case that measures 44 mm, an engine-turned dial of gold, 

and a regulator display of time, with hours indicated at the 12 o’clock location, small seconds at 6 o’clock and minutes in the center ($70,300). 

corporate contact: Kari Voutilainen, 41-32-861-4832; voutilainen@voutilainen.ch; www.voutilainen.ch

VULCAIN 

Founded in 1858, Vulcain is the founding father of the alarm complication for wristwatches. In the late 1940s, in the heart of Switzerland’s Neuchâtel 

Jura region, the company’s master engineers set out to resolve an unsolved riddle in the craft of watchmaking: How could they miniaturize a striking 

mechanism enough to house it within a wristwatch, while still ensuring that it emit a noise loud enough to be truly functional? Until 1947, when 

Vulcain unveiled the Cricket alarm calibre, no watchmaker had ever succeeded in doing so. The Cricket alarm calibre rapidly gained worldwide 

acclaim, and Vulcain wristwatches soon found themselves on the wrists of the world’s top movers and shakers. Successive American presidents 

donned the timepiece, so much so that it was affectionately dubbed “The Presidents’ Watch.” 


Encapsulating the dynamic spirit of the 1950s, the 50s Presidents’ Watch is a timeless model that pays tribute to the company’s historic Cricket alarm 

movement. Today the timepiece houses Vulcain’s new self-winding movement, the Calibre V-21. Impossibly elegant, its 42mm case is available in 

18K rose gold and steel iterations, and is water-resistant to 164 feet. Its slender case, alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces and subtly 

designed lugs ensure a perfect fit on every wrist. The dial comes in a choice of anthracite or silvered colors for the rose gold model, and in silvered, 

anthracite or smoky grey for the steel. The Louisiana alligator strap is fitted with a rose gold buckle on the 18K rose gold version or a folding clasp 

with safety pushpiece on the steel model. (From $24,920). 

Corporate Contact: Bernard Fleury, b.fleury@vulcain-watches.ch, www.vulcain-watches.ch

VULCAIN 


Following the success of the company’s Anniversary Heart model, which was recently gifted to President Barack Obama, Vulcain launched an allnew 

edition of their subtly elegant timepiece in 2010. Unlike its predecessor, the watch is driven by a mechanical self-winding movement, the new 

Cricket V-28 alarm calibre. A partially skeletonized dial reveals the spectacular finishing and meticulous craftsmanship of this impressive 221-part 

mechanism. The anthracite-coated oscillating weight is equipped with a ceramic ball-bearing system which allows unidirectional winding. Vulcain’s 

patented Exactomatic system guarantees regular amplitude and enhanced rating precision, while its twin barrels ensure a 42-hour power reserve 

and 20-second chime. In addition, it drives the hours, minutes, central seconds and alarm functions. 

The new Anniversary Heart Automatic features a refined face with four Arabic numerals in place of the previous model’s single numeral, while the 

openworked hands reflect the timepiece’s airy nature. The 42mm case comes in steel or 18K rose gold, with a fluted caseband and sapphire crystal 

case back enhanced with the company’s signature “V”. The Louisiana alligator strap is fitted with a gold pin buckle in the 18K rose gold model or a 

safety folding clasp in the steel version. (From $8,780). 


VULCAIN 


To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the company’s legendary Cricket calibre, Vulcain has created a limited edition model, christened the Aviator 

GMT “The World.” A detailed depiction of the world map graces its beautifully crafted cloisonné enamel dial, designed to mimic the movement of the 

waves. Equipped with the Cricket V-13 alarm movement, it makes an ideal travel companion for globetrotters. 

The stunning timepiece is available in a choice of 18K rose or white gold and is secured by a Louisiana alligator strap with gold pin buckle. Its 

42mm case is also rendered in 18K rose or white gold, and is fitted with a double back acting as a resonance chamber. The advanced version of the 

legendary Cricket calibre is distinguished by its impeccable finishing, including bridges embellished with “Côtes de Genève,” circular-grained or 

polished plates and blued screws. The Aviator GMT “The World” edition will be produced in a series of just 60, with 30 pieces in the rose gold and 30 

in white. Each watch will be individually numbered on both the dial and on the case-back, marking its exclusivity. (From $44,770). 


wyler 

Wyler designs watches for the daring, and therefore puts its creations through harsh testing to ensure they can keep up with their wearers. The 

company has pioneered new anti-shock technologies, and jettisoned them from a height of 300 feet, just to make sure they are sound. performance 

cars, which also need to endure extreme stresses, are a natural source of inspiration to Wyler’s designers and the brand’s unique shockabsorbing 

cases are modeled on the suspension of a car. 


The sleek code-r night racer chronograph, with matte black dial and titanium case, was inspired by the first-ever nighttime motor racing grand 

prix last September in Singapore. designed to instill the notion that time is all that matters to a night racer, the black superluminova on the 

hands and minute track numerals, interestingly enough, is clearly seen against the dark background at night. The unique shock-absorbing case 

is made of a lightweight carbon-fibre resin frame that holds a titanium container with the movement within and has a grooved rubber crown 

reminiscent of a racing tire (price upon request). 

corporate contact: ryan St. George, 41-22-365-6868; ryan.st.george@wylergeneve.com; www.wylergeneve.com

Zenith 

at the age of 22, watchmaker Georges favre-Jacot created what so many watch companies to this day only aspire to—an authentic manufacture. 

at that point, in 1865, favre-Jacot united all the artisan watchmakers he worked with together under one roof, providing them with heat and light, 

allowing them thus to dedicate themselves entirely to the design of their timepieces. now a division of lVmH, Zenith today, under the guidance 

of Jean-frederic dufour, continues to produce a wealth of complicated timepieces for men and women, and many display a subtle star as their 

motif—Zenith’s celestial emblem. 


The masterpiece of the chronomaster 2009 collection, the chronomaster open Grande date moon & Sunphase, contains the new El primero 

4047 calibre, revealed through an aperture in the dial. The automatic chronograph movement features the patented three-disc Grande date at 2 

o’clock, and the moon and sunphase indicator at 6 o’clock. The 45mm timepiece comes on a handmade black crocodile strap and is available in 

18K rose gold with a silver dial or in stainless steel with either a black or silver dial ($30,000). 

corporate contact: ammar murad at Tourneau in new york, (212) 758-7300; www.zenith-watches.com

ROMAIN JEROME - Elite Traveler

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?