Small seconds are in this year for Girard-Perregaux. New for 2011 will be this "Petite Seconde" model in the brand's 1966 watch collection. Though I must admit the dial, with its classic feel and Breguet style numbers looks like something from well before 1966. The case on the other hand still feels about right with the purported era. As a formal watch does with a simple dial and Arabic numerals, this watch is hard to beat. Love the blued steel hands and the very tiny touch of red for the number "60" in the subsidiary seconds dial. You used to see watches like this from a long time ago with a red colored "12." People used to guess why it was red, but I am thinking that it was just for style. As such, the dial has white, black, blue, and red making for a good sophisticated look. Oh, and the dial is gonna look extra good because it is done in enamel. Fancy! But really not "1966."

The case is still 40mm wide in 18k white or rose gold, and has a sapphire crystal over the front and back. Inside the relatively thin case is an in-house made Girard-Perregaux GP03300-50 automatic movement. The movement is finely decorated and has a gold rotor. Look for this timepiece sometime next year.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watches reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Next year will see Girard-Perregaux releasing this new version of their acclaimed Cat's Eye watch collection for women. On the trend of simplicity, this upcoming model has a more simple in-house made Girard-Perregaux Caliber GP3300 automatic mechanical movement with the time, date, and subsidiary seconds dial. For the most part this watch is simply another flavor in a long standing collection. The oval-shaped case is the "cat's eye" and it is 35.40mm wide in 18k pink or white gold. The bezel is lined with 62 diamonds, with more diamonds used on the dial for hour markers. The dials are very lovely mother-of-pearl plates in either 'dark' or natural. The watch strap is alligator. While this is an aging woman's watch collection, the pieces are classic, and always feel good.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Chanel, oh Chanel, what influence you have had on the luxury women's watch market. Not only did you make the color white, the tone of the town, but you also opened up doors to legions of brands looking to benefit from the market of lady's (and men) who could not afford Chanel prices. At first people had little choice but to fawn over 'ye old J12,' but now that ceramic is becoming more affordable to the mainstream, most anyone can have a sexy white ceramic watch.

While the Chanel J12 (and a few others) still set the bar in terms of quality and designs, there is a huge market of white ceramic watches out there for today's woman. One here is the Rougois White Ceramic Ladies' Chronograph. Just a nice simple 40mm wide (wears a bit small) watch in white ceramic with steel accents on the case. With a price online of $239.95, you get a handsome amount for your money.

Dial is easy to read though I would have preferred the hands to be a touch longer, and with a bit more contrast. Elements are applied, and there is some lume on the dial as well. Inside the watch is a Swiss Made ISA quartz movement with a 30 minute chronograph, subsidiary seconds dial, day of the week, and the date.

Over the dial is a sapphire crystal and the ceramic bracelet is nicely tapered for a more elegant look. While the watch does not totally standout as different from its competitors, it does have a nice selection of parts, a chic look, and certainly satisfies in terms of price when it comes to getting a white ceramic woman's watch.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com

One of my favorite "check me out and stare at me" complications is still the TriRetrograde movement module by Milus. Utterly pointless, the complication is nevertheless great to watch. It takes the seconds indicator and divides it up into three 20 seconds retrograde dials. Even after is release a few years ago, the Milus Tirion "still has it." Next on the list of variants of the collection is this DLC black model with a lot of carbon fiber.

The case itself is 45mm wide in steel covered with hard DLC, but the strap, dial, and bezel are carbon fiber. There is really a lot going on in this watch, but it is still quite fun - and sporty as well. I was impressed with the collection since I first saw them. Not only is the look very enduringly good, but the quality is impressive as well. While I haven't seen this specific model yet, it should satisft those who have a 'need' for the black look with all the carbon fiber. Movement is an adapted Swiss ETA movement with a special Milus module over it.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

The December 8th Antiquorum auction in New York city is impressive because it is the first time I can recall where there are no Patek Philippe watches available! Amazing. One of the pieces up for bids is this small 14k pink gold wrist watch that belonged to (and was worn by) historic New York Yankees baseball player Joe DiMaggio. Estimated to have been made in the 1940s, the rectangular wrist watch has a gold and steel strap, and a dial with diamond hour markers. Further, classic Longines watches are also experiencing increased interest from some collectors. The auction also happens to include a pocket watch that was given to DiMaggio in the 1970s. Auction estimates for the Longines wrist watch are between $5,000 - $7,000.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Swiss watch maker Vulcain is (re) releasing a watch with a look from the 1950s called the "50s President's Watch." Fans of the brand understand the name, but it might not make a lot of sense to others. Starting in the 1950s with (I believe) President Eisenhower, each US President has a Vulcain watch. Since then Vulcain has gifted timepieces to each new US President. People enjoyed the watch because Vulcain uses their Cricket mechanical alarm watches - which arguably were loud enough to wake people up.

This new 50s President's Watch will be 42mm wide in steel or yellow or red gold. Unlike the ones from the 1950s, it will have an automatic, versus manually wound Cricket movement. New Vulcain watches are pretty nifty, so I am not sure who the target market for these retro models will be. Then again, everyone is releasing "old" watch designs again, so I am sure these 50s President's Watches will have their nice. Price is 8,370 Swiss Francs in steel and 22,680 Swiss Francs in 18k gold.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Good friends eat same food, wear same watch brand? Clearly not a marketing set up shot, this photograph has actors Adrian Brody and Gerard Butler each eating McDonald's burgers, sitting court-side at a Lakers' game, and both wearing Montblanc timepieces. What else do they have in common?

Brody is seen with a Montblanc Star Sport watch in steel. The classic sport themed watch comes in a few dial colors, has a Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement, and is about 42mm wide - retails for $3,735. Butler is wearing a Montblanc Timewalker Dual Carbon Chronograph which is part of the brands well-known TImewalker collection of watches. This one has a two coatings of DLC (diamond like carbon) for hardness and the block color and is matched with gold accents. It is 43mm wide on a leather strap and also has as Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement. Price for it is about $6,480.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

A little tentacle action with your time sir? German watch maker Kudoke unveiled this whimsical engraved dial watch creation with a skeletonized dial featuring a gold octopus. The name of the watch clearly being a combo of the brand name and the word "octopus." The KudOkopus is really all about the dial and the imagery you see. A perfect watch for an aquarium enthusiast? Mollusk lover? Or perhaps a weathered sailor?

In steel, the watch is 42mm wide with a decorated and highly engraved Swiss manually wound movement. Not sure specifically which movement though. There are two blued steel hands for the time, but the rest of the watch is all about the image that makes up the face. Kudoke hand engraves images such as this on the dials - and this KudOkopus is just the most recent in a long time of them. Price for it is 7,990 euros.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

For the ladies this is the new color in the Hermes Cape Cod watch collection. The "Bleu de Malte" offers up a blue toned Hermes calfskin leather strap with gray stitching, and more blue on the dial used for the outline of the signature art deco hour numerals. The blue mixes well with the steel of the case, and the Cape Cod Tonneau look is always timeless in feeling. Not sure about the size of the watch, but the case is available with diamond decoration on the bezel and lugs.

The dial is in mother of pearl, so the blue rimmed numerals stand out to look great.. Mother of pearl is so diverse and elegant - no matter how much it is used today in watches. While the lady's Cape Cod does have an iconic shape, it also has a very easy to read dial, which helps this one stay a classic. Look or the Hermes Cape Cod Tonneau Bleu de Malte watch soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

While I am sure this Jaermann & Stubi watch made specially for golf players does what it is made to do rather well - I just don't get why anyone would want it for that purpose. This timepiece, continuing the brand's tradition of making watches for golf, is dedicated to St. Andrews Links. This version will be made in platinum and limited to 18 pieces. Really? I guess so. There is said to be golf related text on the case and the watch arrives with some type of plaque (all there to help justify the price I am sure).

An example of a "fake" golf feature on the watch is the "course timer." It is really just an internal rotating bezel that is doing double work from a semantics standpoint. The brand claims to have some special shock absorbtion system in the crown for when you are playing golf. What about for the rest of the watch? Style of the watch is fine. Nothing special. Design looks a lot like a few Jeager-LeCoultre watches mixed together. Aside from the name and some imagery, the St. Andrew Links watch has nothing special for golfers - even the rare ones that do who wear watches while playing. if Jaermann & Stubi wish to get serious they will develop actual golf watches or shift the brand's focus elsewhere.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site @ aBlogtoRead.com.