In 1917, Louis Cartier took inspiration from the mechanical invention of man that could affect both war and peace–the British army tanks–and created the Tank L.C. which has become the best selling watch in the history of Cartier.

The prototype watch with lines and proportions similar to those of tanks found on First World War battlefields was presented by Cartier to General John Pershing of the American Expeditionary Force.  The rectangle design which was a bold departure from the traditional round watches is the very essence of modernism culminating with the launch of more watches in the Tank collection such as The Cartier Tank Americaine in 1989 and Tank Francoise in 1996.

Cartier’s expression of simple elegance and timeless design comes through in Tank Americaine XL with reference number W2609856. It’s a refined optical illusion with extra large (32 mm x 52 mm) rectangular 18 carat pink gold case capped by sapphire cabochon winding crown. Its silvered opaline guilloche dial with painted Roman numerals, its blue, sword-shaped hands, its “railroad” minute track and its date calendar at 6 o’clock are well-protected by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

The Cartier Tank Americaine is set on a  brown leather strap in crocodile pattern. The discreet strap connections never break the flow of the smooth perpendicular lines with the famous flat-edged vertical sidepieces extended to hug the strap so as to be hidden from view. In order to ensure that this elegant watch functions properly, the bracelet should fit the wrist snugly.

The automatic movement of The Cartier Tank Americaine is designed for active and modern lifestyles, winding automatically with every wave, with every swing and with every movement of the wrist day after day. However, if this heroic tank of a timepiece is put out of action for several days, it is advisable to wind it manually before wearing it.

This 20^th century masterpiece from the classic Tank collection is water resistant up to 30 meters and can be used while swimming but not for diving. Although designed to last a lifetime, caution must be exercised to make sure that the crown is pushed and not pulled outward while in the water.

Baselworld 2010, the Annual Watch Festival in Switzerland marks the 275th anniversary of Blancpain since its founder, Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, declared in 1735 he was dedicating his life to watch making.

Jehan-Jacques started small, making watch parts, then once he’d perfected the process of creating every single piece flawlessly, he moved on to design and build complete pocket watches. Over the succeeding centuries, generations of the Blancpain family have taken their turn at the helm of this successful family owned Swiss Watch manufacturer.

As it’s founder did back way back then, today Blancpain still prides itself on producing each watch with a single watchmaker from beginning to end, hence, only producing less than 10,000 pieces per year.

Blancpain also continues to adhere to another of its long time traditions,  Blancpain Watch-Makers will  never produce quartz watches; unlike Rolex which makes about 2,000 watches per day in their assembly line.

Blancpain is also held in high esteem for being the maker of one of the most complicated mechanical watches ever made, The Blancpain 1735, which combines the six grand complications (split-second chronograph, tourbillion, minute repeater, and perpetual calendar with phases of the moon) into one watch.  This timepiece is so special that it was made in a limited edition of 30 pieces only, production of just one piece a year which is truly a masterpiece that is a fitting tribute to the company’s founder.

Blancpain is also known for its Fifty-Fathoms, circa 1953, which is water resistant to 200 meters. It is the watch used by the United States Navy and is also the watch worn by Jacques-Yves Cousteau in his award winning film, “The World of Silence”.

Despite its numerous accolades over the years, Blancpain was nearly doomed to extinction with the influx of inexpensive quartz watches from Japan and China during the early 1970s. Thanks to the intervention of  Modern Swiss Watchmakers Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet that the company was reestablished in 1983 and put on the path to recovery.

In 1984, Blancpain launched the world’s smallest movement, followed in 1989 by the launch of the world’s thinnest movement and in 992 the company was acquired by Swatch Group wherein Biver headed the board. His strategy was a success as Blancpain’s credo remains rooted in a deep respect for tradition and contemporary values.

Shunning compromise — by mastering every complication and by refusing ever to manufacture a quartz watch, Blancpain remains and by expressing time only in the shape of a circle — and being totally committed to the essential-watch excellence, Blancpain’s philosophy and convictions are as relevant as ever as it remains the standard by which the art of traditional watch making is measured.

Yes, even today at Blancpain’s 275th Birthday, recently celebrated at Baselworld 2010.

For over 250 years Blancpain has been developing and manufacturing high class Swiss Watches that have been tested and proved to encompass time and space. That is why every Blancpain watch is embedded with rich heritage and tradition that is passed on to future generations of watch connoisseurs. As time passes by, Blancpain never ceases to create avant-garde styles that will match the taste of the modern times. Thus the release of the Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph proved that Blancpain has evolved not only into better watch making techniques but also adapted to the trends of sport utility watches

The Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph with reference number 5785F.11D03.63 is made up of brushed steel with Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating that matches perfectly with its carbon fiber dial. The Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph is the first among Blancpain chronographs to utilize a tachymeter scale. The sporty appearance of the Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph is further enhanced by its stealthy black design. The monotony is broken by its illuminated orange roman Arabic numeral hour indicators and rotating bezel that are also matched with the orange stitches on its stealthy black strap.

This Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph houses a self-winding F185 movement that is comprised of 308 handmade components that were perfected by the tradition and expertise of Blancpain watchmakers. This Caliber F185 when fully wound, will be able to run for approximately 40 hours. Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph is boasting a flyback function that allows non-stop rapid timing sequences. The chronograph function has a 12 & 30 minute hour counter and a continuously running small second display.

A perfectly crafted mechanical interior is not the only reason why the Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph with reference number 5785F.11D03.63 should be an essential-watch for any serious watch aficionado’s collection. The mixture of both magnificent engineering and work of art makes the Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph an astonishing luxury piece for any lucky owner’s wrist.

There are very few Truly High End Luxury Items that have been created to pay tribute and honor the memory of Norma Jeane Baker, the Actress, Singer and Model also known as Iconic Legend, Marilyn Monroe.

This Girard Perregaux Stainless Steel Marilyn Monroe Timepiece, part of the Girard Perregaux 1945 collection is one of these rare items.Well before the vintage look had permeated all trends, Girard-Perregaux conceived The 1945 Collection inspired by the retro forms of one of its Art Deco style watches from 1945.

This timeless classic is distinguished by its undeniable elegance, and with it’s dial featuring the Movie Star Legend’s gorgeous face, it is undeniably perfect for any Marilyn Monroe Aficionado looking for a High End Luxury Watch.

There are few names within the elite of Swiss “Haute Horlogerie” as rich in history and evocative as Girard-Perregaux. Well before the vintage look had permeated all trends, Girard-Perregaux conceived The 1945 Collection inspired by the retro forms of one of its Art Deco style watches from 1945.

Unlike other attempts by lesser brands to immortalize The Monroe Visage on a classic timepiece, Girard Perregaux has managed to combine both Exceptional Craftsmanship with the instantly recognizable beauty’s portrait perfectly.

The Girard Perregaux decision to use their 1945 collection, not only looks ideal stylistically, but seems very appropriate, considering it was at the end of 1945 that Marilyn’s first movie contract was drawn up. This was also the last year that she was to be called Norma Jeane Baker.

This timepiece was a very limited edition for Girard Perregaux, so there are only 30 of these fantastic timepieces in the world, making it incredibly rare. One place you can find it is http://www.essential-watches.com.

About The Girard Perregaux Brand: When Constantin Girard married Marie Perregaux in 1856 the brand was established. Soon after, the company really made a name for itself when it unveiled at the Paris Universal Exhibition the masterpiece, “Tourbillon Sous Trois Ponts d’Or”. 150 years later, Girard-Perregaux is still intact. The brand has taken off since 1992 when Italian entrepreneur, architect and former racing driver Luigi Macaluso took over the reins of GP. Today it enjoys the status and reputation and acceptance as one of Switzerland’s elite watch manufacturing companies in the same company with Jaeger LeCoultre and Ulysses Nardin.

The Breguet 5335 Tourbillon Messidor was named in honor of the brand founder Abraham Louis Breguet in tribute to the master’s ingenious Tourbillon invention, which was patented, according to the French revolutionary calendar, on 7 Messidor of the year IX (June 26, 1801). This classic Tourbillon Messidor timepiece in 41mm platinum case belongs to the Grand Complication Collection.

Powered by a hand-wound movement and seemingly suspended in space at 12 o’clock, this uncluttered tourbillon design adds its unique character to the watch’s already fascinating appearance. The trim yet aesthetically elegant design features fine brush-finished, rotating bridges and gears giving a mystical look to the skeleton dial composition, providing a transparent background for the blued Breguet style hands.

Running seconds at 6 o’clock, its 18 carat Rose Gold tourbillon cage with finely fluted case band and its discreet sapphire crystal stresses the entire design’s airy construction giving the impression that the cage is not connected to the movement. The overall effect is one of transparency, enabling the tourbillon to weave its magic from the center stage as it reveals parallel decorative strokes all done by the human hand.

A pillar and authoritative reference in luxury watch making tradition, Breguet possesses an exceptional know-how in mastering movements and complications, like the Tourbillon invented by the founder, Abraham Louis Breguet.  It is because of work like this that Abraham Louis Breguet is considered by many as the father of watch making and one of the greatest horologists of all time.

Since the 18^th century, Breguet clients have included historical figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Marie-Antoinette, Winston Churchill, and Alexander Dumas.

The signatures in Breguet styling are evident even in today’s masterpieces: the blue steel hands, guilloche engraving, and the fluted case band. Master-engraver working on Breguet movements displays extreme precision which requires a high level of concentration and dexterity.

Probably most important, the engraving of a;;  Breguet movements and all decorations are done by the most versatile of all instruments, the human hand.

The art of measuring time has never been as accurate and elegant as it has been after more than two centuries of evolution and innovation. At the forefront of such dynamic evolution is Montres Breguet, a luxury watchmaker founded in 1775 by Abraham Louis Breguet in Paris.

Considered one of the oldest surviving watchmaker, Breguet has earned the reputation of being a pioneer in the art of watch-making with the invention of various watch mechanisms, the most notable of which is the tourbillon. Since its inception, the brand’s loyal patrons included royalties and powerful figures in history such as Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Sir Winston Churchill, to name only a few.

Breguet’s reliability is likewise proven to be the best in the industry when it was commissioned by the French government to supply the Type XX flyback chronograph to the Air Force, the Navy, and the CEV. This legendary model is known to be the most valuable to collectors of all the French military chronographs ever produced.

Another Breguet model hailed by watch connoisseurs is the watch commissioned by Queen Marie Antoinnette, The Breguet No. 160 which contained all the 23 complications possible at that time. The infamous queen never lived to see the watch, having been completed 34 years after her execution.  It is recognized by experts to be the most important watch ever made and is identified as Breguet No. 160 ‘The Queen’, a testament to the extraordinary horological skills of the 18^th century.

In 1999, Montres Breguet was acquired by the Swatch Group with Nicolas G. Hayek at its helm. At present, the brand has maintained its reputation for horological innovation and ingenuity. The company still plays a dominant role in the development of watch mechanisms. It has since expanded to produce exquisite jewelry and writing instruments. As it constantly evolved over the centuries, it has remained dynamic, yet never compromising the traditions of excellence and elegance it has inherited from its legendary founder.

Famous for being the oldest watchmaker in the world and making one of the most complicated watches in the world, Blancpain remains true to its roots by keeping the traditions that have made it a premier timepiece manufacturer.

Its commitment to classic traditions is clearly evident in the Leman Aqua Lung Watch(2850B-3630A-64B) with its round 40-mm ultra slim case in 18kt rose gold with a simple black dial.

The Blancpain Leman Aqua Lung Watch is known for its patented engineering solution that makes it impervious to water. The watch is driven by the 283 components of Blancpain Calibre 6950 with a mechanical self-winding movement and a 70-hour power reserve. The mechanism’s intricate Côtes de Genève decorative motifs, bevelled bridges, blued screws and oscillating weight engraved with the essential-watch name ‘Blancpain’ in blue is clearly visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. It is equipped with a screw-locked crown and guaranteed water-resistant up to 100 meters.

The Aqua Lung has features common to all Leman watches. These include the two-tiered bezel, hands with openings to prevent obstruction, and large Arabic numerals and indices for hour markers for increased legibility. This specific model (2850B-3630A-64B) sports a black dial with a double window at the 6 o’clock position indicating the date in large Arabic numbers. The watch is secured to the wrist with a black rubber strap with a folding clasp.

Typical of all the masterpiece watches created by Blancpain, this ultra-slim Leman Aqua Lung Watch is painstakingly crafted by hand by a watchmaker with only a few hundred pieces completed in a year.

In view of the care and skill involved in every Blancpain watch constructed, each piece is considered a unique work of art and ingenuity that can be handed down from generation to generation as a legacy and an invaluable heirloom.