Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/121906
TIME HONORED mechanical mademoiselle YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IVY-EDUCATED TO APPRECIATE THE SMART CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE LATEST IN WOMEN'S TIMEPIECES. BY ROBERTA NAAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GALE STYLING BY TERRY LEWIS S avvy women expect more than just a pretty face when it comes to what they wear on their wrists. Fresh off the heels of this year's Basel World, the category of automatic and mechanical watches, once reserved for men, is undergoing its own women's liberation movement— minus the march on Harvard Yard. Not reliant on battery power, mechanical watches come in two categories: hand-wound and automatic. With a wind watch, turning the crown From Roger Dubuis, this new Excalibur 36, a 36mm steel watch with diamonds ($18,900), offers a distinctive, contemporary appeal. It houses the mechanical caliber RD821 with 172 parts. The sapphire caseback reveals the hand-finishing and Cotes de Genève decoration, and the watch carries the Geneva Seal. Shreve, Crump & Low, 39 Newbury CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : 90 transmits energy to the main spring, where it is stored. As the wound spring uncoils, it releases the energy necessary to activate movement in the gear train and causes the watch to tick. An automatic watch is fitted with a rotor that allows the timepiece to wind itself, when the wearer moves her wrist and the rotor or oscillating weight spins. If we didn't know better, we'd swear there was an MIT engineer behind these watches. continued on page 92 St., 617-267-9100; rogerdubuis.com From Patek Philippe, this Ref. 7071/G Ladies First Chronograph ($98,000) houses the annually wound chronograph caliber CH29-535PS. It is crafted in 18k white gold with a blue dial surrounded by 116 diamonds set on the flange, beneath the sapphire crystal. Lux Bond & Green, 416 Boylston St., 617-266-4747; patek.com This automatic Blancpain Complete Calendar ($18,700) offers moon phases, small seconds, and 100 hours of power reserve. Crafted in stainless steel, the watch features a sapphire crystal caseback for viewing the movement and a bezel set with about 1.92 carats of diamonds. Shreve, Crump & Low, 39 Newbury St., 617-267-9100; blancpain.com BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 090-092_BC_SS_Timehonored_LATESPRING_13.indd 90 4/10/13 12:20 PM