Hublot big bang Oceanographic 4000 watch

At such depths, as you can imagine it is all about survival,  so for a wristwatch to cope with such conditions without imploding required substantial research and development and the addition of a few safety features. 

The seal has been tested to 5000 metres and it passed. 

The sapphire has a thicknesss of 6.5mm. High readability is ensured.  Everything that you need to see has a liberal coating of SuperLuminova including the internal rotating flange which counts down the dive time.  Otherwise the dial is uncluttered, clean and clear.

At 48mm it’s big and chunky, but it’s not unwieldy thanks to super-light case construction.  Two versions are available, titanium case edition limited to 1000 pieces and All Black carbon fibre edition, limited to 500 pieces. 

 Inside is the automatic winding HUB 1401 movement with power reserve of 42 hours.

The King Power 48mm Oceanographic 4000 comes with two lengthened tongue and buckle straps, a style rare for Hublot, but more manageable while wearing diving gloves.

The screw-down case back is made from super strong grade 2 titanium.  On the case side are two screw-down crowns.  At 2 o’clock is a unidirectional crown to set the dive time protected by an oversized guard which is not only a life saving feature, but is also quite swanky too.  The other crown at 4 o’clock is used for winding and setting the date and the time.

 Both are perfectly positioned for ease of use.  To alleviate the watch equivalent of “the bends”, a stainless steel helium valve is positioned at 10 o’clock just out of shot on these images.

Hublot Jean-Claude Biver Big Bang Hublot Nastie Bang

The piece features a 44.5mm microblasted black ceramic case.  The dial is anthracite grey with black nickel appliques and faceted black nickel hands and a red chronograph hand.

 The Nastase personalisation comes in the form of a “tennis ball” 30 minute counter at 3 o’clock and a 60 seconds counter at 9 o’clock with tennis points markings, 15-30-40.  Ilie’s signature appears beneath the sapphire at 6 o’clock and the sapphire case back is inscribed with an image of the man himself.

Hublot’s Jean-Claude Biver once again brought traffic to a halt to open another brand boutique this time in London’s New Bond Street, and to help with the launch was tennis icon Ilie Nastase for whom a new limited edition Big Bang, the Nastie Bang was unveiled.
Inside is Hublot’s HUB 4100 Calibre automatic chronograph movement.  Water resistance is to 100 metres.  Nastase won 132 titles in his career and in tribute to this the watch will be an edition of 132 pieces. 

The Hublot Nastie Bang  comes presented on a black rubber and leather strap with contrasting yellow stitching.

Zenith Espada watches

The 40mm wide Espada may be an entry level model but buyers will be excited to note that it is still powered by an in-house El Primero 4650b with a 50 hour power reserve, 22 jewels and a decorated rotor that can be seen through the sapphire case back.

Furthermore, the 4560b beats at a watch-nerd approved and silky smooth 36,000 vph (5 Hz). Zenith has a total of eight different variations which make use of steel or rose gold for the cases and a range of dials that even includes diamond-clad versions.

  For comparison, consider the 41mm Rolex Datejust II 116334 retails for $8600 USD and features very similar kit, save for its white gold bezel. The Espada, with its combination of an El Primero movement, Zenith’s craftsmanship and a luxurious yet reserved design, is a great-looking sleeper that we would be proud to wear.

The conservative in us really likes the base steel model with the black dial and its teal accents (ref 03.2170.4650/21.M2170).With many brands producing limited editions with multiple complications and cases made exclusively from precious metals, it is refreshing to see a brand as revered as Zenith reaching out to those who prefer their watches in steel and designed to tell the time in a simple and predictable manner.

Pricing for the Espada starts at €5000 ($6525 USD) and will range as high as €22,400 ($29,200 USD) for the all gold version. Cheap? Hardly, but if you’re in the market for a beautiful Swiss three-hander with an in-house movement and good heritage then Zenith has priced the Espada to have excellent value in the marketplace.

Omega Returns to Ana-Digi with X-33 Ref 3991.52

Omega does not make direct reference to the accuracy of this new movement but we hope that it will provide better accuracy than standard quartz movements which run +/- 15 seconds a month.

While Omega released a series of sporty new models at Basel this year, few stood out like their new Spacemaster Z-33.

 The Z-33 is Omega’s follow up to the discontinued but much-loved X-33 (you can read our review of the X-33 Ref 3991.52The Z-33 will come fitted to a signed rubber strap but Omega is also offering an optional leather strap. Aesthetically, the Z-33 is very different from the X-33, to my eyes the Z-33 looks quite a bit more sporty and may have lost some of the futuristic design that made the X-33 stand out.

 Both analogue and digital functions are managed by the new Omega 5666 thermo-compensated quartz movement which is powered by a traditional lithium battery that should last about two years before needing to be replaced.

 We have yet to see a Z-33 in person but the nearly 20 mm height may turn away buyers who were interested in the Z-33 as a novelty but don’t require its laundry list of features in their everyday lives. Pricing and availability have yet to be announced..

Returning back to the Ana-Digi game is no small affair for Omega as the X-33 has achieved cult status and is quite collectable on today’s secondary markets. The X-33 is one of only two Omegas to qualify for use in space by NASA, the other being the mechanically-powered and exceedingly famous Speedmaster.

Since being discontinued in 2006, buyers have been hunting for the unique Omega X-33 with its curved display, titanium case and legendary 80db alarm. Has Omega managed to create a fitting sequel to the X-33, or have the made something that is entirely different, a quartz multifunction for modern-day Omega?

The flaw of most ana-digi watches is that the screens are often obstructed by the hands as they display analogue time. Omega battles this issue in two stages on the Z-33, combining the pass-though view of a skeleton handset with the ability to have the hands disengage and point in a direction that does not block either screen (activated by pressing the 8 o’clock pusher).

2012上海时装周新天地秋冬发布即将举行

2012上海时装周秋冬作品发布将以“灵感汇聚上海，梦想超越未来”为主题，于 4月11日至17日期间精彩上演。届时，作为上海时装周战略合作伙伴和定点发布基地，上海新天地与新天地时尚购物中心将共同携手国内外众多知名设计师，在上海新天地•太平湖公园首次搭建沪上第一个水上专业秀场，举办近20场中外品牌发布会，完美演绎最新时尚潮流趋势。届时，上海新天地还将在新天地时尚购物中心B1中庭设置“时装周设计师品牌限定馆”，通过展销结合的方式，实现原创设计与市场的零距离接轨。上海时装周新天地发布是上海新天地2012“You are the Style”春夏时尚季的重要活动之一，正体现了上海新天地和新天地时尚对中国原创设计力量的鼎立支持。作为上海著名的时尚地标，上海新天地与新天地时尚一直致力于扶持中国原创设计师品牌的发展，推动中国时尚产业升级。作为上海新天地三期项目，新天地时尚购物中心独创引入国内外前沿新锐设计师品牌，致力于成为构建中外设计师零距离对话的平台，促进世界时尚设计力量汇聚在中国。

此次上海时装周新天地发布将会有中国知名年轻设计师吉承的个人品牌La Vie、新近入驻新天地时尚DBHK集成店的原创设计师李鸿雁个人品牌Helen Li、国际设计师品牌集成店Sevendays、倡导新生活方式的多元化设计品牌ZUCZUG/、国内首个学生原创设计品牌Raffles Privato等近10个原创设计品牌参与发布，其中大部分设计师品牌都在新天地时尚购物中心开设了品牌专卖店。上海新天地希望通过此举更好地助阵中国原创设计力量，成为推动中国时尚产业的助推器。

更值得一提的是，为了助力中国原创设计师品牌真正与国内市场对接，新天地时尚B1中庭将作为上海时装周新天地发布的分会场，借助展销结合的模式，在时装周期间特设“时装周设计师品牌限定馆”。在这里，时尚达人们不仅可以近距离欣赏华娟、李鸿雁等12位顶尖中国原创设计师的作品，和设计师们交流互动，更可以直接试穿和购买这些作品，真正将中国原创时尚“穿”回家。

除了中国原创设计师品牌发布亮相这一亮点之外，此次上海时装周新天地发布的开幕大秀Agnès b.和由马克华菲旗下国际设计品牌集合的MF ART+闭幕秀，亦将给大家带来精彩的国际潮流风尚发布。此次时装周期间中外设计师的交流对话，将会碰撞出更多设计创意火花。

瑞安房地产发展有限公司商业总经理刘梦洁强调：“上海新天地和新天地时尚一直致力为中外原创设计力量提供对话交流的平台。随着中国时尚产业的升级，原创设计的发展也日益成熟。作为上海时尚与文化的地标，上海新天地也希望借由此次上海时装周新天地发布，进一步推动中国原创设计力量的发展，并帮助其成功走向国际时尚舞台。”
今年恰逢上海时装周成立十周年，为了更好地与国际风尚潮流接轨，展现中国原创设计力量，搭建中外设计交流平台，上海新天地将首次在新天地太平桥人工湖上搭建水上专业秀场，打造沪上最美时尚风景线。据悉，整个新天地水上秀场总面积达到2500平方米左右，整体设计简约大气，位于太平湖观景平台的主入口处更别出心裁地复刻了上海经典建筑石库门的设计，与毗邻的上海新天地建筑群落交相辉映，寓意着海派文化与国际时尚的交融碰撞。整个秀场设计功能完善，长约30米的水上T台和能容纳550人座的观众席，将带领大家近距离感受最新时尚风潮。此外，为了方便媒体及时报道相关潮流讯息，上海新天地此次还在秀场外专门设置了独立媒体中心和设计师采访室，满足媒体第一时间的报道需求。

ME&CITY米喜迪第二届潮童大赛正式启动

不同于一般国内童装品牌只注重于品质与设计的提升，米喜迪童装品牌在秉承着高品质及高端设计感的同时，始终致力于打造中国第一潮童服装品牌。
ME&CITY 旗下童装品牌系列ME&CITY KIDS米喜迪近日宣布由其主办的米喜迪第二届潮童大赛正式启动，再次为热衷潮流、追求品质的儿童及父母们带来一场潮童时尚盛宴。鉴于品牌的广泛影响力以及活动的积极含义，本次启动仪式不仅受到品牌方及媒体的高度关注，来自社会各界的知名人士及各大商业地产机构也十分重视此次活动，发布会现场人头攒动。
而之所以大规模举办米喜迪潮童大赛，也是希望通过在全国范围内进行潮童选拔，为潮童的发现与培养提供一个良好的平台。而通过首届潮童大赛的成功举办，米喜迪与父母一起，挖掘出各地孩子们的潮童潜质；并在一轮一轮的亲子互动活动中，在潮童的成长中留下了一段美好的时尚记忆。

活动现场以“星光闪耀”为主题，被布置成了一个琳琅满目的米喜迪乐园，不论大人或孩子都能在现场感受到品牌所营造的时髦前卫星光熠熠的时尚派对氛围。
当开场视频播放完第一届比赛选出的小潮童们在沙巴拍摄时装大片的花絮，首届潮童代表出现在舞台上，用精彩的表演让在场来宾见证了米喜迪作为一个时尚童装品牌所打造出的非同一般的潮流宝贝。
随后，米喜迪童装品牌代言人杰米和小宝也先后登上了舞台，代表米喜迪品牌向现场所有人展现专属于米喜迪儿童的潮流和时尚。最后，在所有人的注目下，米喜迪品牌营销总监与米喜迪品牌代言人杰米、小宝一起，用新奇的漂浮气球正式启动了米喜迪第二届潮童大赛，拉开了为期3个月的米喜迪全国潮童选拔的序幕。

英足球史新纪录诞生 58比0

 在英国的“星期日联赛”中，一项新的历史纪录诞生，“轮子动力”俱乐部以58比0击败诺瓦2010俱乐部，这是英国足球历史上单场最大比分的新纪录。
上周日在“星期日联赛”的这场比赛中，托贝区的领头羊“轮子动力”俱乐部对对手进行了大屠杀，开场5分钟就打进了5个球，而在半场结束时，该队已经以20比0领先。下半时，“轮子动力”又攻入了38个进球，最终以58比0大胜，相当于平均每1分33秒就攻入1球。
“轮子动力”的兄弟组合罗比-鲍克尔与斯图尔特-鲍克尔大发神威，两人联手攻入28球，其中罗比一人打进了18个。
诺瓦2010俱乐部并非该地区联赛的垫底球队，此次大比分失利有客观原因，该队人员不整抵达“轮子动力”的主场，只来了5个球员，最终他们凑了9个人上阵，结果惨遭血洗。“轮子动力”的一个球员说：“踢到50比0时，他们受够了，但裁判说必须踢完比赛，否则他们将面临联盟的罚款。”
这个比分刷新了英国足球历史的新纪录，此前的纪录是2010年11月份伊洛甘队55比0击败马德隆俱乐部。