Omega

Synonymous with perfection

During the 160 years of its history, Omega has constantly played an innovative role in the field of watchmaking. The company’s pioneering spirit has been present in areas as diverse as space exploration and deep-sea discovery. Its watchmaking expertise enables it to develop creations such as the co-axial escapement and the entirely transparent casing featured notably on the avant-garde model Omega Hour Vision.

Omega is the mastermind behind numerous inventions and developments, placing its expertise and long tradition of measuring time at the service of timekeeping for the world’s most prestigious sporting events, from the Olympic Games to the America’s Cup, including the World Swimming Championships and top athletics meets. These inventions include the first camera able to take finish-line photos accurate to a thousandth of a second, and the touch pads beneath the starting blocks at swimming events that make it possible to stop the clock instantaneously.

Omega saw its hour of glory with the Omega Speedmaster Professional model, or «Moon Watch», the only watch to have been worn on the moon. The brand is also participating in the prestigious «Solar Impulse» project, which aims to circumnavigate the world by solar-powered plane.

Always preoccupied with elegance when designing its models, the brand has also launched its own line of jewelry for ladies and men.

Mido

A mark of true design

Founded in Switzerland by Georges Schaeren in 1918, Mido is today based in the town of Le Locle, in the heart of the Swiss Jura mountains. The name Mido comes from the Spanish «Yo mido», meaning «I measure».

Mido’s ambition is to produce watches that possess characteristics typical of the quality and careful craftsmanship of a Swiss watch, namely timepieces endowed with mechanical movements that are wound either by hand or automatically.

Timelessness is the hallmark of its image, which aims to be clean-cut and refined. Mido’s philosophy is to combine timeless design with functionality rather than following fashion; to outlive all passing trends and to make Mido watches a product to be passed on to future generations. The objective is to create timepieces in high-quality materials, endowed with high-precision movements and offering exceptional water-resistance, in the spirit of sustainable development.

As a specialist in mechanical watches, Mido offers a variety of models with designs ranging from retro to contemporary, and from classic to innovative. They all meet the brand’s five strategic criteria: the Swiss-made label; a distinctive identity; a high-precision, high-quality mechanical movement; superior water-resistance, and excellent value for money.

Longines

Elegance is an attitude

Established in 1832 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, the Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon SA, commonly referred to as Longines, is proud to be the oldest trademark in the world. It has played a pioneering role in numerous technological advances, having a dominant presence particularly in aeronautics and in the field of sports timekeeping – all of this, whilst constantly affirming its elegance all around the world.

For example, Longines shaped world sporting history by introducing the first timing mechanism to be automatically triggered by an electric wire. Since then it has been appointed official timekeeper for numerous international sporting events, including the Olympic Games. Longines also made aviation and navigation history by timing, among others, Charles Lindbergh’s achievement of the first non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic.

Today Longines continues to be at the cutting edge of innovation, and works to ensure that all its watches offer a unique combination of precision and elegance. It is a dominant player with a strong presence in equestrianism, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, downhill skiing, and tennis, and is ever present in supporting the defining moments of contemporary sporting history.

Leon Hatot

Etre femme

Youngest of the Swatch Group’s prestige and luxury brands, the Léon Hatot jewelry and watchmaking brand is conceived for women who want to make time a luxury. Its exclusive collections of prestige jewelry and watches express the sentiments and emotions of passionate, free women, ready to zealously pursue everything that matters to them.

The watches created by Léon Hatot are intended exclusively for women. Closely attentive to the needs of its clientele, it breaks new ground for those who appreciate watch mechanisms by designing jewelry watches with automatic mechanical movements in which the oscillating weight is set with diamonds. However, the brand is not abandoning the Swiss-made quartz movements that enable it to continue producing the daring jewelry that has made it so successful.

Léon Hatot’s jewelry creations fall into three main families: exceptional creations, prestige jewelry, and boutique jewelry. The inspiration for their design is sometimes drawn directly from the extraordinary inheritance of creator and designer Léon Hatot (1883–1953). As the fortunate possessor of several thousand original Belle Époque and Art Deco drawings, the brand is now devoted to the dissemination of this exceptional heritage through a subtle combination of tradition and innovation.

Jaqut Droz

Visionary

Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 1721, Pierre Jaquet Droz was a mechanical genius and a pioneer in the art of the Haute Horlogerie jewelry watch – a veritable living legend.

Today, the brand is still inspired by his dreams, his extraordinary horological masterpieces, his exceptional automatons, which include the androids entitled «The Lady Musician», «The Writer» and «The Draughtsman», and his quest for innovation, progress and excellence. Operating in the Haute Horlogerie segment, Montres Jaquet Droz SA excels in the art of one-off and very limited-edition items. The brand has revived traditional crafts that were disappearing: outstanding illustrations of this include its spangled dials and those of black «Grand Feu» enamel.

One of Jaquet Droz’s strengths is its ability to create custom dial designs to meet its enthusiastic clients’ requirements. Its leading model, La Grande Seconde, which draws its inspiration directly from an 18th century timepiece, can just as easily be made to measure with a dial set with precious and semi-precious stones as with a dial base decorated with prestigious minerals, dried seaweed or other specific materials. The brand’s character and refinement mark out a very special place for it in the world of prestige and luxury watchmaking.

Hamilton

A passion for the sky and the movies

Hamilton’s long tradition symbolizes the evolution of timekeeping in the United States since 1892. With a history stretching back over a hundred years, Hamilton is one of the best-known American brands. In its early years, Hamilton was known as the company that manufactured «the watch of railroad accuracy». Later, the first pilots of the US airmail service wore Hamilton watches while flying.

During the Second World War, the brand became the principal supplier of watches to the US armed forces, producing over a million items for military use. After the war, the renaissance in commercial production was marked in 1957 by the revolutionary launch of the world's first battery-powered watch, the Ventura. In 1972, Hamilton again amazed the world by creating the first watch with a digital display.

The wide range and varied styles of Hamilton watches have provided a valuable resource for Hollywood stylists and costume designers. As well as being worn by numerous actors during filming, the brand is also famous today for its «Behind the Camera Awards», which honor backstage artists on film sets in Los Angeles.

Former Star in Twilight of his Career

Rarely in the NFL does the road to retirement run smooth. Many careers are cruelly curtailed by injury, some begin and end with little ceremony, very occasionally a player gets it just right (see Michael Strahan of the New York Giants or, better still John Elway of the Denver Broncos) and go out on the highest of highs. But for many of the sport’s elite, the temptation to play on when their best days are long gone, results in a slightly awkward separation from the game that once extolled their talents.

Those who soar highest have the furthest to fall, and for long-time standout, Terrell Owens, the descent to Earth is proving a jolty and embarrassing one.

Owens has been one of the league’s premier threats at the Wide Receiver position for the best part of two decades. He began his career with a bang when he was became the third round draft pick, 89th overall, by the San Francisco 49ers in 1996.

He joined a team that had just won the last of its five Super Bowls. Expectations were high, but Owens only made it to the big game once in his career, while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, a game they lost by three points to the New England Patriots.

He was, without a doubt, one of the greatest talents to ever play the game, but his on-field antics and off-field histrionics made him a difficult character to work with. The fans may have enjoyed keeping up with his latest outburst, but for the men required to play with T.O., his attitude was a distraction his talents could only support for so long.

After the 49ers traded him to the Eagles in 2004, Owens began a bumpy period in his career, finding himself bounced around from team-to-team. He only lasted 2 seasons in Philadelphia before being sent to the Dallas Cowboys, who gave him his marching orders in 2009. He then wound-up on a struggling Buffalo Bills team where he lasted a single year, before serving the same time in Cincinnati, playing for the Bengals alongside similarly controversial wideout Chad Johnson.

He missed the entirety of the 2011 season, as no team was willing to give him a roster spot. During his time away from the NFL he played sparingly for the Austin Wranglers Indoor Football team – hardly a glorious end to a career that has made so many headlines.

It would seem Owens thought the same thing. Never one to skimp on his physical conditioning, Owens publicly announced himself available for hire, with the intention of competing for a team in 2012. His physical tools, his speed in particular, have not diminished with age. No one doubted his body, but his mind was under review.

The Seattle Seahawks, coached by former USC man, Pete Carroll, are a team well known for taking chances on players with character issues, and Carroll did just that by signing him before the preseason began, in the hope that Owens could contribute right away to the development of his new quarterbacks, Matt Flynn, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, and Russell Wilson, the rookie out of Wisconsin.

So far Owens has failed to impress. He is locked in a battle with fellow veteran receiver – Braylon Edwards – for the final roster spot. According to reports, Edwards has fared better in practice, and there seems little to choose between the pair on the field. Owens has let simple balls slip through his fingers, leading many to suggest he is done in the league. His concentration is poor and his effort when not being targeted has been called into question. Edwards has, in the past, been called lazy and criticised for giving up on dead routes. That was never the case with Owens in his prime, but as these two stars attempt to salvage their careers, it looks like it means more to one – Edwards – than the other.

On Friday the 24th of August, in the third game of the Seahawks preseason campaign, Owens caught two passes for 41 yards; Edwards caught one ball for 32. He was one of 12 receivers targeted on the night, finishing second in total yardage. The statistics, in comparison to his team-mates’ are not woeful, but it is the downtime between making plays that send coaches into a frenzy. The dropped balls, the apathy, the air that suggests he is bigger than the team.

It must be frustrating for a guy like T.O. Few have reached the dizzying heights he did with the 49ers and Eagles. Few could dream of possessing his natural ability. Few could give so much for so long to a sport, no matter how much they loved the game. But what is really vexing is that despite Owens’ achievements, talent and commitment, he still manages to mess things up by being…well, by being himself.

It’s almost as if the awareness of just how good he was is an excuse to not turn-in the finished product week in, week out. You get the feeling he expected a championship would come his way at some point during his career, but then it never did.

It is heartbreaking that things haven’t worked out for him, and devastating that he looks likely to end his stellar career as a reject from a second-rate team, who don’t feel he has anything to offer.

There’s still a chance he will find work in the league, but the days appear numbered for this one-time superstar.



Editor's note: since the publication of this article, Terrell Owens has been released by the Seahawks and is currently a free agent.

Glashutte Original

Made in Germany

Since the foundation by F.A. Lange of the first watchmaking company in the German town of Glashütte in 1845, Glashütte Original has always known how to meet its customers’ demands for high precision and outstanding quality. Joining the Swatch Group at the end of the last century, the brand continues to pursue this tradition today, creating mechanical masterpieces in accordance with the rigorous standards of the Saxon art of watchmaking.

The characteristics of the classic Glashütte Original design transform each mechanical movement into a miniature masterpiece epitomizing the German values of quality, precision and reliability. The Glashütte Original watchmaking company is one of the oldest in Germany to have always made its own models. It attaches great importance to human skill and expertise. While traditional methods have survived throughout the centuries, the brand also makes use of leading-edge technology in many ways, for example in manufacturing components and carrying out quality testing.

The brand’s masterpieces evoke fascination due to the passion and high precision that drive their development. Limited-edition models such as those dedicated to Julius Assmann and Alfred Hewig, and its timepieces decorated with Meissen porcelain dials are much sought-after by collectors.

Flik Flak

Time is fun

In 1987, a major innovation in the watchmaking industry marked the creative spirit that characterizes the world’s largest watchmaking group, namely the introduction of a watchmaking brand dedicated solely to children – Flik Flak.

As well as developing very trendy watches in a children’s world where princesses rub shoulders with pirates and explorers, the Flik Flak brand has also developed a method of teaching children to tell the time. In fact, Flik and Flak «tick and tock» the time away in line with an educational concept that enables children as young as four to tell the time. The principle developed in collaboration with educationalists and psychologists introduces the brothers Flik and Flak. Flik moves round the dial with the blue minute hand over the course of an hour, pointing to the blue minute digits. Meanwhile, Flak plods along in his red coat moving from one hour to the next, the hour markings being indicated by red digits on the watch dials which have been specially designed to help children tell the time.

Always closely in touch with children’s fads and crazes, the Flik Flak brand makes telling the time fun. Numerous events are held throughout the world and the brand is now introducing not only watches but also matching jewelry to delight little girls everywhere.

Endura

Interpreting trends

Endura SA is the private label division of the Swatch Group, producing customized watches on behalf of companies and brands. It is also involved in licensing, i.e. the production of models under license for companies, particularly those with a presence on the markets in Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East.

Since it was founded in 1966, the company has demonstrated its expertise in the development of products for specific companies and brands. It provides a full range of services, from targeted design consultancy, production and development of the sales environment through to global after-sales service.

Its qualities have enabled it to establish its worth and reputation to such an extent that Endura is now a leader in this market. The name Endura is synonymous with esthetic quality and technical perfection. Its success is based on four pillars: open thinking, flexibility, creativity and intellectual quality.

Endura’s collaboration with internationally renowned companies is hallmarked by absolute discretion and mutual trust.

Brady Sits, While Foles Sits Pretty

Two teams who could very well be squaring off in Super Bowl XVII played against each other in the second of four preseason clashes on Monday Night Football.

The Patriots are, and likely always will be with Tom Brady at the helm, a solid pick to make it back to the big game, one year after losing to the Giants (again), courtesy of Eli Manning’s late gate heroics (again).

So confident are they that Hall of Fame lock, Tom Brady, did not even suit up for the game. Watching from the sidelines, Brady saw his team lose to one of the most talent-laden rosters in the NFL. But although the Eagles finished the game with a win, they left it feeling uneasy about the durability of incumbent starter, Michael Vick.

Vick has had one of the true rollercoaster careers. When drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, he made the headlines on an almost weekly basis for all the right reasons. His scintillating play, shifty, flat-out running style and game moxie made the Falcons a success. Despite his unprecedented athleticism, the team suffered from his errant passing and questionable leadership. They never won a championship, and before long, things turned really, really sour.

Vick was convicted of funding and organising a dog-fighting ring. His sentence sent shockwaves around the league and many understandably assumed his days as a pro were over.

No one handed Andy Reid, the long-tenured coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, the ten foot barge pole with which no other team was prepared to touch Vick. Reid, famed for his forgiving nature, took a punt on the player who had managed to keep himself in excellent shape while inside, and the gamble looked to have paid off. He once again lit up the boards on his return to the NFL, and also seemed to grasp the idea of a Quarterback actually passing the ball. The presence of wideouts, Maclin and Jackson certainly helped Vick along, but the team lacked true depth at several positions, most notably on an aging defence.

Reid restructured the team in time for Vick’s second season running the show in Pennsylvania. He brought in several Pro Bowl calibre players and turned the Eagles into a Dream Team, for whom it was quite obviously the Super Bowl or bust.

Well, they went bust (and boom) that year, finishing a head-scratching 8-8 and missing the playoffs by a whisker. But with a season of gelling so many egos, and some excellent performances down the stretch, the Eagles looked finally ready to do what they have never done and win it all.

Along comes the 2012 preseason and expectations are running high. Michael Vick is deployed in Week 1 and plays passably before leaving the game to have X-rays on his throwing thumb.

Week 2 and the Patriots soon rolled around and Vick was on the field again. What happened? He went down with what was later diagnosed as a rib contusion (ouch). The Eagles are thought to be annoyed with the way Vick has risked his body in meaningless situations. Personally I would give him credit for wanting to play the game hard at all times, but it does show a lack of professional maturity. More of concern than his attitude, which although slightly silly is at least a mark of passion, is his ability to take shots.

It’s impossible to say he’s getting hurt in soft tackles. Fair enough, the preseason means nothing for the team’s ultimate fortunes, but it means a hell of a lot for the players who are yet to make the roster or lock-down a starting spot. These guys will be playing HARD and any player – especially a man of Vick’s playing style – is in danger of getting hurt before the regular season kicks off. But whether or not he got felled by a fly, or mowed down by a runaway juggernaut, one thing is certain: Michael Vick is banged up and he might not be ready to step out in Week 1.

So what will the Eagles do at the Quarterback position if Vick is unable to get, or to stay healthy? They NEED a contingency plan given that Vick has played 16 games in ONE of his NINE seasons.

Ahem. Ladies and Gentleman, please give a warm round of applause for Nick Foles, rookie sensation, who has thrown not only a bevy of brilliant balls, but also his name into the hat for consideration.

Foles performance against the Patriots was good. Sure, he threw a pick, but he did throw a pair of touchdowns to go along with a completion ratio of 18/28. I like those stats from a young guy. I think he is just the right kind of back-up for this team.

Just as Ryan Wilson is turning heads in Seattle and challenging expected starter Matt Flynn for the job, Foles is a rookie with the bit between his teeth.

Michael Vick will of course start if he can, but if he does go down when the Eagles are mired in a scrap for the division, there appears to be no need to panic. The Texans limped over the line with back-up TJ Yates last year. The Eagles could hope for at least the same service from Foles on the back of his play so far.

Turning attention to the Brady-less Pats, it has to be said the Super Bowl runners-up look ready to play. For elite teams the preseason is not often a great litmus test of how they are faring, but while playing a host of second strings the Patriots look comfortable with the system that has brought them great success over the years. With Josh McDaniels back in his more familiar role of Offensive Coordinator, expect this intelligent team to be even better than last year and to snatch the division with relative ease.

Calvin Klein

Absolute, contemporary

The US designer Calvin Klein and the Swatch Group pooled their formidable talent in 1997 to create cK watch, a watch brand with graphic lines that are striking, refined and contemporary. A new and inimitable type of watch was born – the fashion accessory watch. Today, over 200 different Swiss-made models designed for men as well as women adorn storefronts in more than 60 countries.

The geometrical creations of 1997 have given way to lines that are more fluid, organic, sensual and integrated; a reflection of the current trend. A rare ambassador of the Swiss watchmaking industry in the fashion segment, ck Calvin Klein remains its international leader, partly due to a strategic approach to pricing made possible by the Swatch Group.

The brand rose admirably to a new challenge in 2004, when the teams at the company’s headquarters in Bienne and New York launched a jewelry collection named ck Calvin Klein jewelry. By taking everyday life and the world as their source of inspiration, they wholeheartedly embraced this accompaniment to watchmaking creations. Success was immediate.

Today, the brand is forging ahead, characterized by its essential sexy image that translates refined lines and numerous metal surfaces into sensual curves.

Lucks runs out (and in) for Colts against Steelers.

Andrew Luck showed a level of composure that is remarkable for a man who will not take his first regular season snap for another 3 weeks.

Rare it is that the transition from college to the gruelling life of the NFL appears so slick. Although it is early to anoint Luck a Pro Bowl calibre Quarterback given the unquantifiable nature of preseason performances, Luck certainly looks the business.

His 2 interceptions did not stop him from sending his team into the half 3 points to the good. One of the Colts’ first half touchdowns came courtesy of the Number One draft pick’s legs, proving, as many suggested at a combine dominated by the explosive athleticism of Robert Griffin III, that Luck himself is the complete package; a beast of a man, who possesses a scintillating shiftiness with his feet, and the power to punch it in from 1 yard out.

Roethlisberger – the two time Super Bowl winning QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers – looked solid, if not sensational in the Steelers’ second preseason outing. His 7 for 8 completion ratio was good, and his 1/1 TD/INT statistic neither here nor there. He was picked off on his first pass of the night by a seasoned pro in Antoine Berthea. That kind of play in a preseason match-up is forgivable. The QB said in the post game interview that he feels things are going in the right direction. It’s hard to doubt the man who has made so much happen for the Steelers in what has thus far been an illustrious career with 3 appearances in the big game. The Steelers are still adjusting to Todd Haley’s complex offensive scheme and it shows, but expect them to be ready to rumble come the season opener.

How far can the Colts go this season? They play in a division that is now a three-way contest between themselves, the Houston Texans and the quietly impressive Tennessee Titans. They seem to be fair value to make the post-season as a Wild Card, but the AFC so often only offers one Wild Card spot due to the perennial challenge of the AFC North dwelling Ravens and Steelers. As it stands, the Jets look out of sorts, the Broncos/Chargers/Chiefs/Raiders are all unknown and unpredictable quantities and the Bengals are looking to build on last season’s success, so winning the division might be a necessity.

That might be a stretch too far for this remodelled franchise, but with a little luck and a lot from Luck, they could still be standing come January.

Certina

Reliability, precision and innovation

When they created their watchmaking business in Granges, Switzerland in 1888, the Kurth brothers Adolf and Alfred established the brand’s basic principles – reliability, precision and innovation. The spirit of the famous Certina brand is brought to life by a tradition of uncompromising excellence and the guaranteed use of the finest components and materials – titanium, 316L stainless steel, sapphire glass, and the renowned ETA Swiss Made movements. To this day, the company has built its reputation on the quality of the watch movements made by the Kurth brothers.

As the Swiss leader in mid-range sporting watches, Certina has become the champion of outstanding quality at an affordable price. From its very inception, the company has shown a keen interest in the world of sport. The introduction in 1959 of the concept of double security is a significant example of this, raising water and shock resistance to previously unattained levels.

Certina has a long-standing commitment to sport, and motor racing in particular. It has stood next to an ever-growing list of great sport stars such as Mike Doohan, Alex Crivillé, Petter Solberg, Sete Gibernau, Thomas Lüthi, Timo Glock, Robert Kubica and also boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Since 2005, Certina has been Official Partner of the Sauber F1 Team.

NFC Hopefuls Score Stacks; Nearly-men Duke it out in Teaser

RGIII is here, but it's too soon to say he's arrived.

The second overall draft pick looked a little jittery in his second appearance as a Washington Redskin, but performed well enough not to hurt his team. That said, his 17 yards rushing and 49 through the air weren't a huge help in a tight game lost to the Chicago Bears by an agonising score of 33-31.

The Redskins stuck 21 points on the board in the fourth quarter to run the result close, but it wasn't quite enough to take them past the Bears, whose two QBs - starter Jay Cutler and new back-up Jason Campbell - performed well, throwing for a combined 263 yards.

As solid as Chicago were, the game ball goes to rookie, Kirk Cousins out of Michigan State. Cousins was the architect of all Redskins success and, if he continues to play with such poise and presence, could give Mike Shannahan a bit of a headache.

Cousins threw for 264 yards, completed 18 of 23 passes and chucked in 3 TD scores. Wow. THAT is an arrival.

Might RGIII start his career on the bench behind another, far less heralded rookie? Unlikely, but stranger things have happened in the NFL.

The Chargers beat the Cowboys in a contest that could have been dubbed the: Are we there yet? game.

Both teams have been so highly thought of, and so ubiquitously talked-up prior to the commencement of most every season this decade, you'd be forgiven for thinking they'd faced-off in multiple Super Bowls, but neither team has made it to the big game since the mid nineties, when the Chargers lost their only appearance to the 49ers and the Cowboys won the last of their 3 Aikman-lead championships.

Charlie Whitehurst - one of those guys who has been on the cusp of being awesome for some time now - played well and threw for 2 second half touchdowns as the San Diego outfit rallied to win 28-20 after 21 points (14 rushing, 1 passing) in the fourth. Romo did play for the Cowboys and looked comfortable, but neither helped nor hurt his team with an under-the-radar performance. That's fine for the Pro bowl calibre signal caller. His counterpart, Phillip Rivers, had a similarly anonymous, but effective game. These guys just need to get a few snaps, shake the rust off and prep themselves for the regular season. They should both sleep well after a game that served their needs well.

But will either the San Diego Chargers or Dallas Cowboys make the play-offs? The Cowboys play in the gurelling NFC East, home to the World Champion Giants, the resurgent Redskins and the ever-threatening Eagles so that would be a tall order, though not impossible if they play to their potential and the RIGHT Romo turns up week in, week out. The Chargers have a slightly easier route, though the AFC West is no longer a one horse race. The Broncos have Peyton Manning under centre, the Chiefs are moving in the right direction under Romeo, and the Raiders have had the talent, just not the coaching, to make it to the next level for a while. I believe only one team will get out of either division, so it's going to be all or nothing for these two nearly teams.

Breguet

The world number one luxury watchmaker

Since it was acquired by the Swatch Group in 1999, Montres Breguet has rapidly moved into the world number one position in luxury watchmaking. Its new products, the true measure of brand dynamism, and its capacity for innovation continue to be a priority. To such an extent that the creativity and ingenuity of Breguet have not run out of steam with the passage of time, but rather have grown, since the number of patents granted under the leadership of Nicolas G. Hayek exceeds the number of inventions recorded by its founder, A.-L. Breguet (1747–1823).

Today the brand is continuing to reinforce its dominant role in the development of watchmaking mechanics by devoting very significant investments to research and innovation, as well as to the actual Breguet manufacturing site, which has been enlarged and expanded with new facilities and infrastructure as well as sophisticated machinery. Emphasis has also been placed on recruiting highly qualified watchmakers. A team is ceaselessly working on the design and production of new models that interpret the brand’s esthetic values in a novel manner, and on completely original mechanisms that will drive the timepieces of tomorrow. At the heart of the brand’s strategy lies the perfecting, through synergies with the Swatch Group, of innovative manufacturing procedures. This demonstrates its historical capacity for constantly reinventing and revolutionizing watchmaking, in order to satisfy the requirements of its extremely sophisticated clientele. It was with this objective in mind that a prestige jewelry line was launched in 2002, with resounding success.

Since its incorporation into the Swatch Group, Breguet has seen its turnover increase considerably (whilst always retaining a limited production volume), and its international distribution become more effective and dynamic. The brand has also confirmed its position as a key player in Haute Horlogerie by opening Boutiques in the world’s most prestigious cities, for example Paris, Cannes, New York, Los Angeles, Geneva, London, Vienna, Seoul, Dubai and Tokyo.

New York Nightmare for Gang Green; Desert Delight for the Soaring Skeltons

Ouch.

The Jets sure know a thing or two about making life difficult for themselves.

In a derby fixture that Gang Green must be getting used to losing, the New York Jets Quarterback controversy continued.

Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow both saw field time, but neither managed to impress. Okay, so they were playing the World Champions, but the New York Giants are not the Steelers of the Patriots, who we can rely on turning up for big contests, nor are they a team that has anything to prove right now.

The Giants must be feeling pretty comfortable in their own skin to beat their fiercest rivals without breaking a sweat in a game that meant little to New York's juiciest apple.

Tebow threw for 69 yards and no scores. Sanchez threw for 59 yards and gave the ball away. The Giants did nothing spectacular and still came out of top by a lop-sided score of 26-3.

The Jets have a lot of work to do. And someone in that organisation needs to teach those boys how to throw a football (preferably to someone in green and white).

Out in California, the desert birds (the Arizona Cardinals) beat the home team (the Oakland Raiders) in a tasty match-up that saw last year's super-sub, John Skelton, throw 3 passes, complete them all and toss a touchdown with the third. Coach Whisenhunt pulled him thereafter, seemingly unwilling to allow the possibility of Skelton's confidence being dented.

It seems probable, judging by Whisenhunt's actions, that Skelton will be the starter for the Cards come week one, and Kevin Kolb will continue his prolific career as a bench warmer with raw talent. So raw, in fact, is Kolb's talent, that it would give you salmonella if ingested. He's got something, but right now it looks like a serious case of the yips.

At least his bank balance will soften the blow. I hope.

Blancpain

Blancpain. A Tradition of Innovation. Since 1735.

There is no contradiction in using the words tradition and innovation in the same breath to describe Blancpain. Both are woven together to form the fabric of Blancpain’s philosophy. In a spirit far removed from production lines, the movement parts are patiently finished, decorated and assembled by hand in keeping with the noblest horological traditions. Never veering from its Vallée de Joux heritage, Blancpain has taken the designs, complications and methods of the last centuries and brought them into our modern era through its relentless drive to conquer new horizons and to take the watchmaking art to places where it has never been before.

Ever since 1735, when Jehan-Jacques Blancpain founded a watch manufacturing facility in the Swiss Jura village of Villeret, inventiveness and the pursuit of perfection have led the brand’s watchmakers to craft creations imbued with an excellence and a wealth of resourcefulness that have shaped the history of watchmaking. Almost 275 years of research and development have confirmed Blancpain’s philosophy, which is based on a deep-felt respect for Haute Horlogerie.

The company settled in the mid-1980s in the village of Le Brassus at the heart of the Vallée de Joux. The watchmaking craftsmen of the Manufacture Blancpain have since revived the secrets of the time-honoured art of horology. While loyal guardians of Swiss culture and heritage, they are nonetheless never backward-looking but instead resolutely dedicated towards fostering the future of the mechanical watch. They are accomplished masters in the miniaturisation of mechanical movements and regularly perform amazing feats of ingenuity and innovation in the service of enduring beauty

Ohio Teams Lead the Charge.

Week 2 of the preseason saw both teams from Ohio, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns, pull out impressive wins.

The Bengals, as I mentioned last week, are one of those mid-table play-off hopefuls, who really relish the preseason as a chance to make a statement and to build on the progress of last year.

Incumbent starter Andy Dalton looked good, completing 8 of 14 attempts for a touchdown and no interceptions. He helped his team score effectively and consistently in all phases of the game, recording a box score of 3, 7, 7, 7. That's a sign of a nice tempo and a solid, essential ability to find the end zone when it matters.

Furthermore, the Bengals were playing against opposition who are in the same boat. Despite making the play-offs with an impressive regularity these past few years, the Falcons under the leadership of QB Matt Ryan are a team that has failed to convince anyone they can pull it out of the bag when it matters. They have posted great regular season records and challenged for the division since Ryan donned the red and black of Atlanta, but have tanked in January and must now be used to having questions asked about their legitimacy as title contenders.

They are not regarded as a lock for the post-season, but if Ryan's performance was any indication of how they'll fair when the games start to matter, they needn't worry just yet.

The Boston product was sensational, completing a staggering 18 of 21 for 174 yards, a TD and no picks. That is what he needs to do in the preseason to build the confidence of his team. That is what he must do if they are to go further than they have since the days of Michael Vick.

Cleveland, another team that needs the warm-up of the preseason, faced off against the Green Bay Packers, who, unlike the Falcons, have nothing to prove. Expect GB to go 0-4 in the preseason as they tinker with plays and experiment with new packages. It means nothing to them. Success in Green Bay does not end with making the play-offs. There is only one result that will do, and that's the Super Bowl victory.

As for the Browns, one of just a handful of teams to have never contested the big game, their performance against the Champs once removed was professional and laudable.

They hit double digits (10 and 14 respectively) either side of the half. Brandon Weedon kept the ball safe and gained solid yards. Their running game, minus Trent Richardson, looked competent and found success inside the 20.

Promising signs from both Ohio outfits. They'll need to keep it up if they hope to make the playoffs, which is always, for these AFC North afterthoughts, a steep mountain to climb.

Balmain

A world of elegance

From 1987 to 1995, Balmain watches were manufactured under exclusive license by the Swatch Group, which supplied its immense expertise and state-of-the-art watchmaking technology to the brand and the Parisian fashion house founded in 1945 by fashion designer Pierre Balmain. In December 1995, the Swatch Group acquired the exclusive rights to manufacture, market and distribute the brand’s watches throughout the entire world.

Based at Saint-Imier deep in the Swiss Jura, the company celebrated its tenth anniversary in 1997 with «Elysées», a globally acclaimed collection that remains a leading model in the Balmain collection. One of the brand’s distinctive features is the famous «arabesques» dial, the stunning design of which was inspired by the sumptuous embroidery that decorates the haute couture dresses of its creator. The world of fashion draws its inspiration from an infinite number of sources, and each Balmain watch possesses a history and significance all of its own.

Whether they are made of stainless steel, steel and gold, or whether they are prestigious collections in yellow or white 18-carat gold, all Balmain models meet the same high quality standards and are subject to the same attention to detail. They are synonymous with elegance and refinement, and meet the quality and esthetic criteria demanded by discerning women and men alike

A Little About me.

Hi.

For those of you who don't know me (which I guess is most people reading this blog), allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rob, I am a prematurely haggard 26 year old, living in Southampton working for the Swatch Group.

About a month ago I passed my WOSTEP (Watchmakers Of Switzerland Training and Education Program) exams and have started working as a junior watchmaker.

Right now I'm learning the ropes in the polishing department, which is a very useful skill to get the hang of, as the modern sequential servicing process implemented by most major Maisons (watch houses) means the guy repairing the movement of the watch (the bit that goes tick), will rarely be responsible for the refinishing of a case or bracelet sent into the service centre.

Despite that, I, like many young guys in the industry, harbour aspirations to one day found my own brand and to do that you need to know EVERYTHING that goes into making a watch run and look beautiful while it's performing its primary function (feel free to debate the primary function of a watch in a world that has the time displayed on most everything from phones, laptops and TVs to smart fridges etcetera).

Right now, though, and for the next few years at least, I am working for the Swatch Group, and part of being a good watchmaker is to know the brand you work for inside and out.

As I mentioned, the function of a watch is arguably more than the telling of time. Luxury watches are bought and worn by those of the population who want that little bit more from their purchases. Choosing a watch that will set you back the cost of a new Mondeo, doesn't just come down to how accurately it can tell you the time. there are all sorts of things that go into the finalisation of that decision, not least the design characteristics and heritage of the brand you settle on.

With that in mind I made it my goal to learn about all of the brands that fall under the Swatch Group umbrella (there are a lot), and thought it might be a nice place to start. You've got to be aware of the product. You've got to be aware of its roots and history. You've got to know WHY people would want to wear a watch bearing a particular name.

So over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to post a brief run-down of some of the brands I may come into contact with while at work.

If you EVER have ANY questions about watchmaking, be they from a retail/historical/stylistic perspective or a technical question on how or why something works, PLEASE comment on my posts and I will do my utmost to answer. My hope is you will ask me something I don't know off the top of my head so I have to research it and learn something new.

This is an open forum. No question is a stupid question. If there is an answer to be found, I will endeavour to find it for you.

Let the good times roll.

Is it more than Luck?

Luck. That's what we're all talking about today.

Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts, that is. The number one overall draft pick could have expected his first performance to come under unnatural scrutiny and we, the observers and eager critics, could have expected the Stanford stand out to wilt under the bright lights of stardom.

However, Andrew Luck has clearly been reading play books, not scripts.

His first pro pass - albeit a pre-season one - went 63 yards for a touchdown.

Colts owner, Jim Irsay took to twitter before the end of the game to anoint his new signal caller, citing his performance as historic. It sure would be a nice footnote to his career should it take off as we now expect it will.

The Colts new QB is clearly the real deal. Whether he has success in the long term is down to both his character and his namesake. If he is lucky enough to enjoy a talented surrounding cast as his predecessor did, he will be a first ballot Hall of Fame selection.

Yeah, I went there. After one pre-season performance against a shoddy team. But let's just see his career out before you tear me a new one on this, okay?

In other news, Schaub of the Texans continued the weird trend I pointed out yesterday of starting QBs to play sparingly and throw a pick (Seattle's new starter-elect Matt Flynn did the same!). TJ Yates stepped-up well going 8/12 for 89 yards. The Texans triumphed over the Panthers 26-13, and shut out the Carolina outfit in the second half.

In the other Saturday game the Seahawks beat the Titans, who suffered thanks to Matt Hasselbeck's 2 picks and the sluggishness of CJ2K. In good news, Jake Locker looked very comfortable in the pocket and Hasselbeck's implosion will no doubt go further towards locking down the top spot under centre in Tennessee.

No sign of TO on the stat sheet this week. Guess we'll have to wait to see if this legend of the game makes his last stop count.

Few stars shine through the clouds of preseason.

A dozen games are in the books. After yesterday's analysis of the first six, let's take a look at the highs, lows and talking points of the games played under the Friday night lights.

I always like to start at the bottom and work towards my favourite game, but splitting those residing at the bottom of this pack of 6 is tough. In all honesty, Friday's games were far better than those played on Thursday. There were a couple of low scoring teams (the Vikings, Jets and Dolphins, for example) but on the whole, those teams played well with their starters in the line-up and fell to teams that were either better, or more desperate to make a statement.

One observation so far, is the surprising amount of first string QBs coming into the game on the first series, and leaving after tossing an interception. This KEEPS happening, but I guess when you have a finely tuned machine, even the smallest flaw is magnified. You know what I mean: we've all had a car, or known someone who has a car that is SO OLD it has no right to work, but will keep going through sleet and snow, and then there's the guy whose Ferrari will stall in a light breeze. That's my excuse for Matthew Stafford, Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning, newly appointed starter Brandon Weedon and Aaron Rodgers.

The Jets lost to the Bengals by a scoreline of 17-6. Sanchez completed 4/6 for 0/0 and 26 yards. Solid, if unremarkable. His main competition for the job - the only 1st and a half string QB in the league - Tim Tebow completed just 50% of his passes (depressingly consistent) and threw a pick. Andy Dalton for the Bengals looked proficient and they should take heart from this win. Beating the Jets in the regular season is an equally useless litmus test given their Jekyll and Hyde performances, but they are always a quality roster, and in the preseason that's what's being assessed. Well done to the Bengals, they are a team that needed to keep the ball rolling with wins, and one of the few for whom the preseason is important.

When the Browns play the Lions, I get a warm, nostalgic feeling in my belly. I'm a Cardinals fan, as has been well documented, but I absolutely love the Browns. When they came back from the dead I danced in the street. When Derek Anderson made them competitive for one season I sang their praises from the rooftops. When Mitchell & Ness released the retro snapback boasting the coolest NFL Mascot of all time (that cute little elf thing), I ran to the shops to buy it, only to realise upon looking in the mirror that I'm way too white to pull it off (it's still on my eBay watch list on the off chance I become significantly street in the near future. There is a history about the Browns that I adore, and the Lions - one of the classic thanksgiving teams - are similarly steeped in legend.

And what followed Friday night, was a decent match-up between two teams who will have to fight tooth and nail to make the playoffs this year. the Lions went last year and, of the two, are favourites to repeat the feat, but the Browns have been getting closer, if not in record, then in style of play. The drafting of Trent Richardson 9who did not suit up for this game) and the experienced Brandon Weedon resulted in an enjoyable game.

Both Browns back-ups - Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy - won this game for Cleveland. Wallace, a one-time Seattle second string and perennially versatile play-maker, threw for over 100 yards with a +50% completion percentage and a Touchdown. He is fighting hard to relegate the previously anointed starter, Colt McCoy, down the depth chart. McCoy, however, fared very well, going 6/8 for 88 yards. Impressive. Look for McCoy to return and have success if Weedon struggles early.

Oh, the Browns won 19-17. Good on them.

The Vikings played the 49ers in what was very nearly a best v worst contest from last year. Despite the gulf in talent and success, the Vikings did functional under Ponder, who avoided throwing an interception and spearheaded two field goal drives, culminating in Minnesota's only points.

The story of this game for me was the incredibly poised, professional and clinical performance by Alex Smith of the 49ers. 3 attempts, 3 completions. 16 yards passing and one touchdown as the architect of an 8 play, 8 minute drive. Brilliant.

Despite overseeing a 20-7 loss to the Buccaneers, there was only story to come out of Tampa Bay's clash with the Miami Dolphins, and that was the Florida outfit's new Quarterback, Ryan Tannehill.

Having made off-season headlines with his meteoric draft rise and the sudden pouring over his hot wife, Tannehill is the story of the WEEK! His performance was polished and he looks to be the man to lead the Dolphins into a new era...but wait, it's the preseason and this was said of Colt McCoy last year, so let's hold off a bit.

But wouldn't it be great if he IS the real deal? I think any Dolphins fan would be pleased with his 14/21, 167 yards and 1 touchdown against no picks? Awesome.

Kansas hosted Arizona on Friday, and spectators witnessed two battles on the field, one with a far more clean-cut conclusion. While the Chiefs (impressively) set about beating the Cardinals behind the strong running of Peyton Hillis and Cyrus Gray, Kevin Kolb and John Skelton duked it out under centre for the Cardinals starting job. Skelton completed 3 times as many passes as Kolb (3), but also threw a pick in just 6 attempts. Kolb's 1/5 is rubbish, but at least...at least he...god, this is lame...at least he protected the ball.

It wound-up 27-17 to the Chiefs. Starting QB Matt Cassel was very solid with 5/6, 67 yards and a TD. These Chiefs look handy under Romeo Crennel (remember, they were the only team to beat the Packers in the regular season last year, and they did it when perfection was in sight). I reckon they will challenge for their division. Youthful, talented...beware the Kansas City Chiefs.

In the highest-scoring game so far, the Jacksonville Jaguars came back from a momentous deficit to beat the World Champion New York giants by one point (32-31).

No interceptions were thrown in the game, with Gabbert and Henne throwing TDs for the Jaguars. Manning played sparingly and made no mistakes as usual.

Olympic themed addenda: Aaron Ross, husband of super star track athlete, Sanya Richards Ross, recorded two tackles. one for each of his wife's Gold medals at London 2012.

What a couple.

Preseason Begins as the NFL Teams on Show Stumble into Focus.

Okay, so the first preseason outings of 12 NFL franchise are under the belt and we can now start analysing their early showings and going some way towards clarifying the muddied waters of an off-season that contained the highest-profile free agent transfer - that of QB Peyton Manning from the Indianapolis Colts to the Denver Broncos - in league history.

Can we?

Of course not. The preseason, in reality, shows us very little. Whichever team winds up winning these teasing contests does so mainly on the strength of their back-ups. Coaches are trying things out, assessing player by player strengths and weaknesses at full speed in pads, and trying to gauge success on a microcosmic level.

In the preseason - which many experts believe should be shortened from 4 to 2 games with the surplus pair being added onto the regular season (I kind of agree) - the plays run are skeletons of the plays we will see our favourite teams executing come the commencement of the 2012 season. Coaches are looking at the plays in pieces, not as a whole. For example, you may have your number 2 receiver on the field, running a route that is a component of a polished play, but largely inconsequential to that particular play, just to make sure his pattern is on song or his one-on-one with the corner is a battle won in isolation.

There's a lot going on, but not so much that offers any conclusion to the casual observer. Hell, the play books of an NFL franchise are about as guarded as Fort Knox, and the stuff the coaches are willing to reveal is done so in a way that opposing coaches, let alone the fans, can't get too much of a read on their team.

So many times we've seen rubbish teams storm the preseason - an explainable phenomenon. Bad teams NEED to practice REAL plays. Good teams need to fine tune the particulars. So, before anyone goes anointing the Broncos Super Bowl champions after their demolishing of the well thought of Bears (31-3), let's cool off a little and draw what we can from the 6 games played so far.

In the afore mentioned Broncos/Bears clash, four QBs suited up for the Denver outfit. Of the four, only Manning, who played the first series and no more, threw an interception, but it was tipped and apart from that he looked good, albeit with a little less zip on his balls. He gives this team a leader, the calibre of which they have not known since John Elway. Man mountain Brock Osweiler tossed a TD and threw for 38 yards in 7 attempts (4 completions). That's not bad. Osweiler could be a solid back-up and looks good value to progress up the depth chart as the preseason rolls on.

The Bears were shocking on offence but Jay Cutler - a Pro Bowl level QB and their only chance of success this season - didn't even play a down. Adding to that the fact that his back-ups only managed to get one ball to Brandon Marshall - the stand out addition to this roster - for a paltry 4 yards, there is a pretty obvious reason as to why they failed to notch up a single TD.

Remember, the Bears were very good value to make the play-offs last year before Cutler broke his thumb. The collapsed to an awful finish and missed the post-season by a mile. If he stays healthy, look for the Bears to make it this time, but I'm only saying that based on their talent, not that performance against the Broncos.

The Redskins squared up against the Bills in what was Robert Griffin III's first appearance as a pro. The game ended up with a turgid 7-6 scoreline in favour of the Washington team, who have their new superstar's arm to thank for the lone TD of the game.

Buffalo are still relying on Ryan Fitzpatrick to be their difference maker. O like the guy, but he would be a back-up on most any other team right now. Look for Vince Young to take the reigns of a team that plays with some serious cajones when they keep their heads up. Will the Bills make the play-offs?

Probably not.

The Redskins chances look a lot better, though. Unfortunately for them, they play in a loaded division, which resides to the East of an evermore competitive conference. All NFC teams will need to shoot for at least 10 wins to make it into the post-season and unless the Washington Redskins win their division, I can't see them getting in. 2 teams out of the NFC East? It's possible, but the Wild Card picture is so crowded (with the Lions, Bears and Packers of the North all looking good, the Falcons, Panthers AND Buccaneers snapping at the heels of a reeling New Orleans, the Cardinals showing flashes of dominance on D and proficiency under Skelton, and the Seahawks with the addition of former Green Bay back-up Matt Flynn throwing the ball to newly signed Terrell Owens, snagging one of the two available spots will be hard going).

In what should have been the most entertaining game of the week, the Patriots edged the Saints in a 7-6 grinder. With neither Brady nor Brees having a significant impact on their respective team's fortunes, we got a chance to see a carousel of roster players strutting their stuff in two misfiring offences. The Patriots got the ball to 11 different guys through the air, with the sole touchdown coming from rookie Britt Davis. Despite a promising start from the youngster, this game showed us little else save for Luke McCowen's solid performance (9/16 for 86 yards 0/0 TD/INT) under centre for the maligned Saints.

The World Champions once removed stuttered out of the gate, losing a rough one against the Chargers. The bright spot for me was the poised performance of rookie QB Graham Harrell for the Packers. He had 27 attempts, completed 15 for 135 yards and a touchdown. The Pack have a great record of drafting talent at the most important position in football. With at least 5 years to develop behind Rogers, barring a catastrophically early end to the top Quarterback's career, the future once again looks green & gold.

For the Chargers of San Diego, Antonio Gates (TE) and 3rd year pro, Curtis Brinkly (RB) looked fit and both scored. Good signs for the league's most prolific underachievers.

NEWSFLASH: Despite his Eagles beating the Steelers after a period of personal tragedy for coach Andy Reid, Michael Vick went down injured. Damn the preseason. The 24-23, fourth quarter comeback will be a poor salve should Vick not recover sufficiently. Fingers crossed he does.

Finally, the game of the preseason so far has to be the high-scoring contest between the Ravens and Falcons. The 31-17 run-out for these two play-off hopefuls was by far the most entertaining match-up on offer. I like Joe Flacco. There are not buts to come. I think he's got the skills to take this team over the top. Can his receivers hold on to his balls? Of course they can! The agonising drop at the end of the AFC Championship against the Pats was a blip (a mighty big one, but forgivable in time). Flacco had the most completions of all 4 QBs to suit up for the Ravens with the second least attempts. He kept a clean INT box, but was unable to find the end zone. that doesn't worry me. The Ravens are a GREAT team, who like to make statements. They have a huge chip on the shoulders as they are always considered with an air of doubt given their sharing of the AFC North with the super-successful Steelers, but time and time again they make it out of football's hardest nosed division and give us all a thrill in January.

Is this their year?

Like I said, it's too early to go making picks based on these largely meaningless games, but if any team looked ready to play some football, it was the Ravens.

It's good to be back.