February 2014 Archives

Between 2 fragments (K. 8520 : British Museum (London) and ND 4311 (IM 59264) : Iraq Museum (Baghdad)) archaeologists have recovered 80% of a fascinating tablet.  Written in the 7th C BCE, it contains two archaic, event at the point when they were written, forms of cuneiform, Old Babylonian signs (2nd and 4th columns) from about the time of Hammurapi (18th C) and Sumerian pictographs from approx 3400 BCE. 

See more information and speculation as to the reasons behind it in the full article by Cécile Michel.

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Although Albrecht Durer and other northern Renaissance artists are the most famous with respect to the genre, the Dance of Death persisted in German art until at least the cusp of the 20th Century.  This is a sample from a collection of prints on the theme by Joseph Sattler (1867-1931).

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Bovet is a brand whose watches often make the Rococo feel a bit plain and under-decorated, frequently based on technically proficient, but uninspired movements. For their new 2014 collection, they've got more of that, but also some actually interesting pieces.

First one of their old-style pieces, a massive 5-day tourbillon and retrograde perpetual calendar in an 18kt gold case that converts from a wristwatch to a pocketwatch. The movement is a Dimer (the movement division of Bovet) Virtuoso III, with 59 jewels, 21,600 vph.

Some of the nicer new pieces, both in the Recital collection.

Recital 15 - Jumping hour, retrograde minute hand and something they're confusingly calling a "coaxial reverse seconds-hand", and a power-reserve hand, driven by the Virtuoso II with 33 jewels and a power-reserve of 5 days. The case is 42×12.8mm and 18kt white or rose gold. Clearly the rose-gold case is available with diamonds on the bezel.	Recital 12 Monsieur - With only hours, minutes, seconds and power-reserve hands. The Virtuoso II Specialite movement has 33 jewels and a reserve of 7 days.

The Recital 11 Miss Alexandra is back to the old style with a massive moon-phase indication over the time, set on a dial of guilloched mother-of-pearl. Notice that the hands form a heart-shape when they overlap, because it's a ladies watch! The movement is caliber 11DA16MP with 29 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 3 days.

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An update to the extra-thin tourbillon released last year, it's now available in a platinum case.  As an interesting subtle detail, the rubies jewels have been replaced with blue sapphires to more closely fit the blue/white color scheme

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Walking City from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

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The British Library has finally digitized MS Harley 4425, their profusely illuminated 15th Century copy of Romain de la Rose.  Within it is the answer to the age-old question "where do babies come from?"  The answer, of course, is "babies are forged by nature in a smithy"

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In the same collection as Le Pont des Amoureaux and their increasing stable of interesting complications, Van Cleef(previously mentioned) has released their most ambitious complication to date, the Complication Poétique Midnight Planétarium. Within a 44mm case of 18kt gold, set with diamonds if you prefer, is a miniature planetarium showing the position and motion of the 6 inner planets, all represented in semi-precious stones. The complication is based on a Roger Dubuis (previously mentioned) caliber, and was designed by the master of astronomical complications, Christiaan van der Klaauw. Price is not published, but it's a limited edition of 396 if that affects your decision.

Their promotional video is a bit all over the place, without anything on this actual watch, but fun none-the-less.

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