Dear Readers,

This is a new Blog from Howard Hauben of Centurion about what's new in watches. We will be posting most days we are here in Basel, so keep an eye out.

The twist on this new information is that I am asking the top watch brands here in Basel to advise me which single watch concept they want me to get out to our newsletter readers because they see this watch as the most exciting new thing that is destined for post-Basel retail success. Ther isn't any advertising in this blog, just pure editorial as with all of our newsletters. So if you find what you see here of interest, let us know and email the manufacturer as well for more information. Herewith, the brands' picks for their own hottest, newest intros a basel '09:

BOUCHERON
Chameleon Ronde “Seconde Folle”- US $46,000 suggested retail
To write this new page in the Boucheron bestiary book, the
House’s artists decided to follow the path of humour. Unfettered by classic conventions, they took the liberty to create a new creative space, the originality of which is expressed in several ways and on different levels of sensitivity. One should not be led to believe that the pieces designed by the House of Boucheron are only intended to lay entrapped in a large 42 mm white gold case, its caseband adorned with a highly specific pointes de diamant pattern also known as clou de Paris. Incomparably wilder than other tamer beasts, the Boucheron chameleon, frog and owl take over all of the timekeeper’s free space to conquer their little world. For the chameleon, in its eternal hunt for a swirling insect, its tail curled up around a twig of intricately worked foliage and set with precious pink, blue or yellow sapphires, rubies and tsavorites to evoke nature and make its jewellery aspect less evident, escapes from the circle of hours and gains in volume and liveliness. Contact Tiffany Cattouf, service.presse@fr.boucheron.com

CORUM

Ti-Bridge--A contemporary line for a new era.

At a suggested retail price of $12,900, 750 of these will be made worldwide during full-year 2009. Says the company: "Corum raises the curtain on its classically elegant and resolutely contemporary Ti-Bridge model. This powerful and technical watch houses Corum's second mechanical movement, the new Caliber CO 007...Stemming from Corum's well-established expertise in the field of exceptional movements, this timepiece houses a new and exclusive caliber designed, developed and assembled in-house...The Ti-Bridge is all set to cause a sensation... A truly exceptional horological creation, the Ti-Bridge marries technical excellence with contemporary design. It is also entifrely in harmony with the existing creations by Corum, a brand which since its founding has consistently expressed the mood of the times through its successive timepieces." Contact Johnny Wizman, johnny@w-luxurygroup.com

MICHELE

DECO SAFARI

A brand new interpretation for the company's top-selling Deco fashion collection is the Michele's Deco Safari, which retails for US$1495 on an alligator strap. Heads include diamonds and come in stainless, gold plate and rose gold plate. Says the company of its Deco Collection: "Michele's Deco Collection is pure design in motion. The distinguished rectangular shape of the deco reflects the geometric shapes identified with Art Deco archirecture. One cannot help but marvel at the clean lines that make Deco a Michele hallmark collection." Contact Steven Barbery, hbeadle@michele.com

MOVADO

MASTER COLLECTION

Movado was clear that its new Master collection is the one they wanted you to hear about and had this to say about it: "Meticulously engineered. Masterfully refined. Movado is proud to premiere a heroic new pinnacle collection for men and women: Movado Master™. With its dynamic design boldly rooted in the strong industrial and architectural expressions of the Bauhaus movement, the muscular Movado Master™ propels the powerful purity of the iconic Museum dial in a daring new direction. Machined in solid stainless steel, the angular tonneau-shaped case with screw-down crown features a gear-edge black sapphire or double-row diamond-set bezel, and raised door-style hinges. Functioning as attachments for Movado Master’s rubber deployment strap, the flexing hinges provide striking architectural definition as well as wrist-conforming comfort. Movado Master’s striking asymmetric matte black or white dial with custom-designed luminescent hands, explores and expands the circle-within-a-circle motif of the iconic Museum dial, adding new dimension and texture. The dot at 12 o’clock, with a new convex center, resembles a push-button. A new off-center inner circle is textured with a dot-grid pattern, mimicking the texture of the black strap, or pavé set with diamonds. Around it, new luminescent or diamond-set indices, graduated in length, delineate the hours. The 44mm men’s model, with fine Swiss automatic movement, custom-designed black “M” rotor, and exhibition case-back, is water resistant to 30 ATM. Offering several diamond-set case and dial options, the 34mm women’s model is quartz-precise and water resistant to 30 ATM unset, or to 5 ATM when set with diamonds. For a suggested retail price range contact Mary Leach, mleach@movadogroup.com

ZENITH

CHRONOMASTER "OPEN" REVEALING EL PRIMERO MOVEMENT

When asked its pick, the response was immediate...The Chronomaster Open Collection, which retails for US ,000 in steel and $38,000 in rose gold (shown). This is what company CEO Thierry Nataf has to say about Zenith's Chronomaster Open watches: “This year I wanted to celebrate the whole of this iconic collection, which, rather than staying in a fixed state of perfection, has always been able to rise above itself, each time producing a more accurate representation of the Master of Time." The company continues: "Timeless in style, this collection, with its subtle Italianate overtones, threads its way between Tradition and Modernity. This icon of the Zenith manufacture, inspired by the neoclassical, is a celebration of Time. From the double gaudron case to the authentic barleycorn guilloche, it has a look that harks back to the great watchmaking tradition. Its boldly innovative design allows the 36,000 vibrations per hour of the mythical El Primero chronograph to be glimpsed at the heart of the movement. This collection, timeless yet strikingly modern, which now joins the Haute Horlogerie universe along with the ChronoMaster Open Grande Date Moon & Sunphase, has been enriched with new complications over the years, thus writing new chapters in the history of the Zenith brand. Contact Tamara Grove, tamara.grove@lvmhwatchjewelry.com

HAMILTON

NEW VENTURA "ELVIS" ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION

Martine Ayer, public relations manager, felt very strongly that the new Verntura "Elvis" collection was the one to bring to your attention. Retailing for about US $1,300, this watch is an evolution of what was the world's first electric watch. She explained that the watch was worn by Elvis in his 1961 movie, "Blue Hawaii" and that he didn't like the silver and black strap and opted instead for an expandable metal version. Here is additional detail provided by the company: "The Ventura Quartz is a faithful tribute to the original 1957 model, which made watch-making history as the world’s first electrical, battery powered watch. Design detail of the case of the new model mirrors that of its 1950s ancestors and today comes in either silver-colored stainless steel or a yellow gold PVD finish. A black dial also reminds of the 1950s Ventura timepieces, complete with digit markings all culminating in an embossed rounded point like the surrounds of the iconic wall-clocks of the era. These nostalgic looks enclose a modern Swiss quartz movement to ensure precision timekeeping for the 21st century. The choice of attachment for the Ventura Quartz, with the possibility of a metallic flex bracelet or a bi-color leather strap in gold paired with silver or black, has its own story to tell." Contact Martine Ayer, martine.ayer@hamiltonwatch.com

OMEGA

REBIRTH OF 1970'S SEAMASTER PLOPROF 1200M

Claude Guelbert, special project manager at Omega, felt strongly that the rebirth of the 1970's Seamaster PLOPROF 1200M is the introduction he most wanted you to be aware of, as it is causing quite a stir in Basel. Here are details from the company on this new watch with a suggested retail price of about US $7500: "In 1970 OMEGA launched a watch which had been created to withstand the crushing pressures endured by divers working deep below the ocean’s surface. It was the Seamaster 600, the so-called “Ploprof”(the first letters of PLONGEURS PROFESSIONELS – the French words meaning “professional divers”) and it was one of the most rugged, robust and seaworthy divers’ wristwatches ever manufactured. The unmistakable Co-Axial Ploprof. Now OMEGA is introducing an updated version of the classic and instantly recognizable wristwatch. Equipped with a Co-Axial calibre 8500, the new Ploprof 1200M is, as its name suggests, water resistant to an astounding 1200 metres (4000 feet) and it artfully combines its ancestor’s legendary features with OMEGA’s state-of-the-industry Co-Axial technology. The Ploprof’s case cannot be mistaken for that of any other watch: the screwed in crown is located at 9 o’clock under a protective buffer. Its unique positioning allows freer wrist movement and prevents any inadvertent manipulation." Contact Claude Guelbert, claude.guelbert@omega.ch

TISSOT

T-TOUCH SEA-TOUCH COLLECTION

Lynn Reid of Tissot was adamant that the new Tissot Touch SEA-Touch collection was the hot item emerging from Basel that you must know about. Here are more details on the collection provided by the company: "The year 2009 marks the tenth birthday of a major technological breakthrough pioneered by Tissot – tactile timekeeping. The dynamic watches in the Tissot Touch Collection integrate a touch screen crystal, which is the interactive ‘cockpit’ of the timepieces’ diverse functionality. Since its introduction in 1999, the Tissot Touch range has continually strengthened its technological leadership by bringing this tactile innovation to a wide range of contemporary designs, created with dynamic and stylish materials. Tissot takes its tactile technology to new limits in 2009 with the introduction of the Tissot SEA-Touch, a high performance watch for divers with water resistance to 200 metres. Tissot SEA-Touch a- The ultimate diving equipment (new in 2009) Patented technology in the Tissot SEA-Touch, giving the rubber-protected pushers double protection, enables this timepiece to maintain its high performance levels right down to a depth of 200 metres. The Tissot SEA-Touch fulfils ll of the European Norm EN13319 criteria stipulated for divers’ accessories - luminosity, shock resistance, anti-magnetism, band solidity and the integration of a time control device. As a result, divers have the time in two time zones, as well as the depth of the current dive, at their fingertips. Also activated by a light touch on the crystal are a digital chronograph, thermometer, alarm, perpetual calendar date, compass and divers’ logbook. Excellent visibility comes from highly luminescent material and an effective backlight." For suggested retail and additional information, contact Lynn Reid, lynn.reid@swatchgroup.com