Graham Chronofighter Tourbillograph
June 21st, 2009 | 
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Four years ago, Graham decided it was time to make a timepiece that was worthy of its namesake, famous British watchmaker George Graham. In order to do this, the brand partnered with renowned movement manufacturer La Joux-Perret (with whom it partnered on the development of Graham’s chronograph foudroyante). The result is the Automatic Chronofighter Trigger Tourbil-lograph, a combination of tourbillon and chronograph with a unique ‘British eccentric’ off-centre tourbillon.
The movement powering this timepiece is the Graham Caliber G1780, a tourbillon with column-wheel chronograph, known as ‘roue À colonne’ in French. Housed in a 46mm 18 carat 5N red gold case, the new Tourbillograph features a domed sapphire crystal on the front and a flat see-through back. The frequency of the new movement is 28,800, while the spiral, balance, escapement wheels and anchor are reinforced with an Incabloc anti-shock system. The Tourbillograph’s tourbillon cage weighs just 0.485 grams and is made of 48 pieces.
The Automatic Chronofighter Trigger Tourbil-lograph comes in five variations - Ruthenium, Havana, Raven Black, Carbon Black and All Black.
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Lamborghini: China making big moves!
With Gucci announcing big plans for China, another Italian luxury brand has also made bold claims about the communist state.
Italian sportscar marque Lamborghini has tipped China to overtake its native country as the second biggest market after the United States in the next three to five years, according to its chief executive Stephan Winkelmann, speaking at the Reuters Global Luxury Summit.
While U.S. and Europe both registered steep declines in auto sales, China posted a 21 percent increase in the first five months of this year, Reuters reported.
In fact, China has overtaken U.S. as the world’s no. 1 auto market in January, while the latter
China’s huge potential for growth amid global slumps in auto sales have prompted Lamborghini to send its executives to China to oversee its business development there.
Winkelmann is confident the sports car culture will grow in China, as road infrastructure improves and Chinese consumers lap up more European luxury brands.
He told Reuters: “They (referring to the Chinese) change so fast. They change in a year like we changed in two decades in the past.
“They have such a knowledge about the brands and what is going on in Europe. They love what is coming out of Europe. What is European is something for them which they want to possess.”
Morgan Aero SuperSports
As part of the Centenary celebrations of the company, Morgan has announced a special edition Aero SuperSports model.
Such was demand for this model, that Morgan took the decision to produce the Aero SuperSports. The targa topped car makes use of two aluminium detachable roof panels. These can either turn the car effectively in to a coupe or when detached bring fresh air to the driving experience without undue wind disturbance to spoil the journey. The panels can be stored conveniently in the boot.
The car benefits from the lightweight aluminium Aero chassis which is adhesively bonded for class leading rigidity. Exceeding global crash protection standards, this is also the platform used by the Morgan Aero Eight GT3 currently competing successfully in the 2009 International FIA GT3 Championship. This chassis, combined with the aluminium 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine and a choice of 6 speed automatic or manual gearboxes offers an impressive driving package.
Throughout 2009 the Morgan Motor Company is celebrating one hundred years of continuous manufacture of motorcars. The company has remained in one family’s ownership since the founder HFS Morgan made his first car in 1909.
Charles Morgan, Grandson of the founder said, “The Morgan Aero SuperSports is a luxurious flamboyant sports car which also remains true to Morgan’s philosophy of lightweight minimalist simplicity. It is a celebration of our love of cars and the romance of travel and is a fitting model to announce during Morgan’s Centenary year.”
Drawn by Matthew Humphries, and engineered for production by the experienced “Morgan Design” team, the new Aero SuperSports is due to enter production in early 2010. A deposit of £25,000 is required, with the final total anticipated to be around £127,000 including VAT.
- new car net -
Rare Ferrari 250 TR Fetches Record-Breaking $12 million
While Ferrari offered up its lat production F430 (with a special silver and gold livery) for charity at the RM Auctions over the weekend, it was another classic that stole the show at the 3rd annual Ferrari Leggende e Passione auction in Maranello.
The vintage Ferrari in question – a 1957 Ferrari 250 TR, chassis no. 0714TR – went under the hammer for more than $12 million, eclipsing the previous record set by a 1961 250 GT California Spyder last year for the most expensive motor car ever sold at auction.
Fully restored in its period race-correct black livery and red nose, this 250TR was one of only 22 Testa Rossas ever built from 1957 to 1958 that featured the Scaglietti-designed ‘pontoon-fender’.
The Ferrari 250 TRs are recognized by discerning collectors as one of the most desirable and competitive racing Ferraris ever built, having raced and won in 10 of 19 international championship races from 1958 to 1961.
0714TR was no exception, and according to Ferrari, was the most campaigned of the 250TR cliente series cars, with its own proud ownership and storied racing history to tell.
The car’s first owner, Italian racing driver and coachbuilder Piero Drogo took it to a fourth placed finish in the 1000 km Buenos Aires in January 1958, competing alongside legendary names like Phil Hill, Peter Collins, Wolfgang von Trips and Olivier Gendebien.
Since then, 0714TR has gone on to compete in the Grand Prix of Cuba and Portugal, followed by a string of triumphs on the 1959 North American racing circuit before bowing out at the Elkhart Lake 500 in June 1963.
The car’s new owner, whose name was not disclosed, has no doubt not only scored a precious collector’s item but also a slice of Ferrari’s racing history.
By Lawrence Tan
Watches for Life – Confrerie Horlogere BNB Concepts
If fine watchmaking today is about the secret life of time i.e. the mechanical movement and the craftspeople who build it, BNB Concepts S.A. in Switzerland would be Deep Throat.
Not a brand but a company responsible for mechanical innovations across many different brands, BNB Concepts is driven by the vision of CEO Matthias Buttet. In order to unlock further secrets from the vaults of timekeeping, Buttet came up with the Confrerie Horlogere in 2008 and enlisted seven craftspeople to its cause.
In 2009 at Basel World, the Companions of the Confrerie Horlogere showed off their first creations, as pictured here. On offer are Les Complications (limited to 10 pieces each), Les Classiques (small series) and Les Masters (unique or very small series).
Each watch is of course a reflection of the craftspeople who built it, not unlike Max Busser’s watches and those of the independent watchmakers. What’s also interesting here is that Buttet is offering a lifetime warranty for these pieces, showing just how committed he and his team are. Confrere Horlogere also guarantees that their watches use 100 percent Swiss parts.
By Ashok Soman