Obviously, our favorite thing about this watch is the strip of carbon fiber in the middle bridge section. As for the strap, our second favorite thing about this watch, designers used materials from seats and steering wheels utilized in actual Ferrari’s.

Earlier this year, Ferrari split with long time partner Panerai. Their collaborative collection was difficult to sell in stores and customers were frequently dissatisfied. Starting in 2005, the two companies had a 5 year contract, which was fulfilled. Over the past few months, watch fanatics anticipated Ferrari’s next chosen partner.

Swiss watch making atelier Cabestan is the one. Cabestan designer, Jean-François Ruchonnet designed this classic timepiece with race cars in mind. He created this watch in order to embody excitement and paid close attention to details of existing Ferrari’s. Ferrari design director Flavio Manzoni played a huge role in the design as well, basing the design off of parts from a Formula 1 car.

Here is the sad part, as if finding out the Scuderia Ferrari One costs $300,000 isn’t sad enough, Ferrari and Cabestan have produced this watch in a limited quantity of 60 watches, being sold exclusively to Ferrari owners only. Better luck next time, at least for us. And for those of you who don’t own a Ferrari and have no shot of wearing one of these wild watches, check out our watch selection or the carbon fiber watches we’ve already written about in the blog.

[Sources: Born Rich, Luxist]

Original Style / Polished

This is the original version of the ring with a standard 2×2 twill carbon fiber weave.

Forty Five / Polished

This is essentially the same as the original ring above, but the weave is turned 45-degrees offering a completely different look.

Narrow / Polished

This ring has the standard weave but is actually a narrower (obviously) ring.  Instead of being 9mm wide, it is 33% smaller at 6mm wide.

Bullet / Polished

This is for the person that wants something a little bit different.  The bullet ring offers a unique look, it’s a 10.5mm wide ring with a standard 2×2 twill weave.  The ring then has added precision machined speed holes.  Each opening is chamfered and deburred inside and out using a proprietary process developed just for this ring.

None of the rings are actually coated with anything.  The semi-gloss polished finish is done by wet sanding through 10 different stages and a final application of buffing compound.  All rings are available in sizes from 4.5 all the way up to 13.5.  They are also all hand-made in the good ole’ USA.

You can find our full line of carbon fiber rings in the ring category of our store.

One of the U-Boat watch concepts in which carbon fiber plays a big role is the Flightdeck-bezel series. These variations of Flightdeck chronographs are adorned with bezels made of various materials. Titanium and gold were amongst the first materials to be used. At this year’s Baselworld fair, I was introduced to the latest variant – the Flightdeck Ceramic bezel, who’s dial is completely clad in carbon fiber.

The reason why carbon fiber works so well on the U-Boat Flightdeck Ceramic Bezel is that its case is all black. The stainless steel case is PVD coated and the bezel, as the name suggests, is made of black ceramic. While it may sound like a remnant of old-fashion pottery-making techniques, this substance has made its way into modern times and has spanned such high-tech industries as aviation and ballistic protection. Aside from its many uses ceramic has been fully adapted and popularized in recent years for use on watches. There are many advantages to its use. It is light and scratch resistant – its hardness surpasses that of stainless steel and often even surpass that of sapphire – and it is colored all the way through, which means that any damage will not reveal a different color underneath. All these characteristics are especially useful for a bezel, which receives the brunt of the abuse. Its hardness also accounts for the materials affinity for fine finishes.

Under the thick, sapphire crystal protected by the ceramic bezel, dwells our carbon fiber dial. The white, photo-luminescent paint of the thick hands creates a stark contrast against the sleek, carbon fiber background. The hour markers are created with a more subtle, grey paint, which seemingly floats on the polymer over the carbon fiber. The embossed subsidiary dials indicate chronograph measurements and the seconds of the time. As with the glossy finished ceramic bezel, the carbon fiber adds a high-tech elegance to this impressive timepiece.

The rest of the case is straight out of the Flightdeck playbook. It is 50mm in diameter and is equipped with a cap that screws into the left side – as always with U-Boat watches – of the case and protects an already very sturdy crown. As if the sheer size of the case was not enough, this inconspicuous crown cover adds to the undeniable heft of the watch case, but its position on the left makes the Flighdeck chrono surprisingly comfortable. The size of these watches is undeniable; often intimidating those who are not accustomed to large watches. In my experience, however, the models that are most often responsible for converting those skeptical of large timepieces U-Boats.

U-boat watches, aside from their Swiss mechanical movements, are made in Italy. Being an Italian company, it is not surprising to find that a lot of emphasis is put in designing and manufacturing their leather straps. Like Italian shoes, belts, and jackets, U-boat bands are luscious, luxurious, and often expensive. Fine alligator lined with supple calfskin leather and rubber protective borders are all assembled by hand in the region around Florence where the company is located.

The U-Boat Ceramic Bezel Flighdeck Chronograph is rugged, strong, and bold – all aspects that point to the brand’s inclination towards an instrument-like style. On the other hand, the sleek, black ceramic of the bezel and the carbon fiber dial endow the piece with a high-tech elegance that is suited to all classy outings and dress codes.

Retail price: (roughly) US$6K.

Video

The connection between watches and aviation is strong and storied. Proof of this is that pilots are amongst the most active buyers of mechanical, luxury watches. Carbon fiber is often used in aerospace manufacturing thanks to its reinforcing properties. It is therefore always nice to see an aviation geared watch adorned with this material. The Hamilton X-Mach, which is named after its ability to calculate your Mach “speed,” balances quality, value, and looks to create the perfect luxury watch for carbon fiber and aviation enthusiasts.

Hamilton’s new leather band was conceived especially for the black PVD coated version of the X-MACH (reference H76686735). The carbon fiber stripe is lined with black croco-print leather, and grey stitching holds everything together. This combination makes for a stealthy, low contrast style, and the classic croco blends nicely with the modern carbon fiber. The carbon fiber completes the military, instrument-like style of this awesome piece.

The case of the watch is made with black PVD coated stainless steel and does not incorporate any carbon fiber. The sides of the case are decorated with a hobnail pattern that mirrors the effect of the carbon fiber on the strap. The overall look of the case coupled with the two-tone, black and silver dial is sombre and cool. The graduated, rotating bezel system enables the wearer to calculate the a moving vehicle’s Mach number using static data such as pressure altitude and calibrated air speed. This is more only an amusing feature to tinker with for most people, but adds to the overall look of the watch. In all, you are getting a modern, airplane instrument on your wrist.

One of the best things about a watch with a Swiss mechanical movement, especially the ETA 7750 caliber inside the X-Mach, is the feel of the watch. Since the movement is made almost purely of metal parts instead of the silicon and plastic of most quartz movements, it adds density. When wearing the watch, you feel the motion of the rotor winding the watch automatically, reminding you of the complex micro-mechanics going on within the 44mm case.

The Hamilton X-Mach is a serious timepiece, which offers a very well balanced, modern aviator style by mixing carbon fiber with black PVD coated steel, hobnail decoration, and a stealthy instrument-like dial. The CAN$2,295 (US$1,945)retail price does not reflect the high-end features of the X-Mack, which is comparable to some more expensive models such as the Breitling Navitimer or the IWC Spitfire Chronograph. The rotating bezel system, while functional, is more of a tribute to extreme speed and to the human spirit of innovation. It brings to mind hypersonic projects like Nasa’s Dryden X-15 and others.

The company was founded by a group of aviation enthusiasts that decided to start a watch company to provide watches similar enthusiasts.  The company’s tag line is “Professional Pilot Watches”.  In fact, they have something called the Torgoen Academy, where you go out in Pitts S2-B aircraft’s and learn aerobatic maneuvers.  Sounds serious.

One of the cool things that Torgoen does when developing each watch, and this is where the pilot background comes into play, is they put them into extreme quality control tests.  These include temperature variation, dust, humidity, impact and vibration…all ensuring precision, water resistance and endurance.

Enter The Torgoen T16302 Carbon Fiber Watch

Torgoen’s background and company mission is impressive, but once we got our hands on their watch, we were even more impressed.  The T16302 is Torgoen’s first watch which uses carbon fiber, which of course we had to look at.

Now we all know that big watches are the in thing today.  While not monstrous, the T16302 does have a 45mm case (which is 14mm thick)…big enough for people to notice.  With that gorgeous carbon fiber dial and the large numbers in a modern font, why wouldn’t you want to show it off?  For better reference, here’s a picture with it on my arm:

As you can see the case is black, which is made from stainless steel, and works quite well with the carbon fiber.  To offset all the black, the numbers are a very light green, and are luminescent, which means they glow in the dark.  The band is made from polyurethane and has the words “Tor” and “Goen” chiseled into it.  It honestly sounds a bit cheesy, but in person it comes off as very sporty.  The sportiness matches well with the modern font that’s used, and cutting off the 6 at the bottom with the seconds dial is a nice touch.  The back side of the case has a neat looking embossment, better explained through picture:

The watch has Swiss quartz chronograph movement, meaning it uses a battery.  Quartz movements are extremely accurate and reliable, just what you would want from a watch.  It’s also water resistant down to 300ft.  Whether you’re displaying the watch, or giving it as a gift, you’ll be good to know that it comes in a nice black box/case which has a suede-like interior.  It’s definitely a nice addition to the package.

My first guess is the watch would be in the $500-$700 range, but I was pleasantly surprised to see it retailed for $350 (though there were some talks about that moving up slight, but still being lower than $400).  I think that makes for a great deal on a great looking watch that has a big carbon fiber face to display for all to see.  If you’re interested in purchasing one, we have them for sale on our store.  We also put together a little video that gives you some better looks at the watch and shows you some angles you just can’t see with pictures:

Agent 007 needs several things from his watch. It must be able to withstand high levels of abuse. Whether it be escaping villains on skis, or evading armed guards by diving bellow water, Bond’s watch must endure. Once the wetsuit comes off to reveal the tuxedo underneath however, his watch must suit the style. The final necessity are buttons, pushers and other features that can be used to disguise the gadgets crucial to the mission’s success. The Bell & Ross BR-02 Pink Gold offers all the aforementioned features and in arguably larger doses then the Omega Seamasters and Rolex Submariners of James Bond’s past.

The BR-02 was created by Bell & Ross to be a submersible cousin to the other BR Instruments. It boasts extraordinary water resistance ratings. Features such as an escapement valve and thick rubber strap increase the watch’s resilience in the face of extreme conditions. The 18 karat pink gold version is rated to withstand pressures up to 30 ATM (found at a water depth of 300m). While this rating is lower then the 100 ATM for the steel BR-02s, it is still very respectable and considered by professionals to be enough for diving. This sacrifice allows the watch case to be slightly slimmer and therefore more elegant. Also the Pink Gold version retains the pressure escapement valve and rubber strap, which are important performance features.

The style of the BR-02 Pink Gold is definitely Bond-worthy. The “tonneau” case is a classic style, but with the addition of elements like the rubber-clad crowns and the four visible structural screws, it remains sporty and modern. Carbon fiber has roots in sport performance, but its use on the watch’s dial actually adds a sleek, elegant touch. In the case of Panerai, for instance, carbon fiber dials have been dubbed “tuxedo dials” due to the material’s unique elegance and shininess. Some other details that fans of formal wear will appreciate are the pink gold applied hour markers and the solid pink gold tang buckle.

When it comes to gadgets, MI6 engineers can exploit plenty of the BR-02′s features to hide their inventions in. The primary crown, which is protected by two solid gold shoulders, is screw-locking to improve water resistance. Once unscrewed it can be used to change the time and date and to pull out a diamond coated steel cord capable of cutting through flesh, bone, and metal. The secondary crown found on the watch case at two o’clock is also screw-locking and is used to set the precisely graduated inner bezel for the purpose of timing a dive. Push it twice and the watch becomes an explosive set to detonate once the second hand reaches the marker! That would be a waste of a great watch, but the US$ 22,000 price tag would never deter Bond from blowing stuff up.

U-Boat has a particular model in their catalogue: it is a mysterious watch that was almost always unavailable throughout the past three years. We’ve had a scarce few of them in stock, but many people who ordered the watch had to either wait a long time or be told that it was impossible to get. This watch, known as the Carbonio and officially named the Classico AB 4, was for a while the only U-Boat watch that Italo Fontana designed using carbon fiber. Now redesigned and with improved features the Carbonio returns side-by-side a couple of new models created in its image.

The Original Carbonio

The Classico AB 4, is made of black PVD coated stainless steel and equipped with a carbon fiber dial earning it the nickname “Carbonio.” The rubber strap, fitted with a black steel folding clasp and engraved plate completes the watch’s sleek, sporty style that conjures visions of luxury sports cars and high tech tanks alike. In line with other watches in the Classico Automatic series, the Carbonio runs on a Swiss automatic-winding movement. The rest of the watch is manufactured in Italy at U-Boat’s factory near Florence. It is available in an oversize 53mm case as well as a 45mm case. The carbon fiber, which distinguishes this watch from the other pieces in the same collection, coupled with the scarcity of production have made the Carbonio a very common topic of conversation in the past few years.

The New Carbonio CAB 4 and AB 4/2

For those who like their carbon fiber more subtly presented, the new Carbonio models should be very interesting. Italo Fontana, founder and chief designer for U-Boat watches, has incorporated on many of his watches what is sometimes known as a “sandwich” dial. These dials are composed of two layers constructed of different materials where the top layer has certain elements cut out of it to reveal the color and texture of the material bellow. The new Carbonios offer “sandwich” dials with carbon fiber hour markers and subsidiary dials under a matte finished black plate. Add to the dial black photo-luminescent hands and numerals, and a black PVD coated steel case and you have a stealthy-looking (not too mention cool-looking)timepiece.

Another novelty is that the CAB 4 will be part of the new Classico Chronograph series that will be available this November. This is actually what “CAB” stands for; Cronograph, Automatic, and Black case. The chronographs will be equipped with the infamous, Swiss, high-end 7750 movement. Both the chronograph and non-chronograph versions of the new Carbonios will be available in 45 or 53mm versions.

The once elusive Carbonio AB 4, is now part of U-Boat’s official collection, albeit in limited numbers, and will be joined by the brand new Classico CAB 4 and AB 4/2 models. Although carbon fiber is used in watches for its light weight and strength, it is often used simply because of its stylish qualities. U-Boat’s Carbonios make great use of this fantastic material as both a major player and an accent in their overall design.

The interesting thing about the new model is that the body is actually made of compressed carbon fiber.  It won’t be released until November 2009, so you won’t be able to get your hands on one until then.

The BR 01-92 line features a 46mm case, automatic movement, screw-in crown, and anti-reflection sapphire crystal glass.  No word yet on pricing.

The watch features a carbon fiber dial and a stainless steel body.  Retail price is $498, but Buy.com is currently listing it for $109.99 with free shipping.

For the first round, Amazon’s got a Magico men’s watch which features a carbon fiber dial and a 46mm stainless steel body.  Amazon has a list price for $400, but it’s on sale right now for 87% off…which makes it $49.99!  Did I mention free shipping?  Oh yeah, there’s free shipping too.

The watch includes automatic movement, and even comes with a winder so your time is always accurate.  It’s also water resistant up to 660 feet.

If you happen to pick one up, let us know what you think!