Tag Archives: Edox

Edox Grand Ocean and the Extreme Sailing Series

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The 45mm Edox Grand Ocean chronograph in steel with a blue PVD-coated case is powered by the Calibre 011 (Valjoux 7750) automatic movement. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The 45mm Edox Grand Ocean chronograph in steel with a blue PVD-coated case is powered by the Calibre 011 (Valjoux 7750) automatic movement. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The first race of the Extreme Sailing Series kicked off in February 2014 at Singapore’s Marina Bay area. Known as Act 1, it was held over three days and Ernesto Bertarelli’s Alinghi Swiss team finally claimed victory. It is estimated that this event attracted around 30,000 spectators.

The Extreme Sailing Series started in 2007 and it was only in 2013 that Edox became the Official Timekeeper of this “stadium-style” boat race featuring 40-feet multi-hull catamarans.

The Extreme Sailing Series held in February 2014 in Singapore is the very first for the new racing season. Edox became the Official Timekeeper of the Extreme Sailing Series in 2013. The brand is also one of the sponsors of the sailing team GAC Pindar captained by Seve Jarvin. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The Extreme Sailing Series held in February 2014 in Singapore is the very first for the new racing season. Edox became the Official Timekeeper of the Extreme Sailing Series in 2013. The brand is also one of the sponsors of the sailing team GAC Pindar captained by Seve Jarvin. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

The brand obviously has a marine sports line and this is the Grand Ocean collection. One example from this collection is the 45mm Grand Ocean chronograph powered by the Valjoux 7750 automatic movement.

With its Extreme Sailing Series partnership, Edox has also created the 48mm Grand Ocean Extreme Sailing Series Special Edition chronograph. The brand highlights that this chronograph watch is inspired by the complex structure of a sailboat and it features a case made up of 60 components.

The 48mm Edox Grand Ocean Extreme Sailing Series Special Edition in stainless steel, blue PVD-coated with a big date display. Edox’s Calibre 45 is a base ETA 2892-2 automatic movement modified by Dubois Dépraz 4500. Water-resistant to 300m (900 feet), it is priced at around US$4,300 / SGD5,400 (Singapore dollars) / RM14,150 (Malaysian Ringgit) before tax. Photo: © Edox

The 48mm Edox Grand Ocean Extreme Sailing Series Special Edition in stainless steel, blue PVD-coated with a big date display. Edox’s Calibre 45 is a base ETA 2892-2 automatic movement modified by Dubois Dépraz 4500. Water-resistant to 300m (900 feet), it is priced at around US$4,300 / SGD5,400 (Singapore dollars) / RM14,150 (Malaysian Ringgit) before tax. Photo: © Edox

One version of the stainless steel case is PVD-coated in blue and another is in black. The Grand Ocean Special Edition has a big date display at the 12 o’clock position. Its engine is what the brand terms the Calibre 45, utilising an ETA 2892-2 base with modifications and add-ons by Dubois Dépraz.

In late 2013, Crystal Time became the official distributor of Edox timepieces in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. The Extreme Sailing Series in February 2014 was therefore used as a meaningful platform for Crystal Time to launch the brand’s new models for its Grand Ocean, Class 1 and ChronoRally collections in this part of the world.

Tan Soo Khoon, managing director of Crystal Time notes that the Extreme Sailing Series is an F1 equivalent type of water sport.

As for such a sport in Singapore waters, Pamela Tan, brand manager of Crystal Time, highlights that this is the only race held in Southeast Asia.

The Extreme Sailing Series will also be held in the Middle East, Russia, Europe and Australia. In 2012, the media value of the Extreme Sailing Series was 27.8 million euros (around US$38.2 million / SGD48.5 million).

Edox: Super Limited Edition 1884

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The Edox Super Limited Edition 1884

The Edox Super Limited Edition 1884

Edox Super Limited Edition 1884
Ref. 92001 Commemorating the 125th anniversary of the brand’s founding
Introduced in 2009
Features:
• Venus 203 movement made in 1952
• 18,000 vibrations per hour
• 15 jewels
• Between 36 and 38 hours power reserve
• Month, day and date displays
• Moon phase display
• 18K gold bezel
• 41mm diameter case in 316L stainless steel, 13mm thick
• Water-resistant to 100m / 330 feet
Limited to 125 pieces

It is extremely easy to scoff at non-Swiss branded mechanical watches with less than exemplary timekeeping precision. However, one should first consider at what stage of the development process the movements sourced from are at.

Chinese mechanical movement makers for example,are still somewhat at their “infancy” stages. Though Chinese mechanical movements in general may not be as reliable and precise as those from Europe for now, there is always the possibility of these Asian producers catching up. They can improve and it will only be a matter of time.

Just imagine, in one day alone in June 2012, China achieved two phenomenal feats: the very first manual docking in orbit by a Chinese spacecraft and a national deepsea dive to depths of more than 7,000 metres into the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.

Never mind if the Americans and Russians mastered manual docking in orbit way back in the 1960s; the manoeuvre is part of the China’s ambitious plans to build their own space station by 2020. Both accomplishments are symbolic of China’s status as a super economic and technical powerhouse in the 21st century.

With regards to timekeeping, it must also be noted that early European mechanical watch movements weren’t exactly reliable nor precise in the beginning as well.

Even Venus SA movements from its workshops in Moutier, Switzerland in the 1950s were not exactly precise. It is even said that adjustments to the month display have to be performed manually.

However, such a fact did not stop watch brand Edox from using such a movement for a new watch in the 21st century.

Yes, when Edox celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2009, the brand showcased its Super Limited Edition 1884 which is powered by the Venus 203 calibre made in 1952.

We were pleasantly surprised when Laurence Wiedmer of Edox allowed us the pleasure to view it in Basel during the annual watch fair in 2009. Even more surprised when she conceded that, “The accuracy of the movement is not perfect” and that it is priced at 10,000 euros.

There were definitely takers for this special piece, one reason being that the movement is symbolic of an era in Swiss watchmaking history. “I do hope that it [the anniversary timepieces] went only to watch collectors. I would be ashamed if the watch is wrongly used,” adds Wiedmer.