Robert Downey Jr. Sports the Urwerk UR-110 in “Spider-Man Homecoming”

A wristwatch that's a perfect match for Iron Man.

The face of Iron Man for almost a decade, Robert Downey Jr. has a compact but diverse watch collection, but in Spider-Man Homecoming his Tony Stark character has on the UR-110 RG. Produced by Swiss watchmaker Urwerk, which specialises in mechanical timepieces with ingenious, avant-garde mechanics, the UR-110 RG is a striking watch with a revolving satellite cube time display and a red gold front plate (there was even a small run in exotic hardwood).

Originally retailing for US$115,000 and now discontinued, the UR-110 is a perfect horological match for the Iron Man suit, though it took a few tries for the watch to get onto the actor’s wrist, says Urwerk communication director Yacine Sar.

Robert Downey Jr Iron Man Urwerk UR-110-102

The Urwerk UR-110 RG

According to Sar, Sony Pictures contacted the watchmaker in late 2016 asking for a wristwatch to be used during the filming of the Spider-Man Homecoming. Urwerk declined, citing the fact that it does not do sponsorships or paid features. But Sony Pictures persisted, saying Downey himself had specifically request an Urwerk watch. So Sar flew to Pinewood Studios just south of Atlanta, where the Spider-Man flick was being filmed, to hand over the watch.

Yacine Sar with an Urwerk aficionado

And what of the watch Downey wore? Sar says that discussions are underway for the timepiece to be donated to charity.


 

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Introducing the Elegantly Bling Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Duetto Jewelry

Pink gold and diamonds in Art Deco style.

There’s no better platform for a two-faced watch than the swivelling Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. The Reverso One Duetto Jewelry does just that, while being extravagantly Art Deco. While the basic JLC Reverso Duetto has a plain front and diamond set reverse, intended to suit both day and evening wear, the Reverso One Duetto Jewelry is bling on both sides.

Entirely in polished pink gold, the Reverso One elongates the traditional Reverso case, evoking ladies’ cocktail watches of the 1930s. Three rows of diamonds are set on the horizontal gadroons, matched with diamonds set on the 18k pink gold bracelet that has lozenge-shaped links.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Duetto Jewelry 1

The front dial is mother of pearl with Arabic numerals, while the reverse dial is pink gold decorated with diamonds and a lozenge pattern. Even the crown is faceted to echo the lozenge shapes of the bracelet.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Duetto Jewelry 2

Inside is the cal. 844, a compact, simple and ingenious movement. It’s hand-wound with a 38-hour power reserve, and modified to show the time on both sides. The time on the front is displayed conventionally via the gear train, while the time on the reverse face (the 18k gold face on this watch) is shown via a series of gears.

The cal. 844, shown here with the gears for the reverse time display removed

That indirect display on the back is why the hands are set slightly higher above the midline of the case, slightly above the crown. Both sides of the watch show the same time, only on the larger, twin-faced Reverso for men are the displays independent adjustable.

Price and availability 

The Reverso One Duetto Jewelry (ref. Q336 22 01) will be available starting end August 2017, with a price of S$91,000, or about US$65,900.


 

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Panerai Introduces Redesigned Luminor Steel Bracelet, Now Lighter and Thinner

Once again with links that echo the shape of the crown lock bridge.

With the new Luminor 1950 3 Days Automatic PAM 722 and PAM 723, Panerai returns to the design of its very first steel bracelet that debuted in 1999, featuring links that trace the semicircular form of the Luminor crown bridge.

Like the watch case the new bracelet is made of 316L stainless steel, the most common steel alloy in watchmaking. While the design evokes the first generation bracelet, it’s been significantly simplified (eliminating the screws on the back required to hold the links together), while becoming slimmer to fit the thinner watch case. Each link of the new bracelet is made up of three pieces, held together by a single lateral screw.

Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days Automatic bracelet PAM722 2

While the restyled bracelet is being introduced on the two new models – PAM 722 and PAM 723 – it is available separately and will fit any Luminor 1950 watch equipped with the P.9010 movement.

The larger, 44mm PAM 723 (left), and the 42mm PAM 722


The Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic (PAM00722) is the smaller of the pair, with a 42mm steel case. The dial adopts the colours recently favoured by Panerai – namely faux vintage, ecru-tone Super-Luminova on the dial and hands with a pale blue accent in the form of the sub-seconds hand.

Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days Automatic bracelet PAM722 1

Inside is the P.9010, the second generation of Panerai’s basic in-house automatic that was unveiled last year. It’s a thin movement 6mm high, with a three-day power reserve and an independently adjustable hour hand for easy setting when travelling.

Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days Automatic bracelet PAM722 3


And the Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic (PAM00723) is the 44mm model, otherwise identical save for the case size. It’s equipped with the same P.9010 movement.

Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days Automatic bracelet 44mm PAM723-3

Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days Automatic bracelet 44mm PAM723-2


Price and availability 

The smaller Luminor Marina 1950 (PAM 722) is priced at €7900 or S$11,600, while the 44mm Luminor Marina 1950 (PAM 723) is €8000 or S$11,750. Both are available at Panerai boutiques and retailers.


 

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