Timepiece Tuesday: TW Steel Honors Racer, Omega goes to Court, Hublot iPhone App, London Public Clocks

TW Steel Unveils Emerson Fittipaldi Signature Edition

Amsterdam-based sports watch brand TW Steel has created a timepiece honoring two-time Formula One World Champion, Emerson Fittipaldi. The TW Steel Emerson Fittipaldi timepiece was unveiled prior to the Brazilian Grand Prix, held Nov. 7 in Sao Paulo. The watch, available in 45mm and 48mm editions, was designed in conjunction with the racer, who is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of his first Formula One victory. It is based on the brand’s TECH style collection featuring 316L steel and a Chrono movement that measures time to 1/20th of a second. The timepieces are waterproof to 10 ATM. Incorporating the yellow from Brazil’s national flag, the color is used for the racer’s name on the tachymeter ring, on the watch hands and on the side of the black PVD coated case. The symbolic black and white checkered flag on the watch dial and case back further recognizes Emerson’s racing career, which included 14 Formula One victories and 22 IndyCar wins. 

Omega Faces the Supreme Court

The Swiss luxury watch brand Omega has taken its grievance to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that could have implications for international trade. At issue is whether a copyright holder can block the re-sale of a foreign-made item, after it is later brought to the United States and sold for up to a third less than it might cost elsewhere, CNN reports. The items are Omega watches, and the seller is Costco, a membership warehouse retailer. Omega alleges Costco unlawfully obtained genuine Seamaster-style watches from third parties who had imported them into the United States. The stores then sold them for $1,299, a third below the Swiss firm's suggested retail price of $1,999. The watches were engraved with the Omega emblem trademarked in the United States.

Hublot Releases iPhone App
Hublot has gotten onboard the iPhone craze with its own application for enthusiasts of the luxury Swiss watch brand. One of the features of this app is an augmented reality section that allows users to take a picture of their wrist and then virtually try on watches from Hublot’s 2010 collection. In addition, there are 360 degree views of the new watches along with specs, a way to virtually build a Hublot watch and a game that requires the user to keep the power reserve full by shaking the iphone.

 The Public Clocks of London
 The Londoner Web site has a pictorial display of the many clocks inside the core of the British city with comments by Don Menard, London's heritage planner.