Bollywood Fixation

Achievers reside only in Bollywood!

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Yes, we are living in desperate times at least that’s what brands; preferably international brands would have us believe.

Brands are out there desperately looking for known faces, page 3 individuals, models, starlets et al to endorse their products. With most known faces already taken one is left with wannabes and have-beens. Film stars come at a price especially those who are familiar names and have a fan following, negligible though they may be. What happens? Brands end up with people who once-upon-a-time graced the silver screen but failed to sizzle it. Though young they still wait for their time. Kabhi to hamara number aayega!

dino morea for chronotech

If you can’t get a celebrity, a celebrity photographer will do, if you can’t get a star, a handsome and young two and half film non-wonder will do.

The problem is brands have come to believe (or they are made to believe) that Indians can’t see beyond Bollywood. They are told that achievers here reside only in Planet Bollywood–and they are actors.

We have promising directors who have made names and have a huge fan following. People like Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Kashyap, Raju Hirani et al.

If they look beyond films they are likely to come across achievers like Vishwanath Anand, Baichung Bhutia, Saina Nehwal, Abhinav Bindra, A R Rehman, Vrijendra, Ayyan Ali Bangash, Aman Ali Bangash, Chetan Bhagat  and others; people who are household names. When will brands come out of their film star fixation? I will wait and see.

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Hope Balloon

Breitling raises $140,000 to fight noma

orbiter 3

Watchmaker Breitling’s round-the-world tour, launched in 2009 to commemorate the feat achieved by Breitling Orbiter 3 ten years earlier, has so far raised almost one hundred thousand euros (USD 140,000) to be devoted to fighting Noma, one of the most dreadful diseases to affect children.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight involves a “hot-air balloon” replica of the famous Breitling Orbiter 3, flown by Brian Jones – one of the two heroes of the original record-setting accomplishment in 1999. In addition to a number of stopovers in Europe, the journey to date has provided opportunities to visit Israel, Japan, Australia and the United States – as well as a detour via Curaçao in the Dutch West Indies, where no balloon had ever yet ventured.

The funds raised during this round-the-world tour organized by Breitling are intended to support the fight against noma which disfigures and kills tens of thousands of children around the world every year. The Winds of Hope foundation, created by Breitling and the two balloon pilots, Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard, just after their exploit, aims to eradicate this scourge by launching prevention and early-screening programs in the most severely affected countries. The foundation is currently active in five African countries, and the funds raised in recent months will enable it to begin taking action in at least two other countries. This world tour is to continue in 2010, with several events to be held in Ireland, Switzerland and North America.

Pastore for Concord

Tweet: Argentinean Javier Pastore for Concord

javier pastore

After Leo Messi for Audemars Piguet  it’s Argentinean Javier Pastore who will sport Concord C1 chronograph at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Pastore, a very young professional football talent from Argentina currently plays with the Italian Serie A club Palermo. He will play in the Argentina national team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Born in Córdoba, Argentina in 1989, Javier developed his particular playing style at a young age. His professional youth career started in Talleres, the team he was always fan of. In 2008, he joined the first league Argentina team Huracán, but it was in 2009  when he joined the Italian team Palermo that his international career really began. Following a string of good performances in his first season at Italian Serie A level, Argentina head coach Diego Maradona decided to call up Pastore for national squad duty.

Just before leaving for South Africa, Pastore paid a visit to the Concord official retailer Joyería Danfer in Buenos Aires, where he was presented with the latest models of the C1 Collection. After hesitating between various models, his choice finally rested on the stainless steel and white rubber chronograph, C1 Pure.

This C1 Chronograph is presented in a 44 mm stainless steel case made of 53 elements, standing 16.70 mm tall. A metal protective ring coated in white rubber and fixed laterally by 7 self7blocking screws is enhanced by eight decorative elements straddling the bezel. These bastions protect a spectacular 3.30 mm thick sapphire crystal, which literally emerges from the case and displays a 37-layer white fibreglass like dial with its distinctive Concord seconds disk. This mechanical timepiece, holds a self-winding Valgranges movement with a 487 hour power reserve, is certified by the official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). It is presented on a white rubber strap with folding clasp and is water resistant to a pressure of 20 ATM.

Puma 4 soccer

Tweet: Puma for football fans

puma slick ladies pink

Football is everywhere… in the TV, newspapers, the www and even discussed in local trains, parties etc. And still missing on your wrist! How come? Puma has unveiled a new line of sporty watches for him and her. With looks you can call athletic, dynamic and enthusiastic. The collection available in digital and analog and in vibrant colours of summer promises to make the buying experience absolutely worthwhile. The MotorSport collection dares to go beyond by pushing the limits with the brand new look.  Priced between Rs. 2995 to Rs. 6,995. The PUMA Active collection is a combination of playful ease, simple, unconventional and sports a very futuristic look. Price Rs. 4, 495.

Available at all Watches and More… stores & Puma Outlets Bangalore: Infantry Rd, Safina Plaza 25589668/9. Delhi: Lajpat Ngr II, Central Mkt, 011 41019778. Kolkata: Metro Plaza, Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 033 22882630; Mani Square, Manicktala Main Rd., 033 40002951. Mumbai: Andheri, Infinity Mall, 022 26338132, 022 26398132; Breach Candy, Nxt  to Cymroza Art Gallery, 022 23620275 / 77; Goregaon, OBEROI MALL, 022 28425677; LowerParel, Grnd. Flr. High street Phoneix, 022 24978605; Vashi, Inorbit Mall, 022 40135506, Bhayandar,  Maxus Mall, 022 28150527

Name calling ‘Time’

aishwariya rai for longines

Tweet: With slogans brands convey the Manufacture’s DNA

Be it any brand. Be it at any price. A watch tells the same time whatever dial it holds. However complicated it is? Yes, a branded and widely promoted/ advertised watch gives the wearer the feeling that s/he wears something what others haven’t been able to lay their hands on. When a timepiece becomes a product and acquires its an identity of its own a need arises to give it a personality.

T-I-M-E. Just four words. W-A-T-C-H. Five words. Interestingly, every watch manufacturer sees the word differently and conveys a message which is unique to its brand. We bring the catchphrases–the brands identify with.

Patek Philippe Begin Your Tradition

Carl F Bucherer For people who do not go with the times

Citizen Making of a Legend

Vacheron Constantin Dedicated to Perfection

Seiko Dedicated to Perfection

Richard Mille A Racing Machine on the Wrist

Hermes An Hermes Watch has time on its side

Chopard Time, incomparably crafted

Tag Heuer What are you made of?

Audemars Piguet The Watch of your life

Breitling Instruments for Professionals

Longines Elegance is an attitude

Breguet Sir Winston Churchill, from 1901, a client of Breguet

Ocean Rider

Tweet: Breitling’s Superocean lives up to its name

supreocean

Superocean! That’s name of Breitling’s latest maritime watch with rubber moulded bezel enlivened by sloping numerals and a fluted pattern, the strikingly distinctive dial echoing the vigorous geometrical motifs with applied hour-markers and numerals standing out clearly against a matt black base and a self-winding chronometer-certified movement.

Initially born in 1957, Superocean’s latest avatar is more youthful, dynamic and modern.  It is water resistant to 1,500 meters (5,000 ft) thanks to the ultra sturdy construction of its case, a screw-locked crown and an extremely sophisticated gasket system. Available in blue, yellow, red, silver and black — to adorn the beveled inner bezel ring surrounding the Abyss black dial the case is fitted with lateral reinforcements to protect the crown from the hazards involved in underwater adventures. It is also equipped with a safety valve at 10 o‘clock, which serves to balance out the differences in the internal and external pressure of the watch. As soon as internal overpressure reaches about 3 bars, this valve automatically releases the helium stored up after time spent at great depths, thus preventing the case from exploding.

Thanks to luminescent Super-luminova coating the readability of the watch is accentuated making it all visible even in ocean darkness. Security is provided by a thick sapphire crystal glare-proofed on both sides to avoid any glinting that might reduce readability in dim light. Finally, the knurled relief of the bezel facilitates handling even with gloves — much like the large fluted crown. Price: Rs 140,924 to Rs 161,559.

Available at Ethos Summit stores across India.

Sporty&Chic

Tweet: Get Sporty with Gc’s Sports Class

sports class women

With its easy, casual sophistication, the Gc’s Sport Class is for those who want to flaunt the modern, and yet the ageless classic style. Both for women and men this elegant Swiss made 34mm timepiece collection houses a high-precision Swiss quartz movement and is water-resistant to 100 meters. The dials feature hand-applied Arabic numerals, luminescent indices, and super luminova hands for easy readability. The screw-down crown and case back are engraved with the Gc logo. In short, the watch will adorn your wrist with its exclusive design and fine-looking bracelet. Price:Rs 15k to Rs 30k.

Available at: Gc Boutique: Palladium, High Street Phoenix , Lower Parel, Mumbai and Mega Mall, Oshiwara, Andheri. Also at Shoppers Stop, Lifestyle and Leading watch retailers across the country.