Champions of High Tech: Omega Watches and the 2010 Olympics

As if we needed another reason to admire Omega watches for their technological excellence. Being the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games means a lot more than having your logo appear at the bottom of the TV screen every thirty seconds. Omega has put a lot of money and technological innovation into their task of keeping time at the Olympics, and the results are nothing short of downright impressive. And when some races are decided by 1-100th of a second, they'd better be impressive, right? Let me tell you that Omega's new technology is a far cry from the handheld stopwatches they developed in 1932 when they first signed on as Olympic timekeepers.

The Science of Time: Omega Watches Conquer the Slopes

Let's put this into perspective, shall we? 1-100th of a second is 10 times faster than a blink of the eye. Sound fast? For Omega, it's a piece of cake. Let's take alpine skiing for example. The first stage for an alpine ski race is to pass through the "Snowgate," a slick black obelisk of technological progress, complete with robotic arm—that's more than your average starting gate:

New technology ensures that the starting pulse is generated when the 'wand' (or 'bar') is at precisely the same angle for every competitor. The control box for the device includes both a main and a backup system. The systems use different technologies – one is purely mechanical; the other is electro-mechanical. The skiers have a ten-second starting window and can begin up to five seconds before or five seconds after the official start time. If they are within this time frame, the timing system will be activated automatically when they burst through the gate; otherwise, they are disqualified."

If you think that sounds impressive, just wait until you hear what comes next. All along the track—in addition to the dozens of professional timekeepers that keep track of the skiers' progress—are sensors that automatically tell computers the location of the skiers at various points in the race, as well as their speed, with infinitesimal accuracy. This data is instantaneously beamed to commentators who then relay the details to TV viewers. When they finally reach the end of the course, the results are immediately displayed on screens and sent to commentators. Not too shabby.

Omega and the Olympics: A History of Excellence

Since 1934, Omega has kept time for the Olympics 24 times. It's incredible to see where technology has come since those fateful games in Los Angeles, when simple handheld chronometer Omega watches kept time as accurately as 1-10th of a second—not accounting for human error. Let's just say that there were more arguments back then about who won and who lost. It's no surprise that Omega's contract extends into 2020, and they could likely continue for even more subsequent games. So you can wear that replica Omega watch on your wrist with the knowledge that it's inspired by a history of excellence.

We Have a Winner! Allison Padgett Wins a Free Replica Watch

We're pleased to announce the first winner in our PerfectWatches Giveaway contest! Allison Padgett of Lehigh Acres, Florida is our lucky winner and will be receiving a fabulous free replica watch. Congratulations, Allison!

We've extended our application deadline, so there's still one more chance to win! Act soon and you could be next in line for a free luxurious replica watch. Here's a recap of contest rules. Remember that there are two simple and easy ways for you to enter the contest:

1. Invite your friends and contacts to join:

Step 1: Become a fan of Perfect Watches on Facebook. (http://bit.ly/4TvZKI)
Step 2: Repost this phrase on your Facebook Wall or Twitter Feed: "I've just become a Fan of www.perfectwatches.net for a chance to win a free replica watch!"

or

2. Tell us why you deserve to win:

Step 1: Become a fan of Perfect Watches on Facebook. (http://bit.ly/4TvZKI)
Step 2: Tell us why you of all people should win by posting on the fan page. Be sure to make your entry creative and enthusiastic and explain why you in particular deserve to win a fabulous replica watch.

That's it, folks. Winning a stunning replica watch from PerfectWatches is as easy as picking one of the two abovementioned options. Act now and you could be our next lucky winner!

Some Highlights of the Geneva SIHH Luxury Watch Preview

The SIHH watch preview is to luxury watch lovers as the biggest Star Trek convention is to avid Trekkies—except that most watch lovers will never find themselves at the SIHH. The event is a private trade show for the finest new Swiss watches and is by invite only. Only the most prestigious watch sellers are invited, by the manufacturers themselves, to view the new up-and-coming designs that will adorn the wrists of the wealthy—and the rest of us, though in the form of perfect replica watches. We've compiled some highlights from this year's SIHH trade show that have got us excited and are causing a great deal of buzz in the luxury watch world.

More than Meets the Eye: The MontBlanc Metamorphosis

Certainly one of the most exciting and interesting timepieces previewed at SIHH was the MontBlanc Metamorphosis (pictured above). A truly magnificent marriage of classic watchmaking and cutting-edge innovation, this Transformer-esque MontBlanc watch is literally two watches in one. By moving a slide control up and down, the aptly-named Metamorphosis physically transforms from a standard hour, minute, and second watch to a chronograph and back again. The mechanism they invented to achieve this transformation was not only informed by centuries of watch-making wisdom, but also by the ancient Swiss art of automaton construction. Creating a replica MontBlanc version will be no small feat, but we're sure it will be magnificent when it happens.

Classic Cartier Craftsmanship

Another undeniable highlight was the Cartier Rotonde Astrotourbillon which is expected to cost around $136,000. The movement, which is visible through the watch face, has impressive specs (38mm diameter, 9.01mm thick, 9451 MC caliber) and took five years to develop. This timepiece is manually wound and has a 48 hour power reserve. Truly a masterpiece of watch craftsmanship, the Cartier Rotonde Astrotourbillon is sure to be a hit when it hits the market.

Swiss Excellence with a Portuguese Touch

For lovers of a more restrained aesthetic, IWC has produced the simple Portuguese Hand-Wound 5454 that combines technical excellence with elegant aesthetic simplicity. With an oversized face (44mm) and a sleek minimalist design inspired by the line's Portuguese roots that stretch back to the 1930s, this IWC watch is pure class. It features a minute and hour hand, with a small understated dial that indicates seconds. This elegant timepiece is bound to be a top-selling replica IWC watch.

Replica Watches: Something for Everybody

Looking at these examples, it's clear that the future holds a variety of styles and aesthetics in the world of luxury watches. Whether you're looking for something sleek and classic, something utterly unique and technologically advanced, or a perfect combination of the two, there is certainly a replica watch that will satisfy what you are looking for.

Replica Breitling Watches & Luxury Watch iPhone Apps

If you're like most of us, you've probably come to rely more on your cell phone to tell you the time than you do the luxurious replica Breitling watch on your wrist. Luxury watchmakers are aware of the ubiquity of iPhones as timetelling devices and are extending their luxurious timepieces to this modern format. IWC, A. Lange & Sohne, Christian Dior, Breitling, Boucheron, and more have jumped on the iPhone app bandwagon, offering applications for the popular smart phone that evoke the classic style of their timepieces, and offer some fun bonuses as well. Many of these apps function as advertisements helping these watches makers peddle their expensive watches.

(Virtual) Bells and Whistles

These iPhone apps are more than just stylish ways to tell time on your phone. For example, the Christian Dior Chiffre Rouge app has a nifty water intro, as well as a list of diving locations around the world, a glossary of diving signal flags, and a fun Morse code program that lets you translate anything you type into Morse code. Breitling's Chronomat app is a little less elaborate, but provides a 360 degree view of the watch and the ability to customize your own watch and have the image emailed to you. Boucheron's application offers an interesting way to virtually "try on" their timepieces. The app allows you to take a photo of your wrist with the iPhone's built-in camera, and try on various models. Then you can save a snapshot and send it to family and friends for a second opinion. The app also works as a time display featuring the wonderful Boucheron Paname watch.

Replica Watches: Beyond the Virtual

Luxury watchmakers have been pretty smart in how they've designed these apps, because although in a way they offer an alternative to even wearing a watch at all, they also all have features that are designed to entice you to buy their watches. Most also include store locators so you can head straight there to pick up one of their expensive watches for yourself, because let's be honest, an iPhone app is no replacement for a stunning luxury watch on your wrist. Fortunately, if purchasing a real Christian Dior or Breitling watch seems a little too extravagant, replica watches offer authentic luxury at a reasonable price.

I wonder, who's going to be the first replica watchmaker to produce a replica watches iPhone app?