Montblanc at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival

There are more reasons why Cannes is the most stylish and chic film festival in the world – not just because I say so. It is the only time when together with fashion press releases I receive emails from luxury watch-makers like Montblanc talking about the famous faces they 'accessorised' for the occasion.
Amongst these famous (and chic) faces were Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius, who wore the Montblanc TimwWalker World-Wide Northern Hemisphere watch at the Orange Party. I wouldn't have normally thought of this model for an evening look but on Michel it gives his look a really sporty touch that makes him look even cooler.
Jimmy Jean Louis also went for a model I wouldn't have necessarily chosen to wear with a tuxedo. His Montblanc Chrono Voyager UTC made him look like James Bond at the Orange party.

The two models I would have likely gone through – to be honest, I would wear them every day – are the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours and the Montblanc Star Chronograph UTC Automatic watches I posted about a few months ago.

Courtesy of Montblanc

Frank Loves: Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858

My fixation with watches is, along with another for shoes and the finer things in life, one of the mian things I seem to have inherited from my dear father. I used to steal his watches all the time when I was younger but for some years now I have wanted to start a collection of my own.
I probably stared at the pictures above for a good 10 minutes after opening an email from Montblanc, who showed their new watch collection at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva for the first time. You are looking at two of the new members of the Collection Villeret 1858, specifically at the ExoTourbillon Chronographe. It features a large minute-hand and elapsed-seconds hand at the centre of the dial, a small off-centre circle for the hours, a second time zone with day/night indication, a small hand for the continually running seconds and a chronograph with a counter for 30 elapsed minutes.
My favourite without a doubt is the model in white gold (left), which together with the model in red gold have been produced in a limited edition of eight timepieces of 18 karats each. I have a tendency for always choosing the finest, most expensive pieces without even knowing it. There is something so mesmerising and somehow mysterious about the way a watch works and this one is extremely beautiful too.

Courtesy of Montblanc

Also at the SIHH, Montblanc presented some of their other lines. Runner up after the ExoTourbillon is the Nicolas Rieussec Rising Hours, which I love in red gold. Not only it's seigniorial and elegant but it features a revolutionary new technology whereby the hour numerals change colour – pale blue during the night and black during the day. – The perfect present for my 25th Birthday in March, I might add.

The TimeWalker Watches for Globetrotters collection was also presented at the SIHH. My favourite of the models is the TwinFly Chronograph, which allows its wearer to check the time on two different time zones and is also a 24 hour watch, so you know whether it's night or day.

The Villeret 1858 ExoTourbillon collection is available from this month. For the Nicolas Rieussec Rissing Hours and the TimeWalker we will have to wait until October and September 2013 respectively. Check more from Montblanc at the SIHH on their Youtube channel here.

Burberry presents 'The Britain', a luxury watch of British precision

Today Burberry launches their new time collection very aptly named 'The Britain'. After all, British punctuality is, along with tea, trench coats and bowler hats, one of the things this country is famous for. But even a Brit can't be on time without a good watch – enters 'The Britain'.
I am extremely picky when it comes to choosing watches because the smallest details can throw me off. But I must admit I am really keen on this new collection. I love the rounded octagonal shape of the case and the screw details. It's not round but it isn't angular and it isn't ultra modern but it's not dated either. In Christopher Bailey's words: "The Britain is this powerful balance of modernity and tradition, mixing strong attitude and innovative design with craftsmanship and timeless quality." Something that is key to everything Burberry does.
The collection includes several different models all in the same style  but varying in extra functions and, obviously, colour combinations. The subtle palette nods to the brand's iconic colours of their trench coats. My personal favourite is the very simple 'Automatic BBY1202' featuring brushed stainless steel and sapphire crystal with a padded alligator strap. I'm not a fan of stainless steel bracelets but if you are, Burberry also has the choice.
The ad campaign, also out today, looks absolutely stunning. It was shot by Mario Testino and it features British musician Rob Pryor and art dealer Harry Scrymgeour.

All images courtesy of Burberry

Christmas Wishlist: Nixon Tortoise Acetate collection

nixonnow.com

I inherited my obsession with shoes and watches from my dear father who, funnily enough, has also always been one of the most vocal about my spending through the years (he did fund all these years). It took me a long time to be able to buy shoes at Zara (what was I thinking?!) but I eventually realised it wasn't realistic  to have 30 great pairs of shoes.
However, I have struggled a lot more with watches and I still do. Apart from the odd Swatch I can never seem to find something I love  and that costs less than 3k. This means I only own six watches: A Swatch, a Michael Kors, an Emporio Armani, a D&G, an Eternamatic and a Baume & Mercier one. But I have finally found a watch that is worthy of joining the family.
I am obsessed with the Nixon 'tortoise acetate collection' because it has a kind of vintage feel but they're all super slick. I am not a fan of really busy spheres so it's no surprise that I chose the one in plain black. Most of my other watches have leather straps so I thought I'd mix it up with an all-acetate model. My favourite model in on sale online at Nordstrom and it is just over £100!! The perfect Christmas present.

The Emporio Armani Super Meccanico watch

Courtesy of Armani

I still remember how excited when I bought my first "grown-up" watch quite  few years ago. I went to the Emporio Armani shop in Madrid with my parents so I could choose the watch for my birthday.
I ended up choosing a really avant-garde (for the time and my age anyway) watch –it had a wide leather strap that almost seemed like a bracelet and it had a small metallic rectangular box in the middle that was the digital watch. I couldn't have been happier and I got so many compliments about it in school.
A couple of years after both my dad and I bought a second watch there, that one was more grown up and classic, of course. And now I feel like it's time to bring another Emporio Armani watch into my life.
The brand is now launching a limited edition watch –only 999 pieces of the Super Meccanico watch have been produced and they have all been individually engraved with their number. How cool would it be if you could pick the one with your lucky number engraved on it?
I love the design because it's elegant but not too formal –the screw details make it tough but the flexible strap give it a sporty touch. I would love to have it in the black (with an 8 engraved) but I also feel like the metallic sphere would be a great buy for people who want a watch to go with a suit during the week and jeans and a cardigan on the weekend.

The watches will be available in Emporio Armani stores in September.

Take some time

I know it's almost Christmas and presents are coming but it's always nice to receive early presents to keep the merry spirit alive. Which is why I'm giving away, in collaboration with the lovely people from Time2, this awesome watch by LTD. This particular model is the result of a watch design competition that took place back in April. Jake Garner's cool design was the winner with nearly 15,000 public votes! The limited edition watch will be available at Selfridges and online at Time2 but you can win one at Fashion, Frankly! All you need to do is follow the blog (which you can do on the left side bar) and leave a comment on this post with your email address. You have until Friday 10th of December at 12am (GMT) to enter.

[Picture: Time2.co.uk]

something for the winter

[Pictures: GQ.com, GQ-magazine.co.uk, Asos.com, Collete.fr]