Wristwatch Updates: Speedmaster Alaska, Atmos, Claret, & More!

These Alaska Project Speedmasters are some of my fav. watches of all-time. I have a late 70s-era Atmos clock that I love but it needs to be serviced, maybe this year? (pic Via Hodinkee)

Don't miss the Roger W. Smith video.

Exclusive: An Interview With Pierre Chopard, Leader of the Omega Speedmaster Alaska Project - Hodinkee: "In 1970, Omega sought to improve the Speedmaster and this effort to create an über-Moonwatch was dubbed the “Alaska Project.” We have previously profiled the Alaska Project Speedmaster, which Omega decided to re-issue a few years ago. But today we bring you something special – an interview with the Swiss engineer who oversaw the Alaska Project for Omega. His name is Pierre Chopard, and the spry, violin-playing octogenarian recently took the time to answer some of my questions about his work at Omega and the Alaska Project."

Jeager-LeCoultre's Atmos Marqueterie Paille - A Clock That Would Fit Me Perfectly: "In 2008, Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrated the 80th anniversary of their famous Atmos clock. As you might know already, Atmos clocks keep ticking because of temperature changes in the environment. I did a write-up in its 80th anniversary year where you can read more about the Atmos’s background and workings."

AHCI - A chat with Christophe Claret: "Christophe Claret is one of the pioneering complications specialists in Swiss watchmaking. Claret started his career in 1986 when Rolf Schnyder of Ulysse-Nardin commissioned the now famous San Marco repeater with automaton. Since then he has gone on to create over 60 different calibres, all of them complications, for dozens of brands including Bovet, Breguet, Cartier, Chopard, Corum, Girard Perregaux, Harry Winston (including more than just the Opus 4), Jorg Hysek and Parmigiani."

New Arrival - Hamilton Khaki: "I've had a number of Hamilton Khaki Field variants come and go over the past few years, and I'm pleased that this one hits the button on several points for me: just the right size at 40mm (yet still slim enough) for a very comfy fit; great layout of the dial; dynamite looking hands; excellent strap and buckle; best of all: it's hand-wound."

TAG Heuer Carrera MP4-12C Review - Calibre 11: "While the big news to come from TAG Heuer’s pre-Basel collection last week was the Carrera Mikrograph, the release of the Carrera MP4-12C was just as eagerly anticipated, especially for the many TAG Heuer fans who also closely follow the McLaren team on and off the track."

Revolution - My pick for the best stand at the 2011 SIHH: IWC: "While I sometimes have difficulty at a glance telling the stylistic differences between some of the models in IWC's Portofino, Portugese and Vintage collections (no doubt my fault not theirs), there was no mistaking the incredible Portofino-themed IWC stand at the SIHH this year. It was beautifully done and inviting and comfortable to hang out in. And the ice cream was sensational!"

Lets keep it simple... Hits from recent releases and SIHH: "what I likes is what i likes :) based on seein pics, both press shots and the live ones from journos and enthusiasts who made it down to Geneva, these were the hits from SIHH 2011 and of releases round this time ..."

SIHH 2011: Girard-Perregaux celebrates its 220th anniversary!: "Girard-Perregaux is celebrating its 220th anniversary this year. The year is just beginning and they are quite discreet so far but this year of celebration begins with several new watches presented at the SIHH. I can say to begin that I'm quite appealed by many of those"

Omega - Deep Down it's Beautiful ...: "I have finally found the Seamaster 600 Ploprof that I had been hunting for quite some time now...man this is a beast !"

Additional links:
BOVET - Chronograph Cambiano edition 2011
EDC - willycheesesteak: Where Are The Monsters? Post...
Tokyo Watch Fair Part 1 & Part 2
YouTube - Watchmaker Roger W. Smith presents his Series 2 Open Dial wristwatch
Timepieces Go From Thin to Thinner - NYTimes.com
International Watch Fairs - London Autumn 2011