Midnight in Paris by Van Cleef & Arpels

Pick the stars from the sky and wear the universe at your wrist. Oh isn’t that romantic? Reading time with the stars under the Paris constellation can now be done through the Midnight in Paris timepiece. It represents the map of stars under the Parisian sky. The mechanical movement is unique, its extreme complexity linking the concept of time to that of the Cosmos as a dazzling homage to that other mysterious and fascinating world.

The Midnight in Paris timepiece recreates the map of the celestial dome. This is done by a rotating disk made of aventurine glass. The mechanism of this jewel-like timepiece is visible thanks to a sapphire glass case back that is protected by a pink gold moveable flap. On the back of the timepiece, the disk surrounding the calendar is set with real meteorite stone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Case
Dimensions: Ø 42 mm. Rose gold. Scratch-proof sapphire crystal. Water resistant 3 ATM (20m)

Dial
Rotating blue aventurine glass disc. Polished and brushed hands. Signature Van Cleef & Arpels.

Strap and buckle
Alligator. Rose gold folding clasp with integrated security system mechanism

Movement
Swiss mechanical movement exclusively developed for Van Cleef & Arpels on a Jaeger-LeCoultre Basis. 28,800 alternations / hour. Autonomy 40 hours. 24 jewels

Price
48,000 euros

Mars Soil for Asparagus but not Strawberries

NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander discovered that a sample of Martian dirt contained several soluble minerals, including potassium, magnesium and chloride. This means the soil in Mars may have enough nutrients to grow plants. Asparagus would grow happily in it, scientists say.

BBC reports: “We basically have found what appears to be the requirements for nutrients to support life,” said Phoenix’s wet chemistry lab lead, Sam Kounaves of Tufts University. “This is the type of soil you’d probably have in your backyard. You might be able to grow asparagus pretty well, but probably not strawberries.”

Michael Stipe’s Sculptures and Rogan’s Clothes

Two great events in one post? Fashion designer Rogan is opening a new boutique in New York, and New York magazine reports that R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe will be having an art show there, exhibiting some bronze sculptures he did of cameras and music devices. Said Stipe:

“The radio alarm clock … changed forever the fragile state between sleeping and waking, allowing you to wake to your favorite radio station … The polaroid revolutionized photography by providing instant images available to anyone … Cassettes provided portable, compact music, altering forever the influence of radio as the individual became their own disc jockey.”

The items are not for sale but if you show up on the 27th you can pick up a Rogan Stipe T-shirt.

Read the full article here

Fascinating Concept Design Study from BMW

OK I don’t usually go into cars but GINA is adorable isn’t she?

“GINA, an acronym for “Geometry and Functions in N Adaptations,” obviously. When motorized metal framing moves, changing the car’s shape and function, its flexible fabric skin moves with it. (Quick: Someone tell Michael Bay.) And though it’s fully functional, at the moment there are no plans for a production run-GINA’s only on view at BMW’s Munich museum.”

Read the full article here