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December 19, 2012updated Feb 13, 2013

MILUS

By Chris Boyle

THE VALUE OF LIFE

Life Barter Kits

This story was hidden for over 70 years. It’s a story about The Value of Life and what that means.

In 1942 during the dark times of WWII, the value of life was reflected in a small rubber box called a Life Barter Kit. It was given to Navy airmen to help them in the event they crash land or parachute onto remote islands of the Pacific, where often they would need to have valuables in order to trade for food, information or their very lives.

Inside these Life Barter Kits were 24K gold valuables and a watch made by Milus. The discovery of this story came quite unexpectedly to Milus, as the Navy program was top secret at the time. It was in 2010 that Milus discovered that their Snow Star watch was involved in the Navy program developed to help save these young pilots’ lives.

Milus salutes and honors these brave young men, almost forgotten with the passage of time, whose incredible story is ironically brought back to light by a Swiss watch that was in their pockets 72 years ago.

Opposite Page: In celebration of the original watch found in the Life Barter Kits from 1942, Milus relaunches the Snow Star Heritage watch in red gold with an antique manual movement from circa 1940. The limited edition watch is restricted to 99 pieces worldwide.

SNOW STAR HERITAGE KIT IN STEEL – LIMITED EDITION OF 1,940 PIECES

Snow Star Heritage timepiece

The Snow Star Heritage timepiece is identical to the original watch found in the Life Barter Kits from 1942.

The watch features a 40mm case with automatic-wound mechanical movement. This kit includes a military identification tag that can be customized, an additional NATO interchangeable strap and a set of exclusive compass cufflinks.

SNOW STAR HERITAGE KIT IN RED GOLD – LIMITED EDITION OF 99 PIECES

Snow Star Heritage in 18K red gold

The Snow Star Heritage watch features a mechanical, antique hand-wound movement from 1940.

The watch features a 40mm case in 18K red gold. This kit includes a military identification tag that can be customized, additional NATO interchangeable strap and a set of exclusive, 18K red gold cufflinks. One features a compass while the other features an airplane propeller that revolves on a ball bearing system.

 

TIRION TRIRETROGRADE SECONDS SKELETON

TIRION TriRetrograde Seconds Skeleton

With the TIRION TriRetrograde Seconds Skeleton, Milus captured the idea of movement and playfulness.

The exact rhythm of the retrograde seconds function, in three sectors of 20 seconds each, is powered by a Swissquality mechanical movement in an exclusive special version with automatic winding. Just as unusual and rare as the TriRetrograde function is the impressive nine-part, 45mm diameter case available in stainless steel, 18K red gold, titanium and the new bicolor version of allied black steel with 18K red gold.

The MILUS CUFFLINKS

Milus cufflinks

Milus created cufflinks in exceptional form and charismatic style that goes far beyond mere functionality.

The watch collector can now wear the heart of his watch—the movement—on his sleeves, giving this beat a new setting. The Milus cufflinks feature a 360° oscillating rotor and are available in four color variations: Red gold, yellow gold, black and steel. The cufflinks are also available in 18K white or pink gold, with or without diamonds.

MEREA TRIRETROGRADE SECONDS SKELETON

MEREA TriRetrograde Seconds Skeleton

The MEREA TriRetrograde Seconds Skeleton is symbolic of playful change, endless energy and mechanical refinement.

The name comes from the star Mira, known as “the wonderful.” Feminine in soul, the watch has a retrogradeseconds display embedded in a dynamic, lightly oval case made in three parts and featuring a lattice dial with motherof- pearl inlays. The strap attachments and the large crown give powerful accentuation and is easy to handle. Models in 18K red gold, 18K white gold or in stainless steel can be obtained adorned with diamonds and rubies.

TIRION REPETITION MINUTES TRIRETROGRADE

Milus TIRION Répétition Minutes

An extraordinary milestone in the corporate history of the Swiss watch brand, the minute repetition complication is combined with a date indication and the fascinating play of the TriRetrograde seconds display.

This combination of complicated features is exclusive to the Milus TIRION Répétition Minutes TriRetrograde and offers an experience of the highest acoustic, creative and technical quality. Watchmakers of the highest reputation piece together 417 individual movement parts, entailing more than 140 hours of meticulous work. Each component is decorated by hand and is tested repeatedly in form and composition in order to optimize the sound quality and the functional precision of the timepiece. The watch is available in 18K red gold and 18K white gold and is released in a limited edition of 50 pieces.

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