Original recipes are one of those things coveted most in marketing. Remember how excited everyone was about Coca-Cola Classic after the New Coke fiasco? Well, sometimes spirits-makers want to get in on that action as well, whether that means a limited-edition release like Beefeater is doing with Burrough’s Reserve, or whether it’s a complete replacement of the brand’s main product, à la Pernod Absinthe. We recently spent some time with both of these new/old products. Here’s the skinny.
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To some, beer is something you just swill down while watching football, and flavor is a distant after-thought. But others will sip and savor a beer, picking it apart like a connoisseur of fine wines. Those that comfortably sit in that second category won’t think twice about dropping some hard-earned money on a bottle of finely crafted suds. But $200 for a single bottle!? That takes a special kind of person, and it had better be a special kind of beer.
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Seiko is releasing even more limited models to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Seiko wristwatch. Here are 3 from Seiko’s luxurious watch “Credor” series and featured its ultra-thin mechanical movement “68 calibres”.
18K yellow gold model (Model: GBAQ964)
Release date: July 6
Price: ¥1,470,000
Size: 36.6mm (outside diameter of the watch), 7.1mm (thickness)
18K white gold model (Model: GBAQ965)
Release date: July 6
Price: ¥1,575,000
Size: 36.6mm (outside diameter of the watch), 7.1mm (thickness)
18K pink gold model (Model: GBBE972)
Release date: August 9
Price: ¥1,470,000
Size: 37.0mm (outside diameter of the watch), 6.5mm (thickness)
Silver-lipped pearl oyster is used for the dial. Only 30 watches are available for each model.
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Seiko wristwatch, Seiko is releasing a limited edition wristwatch called the “SH Special model” (Model # SCQE001) on June 8. “SH” is are the initials of Seiko’s president Shinji Hattori. A numbered series of only 39 watches will be available.
Blue-colored silver-lipped pearl oyster is used for the dial, and 18K white gold is used for the case and back cover. It’s designed in the motif of the Shonan beaches south of Tokyo. Using the center line to resemble the line of the horizon, the dial’s upper part looks like sky and the bottom part looks like ocean.
You can see the mechanical movement through a see-through back cover and enjoy fine detailed carvings of sea creature and sky.
This watch is for the discerning luxury Seiko buyer…
Price: ¥2,625,000
Case/back cover: 18K white gold
Dial: Silver-lipped pearl oyster
Acer has unveiled a Star Trek themed notebook that looks stunning. In fact, it looks like it came right from the bridge of the rebooted Enterprise. The Acer Aspire R7 Star Trek Limited Edition. It kind of looks like the Enterprise herself when opened up halfway.
This special edition notebook features a stainless steel Star Trek logo emblazoned on it too just so you get the point. The R7 also features a repositioned keyboard and trackpad and a high-definition touchscreen mounted on a “revolutionary ‘Ezel’ hinge” that allows it to flip, reverse, lie flat or float – though you don’t need the Star Trek edition to get this feature.
Acer has created only 25 of them and they will be auctioning a single unit off, with the proceeds going to two charities, The Mission Continues and Save the Children.
The computer comes with a Star Trek Into Darkness film poster signed by the cast, special content like wallpapers and videos from the movie, a soundtrack, a download of Star Trek: The Video Game, and Star Trek packaging.
To bid, head on over to http://www.ebay.com/theonlyone. Bidding starts on June 14th. You know your friends won’t have one, so be sure to bid.
Special Evangelion business accessories will be available though Haruyama Trading, one of the major Japanese business suit chain stores.
They announced that they will open a special “HARUYAMA×EVANGELION: 3.0 Akihabara EVENT STORE” where these items will be available for a limited time (June 2 – June 23).
The store will sell dress shirts, ties, cuff links, and tiepins created in the image of major Evangelion characters such as EVA-01 and EVA-02.
Leica from Germany is a popular brand in Japan and they just opened their store in SOGO department store in Yokohama, Japan, and are going to release an exclusive limited edition model called “Leica X2 Yokohama Edition” in July. Only 30 cameras will be available.
The limited model is based on Leica’s premium compact digital camera “Leica X2″, with lizard style leather is used for the body. A shoulder strap and camera protecter made with the same leather material will come with the camera.
APS-C sized newly developed CMOS sensor (16.2 million pixels) and high-spec lens “LEICA ELMARIT-M f2.8/24mm ASPH” are built-in. It has low noise, wide dynamic range and accurate color reproducibility.
Although the release will be in July, they are currently accepting advance orders at the SOGO Yokohama store. The price is ¥283,500.
In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the release of Nissin Cup Noodle Curry, “Cup Noodle Curry trio with a mini GUNPLA (GUNDAM plastic model)” will be out on May 27. A total of 3 commemorative curry packages and models will be available.
Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam) is a very popular Japanese televised anime series, loved by many fans.
Kinds of limited edition packages:
– Cup noodle curry “mini GUNPLA Original Kettle Ver.” – GUNDAM
– Cup noodle red curry “mini GUNPLA Original Kettle Ver.” – GELGOOG
– Cup noodle green curry “mini GUNPLA Original Kettle Ver.” – ZAKU II
Each Gundam character is holding a kettle representing the boiling water used for the cup noodle curry.
1,000 winners selected in a drawing will be able to receive an extra special cup noodle curry original GUNPLA (“MG RX-78-2 Gundam”). You can have a chance to apply for it by buying one of those 3 cup noodles.
Nissin also started accepting advanced orders for a special gift case which includes 2 of each of the 3 special cup noodle curry packages. The gift case costs 3,500 yen.
From Seiko’s sports watch series, “Seiko Prospects”, a running watch called “Super Runners Solar” officially licensed by IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) will be released on May 24.
Only 2000 watches will be sold.
The colors are black and gold – a color that the company says will let you mind imagine running’s top athletes…
On the back of the watch, the official logo that proves a partnership between IAAF and Seiko is stamped. The solar powered charger function is built in.
Basic functions like stop watch, lap memory, alarm, world time, timer, automatic calender, etc. are featured.
Price is 14,700 yen.
The Super Runners Solar watch can be ordered here.
Citizen is releasing 2 models of photovoltaic atomic watches in its “ATTESA” line in a limited quantity. Only 1,500 watches will be available for each model.
Because it’s a photovoltaic atomic watch, battery changes are not needed on a regular basis. It receives time calibration signals from 4 points in the world (Japan, China, the U.S. and Europe). Titanium is used for its case and band, which resists rust and makes it light and kind to the skin.
BY0045-66F (Silver) – ¥157,500
BY0045-66E (Pink Gold) – ¥168,000
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