At Your Service: Martin de Tours Tailoring

By Cator Sparks Published December 21, 2019

Martin de Tours just proves there is always something in need of tweaking on the internet. I get my fair share of PR people emailing me about my shirt sizing to send samples of their wares to try and (possibly) post about, but even after being asked the question hundreds of times by them and of course when shopping, I often forget neck, waist, arm, chest.

That is where the new tailoring brand, Martin de Tours has found a niche. Launched in the fall of 2013, the brand is combining quality clothing, niche technology and personalized service. Their angle is offering ‘Style Valets’ who can either meet you at your home or office (in certain cities for now) or online via chat. These valets will aid you in getting the proper measurements as well as give advice on what shirt and suit are best for you, which can be a huge help when we forget our measurements or need a measuring 101 session.

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Founded by former Creative Director Jordan Cummings who worked with brands like Paul Smith and Agi & Sam, all the clothing is made in a new factory in Hong Kong and fabrics hail from Italy for now. Once their Kickstarter finishes they hope to expand to British fabrics (Harris Tweed!) as well. They offer made-to-measure suits, shirts and separates (blazers, vests) with loads of customizable options and monogramming.

Another bonus to the brand is that pricing is reasonable since there is no brick and mortar or middle man. Suits range from $495-800 and shirts from $99-130. So no more rummaging through racks and racks of suits to find the one you like and then spending a fortune on tailoring. Now you can have a custom suit, pick the lining, buttons and add a monogram and not break the bank, all delivered to your door in four weeks. Boom, you’re the envy of all of your friends and looking sharp at that.

Oh and the name? Martin of Tours was a soldier in the Roman army. He is best known for using his sword to cut his cloak in two, giving half to a beggar clad only in rags in the depth of winter in what is now modern day France. That’s one to drop over drinks.

Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual

Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…

Fashion & Style

Tissot celebrates swiss heritage with Jungfraubahn Alpine railway collaboration

Alpine tribute: Tissot's jungfraubahn partnership celebrates swiss railway heritage

Tissot PR 100 Jungfraubahn

Tissot shows respect for Switzerland's mountain past by working with Jungfraubahn, a well-known cogwheel railway that takes people to the highest train station in the Bernese Alps. The partnership makes five special watches that show the blend of Swiss exact building, mountain grandeur, and watch skill.
The group of watches focuses on two models: the Tissot PR 100 Jungfraubahn and the T-Touch Connect Sport Jungfraubahn. Each watch shows different parts of the mountain railway trip. Snow-covered peaks, trains that run on time, and well-made watches show what Switzerland offers. This cooperation feels right for showing national identity.
The PR 100 Jungfraubahn comes in two sizes, with 40mm and 34mm cases—this makes them good for many wrist sizes while keeping the watch's usual shape. Two different color choices offer looks that show different mountain moods and train design elements.
One version has a dark blue face with nickel minute and hour hands, plus a yellow second hand that points to the Jungfraubahn train's distinct colors. That color mix makes a clear link to the railway trip while keeping the face easy to read—this is important for Swiss exact timekeeping.
The other design has a silver sun-ray face with blue hands. These colors aim to show the clear difference between clean mountain snow and bright mountain sky. This color scheme catches the look of high places and also makes sure you can read the watch in different light.
Both versions have fine Jungfrau mountain carvings right on the watch face. These turn mountain places into art on the watch. Such details add interesting textures and honor the specific mountain area that led to the teamwork.
The words "Jungfrau - Top of Europe" on the back of the case make the watches special. They connect the watches to this respected Swiss place. This writing changes each watch into a real tribute, not just a usual special edition.
The T-Touch Connect Sport Jungfraubahn extends the cooperation into smartwatches, though specific facts about it remain unclear. That addition shows that Tissot wants to respect old railway history through both classic and new watch styles.
The partnership shows how Swiss brands can work together well to celebrate shared culture. They also make products that sell and appeal to people in Switzerland and other countries. The railway is known for being exact and dependable, which fits well with Tissot's Swiss-made quality rules.
These special watches show the charm of mountain travel and respect the building success that makes Switzerland's mountain railways possible. This makes watches that show both nature's beauty and human cleverness.

Fashion & Style

LeBron James unveils $450,000 Richard Mille Lakers-inspired limited edition

Basketball royalty: LeBron James' Richard Miille collaboration celebrates Lakers heritage

LeBron James Drops Limited Edition Richard Mille

LeBron James shows a Richard Mille limited edition watch he helped design. The watch costs $450,000, and the company made only 150 of them. This item honors his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and combines Richard Mille's skill with basketball elements plus the Lakers' colors.
The watch honors the Lakers with a yellow rubber strap that lasts a long time and feels good when a person moves. James' personal logo sits at the 12 o'clock position in green with a yellow border, which makes the brand easy to see while keeping the watch looking good.
The watch case is black and has a rough feel. A yellow Quartz TPT middle case sits next to it, with green parts and a purple ring for the hour markers. This mix of colors puts the Lakers' purple and gold into a modern watch design.
Richard Mille makes sports watches, and this watch shows that focus. The company did not share specific details about the movement. The brand makes light and strong watches for athletes, which suggests that this watch uses advanced materials and building methods.
The yellow and green crown, along with the teal chronograph dials, add to the watch's look. These colors show the Lakers' identity and James' own taste that he developed from collecting luxury watches for many years.
James' signature appears on the case back, etched in purple. This makes the watch a collector's item, not just a regular luxury watch. The purple signature honors the Lakers' colors and helps identify this specific production run.
Richard Mille works with many good athletes—this collaboration comes after successful partnerships with Rafael Nadal and Bubba Watson. James helps the brand reach the basketball market and may cause younger people to like Swiss watches.
The $450,000 price puts this watch among Richard Mille's more costly items, but it costs less than the brand's most complex watches. The company only made 150 pieces, which means collectors will want it and its price might go up.
James showed the watch on social media, which gained much attention from watch fans and basketball fans. The broad appeal shows that famous people working with luxury brands can connect fine watches with popular sports.
This watch continues James' long connection with luxury timepieces—he owns watches from Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex. James helped design this Richard Mille watch, which sets it apart from simple endorsement deals and suggests a deeper connection with the brand.
The Lakers' look appeals to fans in Los Angeles and people who collect basketball items. The watch also keeps Richard Mille's good name for technical skill and exclusive nature.

Fashion & Style

Ulysse Nardin dazzles with blast sparkling rainbow high jewelry limited edition

Ulysse nardin's blast sparkling rainbow features mystery-set sapphires

Ulysse Nardin Sparkling Rainbow Liminited Edition

Ulysse Nardin transforms its avant-garde Blast collection into spectacular high jewelry territory with the Blast [Sparkling Rainbow], an eight-piece limited edition priced at CHF 451,700 that fuses haute horlogerie with gem-setting artistry. The timepiece showcases 211 rainbow-colored sapphires totaling 13.33 carats across the entire watch construction.
The original Blast collection, introduced in 2020, drew inspiration from stealth aircraft design to marry high function with unconventional aesthetics, establishing Ulysse Nardin's reputation as avant-garde icon. This high jewelry interpretation elevates that foundation through unprecedented gem-setting complexity while maintaining the collection's distinctive architectural language.
Central to the technical achievement sits the in-house UN-172 skeletonized movement featuring flying tourbillon, silicon escapement, and platinum micro-rotor visible at 12 o'clock. Operating at 18,000 vibrations per hour with 72-hour power reserve, the caliber demonstrates Ulysse Nardin's silicon innovation expertise dating to 2001's legendary Freak timepiece.
The 45mm white gold case receives invisible setting treatment across 211 individually selected sapphires cut into 85 unique shapes. This rainbow spectrum creates seamless gradient effect encircling the entire watch while employing "mystery setting" technique that allows light passage through gems, creating floating stone illusions without visible metal frameworks.
Gem-setting complexity extends beyond case architecture to encompass bezel, dial, crown, and clasp applications, ensuring complete chromatic coverage across every visible surface. The rainbow arrangement requires precise color matching and graduated placement to achieve the seamless transition effects that define the piece's visual impact.
Construction challenges multiply when combining high jewelry techniques with complex movement architecture. The skeletonized dial must accommodate both sapphire setting requirements and tourbillon visibility while maintaining structural integrity and shock resistance expected from luxury sports watches.
The integrated white rubber strap and deployant clasp receive matching sapphire applications, completing the rainbow aesthetic while ensuring practical wearability. Despite extensive gem setting, the watch maintains 50-meter water resistance, demonstrating successful integration of jewelry and timepiece functionality.
Limited production to eight pieces emphasizes exclusivity while highlighting the intensive handwork required for each example. The mystery setting technique demands exceptional gem-setting expertise, with each sapphire requiring individual cutting and placement to achieve the floating effect.
This release continues Ulysse Nardin's tradition of pushing horological boundaries through unconventional materials and techniques. The brand's silicon escapement innovations combine with high jewelry craftsmanship to create timepieces that challenge traditional luxury watch categories.
The CHF 451,700 pricing reflects both the extensive gemwork and limited availability, positioning the piece among the most exclusive offerings in Ulysse Nardin's contemporary catalog. Eight-piece production ensures immediate collector status while showcasing the manufacture's high jewelry capabilities.