“No innovation, no future” (Credit: IDI)

If you thought high-end luxury Swiss watches couldn’t get any more snazzier, think again. Check out these new and improved timepieces, courtesy of the some of the biggest names in the business.

Have you ever wanted to walk around in style? Have you ever had the urge to show off your timepiece? For those who are avid fans of Swiss watches, it has just gotten much easier.

Some of the most recognizable brand names from Switzerland are now bolstering their products by adding precious metals, hi-tech alloys, silicon and ceramic composites. So hurry up and get your Omega or Hublot, or Patek Philippe. Now these marvelous pieces are not just watches with plain old gold and steel designs.

If you’re not convinced about the quality of these pieces, just ask the astronauts who landed on the moon with Apollo 11 in 1969. They, too, wore Swatches. Now, though, they probably wish they could go back to the moon just to sport these flashier watches. Swatch is now using an alloy known as Liquidmetal, a material that can be molded like plastic.

Hublot is enhancing one of its signature brands, Big Bang, with its patented Magic Gold, a scratch-resistant alloy that is more than twice as hard as standard gold.

“No innovation, no future,” said Jean-Claude Biver, the Hublot chairman.

If you thought that these new and improved time pieces were just for men, think again. Ladies, there’s something in it for you as well. Patek rolled out the reference 7140, a thin watch with pink gold encrusted with over 90 diamonds. Visitors were wowed by this remarkable work of craftsmanship at the Baselworld watch fair.

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Hublot Diamond Watch (Credit: IDI)

If anyone happens to be in Switzerland and doesn’t feel like skiing, then perhaps the best show in town could be found in Basel, which is hosting BaselWorld 2012.

Revelers can take in the scene and get a glimpse of some pricey jewelry, including a diamond watch courtesy of Hublot. There’s nothing like a $5 million, 1,282-diamond timepiece to say “I love you” to that special someone.

Hublot is one of the more popular watch brands among celebrities. It has been spotted on the wrists of sports superstars Alex Rodriguez and Usain Bolt as well as pop singer Lionel Richie. Soccer legend Diego Maradona was spotted wearing the company's unique brand Big Bang while on the sidelines of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

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Tattoos are always risky: There's a chance that later down the line, you won't be so happy with your permanent choice. But a tattoo of a diamond Rolex? There isn't a chance that you'll regret the inking – it's nearly certain.

You can understand someone wanting a status symbol like a diamond Rolex. And since most people can't afford the price tag, a tattoo is certainly a less expensive way to get a hold of the watch. But it's a cheap way, too. And if the watch lacks the sparkly diamonds, can you even call it a diamond Rolex?

A curious aspect of this guy's tattoo is the watch band: When price is no longer a concern, wouldn't you expect him to splurge on the platinum band? Why leather? Does silver ink cost more? Was he trying to be less ostentatious?

On the legal side of things, there's a question of whether a picture of a Rolex would infringe on patents and trademarks and the like. It does say "Rolex" on the guy's skin…

Hopefully, this was some kind of coercion situation and this guy didn't actually choose a tattoo of a fancy watch for himself. Or else he lost some serious bet. Of course, the hands on his tattoo watch point to 4:20 – a code for smoking marijuana. Maybe he was just high.

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