For its first endeavour, the fledgeling brand Ophion surprised us with a nicely designed watch equipped with an interesting hand-wound movement. This first model, the OPH 960, was probably lacking a bit of personality and personalisation – standard looking movement, plain dial… With its new watch, the OPH 786, Ophion sets the bar much, much higher.? With a convincing design, a great lo...
Following up on the release of the first Railmaster Co-Axial Master Chronometers?last year (with anthracite or silver dials), Omega has introduced a denim blue version for 2018. Not much has changed in a year and a few cosmetic tweaks are the stars of the show, but they make a real difference in the overall look and feel. It may seem a bit like more of the same, but last year's models were attract...
For once, we’re not going to use the “breaking news” title for nothing. What came in this morning is important news, no debate. As reported?by Swiss newspapers NZZ am Sonntag and Le Temps, Swatch Group, the world’s largest watchmaking group, will be leaving Baselworld – Switzerland’s largest watch and jewellery fair – as of next year. After already several...
The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m is arguably one of the better value, all-round, entry-level watches available on the market today. It's also most likely flying completely under your radar. In the collection since 2003, it received a subtle visual refresh last year, along with an in-house movement in the form of the Master Chronometer calibre 8900. Striking the balance between everyday wear and...
Baume & Mercier has changed tack radically after introducing its first proprietary movement – Baumatic?-? during the SIHH in January 2018. Greeted with positive reactions, the Baumatic? has been housed in the Clifton line of watches, Baume & Mercier's all-rounder collection that includes the sporty Clifton Club series, clearly targeted at younger men. But above all, the Clifton Bauma...
Oris partnered with the Williams Formula 1 team back in 2003 and the two have successfully launched many limited edition watches in the last 15 years. This partnership continues with the debut of the Oris Martini Racing Limited Edition, which commemorates the 50th?anniversary of the Martini Racing Team, Williams' principal sponsor. Design cues on the dial follow those on Martini race cars and ther...
Space exploration is a recurring topic when it comes to watches. Of course, the Omega Speedmaster a.k.a. Moonwatch is the reference when it comes to space-linked timepieces, however, it’s not the only watch that made it to space. Recently, we discovered that another watch had been launched via a resupply mission to the ISS, a custom-made pilot's watch, by Dave Sutton, worn on a Marine Nation...
Polo (on a horse that is), has a mysterious allure. One of exclusivity and physical bravery. The ultimate sporting expression of man and beast working in perfect synergy. For those who don't play (and I count myself in that group), the sport of kings is also devilishly difficult to understand. And when I say that, it's not just the game itself that's hard to grasp - it's the culture, the financing...
Clare Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, is many things. She is a respected journalist (formally the social Editor for Tatler magazine), wife to George Mountbatten, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven, mother, polo player and Jaeger-LeCoultre ambassador. But above all, she's a wonderful woman (I swear she didn't pay me to say that).Having met her a few weeks back at Trippett's Farm in West Susse...
Designed back in 1996 by Michel Parmigiani, the Toric made a comeback a few months ago with the Toric Chronometer. Displaying time and date only, it is much more than a traditional three-hander. And this year it has been fitted with a tasteful guilloche dial and has been submitted – with success – to the demanding Qualite Fleurier criteria. A good reason to go hands-on with this superb...
Today, just after the closing of the Paris Stock Exchange, luxury powerhouse LVMH (Louis Vuitton?Mo?t Hennessy) announced its?First-Half 2018 results. After showing strong results at the end of the year 2017, the group continues its progression, both in terms of sales and profitability. As for the Watches and Jewelry Division, the brands under portfolio follow the same trend, with a strong growth ...
A few days ago,?the?Goodwood Festival of Speed (GFOS) took place in the UK for the 25th time in its history. As the official timekeeper of the (superb) event for the second year, Montblanc was, of course, present to celebrate the world of cars. However, that’s not all, as a pair of vintage-oriented, cappuccino-coloured Limited Editions of MB’s racing-oriented watch was also introduced....
As the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, Omega always presents limited editions dedicated to this major sports event. With Tokyo 2020 on its way, we expected some new watches to be introduced. And here they are, the new?Omega Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 Olympics Collection (to give credit where credit is due, thank you?Fratellowatches and Instagram users for spreading the news…) Don’...
In 2017, Doxa introduced the SUB 300 ‘Black Lung’, a reissue of a rare 1967 prototype, an iconic watch amongst the diving community made for Aqua-Lung. Unfortunately for some (and?fortunately for Doxa), this limited edition was the?fastest-selling model of the brand ever… Today, there’s one more chance to get your hands on another ultra-cool version, this time in the long-r...
Chopard is now an established member of the select coterie of Haute Horlogerie manufactures and the brand's ability to produce beautiful complications has resulted in this L.U.C All-in-One masterpiece and the equally impressive L.U.C Full Strike minute repeater, which secured the Aiguille d'Or at the 2017 GPHG.? Equipped with fourteen indications spread across two dials, the L.U.C All-in-One was o...
It's been 12 years since the first Nautilo dive watch was developed by Dino Zei, naval engineer and former 25-year head of Panerai, and a couple of new editions have arrived for the summer. The theme this year is blue, which is fitting for a naval-inspired dive watch, and they follow the design refresh we saw last year in conjunction with Anonimo's 20th Anniversary. The Italian brand has been fair...
Blue dials have been popular for some time now. So much so, that they have almost become the rule instead of the exception. To stand out from the crowd with a blue dial nowadays, you are going to have to pull off something special. That's exactly what Patek Philippe has done with the latest iteration of its reference 5205G. Although not a new watch per se, the addition of a mouth-wateringly delici...
Echoing the positive industry trend and in line with expectations, Swatch group, the largest watchmaking consortium just announced record half-year sales for 2018.?The group’s net sales increased by 14.7% to CHF 4,266 million at current exchange rates, respectively by 12.6% at constant rates reflecting the improvement of the business environment after a prolonged downturn (Swatch group sales...
The names of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Yuri Gagarin are familiar to us all, men whose endeavours in outer space earned them terrestrial fame as legends – and even inspired watch collections. But there are other pioneers of space whose names are less known and deserve credit for their adventures, like Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. Louis Moinet, the brand whose founder is credited wit...
There are certain watch brands that are unmistakable at first sight. Panerai and Richard Mille come to mind. Chronoswiss is another such brand with its signature regulator displays, knurled cases and large onion crowns. Since 1987, Chronoswiss has celebrated this regulator design and built a brand identity around it. Following up on recent regulator models, such as the Flying Regulator Open Gear a...
If scuba diving is a popular recreational sport, it is a dangerous activity that needs to be properly prepared and monitored. If a diver ascends too quickly, this can lead to decompression illness that can be painful and life-threatening. As depth increases the physiological effects become greater. A reliable dive watch and a depth gauge are essential pieces of diving gear designed to monitor dept...
Creating a two-hand ultra-thin watch is, believe it or not, one of the most complex exercises for a watch designer. Because of the extreme simplicity of such pieces, it is easy to end up with the most boring watch possible – and how do you differentiate yourself when you simply have nothing to express…? This is where the?Breguet Classique Extra-Plate 5157 (and its 2018 pink gold versio...
The 1815 Tourbillon by A. Lange & Sohne is one of those watches that, at first,?keeps its cards well hidden. Except for the tourbillon visible at 6 o’clock, it remains extremely discreet. However, when it was introduced four years ago, it appeared to be a watch packed with clever mechanisms. More than meets the eye, they say. This precision timekeeping instrument, which features several ...
A couple of years ago, when the idea of buying a Panerai crossed your mind, you knew that a minimum of 6K would be required. Quite a hefty price for what were, after all, simple tool watches. Yet, it seems that a new strategy is taking shape at the “Officine”. After introducing new and affordable Luminor Base and Marina at the SIHH 2018, the brand is applying the same concept to the?Ra...
Let’s get straight to the point: the new?Panerai Luminor California 8 Days DLC 44mm PAM00779 is packing all the possible cool things Panerai can do in a single watch to an almost gimmick-like level… But honestly, it simply works! It has a?strong, distinctive and masculine look, which results in a completely original combination of classic Panerai elements. This?PAM00779 is, to us here ...
Back in January 2017, Omega teamed up with our good friends and fellow watch journalist FratelloWatches to create the Speedy Tuesday limited edition – a watch that was intended for true Speedmaster collectors who gather under the #SpeedyTuesday community. This first edition was based on the Alaska Project watch with a radial/panda dial. Now, it is time for the?Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesda...
Few watches can claim to be real icons. The IWC?Big Pilot's Watch is definitely one of them. This WWII-inspired pilot’s watch needs no introduction anymore. Of course, the one that everybody knows is the classic black dial version with white indices (Ref. IW500912). But there are more editions offered by the brand – including my favourite, the “Le Petit Prince” ref. IW50091...
Things used to be better in the good old days? Well, not necessarily. Watchmaking has always relied on technology and it has evolved together with the machinery, tools and techniques that make watch production possible, simply to keep in tune with the times. For this reason, we're bringing you behind the scenes at Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier to see how watch parts are made.The meticulous handwork...
Now that summer is firmly installed in most regions of the world?(Northern Hemisphere at least), you might be tempted to opt for a dive watch or a colourful?sports watch. Sure, these watches will be perfectly suitable on the beach, but what if you want to keep things elegant – or what if you’re about to spend your summer behind the desk, working while your?ungrateful colleagues enjoy t...
Icons stand the test of time. Born in 1969, El Primero (the first in Spanish) is still regarded as one of the best and most accurate chronograph movements ever created. Part of a trilogy of automatic chronograph calibres that hit the market in 1969, it is the only one that is still produced to date. As Zenith prepares to celebrate the 50th?anniversary of this legendary calibre next year, MONOCHROM...