Since the reintroduction in 2015 of the name Czapek, Antoine Norbert de Patek’s ex-partner before he founded Patek Philippe, the freshly recreated brand has focused on high-end watchmaking, of course, but also displays a strong appetite for hand-crafted dials, whether they are made in enamel or guilloche. Using its latest watch as a base, the Chronograph Czapek Faubourg de Cracovie, the bran...
After we look at the most desirable models in and Patek Philippe catalogues, and the reality of the market – understand, the premium you’ll have to pay to get your hands on these watches, without waiting for years – it is time to go full circle and to give an end to the speculation story… And that means looking at THE watch that actually started it all, the watch that, ba...
Being the largest watch retailer over the world, Swiss-based company Bucherer has enough influence to do things its own way… And that means creating its own, personalised watches, manufactured by some of the most prestigious brands around, and themed after a concept named “Bucherer BLUE”. After multiple editions, including IWC, Longines, Breguet, GO or Oris, it is now time for Bu...
Here’s the brand new A. Lange & Sohne Odysseus, the brand’s first stainless steel watch that can easily be worn during sports and that isn’t scared of a bit of water. Is this the luxury sports watch that you were expecting? Well, better forget everything you know about luxury sports watches and anything you could have imagined beforehand. The Odysseus from Lange looks… ...
Let's face it, there aren't that many women's watches out there that can be worn day in, day out in just about any environment. Either they are beautiful dress watches with luxurious details that require extra-special care or they are downsized versions of men's sports watches. Striking a balance between a sporty, resilient watch that is elegant enough to transition from the tennis court to a cock...
Panerai's partnership with Luna Rossa, the Challenger of Record of the 36th America's Cup, was celebrated earlier this year with the Luna Rossa Challenger Submersible PAM01039 model. A 47mm dive watch with 300m water-resistance and a carbon fibre case like the monohull of the AC75 Luna Rossa, this first commemorative model had a sailcloth dial and touches of red and white like the Luna Rossa logo....
Last week, we published an article that we believed was a “necessary evil”. We listed the 5 most sought-after watches currently in production and looked at their “real” market value, the reasons behind the trend and the premium you actually have to pay if you want to get your hands on these watches today. This article has been a hot topic of discussion, with many comments...
When Seiko presented the Prospex LX Line at Baselworld 2019, there were long and vehement discussions on the pertinence of such a collection, and how the brand was way out of line for trying to compete with the sacred cows of Swiss watchmaking (understand here and Omega) in their own arena: sport watches with a price between EUR 5,000-8,000, depending on the model – and not even members of...
After three years of quartz watches for Max Verstappen, covered here, here and here, his TAG Heuer special edition has now come of age. And despite the autumn rain and a very disappointing race last weekend for the Dutchman, spirits were high during the presentation of a watch that will most likely be sold out even before it hits the shelves. Meet the new TAG Heuer chronograph Max Verstappen Speci...
It's clear that Ulysse Nardin wants to underline its commitment to high-tech innovation, first made manifest with the Freak and its cutting-edge silicium escapement. This time Ulysse Nardin reaches out to a famous French company renowned for its luxury speakers to co-develop a limited edition of 85 repeaters that will produce a unique sound experience. The 43mm titanium Hourstriker Phantom, named ...
The watches produced by Ferdinand Berthoud (Chopard’s sister, high-end brand) are fascinating and depict impressive mechanics and finishings. At the SIHH 2019, the brand introduced an exclusive limited edition watch, named the Chronometre FB1 “Oeuvre d’Or”. As part of Mexico City SIAR 2019 Salon, the brand introduces a new version of this watch with a novel solid white gold...
The Constellation family has been around for 66 years and is currently one of Omega's oldest collections. What started out as a chronometer for men in 1952 has undergone countless aesthetic transformations, from the pie-pan dials of the 1950s to the ultra-thin quartz watches of the 1970s leading to the consolidation of the collection in 1982 with the Constellation Manhattan and its hallmark claws....
While the watch industry ticks in time to two massive watch fairs, Baselworld and SIHH, these two events are mostly meant for brands to present their novelties to a public of professionals – retailers and journalists. However, some local events around the globe allow watch collectors and enthusiasts to discover the collections – think SIAR, Dubai WW, Salon QP. Happening this weekend (O...
Chinese New Year kicks off on 25 January 2020 and according to the Chinese zodiac, this means we are entering the reign of the Year of the Rat (metal rat, to be precise) replacing the pig. The rat is the first animal in the Chinese Zodiac and is associated with many positive qualities such as intelligence, vitality, success, abundance and wealth. Once again, Vacheron Constantin commissions its tal...
Chronoswiss and regulators are synonymous these days. The company was the first to introduce this style on production wristwatches back in 1987 and has built a brand identity around it. That's not to say that three-hand and chronograph pieces don't exist (they're alive and well in the Sirius and Timemaster collections), but regulators have become such a specialty that the others are often overshad...
For the last two years, Oris has teamed up with non-profit organization Movember to help fight men's most problematic physical and mental health issues. After the 2017 and 2018 Movember watches, Oris is today launching a new special version, based on the vintage-inspired 1970s Chronoris. Here's the Oris Movember Edition 2019, with part of the proceeds to support the Movember foundation. Let's take...
The IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph might not be the most coveted watch in the brand’s pilot collection and still, it is certainly one of the most relevant… Why, you might well ask? For the main reason that it combines two of the most practical features for such a watch; a flyback chronograph and a clever dual-time function actuated by the bezel. Today, as we...
Many brands are associated with pilot watches these days, which is among the most popular of styles. IWC, Breitling, Zenith, Laco, Hamilton and scores of others have long histories with these tools of aviation and bona fide war credentials to back up contemporary offerings. Glashutte-based Tutima is on this list and perhaps best known for the legendary Flieger Chronograph of 1941. In 2013, the bra...
There is no doubt that Longines knows its business when it comes to re-editing past models. This was true with the Avigation BigEye, the Type A-7 or the Heritage Military. Despite how good these watches were, there was always a small ‘but’ (a date, a large case…) but what you’re about to see is a very, very attractive. Cool design, great proportions, historical relevance an...
Mexico City's Salon Internacional Alta Relojera (SIAR) is Latin America's most important annual watch fair. As such, this major horological event has become an opportunity for brands to release special editions celebrating Mexico and its culture. Among the watches presented in 2019 are two Louis Moinet pieces, the “Only Mexico” and “Metropolis Mexico”.Louis Moinet Only Mex...
It seems that Hamilton is on fire, with multiple well-received, vintage-inspired releases, such as the Khaki Pilot Pioneer, the Khaki Field Mechanical or the Intra-Matic. As we’re still in 2019 and still celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Chrono-Matic/Calibre 11 movement, the brand introduces another watch modelled on a glorious watch – and this time, it won’t be for the fai...
Vintage-inspired watches are all the rage these days with military and dive watches usually grabbing the spotlight. Tissot has been around since the early 1850s and knows a thing or two about vintage watches. The brand's Heritage collection is full of throwbacks, celebrating milestones in both engineering and design. For instance, the Visodate line looks back at the 1950s when the date complicatio...
You are all familiar with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, with its history, and its multiple manifestations but the model we have for our hands-on session today is going to elicit some very extreme reactions, good and bad. Although there is nothing novel under the hood or structurally about this Royal Oak chronograph, this is a very particular piece and as such is a limited edition of 200 pieces. W...
With a multi-axis tourbillon, a meteorite dial, a fully integrated chronograph, hand-guillochage, engraving and a Grand Feu enamel dial, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition GyroTourbillon 3 Meteorite really showcases some of the most amazing skills in watchmaking. But if you want this on your Christmas wish list, you better act fast (and call your banker first, too).The new Master Grande ...
Favre Leuba is known for its rugged functional watches. The brand's unique mountaineering credentials owe much to the Bivouac collection. Back in the 1960s, the watch was one of the first to be fitted with a mechanical altimeter. In 1975, Japanese alpinist Junko Tabel, the first women to summit Everest, did so with a Bivouac strapped to her wrist.Fast forward to 2017, the brand launched the Bivoua...
The Luxury Sports Watch category is dominated by iconic classics such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus - two watches that defined the genre back in the 1970s. It is also one of the most successful categories these days, with these two models being almost impossible to find at retailers. We all know that patience is a virtue, but when it comes to waiting years for yo...
Usually, professional football players show a preference for a handful of watch brands. They are usually spotted with mainstream brands like Audemars Piguet, Hublot, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille or . I have observed a couple of players with timepieces from A. Lange & Sohne and Patek, and also watches from independent brand Urwerk. This leads us to today's player who has purchased a watch tha...
1969 was a prolific year for the watch industry. We could talk about the Moon Landing or the introduction of several iconic timepieces. But when it comes to innovation and pure watchmaking, 1969 should be remembered mainly for the introduction of the first automatic chronograph movements. Among them were the El Primero and the Chronomatic/Calibre 11, but a third manufacture also came on the market...
The Serpenti (snake in English) has been Bvlgari’s signature, iconic, cult women’s watch design for decades. Bold, feminine, precious, this watch captures the alluring sensuality of the snake that has become Bvlgari’s mascot in both jewellery and watch pieces.?This year, the Rome-based brand revisits its cult Serpenti watch. More contemporary and versatile, meet the Bvlgari Serpe...
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and its full ceramic Perpetual Calendar versions – full black and now white too – have been some of the most sought-after modern watches for some years now. You understand why when you handle these watches… The full ceramic case and bracelet are nothing but superbly executed. To add to the desirability of this model, Audemars Piguet today introduces...