Laurent Ferrier has forged a particularly meaningful relationship with American collectors since the manufacture's inception in 2010. It was American enthusiasts who first championed the independent watchmaker's debut creation at the GPHG that year, providing the early validation that encouraged Laurent Ferrier to build not merely a collection, but a lasting brand.
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Experience: Bern's Zytglogge Clock Tower—Where Swiss Horology Truly Began
There exists a peculiar pilgrimage undertaken by serious watch collectors, one that has nothing to do with boutique openings or manufacture tours. It leads instead to a tower erected in 1218—27 years after the founding of Bern in 1191—by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen. Here, in this structure that predates Swiss watchmaking by centuries, a clock has been marking time since 1530—nearly three centuries before the first Vacheron Constantin left the atelier of Jean-Marc Vacheron.
Insider: Richard Mille RM 33-03 Carbon TPT 5N Red Gold—New Skeletonized Automatic with Micro-Rotor
Richard Mille's latest creation, the RM 33-03 Automatic, marries the sporty essence of their signature tonneau aesthetic with the timeless appeal of a circular case. As the successor of the RM 33-02, this timepiece introduces greater mechanical complexity while maintaining exceptional wearability. Available in full Grade 5 titanium or Carbon TPT with 5N red gold middle case and accents like the watch we are reviewing here, the RM 33-03 delivers Richard Mille's uncompromising standards in a surprisingly approachable 41.7 mm package that wears just perfectly.
Perspective: What the 2025 Swiss Watch Export Numbers Really Mean
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry's export figures for 2025—from Jan-Nov, as December is still unavailable— tell a story of an industry navigating profound market shifts. On the surface, we see a 2.2% decline to CHF 23.4 billion through November 2025—a modest figure in an industry that has weathered far more turbulent periods. But that number, like a dial with multiple complications, requires careful reading to understand what's actually happening beneath the surface.
Introducing: Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Red Gold Japanese Garden Unique Piece with Hand-Carved Mother-of-Pearl
In recent years, Jaquet Droz has shifted its strategy to serve watch collectors seeking the ultimate examples of its unique Metiers d’Art pieces. There's a particular stillness that descends when you first encounter a masterfully rendered Japanese garden, the kind of quietude that makes the outside world recede, leaving only the interplay of stone, water, and living things arranged with deliberate grace.
News: Tudor Returns as TUDOR Team Alinghi for the 38th America's Cup
Tudor has announced its return to competitive sailing as the title partner of Alinghi for the 38th edition of the America's Cup, scheduled for summer 2027 in Napoli, Italy. The renewed partnership sees the Swiss watchmaker once again aligning its "Born to Dare" philosophy with one of sailing's most storied teams, now competing as the TUDOR Team Alinghi and sailing under the Société Nautique de Genève flag.
Introducing: Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional 42 mm. Steel and Moonshine Gold Expressions in a Reverse Panda.
Omega reinforces its position as the custodian of horological spacefaring heritage with two compelling additions to the Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional collection, both housed within the contemporary 42 mm architecture that has defined the modern Moonwatch since its 2021 redesign. The reference 310.30.42.50.01.004 in stainless steel and the reference 310.60.42.50.01.002 in 18K Moonshine gold.
From the Editor: LVMH Denies Zenith Sale—But the Real Story Runs Deeper
Zenith is, without a doubt, one of my favorite brands and one of the most revered brands in terms of horological accolades. Surprisingly, many sources, primarily in Switzerland (Blick) and across Europe, suggest that LVMH has been preparing to sell Zenith, the storied manufacture whose El Primero chronograph has been beating at 36,000 vph since 1969.
News: Vacheron Constantin Launches First-Ever Concours d'Élégance Horlogère in Partnership with Phillips
Vacheron Constantin has announced the inaugural Vacheron Constantin Concours d'Élégance Horlogère, marking the first competition of its kind in the watchmaking industry. Developed at Phillips' initiative in Association with Bacs & Russo, the event brings the celebrated automotive Concours d'Élégance format to fine watchmaking.
Introducing: Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold 'Year of the Horse'—Métiers d'Art Meets Moon Phase Precision
When the Fire Horse succeeds the Wood Snake on February 17, 2026, Arnold & Son will mark the occasion with the sixth installment in its Chinese zodiac collection—a spectacular demonstration of why the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture ranks among independent watchmaking's most accomplished métiers d'art practitioners.
Weekend Reads: Five Essential WCL Editorials to Start Your 2026 Watch Collecting Journey
Sunday mornings offer the perfect opportunity to explore the deeper questions of watch collecting without the week's distractions. This weekend, I'm recommending five essential editorials that collectively map a path through the most important considerations in watch collecting—from overlooked materials science overlooked by traditional collectors to market opportunities hiding in plain sight.
News: Bell & Ross Becomes Official Timing Partner of Defender Rally World Rally-Raid Championship 2026
Bell & Ross has announced its partnership with Defender Rally as the official timing partner for the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) 2026. The collaboration positions the French-Swiss watchmaker alongside the Defender D7X-R team competing in one of motorsport's most demanding environments, with the first round launching January 3rd in the Saudi Arabian desert.
Watches and Wonders 2026 Preview: What to Expect from Audemars Piguet's Return
When Audemars Piguet announced at the end of September last year that it would return to Watches and Wonders after a six-year absence—AP pulled out when SIHH was replaced by Watches and Wonders—, the watch world took notice. The Le Brassus manufacture had famously departed SIHH in 2019 alongside Richard Mille, declaring its intention to forge direct relationships with collectors through boutique-only distribution and private events.
Perspective: Why Every Serious Watch Collector Needs an Independent in 2026
The current watch market in 2026 presents a peculiar opportunity: while established brands’ pricing remains elevated and allocation scarcity persists for the Holy Trinity and Rolex sports models, independent watchmakers offer increasingly compelling value propositions that serious collectors systematically overlook.
From the Editor: Why Titanium Is the Most Underrated Case Material in Haute Horlogerie
In 35 years of watch collecting, I've watched haute horlogerie's relationship with materials evolve from conservative use of gold and stainless steel to adventurous explorations of tantalum, silver, platinum, ceramics, and proprietary metal alloys. Yet titanium remains systematically undervalued despite offering compelling advantages for complicated watchmaking.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date
The Royal Oak Concept collection has always represented Audemars Piguet's most uninhibited creative expression—a laboratory for horological experimentation where traditional constraints are willingly abandoned. With the Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date reference 26650TI.OO.D013CA.01, launched in 2023, AP achieved something genuinely remarkable
Perspective: Five Watch Collecting Philosophies. Finding Your Path in 2026.
As we enter 2026, the landscape of watch collecting has never been more varied—or more personal. The question isn't whether to collect, but how to collect. Your approach reveals as much about your values as the watches themselves. Drawing on the exceptional timepieces we encountered in 2025, here are five distinct philosophies that define contemporary watch collecting from our perspective, each offering its own rewards and challenges.
Perspective: Happy New Year 2026
As midnight strikes and our calendars advance, I find myself reflecting on what watchmaking has taught me about time—that it's both our most finite resource and our most renewable. Every January 1st, perpetual calendars advance, taking leap years into account, and all our watches with a date function advance effortlessly..
From the Editor: 2025—A Year of Horological Audacity and Pleasant Surprises
As I reflect on the watches that graced my hands and lenses throughout 2025, what strikes me most profoundly is not merely the technical achievements—though they were considerable—but rather the willingness of watch manufactures to pursue genuine innovation while honoring their heritage. This was a year when the industry's most storied names took meaningful risks, and some of them paid tenfold.
Introducing: Block RG Stealth Tourbillon. Sharpest Geometry in Haute Horlogerie.
Founded by Romas Gimbutis, Block RG draws on decades of expertise in jewelry craftsmanship, precision engineering, and haute horlogerie. Relying on a group of creators who intimately understood the limits of traditional watchmaking because they'd spent years working within them, the brand draws on materials and technologies from the aerospace, high-performance automotive, and defense sectors, integrating lightweight composites and advanced alloys that prioritize performance over convention
