In December 2022, when Rolex announced its Certified Pre-Owned programme through Bucherer, I wrote: "The impact will be minimal on the grey market.” I also predicted that "the ones that might hurt some, are the pre-owned dealers with a brick and mortar storefront that try to buy inventory almost as low as ADs…”
Posts filed under From the Editor
From the Editor: When Fire Meets Horse—The Best Watches for the Rarest Year in the Chinese Zodiac
2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse, an astrological convergence that occurs once every 60 years. These are the finest horological tributes we've covered. When the Fire Horse succeeds the Wood Snake today, February 17, 2026, it inaugurates one of the Chinese zodiac's most potent symbols—vitality, elegance, courage, and unbridled energy.
From the Editor: Is Time for Love—A Valentine's Reflection
Every mechanical watch carries a quiet metaphor the industry trots out each February: the balance wheel oscillates, the mainspring unwinds, and somewhere inside that architecture of steel and brass, a tiny heart beats. The Valentine's Day limited edition is, by its nature, a commercial exercise.
From the Editor: Audemars Piguet's 22-Watch Overload—Quantity Over Vision, One Stands Apart
Yesterday, Audemars Piguet announced 22 new watches at the AP Social Club in Le Brassus. When a manufacture releases this many watches in a single presentation, the question isn't celebration, it's evaluation. Which of these actually matter?
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.
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.
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.
From the Editor: The Million Dollar 'Albino' Rolex Daytona from Sotheby's. Perezcope Breaks the Silence, Again.
The vintage watch-collecting world values a good story when it comes to the origin, rarity, and provenance of a watch offered at auction, and even more so when it’s about a vintage Rolex Daytona. We celebrate provenance, pursue rarity, and invest not only in mechanical excellence but also in the narratives that surround exceptional timepieces.
From the Editor: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5
In the world of haute horlogerie, certain moments transcend mere product launches to become defining statements of a manufacture's prowess, and this is precisely what Audemars Piguet has done here. Perhaps these are the first steps for the brand to return to its remarkable origins and history. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 ref. 26545XT.OO.1240XT.01 represents precisely such a moment.
From the Editor: Celebrating 270 Years of Vacheron Constantin's History and Rarest Horological Treasures
Today, September 17, 2025 marks 270 years of uninterrupted history of the oldest watch manufacture in the world: Vacheron Constantin. As the world's oldest continuously operating watch manufacture, the Geneva-based maison has spent nearly three centuries perfecting the art of timekeeping, creating some of the most coveted and technically sophisticated timepieces ever conceived. For serious collectors, understanding Vacheron Constantin's remarkable journey through history—and the extraordinary rare references that punctuate its timeline—represents nothing less than a masterclass in horological excellence
From the Editor: Celebrating Mexico's Independence with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Pride of Mexico'
Today, as Mexico celebrates its Independence Day, I reflect on the profound ways that timepieces can capture national identity and commemorative spirit. Few watches embody this concept as elegantly as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ‘Pride of Mexico’ limited edition—a horological tribute that transforms patriotic symbolism into wearable art.
From the Editor: An Open Letter to the Fondation Haute Horlogerie and Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève
As the Founder, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of WatchCollectingLifestyle.com, one of the world's top ten digital magazines dedicated to luxury timepieces, I write to you today with deep concern about the erosion of professional standards within our industry's most prestigious institutions. With 35 years as a dedicated watch collector, 25+ years as a horological scholar, and 12 years chronicling the evolution of our beloved craft…
From the Editor: Trump's 39% Tariffs on Swiss Products Hit on Swiss National Day. What This Means for Watch Collectors.
Today, August 1, 2025, as we celebrate Swiss National Day, well, here we are. Not celebrating much, but concerned about the impact of tariffs on the Swiss watch industry and my wallet—especially the impact on advertising revenue for my publication and my future watch purchases.
From the Editor: Hands-On Review of the New Porsche Design Chronograph 1 '1975 Limited Edition'. Thoughts From a Porsche Lover.
As you all know, I am a huge lover of all things Porsche, and Porsche Design watches are not the exception. As soon as I received the press release on the new Porsche Design Chronograph 1 '1975 Limited Edition', I loved how the watch looked in the pictures, and I immediately asked for a prototype of the watch to review in the metal.
From the Editor: Ginny Wright Departs Audemars Piguet North America. Growing Pains or Strategic Reset?
The sudden removal of Ginny Wright from her post as CEO of Audemars Piguet North America sheds some light on what could be some growing pains or strategic reset at Audemars Piguet North America since the departure of François-Henry Bennahmias from the region in 2013; and the very calculated appointment of Ilaria Resta as the new CEO of Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus as of January 2024.
From the Editor: The Cartier Santos is a Masterclass in Versatile Luxury. Now with Three Size Options.
In the pantheon of luxury timepieces, few watches can claim the distinction of being both historically significant and effortlessly contemporary. The Cartier Santos stands as perhaps the finest example of horological versatility, seamlessly bridging the gap between sporty functionality and refined elegance in ways that continue to surprise even seasoned collectors.
From the Editor: The Most Complete History of the AP Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar From 1983 to 2025
Only eleven years after the launch of the Royal Oak in 1972, the brand was already making history by releasing the iconic watch Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar complication. Fitted at the time with a 39 mm case—like the original Royal Oak 'Jumbo'—and powered by the automatic calibre 2120/2800, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar has seen many variations, limited editions, and case sizes throughout its history.
From the Editor: Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite. A Bold Move, Overhyped Luxury or Overmilking the Same Cow?
Omega’s latest release, the Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite, left me thinking a lot about the minimal effort the brand puts into releasing new watches and how, despite its lack of creativity, the pricing of its watches continues to increase without proper justification. Since 1969, Omega has been milking the same cow with the same boring story.
From the Editor: Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 Steel Review. What I Love About This Iconic Watch with Live Pictures.
Vacheron Constantin just released the new Historiques 222 in stainless steel this past Monday, January 13th, 2025 and I was able to peruse the new watch with the team from Vacheron this Wednesday in New York City. Now that I have seen the watch in the metal, I can give you my honest review as usual. This reissue like its 18K yellow gold counterpart was one of the most awaited watches from the brand.
From the Editor: Mark Zuckerberg Wears Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 to Announce End of META Fact Checks
This morning Mark Zuckerberg posted an announcement on Instagram about the end of META Fact Checks and changes to content censorship through META properties. The watch that he was wearing was a Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 worth close to one million dollars. The Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 is one of the few watches made by hand in almost its entirety.
