Posts filed under News

News: Pre-SIHH 2016 Presenting the Piaget Emperador Coussin XL 700P. A Mechanical and Quartz Hybrid Timepiece.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its first in-house quartz movement, the famous ultra-thin 7P calibre presented in 1976, Piaget unveils the Emperador Coussin XL 700P. This new watch is an astonishing concept watch issued in a 118-piece limited edition.

Posted on December 15, 2015 and filed under Piaget, Other Brands, SIHH 2016, News.

News: Pre-SIHH 2016 Presenting Five New Jaeger-LeCoultre Reversos with Sixteen References to Celebrate the 85th Anniversary of an Icon.

In preparation for the SIHH 2016 next month, Jaeger-LeCoultre has just unveiled five new Reverso watches with sixteen references, commemorating the 85th anniversary of the birth of this iconic watch first presented in 1931. This undisputed style icon elicits the same wonderment decade after decade.

News: Presenting the New Ressence Type 5 Diving Watch. The First Mechanical Diving Watch with No 'Total Internal Reflection' Under Water.

Today we are presenting you the third creation from Ressence. The new Type 5 is a diver's watch that is ISO certified and the first mechanical diving watch to offer a perfect view of the dial at any angle with no mirror reflection under water. The main function of the new Type 5 is telling time, however, the watch is also equipped with ultra-bright blue and green superluminova and a built-in thermometer for the oil temperature.

Posted on December 10, 2015 and filed under Ressence, Other Brands, News.

News: Presenting the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst. Commemorating the 200th Birthday of Ferdinand Adolph Lange.

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, A. Lange & Söhne has just released one of the most beautiful watches we've seen lately. The new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst ref. 730.048F is the first A. Lange & Söhne watch that combines a stop-seconds device for the tourbillon and the zero-reset mechanism. At the close of the anniversary year that commemorates the 200th birthday of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, this paragon of precision timekeeping is being presented in a limited 'Handwerkskunst' —artisanship— edition featuring extraordinary dial and movement decorations.

News: MB&F Launches 'The Tribe' Owners Section On Their Website and Gives an Extended 2-Year Warranty on all Watches Ever Created Regardless of Their Purchase Date.

Some great news from MB&F this morning. In order to celebrate the end of this amazing year and their 10th year anniversary, they have a very special gift for all collectors of MB&F Machines.

News: Pre-SIHH 2016 Presenting the Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic PAM 655. First Radiomir Ever with a White Dial.

A little bit over a month before the SIHH 2016 kicks off, Panerai presents the first Radiomir to have a white dial. The new Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic PAM 655 takes its inspiration directly from the 1940s model but in an absolutely contemporary style. Subtle, light, distinguished by its essential lines and maximum clarity of reading and setting, it is a sports watch adapted to every situation. For the first time in a watch in the Radiomir 1940 collection, the dial of the new Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic is offered in white. Its graphic design maximizes the dial’s clarity and legibility, with the large black figures corresponding to the hour markers and the small seconds dial at nine o’clock, a characteristic of Panerai watches of the 1940s. The cushion case, in AISI 316L stainless steel with polished finish, measures 42 mm in diameter and only 10.93 mm in thickness.

News: Presenting the RJ-Romain Jerome Super Mario Bros. A $19,000 USD 85-piece Limited Edition Watch for Nintendo Fanatics.

For all Super Mario fans the long wait is finally over, RJ-Romain Jerome is now releasing the Super Mario Bros. collection. In honor of the game’s 30th anniversary, RJ is adding the center piece to its Generational Icons collection. In a 46mm case RJ has recreated the essence of the original Super Mario Bros. game from 1985. Nintendo’s legendary character Mario is exceptionally dressed in his recognizable red shirt and blue overalls with his famous jump and iconic mushroom. These most symbolic elements of the game are depicted on the dial and are all captured in the visual style that captivated a generation. The Super Mario Bros. timepiece is limited to 85 pieces to echo 1985, the year the game launched.
 
The new collaboration between RJ-Romain Jerome and Nintendo is a tribute to this genre-defining video game of the 8-bit era, the first of its kind.

Posted on November 30, 2015 and filed under Romain Jerome, Other Brands, News.

News: Pre-SIHH 2016 Presenting the Richard Mille RM 67-01 Extra Flat. First Time Richard Mille Does an Extra Flat in a Tonneau Shaped Case.

The Richard Mille collection distinguishes itself by having created not one, but several models within a short timespan that have become recognized by collectors and insiders alike as ultimate icons of contemporary watchmaking. And one of the most popular icons must certainly be the RM 010 Automatic, whose pure lines and functions have always found resonance with clients everywhere. Never one to sit still, Richard Mille felt that the moment has arrived to present a new iteration destined to become another icon of the future: the RM 67-01 Automatic Extra Flat. The mechanical aspect of creating a thin automatic has its own set of particular difficulties, but one of the dual challenges is to combine this type of movement design with the creation of a sense of visual depth within the movement —a central tenet to Richard Mille’s approach.

Posted on November 18, 2015 and filed under News, Richard Mille, SIHH 2016.

News: Presenting the New Tudor Fastrider Black Shield ref. 42000CN. Inspired by the Ducati XDiavel and Available Via Special Order.

Directly inspired by the distinctive sporting elegance of the new Ducati XDiavel, Tudor adds a third model to the existing Fastrider Black Shield collection with a new matte black and white version of the Fastrider Black Shield. Just like the other two models, the new watch is fitted with a 42 mm monobloc high-tech bead blasted black matte ceramic case, automatic chronograph and date function. The Tudor Fastrider was originally created in 2011 to mark the partnership between Tudor and Ducati, becoming the technical and sporty TUDOR line dedicated to the world of performance motorbikes. In 2013, with the Fastrider Black Shield Chronograph and its matte black monobloc ceramic middle case, TUDOR presented the result of a cross-disciplinary approach to design, connecting the world of sports motorbikes to that of fine watchmaking. The collaboration also extended to the customization of a Ducati Diavel using the same design language. In 2015, a new Ducati —the XDiavel— has inspired Tudor to create a new edition of its all-ceramic chronograph.

News: Pre-SIHH 2016 Introducing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in 18K Yellow Gold. As Warm and Brilliant as the Sun.

n 2016, Audemars Piguet brings the enduring lustre of yellow gold back to the forefront. Launched in 1972, the Royal Oak was the first luxury watch to treat stainless steel, and meticulously craft, polish and decorate it, like a precious metal. As the copy on the first campaign mentioned: "A Tribute to Steel" and then the following one: "Steel at the price of Gold". Using steel in such a manner was a risk, yet ultimately a game-changing triumph. The revolution it launched opened a new and extremely creative chapter for Audemars Piguet, during which it explored traditional and unconventional materials in great depth: platinum, carbon, alacrite, bronze, rubber, ceramic, titanium, tantalum, etc.

News: James Bond's Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 from 1972 Sells for $365,000 USD at Phillips Auction Two. Live and Let Die.

Yesterday November 8th, 2015 in Geneva at the Phillips Watches Auction Number Two in partnership with Bacs & Russo, the Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 worn by Sir Roger Moore as James Bond, sold for $365,000 USD. The most recognizable watch in history with 1 billion people having watched the film “Live and Let Die”, the wristwatch worn on the wrist of Sir Roger Moore as James Bond is in fact a Rolex Submariner reference 5513 made in 1972, and was later modified for the movie. The present Rolex reference 5513 “Q” is the most unforgettable watch prop used in a movie and is even signed inside the caseback “Roger Moore 007”. As a highlight in the most iconic scenes of “Live and Let Die”, this watch is sure to interest both watch collectors and true fans of cinematography alike.

News: Vintage Patek Philippe Split Seconds Chronograph ref. 1436 Sells for $3.29 Million USD. One of Two Examples Known to Exist.

Yesterday November 8th, 2015 in Geneva at the Phillips Watches Auction Number Two in partnership with Bacs & Russo, another vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch sets a record at auction. Selling for $3.301 Million Swiss Francs —roughly $3.291 Million USD at today's exchange rate—, the Patek Philippe Split Seconds chronograph ref. 1436 makes history. With only two examples in stainless steel that are known to exist, this watch is far from the norm where the elite of watch manufacturers would reserve their most complicated and consequently valuable movements for precious metal cases. The consequence is, however, that lovers and collectors of the finest complicated vintage wristwatches will struggle to ever find a favorite piece in a stainless steel case. The perfect example of this theory is Patek Philippe, and only too many passionate collectors of the firm’s vintage pieces regret not to have yet seen a reference 2499, two crown world time, or vintage minute repeater in a stainless steel case.

News: ONLY Watch Auction Brings Crazy Money in Geneva. A Patek Philippe ref. 5016A Sells for $7.3 Million Swiss Francs.

With the proceeds from the sale donated to the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy in order to help finance research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease affecting 1 in 3,500 boys, therefore 250,000 children, adolescents, and young adults around the world, the ONLY Watch auction executed by Phillips this afternoon in Geneva, brought crazy money. Some of the highlights of the auction include a Patek Philippe ref. 5016A selling for more than $7.3 Million Swiss Francs, a Richard Mille RM 27-02 prototype worn by Rafael Nadal sold for $650,000 Swiss Francs, an F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Bleu selling for $550,000 Swiss Francs, the long awaited Tudor Black Bay One for $375,000 Swiss Francs, a Hublot Classic Fussion Only Watch Britto for $135,000 Swiss Francs, a Louis Vuitton Escale World Time selling for $130,000 Swiss Francs, the Bell & Ross BR01 Skull Bronze Tourbillon bringing in $100,000 Swiss Francs and lastly the Breguet Type XXI Flyback in Platinum ref. 3813 for $90,000 Swiss Francs. Of all 44 lots, this eight lots brought in the most money.

News: The Tudor Heritage Black Bay One Sells for 375,000 Swiss Francs at the 2015 ONLY Watch Auction by Phillips.

For its first participation in the 6th ONLY Watch charity auction to take place on November this year, Tudor has decided to reinterpret one of the least known tool-watches in its history: reference 7923. Launched in the mid-1950s and produced in tiny quantities, this is the brand’s only divers’ watch to have been equipped with a hand-wound movement. It also stands out from the other divers’ watches produced by Tudor with its baton-type hands. Highly sought after by collectors today, this rare reference was an excellent starting point for the creation of a one-off model destined for this unique initiative. The Tudor Heritage Black Bay One created for this auction mixes the best of both worlds —vintage and modern— in a flawless execution. This unique piece Tudor Heritage Black Bay One created for Only Watch 2015 is part of Tudor's heritage inspired approach, reinterpreting the reference 7923 with enlightened freedom.

Insider: Introducing the New MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual. Hands-on with Live Pics and Pricing. The Brand's First Perpetual Calendar Changing How We've Looked at Perpetuals so Far.

Perhaps one of the top five biggest news of the year and a watch that we think for sure will be a prize recipient at the GPHG next year. May we now present you MB&F's first perpetual calendar. The new MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual is a perpetual calendar timepiece that is reinventing the most traditional horological complication. The new MB&F LM Perpetual, developed from the ground up with independent Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell, breaks all codes and perspectives on how we've looked at perpetual calendars up until now.

While conventional perpetual calendars are generally modules comprising the complication which is fitted on top of an existing movement, the calendar indications are synchronized by a long lever —called 'grand levier' in French— running across the top of the complication and passing through the center.

News: The Winners of the 2015 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Congratulations to the Winners and Especially to Greubel Forsey for Winning the 'Aiguille d'Or' Grand Prix.

Excellence, innovation and watchmaking expertise were duly rewarded today October 29th, 2015 at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, on the occasion of the 15th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève —GPHG— prize-giving ceremony. The international jury of this edition 2015 of the GPHG handed out 16 prizes, including the supreme “Aiguille d’Or”, distinction, awarded to Greubel Forsey for the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision. Jointly hosted by Melanie Winiger and Frédéric Beigbeder, the ceremony was attended by around 1,500 guests including influential figures from the world of watchmaking, finance and politics, who congregated in Geneva for this annual celebration of the 12th art. This 15th edition of the GPHG registered a record participation with representation from all the major watchmaking groups as well as a number of independent companies.

News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 030 Automatic 'Black Dash'. A 50-Piece Limited Edition Right on Time for the SIAR Mexico City 2015.

As the SIAR 2015 kicks-off in Mexico City today, we are pleased to announce the new Richard Mille RM 030 Automatic 'Black Dash'. We will bring you live pictures later today. The newest version of Richard Mille’s RM 030 Automatic with Declutchable Rotor, cloaked in black with scarlet red details, debuts as the dark and dramatic sibling to previous editions of the popular tonneau-shaped timepiece. Like a carbon negative to this year’s White Rush limited edition, the Black Dash incorporates boundary-pushing new materials and a hand-finished innovative movement to achieve a new level of style and performance in haute horlogerie. Black TZP sand-blasted ceramic forms the front and back bezels of the RM 030 Black Dash, while its caseband is comprised of incredibly strong and light black NTPT carbon. The watch’s crown and rubber strap are also black, while the combination of red and white for its Arabic numerals, hands, indicators and inner flange produce a high degree of legibility.

Posted on October 20, 2015 and filed under News, SIAR, Richard Mille.

News: Introducing the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black ref. 79220N. What Everyone was Dreaming of and More.

The day Tudor unveiled the Black Bay One unique piece for ONLY Watch Auction —as we reported here—, everyone started dreaming of Tudor one day releasing the model for the general public. While the new Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black ref. 79220N is not exactly identical to the Black Bay One made for the ONLY Watch Auction —as it lacks of the red writing on the dial—, this new model is a wonderful addition to the Heritage Black Bay lineup joining its siblings the Black Bay Burgundy Red and the Black Bay Blue. After receiving the information from the brand, we immediately knew that this watch was going to be a home run and probably sold out the same day its hitting the stores. Hopefully we will be able to get one today as it is supposed to be available at the Tudor authorized dealer network. We'll keep you posted on that front.

Posted on October 15, 2015 and filed under News, Tudor.

News: Introducing the HYT H4 Alinghi. Live Pictures and Pricing. Fitted with a Mechanically Powered White Light Under the Crystal.

Innovation within tradition, the DNA of haute horlogerie, the movement heritage, and so on: forget it all. HYT does things its own way, and discards these received ideas. Need a known quantity to hang on to? Good news: the H4 Alinghi tells the time. As for the rest, you will need to forget anything that has been seen, designed, or even imagined before now. Nothing has changed, except the essential. The chassis is a familiar beast. Since the start of the year, the H4 has had more ink in publicity than it has in its capillary. It is based on the same movement architecture as the H1, HYT's inaugural piece, which has been completely skeletonized. With a 65-hour power reserve, it unveiled its sculptural mechanism for the very first time and opened up a new creative universe for HYT. One so appealing that the brand decided not to meddle with it: the new H4 Alinghi is virtually a carbon copy of its big brother. Or is it? All is not as it seems. Using this as its basis, HYT has returned to its favourite game: creating, surprising, sometimes unsettling, always astounding. This time the brand has applied a radiant idea, as brilliant as it is difficult to spot at first glance.

Posted on October 15, 2015 and filed under HYT, News.

News: Introducing the Girard-Perregaux 1966 in Stainless Steel. Available in Steel for the First Time.

Available in stainless steel for the first time, Girard-Perregaux the manufacture based out of La-Chaux-de-Fonds unveils the new Girard-Perregaux 1966 in a metal never used before for this collection. Often suggested, long imagined, Girard-Perregaux presents the eagerly awaited steel edition of the 1966 collection. Girard-Perregaux is a Manufacture known for its haute horlogerie and emblematic Three Gold Bridges. Its expertise in finishing movements has earned it the status as one of the most prestigious supporters of workmanship. The Manufacture of la Chaux-de-Fonds presents a minimalist style by introducing a new material to its flagship 1966 collection: steel. The new star of the collection mixes styles and genres —male-female and classic-contemporary— but maintains the iconic aesthetic and manufacture movement of the 1966 line. The model joins the ranks of watchmaking “must-haves”. Like a piece of Haute Couture designed with expertise and precision, this Girard-Perregaux 1966 steel watch delivers all the messages of traditional watchmaking.