Vacheron Constantin promotes Juan Carlos Torres from CEO to non-executive President and Louis Ferla from Managing Director Sales & Marketing to CEO. They will be assuming their respective duties on April 1st 2017. Juan Carlos Torres joined Vacheron Constantin in 1981 and has been CEO since 2005. He will be stepping down from operational management to take up his new responsibilities as non-executive President on March 31st 2017.
News: Pre-SIHH 2017 H. Moser & Cie. Venturer Swiss Mad. A Limited Edition of 50 Pieces.
In response to new legislation on the Swiss Made ordinance for watches, H. Moser & Cie. launched the Swiss Mad Watch on January 12th, 2017. More than a watch, the Swiss Mad Watch is a symbol: it is 100% Swiss, it embodies the greatest strength of Swiss Haute Horlogerie and all that is truly of value, encapsulated in a label worthy of this name. The Venturer Swiss Mad model shares in the spirit of the Swiss Mad Watch.
Experience: Jaeger-LeCoultre Wake-Up Memovox Mobile App. The Most Clever App for Watch Collectors This Year.
Less than two months ago, we brought you our hands-on review of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox Boutique Edition here. Well, today, we are pleased to share with you the news from Jaeger-LeCoultre launching a Wake-Up Alarm Mobile App for iPhone and Android. The new Wake-Up Memovox App will help you wake up to the buzzing sound on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox. This new App is so clever that as soon as we got the news yesterday, we decided to download it immediately thereafter.
News: Pre-SIHH 2017 Greubel Forsey Grande Sonnerie. 11 Years of Research and Development and Priced at $1.1 Million USD.
Just as if the news two days ago about the Mechanical Nano weren't big and impressive enough, Greubel Forsey adds to the excitement in preparation for the SIHH 2017 —from where we will be reporting live next Monday January 16th, 2017— with the release of one of the most impressive timepieces out there, we are talking about the Greubel Forsey Grande Sonnerie. A timepiece that took eleven years of research and development and assembling of no less than 935 parts in addition to the filling of two patents.
News: Pre-SIHH 2017 New Christophe Claret Maestro. The New Entry Level Timepiece for this Brand.
Its name is inspired by the excellence of the master watchmaker. Its sleek style epitomizes mechanical power. At the crossroads between aesthetics and technicality, the new Maestro showcases an original take on the horological creativity of Christophe Claret. Its glass dome provides a striking, almost dizzying view of the movement architecture and the famous Charles X bridges.
News: Greubel Forsey Unveils Mechanical Nano. A Groundbreaking Horological Advancement that Might Change the Watchmaking World as We Know it.
After a decade of research, Greubel Forsey just announced the Mechanical Nano. A groundbreaking horological advancement that might change the watchmaking world as we know it. In what they refer to as EWT —'Experimental Watch Technology'— and after ten years of secretly working on it, Greubel Forsey has finally pushed the boundaries of mechanical miniaturization and produced its first demonstration prototype in 2014. A second prototype
with a watchmaking mechanism was completed in 2016.
News: Right on Time for the SIHH 2017, the New WCL Mobile App is Ready for Download.
Right on time for the SIHH 2017, our new Watch Collecting Lifestyle WCL App is ready for download at the Apple App Store. For those of you that have downloaded our previous mobile app, we ask you to please remove it from your phones and download the new one.
You can download the WCL App by clicking on the image above or following this link. This new App is bigger and better with a more appealing visual design and a much more user friendly interface. Please enjoy as it was develop with all of our readers in mind.
News: SIHH 2017 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève. Now with 30 Exhibiting Brands and Open to the Public for Just One Day.
In only 10 days, on January 16th, 2017 the SIHH 2017 —Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève— will open its doors for its 27th edition to reveal all the watch novelties from 30 exclusive brands —instead of 24 as in 2016. Just as we've done it since the launch of WCL, we will be there to bring you our usual live coverage with powerful images of the most exclusive watch event in the world.
News: Pre-SIHH 2017 New Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Tourbillon Universal Time. The World's First Worldtimer with Flying Tourbillon.
Created in 1958 by Jaeger-LeCoultre in honor of the International Geophysical Year, the first Geophysic watch remains a symbol of Swiss expertise par excellence. In keeping with this tradition, JLC launched the Geophysic collection in 2015; a collection of several models combining powerful watchmaking expertise with a classic, timeless aesthetic. This line has now been reinterpreted reinforcing its original qualities: a generously dimensioned case in platinum measuring 43.5 mm in diameter, easily legible functions, visible luminescent hands, the hightech Gyrolab balance wheel and the ability to tell time in 24 cities.
Breaking News: Aldo Magada Departs Zenith. Jean-Claude Biver Takes Over as Interim Head.
In a surprising move, Aldo Magada departs Zenith only two and a half months away from Baselworld 2017 and only after two years and five months on the job. On July 1, 2014, Mr. Magada was appointed CEO and President of Zenith replacing Jean-Frédéric Dufour who left Zenith to become the new CEO of Rolex S.A. Back then, Mr. Jean-Claude Biver, President of the Watches Division of LVMH, said that he was firmly convinced that Aldo’s significant experience in the watchmaking industry, combined with his proven track record in product development and strategy as well as his in-depth knowledge of manufactures would be instrumental to develop Zenith.
News: Presenting the Zenith Heritage Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Westime Edition. A 25-Piece Limited Edition in Bronze and Titanium.
As an exclusive for authorized watch dealer Westime in Southern California, Zenith released a 25-piece limited edition in bronze and titanium of the iconic Heritage Pilot Type 20, enhanced by a deep blue dial. This edition produced especially for Westime and only available through them, features an intense blue dial surrounded by a 45 mm sturdy bronze and titanium case.
News: Richard Mille to Open Flagship Boutique in New York City During Fall 2017
Richard Mille will open its first boutique in New York City in the fall of 2017. The new boutique will be located at 46 East 57th Street, which is the retail side of the 432 Park Avenue building —currently the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere— next to Jacob & Co. and only a few steps away from the Phillips auction house.
News: H. Moser & Cie. Will No Longer Add the 'Swiss Made' Designation to Their Watches in Reaction to the upcoming 'Swissness Law Ordinance'.
Back in July, 2016, we published a special article to explain the changes to the 'Swissness Law Ordinance' that will go in effect on January 1st, 2017. In that article, we also mentioned that while many watches bear the 'Swiss Made' designation on their dials, movements or case backs, the Swiss law is so subjective and the ordinance has so many loopholes that in reality many of these watches could be more Asian made than Swiss.
News: Pre-SIHH 2017 New IWC Da Vinci Collection. All Details Including Pricing for Three New References Including a Perpetual Calendar Chronograph.
The last major facelift to the IWC DaVinci took place in 2007 with the introduction of the new in-house calibre 89. Then in 2009, the IWC Da Vinci Digital Perpetual Calendar Date-Month ref. 3761 was presented as a major innovation for the brand; a year later in 2010, the IWC Da Vinci Chronograph Ceramic followed. While the new IWC Da Vinci Collection will be officially unveiled at the SIHH 2017 —from where we will be reporting live—, for now we were given access to three new timepieces including a stunning IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph.
News: Pre-SIHH 2017 A. Lange & Söhne Unveils the new Lange 1 Moon Phase with New Calibre L121.3.
In 2002, the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Moon Phase was first presented by this manufacture from Saxony. The Lange 1 Moon Phase is without a doubt the most successful watch from A. Lange & Söhne with its highly popular astronomical complication. The new Lange 1 Moon Phase has now been endowed with a new manual wound movement that takes on a particularly realistic approach by combining the moon-phase display with a day/night indicator.
News: Pre-SIHH 2017 New Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater Mysterious Double Tourbillon. A Minute Repeater Like No Other.
Marking the first time that Cartier associates a Mysterious Complication with a Minute Repeater, this is a double complication like no other. The new Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater Mysterious Double Tourbillon. Fitted with a measuring 45 mm in diameter and a mere thickness of 11.15 mm, this new watch is powered by the new Cartier in-house calibre 9407MC.
News: Presenting the New Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold for Ladies. Unveiled at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
As the women’s Royal Oak celebrates its 40th anniversary, Audemars Piguet unveiled the new Royal Oak Frosted Gold ref. 15454OR.GG.1259OR.01 in 18K rose gold and the ref. 15454BC.GG.1259BC.01 in 18K white gold at a very exclusive event at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence on November 9th, 2016. A shining reinvention of an iconic design, this contemporary timepiece has been created in collaboration with Florentine jewellery designer, Carolina Bucci.
Audemars Piguet celebrated the unveiling with a gala dinner at Palazzo Vecchio in the presence of actress and brand ambassador Freida Pinto, jewellery designer Carolina Bucci and watch designer Jacqueline Dimier, who created the first Royal Oak for women in 1976.
Breaking News: Patek Philippe ref. 1518 in Stainless Steel Sells for $11 Million USD at the Phillips Watches Auction FOUR in Geneva
Breaking all records ever set at auction for a wristwatch, the ultra rare and legendary Patek Philippe ref. 1518 in stainless steel just sold today November 12th, 2016 for CHF9.6 Million Swiss Francs plus 12% buyer's premium —totaling CHF10,752,000 Swiss Francs, roughly $11 Million USD— at the Phillips Auction FOUR at the Hôtel La Réserve in Genève. What makes the Patek Philippe ref. 1518 so special, is the fact that it is the world’s first perpetual calendar chronograph produced in series and only 281 examples of it were ever produced.
Breaking News: Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman Panda' ref. 6263 with Tiffany Dial Sells for 804,000 Swiss Francs at the Phillips Watches Auction FOUR in Geneva
Today, November 12th, 2016 in Genève, Switzerland at the Hôtel La Réserve, a Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman Panda' ref. 6263 —Lot 30— sold for CHF670,000 Swiss Francs plus 20% buyer's premium —totaling 804,000 Swiss Francs— at the Geneva Watch Auction FOUR by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo.
News: 2016 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève GPHG 2016 Winners. Congratulations to All and Especially to Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud on Winning the 'Aiguille d'Or' Grand Prix.
Excellence, innovation and watchmaking expertise were duly rewarded today November 10th, 2016 at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, on the occasion of the 16th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève —GPHG— prize-giving ceremony. The international jury of this edition 2016 of the GPHG handed out 16 prizes, including the supreme “Aiguille d’Or” prize awarded to the one-year old manufacture Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud for their amazing Chronomètre FB1, an in-House Fusée-Chain Chronometer with Tourbillon.