I can’t find a better way to celebrate Swiss National Day today August 1, 2022, than with one of the best watchmakers of our time and an independent watchmaker. The legend Philippe Dufour is a modern watchmaker that has been adhering to the most traditional and classic watchmaking codes since he founded his brand. A creator of some of the most coveted timepieces today, his watches feature clean, classic lines powered by the highest-end in-house movements with superb finishing and incredible hand polishing.
Posts filed under Other Brands
Budget Watches: H992. A New Swiss Watch Brand is Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
A new budget brand has been born today in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Named H992, its name comes from the letter ‘H’ in horology, hour and humanity; and the number ‘992’ is the altitude of its birth place —La Chaux-de-Fonds— which is 992 meters above the sea level. Featuring a very contemporary design that seems like a hybrid between a Zenith Defy and a Hublot Integral, the new H992 is presented in a limited edition of only 992 pieces and priced at CHF 992 Swiss Francs —approximately $1,000 USD.
Introducing: Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf. The 'Horological Brothers' Finally Go Chrono.
Since 2008, Bart and Tim, ‘The Horological Brothers’, have produced a variety of unique mechanisms including a tourbillon minute repeater, a jumping seconds, a flying tourbillon with hacking seconds, and more. Known for their impressive movements where one could wear the watch on the movement side as they are extremely beautiful, they have finally decided to go chrono and present their first chronograph.
Introducing: Christophe Claret Legend Collection of Westminster Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon Unique Pieces
Christophe Claret presents the Legend Collection of Westminster Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon Unique Pieces celebrating Sheikh Zayed —founder of the United Arab Emirates—, Amir Timur —Uzbeks most formidable warrior better known as Tamerlane—, King Ibn Saud —founder of Saudi Arabia—, Jinmu Tennô —the very first Emperor and mythical founder of the imperial dynasty of Japan—, and Suleiman the magnificent —tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
Introducing: Purnell x AS Monaco FC Limited Editions
Purnell unveils the AS Monaco FC Limited Edition with an innovative rotating crystal football, revealing the tourbillon inside with its transparency. It is in this spirit that Purnell created a World Premiere for its AS Monaco collaboration with two limited editions featuring a see-through football tourbillon crafted out of tinted crystal, putting the tourbillon inside on full display.
Insider: Aventi A13-02 Ghost Tyamine. A Watch that Can Only be Purchased via Allocation.
Aventi watches were introduced several years ago and they’ve always strived to release eye-catching designs and tourbillons at a more affordable price point. Aventi follows an interesting business model with no offices, boutiques, or distributors. Every watch is sold by allocation only and directly by them. The Aventi A13-02 Ghost Tyamine was recently released and is one of the most complex watches released by Aventi.
Introducing: Manufacture Royale Sequential Business Unique Piece
A unique and unusual watch from Manufacture Royal has joined their ADN Spirit collection. This new piece, named Sequential Business has the particularity of a countdown activated by a retrograde counter positioned at 12 o'clock. This retrograde minute counter will help you manage your appointments or your next video conference thanks to a countdown display that can be adjusted by pulling the first notch on the crown.
Introducing: Purnell x READYMADE Escape II. Three Five-Piece Limited Editions.
Designed in collaboration with READYMADE, Purnell Unveils three ultra-limited watches. with one of the trendiest fashion labels. The brand name READYMADE asserts its antithesis against ready-made items. This brand circulates disused items to be destroyed and transforms them by giving them a new life. From its inception, Hosokawa conveys his antiwar message for the world, a vision where war and dispute are not worthy, and his stance against mass production by using vintage military fabrics and giving a new value to a salvage duffle bag or a tent.
Insider: CIGA Design Blue Planet. The First Chinese Watch to Ever Win at the GPHG.
The CIGA Design Series U Blue Planet is the first Chinese Made watch to ever win at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève and to make it to the shortlist of the nominees. In November 2021, the CIGA Design Blue Planet was awarded the GPHG 2021 Challenge Prize —watches priced under CHF 3,500 Swiss Francs— while competing against other ‘budget-friendly’ or affordable timepieces that included the Doxa SUB 200 C-GRAPH Caribbean, Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy, Massena Lab Uni-Racer, Anordain Model 1-Payne’s Grey Fumé and the Furlan Marri Mr. Grey.
Introducing: Harry Winston Premier Valentine’s Flying Hearts Automatic 36 mm. A 14-Piece Limited Edition.
For 2022, a model from the luxurious Premier collection has been selected to deliver a joyous message of love. The many facets of love are portrayed by a bouquet of heart-shaped balloons made of precious gemstones and mother-of-pearl cabochons floating in an ethereal mother-of-pearl sky in a limited edition of only 14 pieces.
Experience: Artisans de Genève Armstrong Challenge Project
This personalization is a reflection of Lance Armstrong career and vision of time. He wanted retro functions on his watch while being very light. To live up to the challenge Artisans de Genève developed a pulse dial with dual counters at 3 and 6 o’clock so he could count time during his races. Even the Rolex calibre 4130 was converted from automatic to manual wound in order to allow for more visibility of the mechanism and give the watch a retro-feel as Armstrong wanted it.
Introducing: BA111OD Chapter 4.1 The Veblen Dilemma. Swiss Made Tourbillon Under 4,000 Swiss Francs.
Despite the use of a brand name that could’ve not been any worse —trying to convey the founder’s last name Baillod using a combination of letters and ones—, Chapter 4.1 The Veblen Dilemma is the latest from Swiss watch brand BA111OD. This Swiss-made tourbillon is offered under CHF 4,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $4,300 USD—, bringing a breath of fresh air to an overtly saturated industry where Swiss-made tourbillons are typically not available at a low price point.
Budget Watches: Seven Friday P1C/04 'Caipi'. As Refreshing as a Brazilian Caipirinha.
Discussing ‘Budget Watches’ is not something we do on a very regular basis but more so every now and then whenever we find an inexpensive watch that catches our attention and that we feel is worth talking about. Since today is Friday, why not talk about the latest addition to the Seven Friday lineup. The Seven Friday P1C/04 'Caipi' is as refreshing as a Brazilian caipirinha at the end of the summer months.
Introducing: Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer. Two 25-Piece Limited Series in White Gold.
Following the initial introduction as a concept watch at last year’s Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, the Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer now takes on its final form. This high-performance chronometer with a revolutionary escapement is housed in a 44 mm case, surrounded by two round and domed crystals that have the effect of slimming the timepiece.
News: Presenting the Harry Winston Project Z15 Limited Edition
Harry Winston is presenting the fifteenth timepiece in its avant-garde Project Z series. Crafted from Zalium, a lightweight, highly resilient material exclusive to Harry Winston, the Project Z is distinguished by its fusion of classic horological composition with highly architectural elements. Incorporating a partially skeletonized minute hand in signature brand colors on the dial, Project Z15 is a modern interpretation of the regulator
clock. Only 300 units of the limited edition watch will be available globally.
News: Bovet 1822 Miss Audrey Sweet Art. The World's First Watch Dial Ever Made with Sugar Crystals.
The new Miss Audrey Sweet Art, however, uses a completely new material and a new process to create a dial that has never been seen before in watchmaking. A dial made from pure sugar. Representing sweetness and purity, the sugar crystals covering the dial of the Miss Audrey Sweet Art represents a breakthrough in engineering innovation, materials, and miniature painting —all hallmarks of the House of Bovet.
W&W 2021: Purnell Escape II Absolute Sapphire. A Million Dollar World's First Double Triple Axis Tourbillon in a Full Sapphire Case.
Known to only produce tourbillon movements, the Swiss watchmaker Purnell is inspired by performance, precision and mechanical prowess, doubling down on its philosophy of bringing more future than past to watchmaking. In just a year since the brand’s introduction at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2020, Purnell has made its mark on the landscape of contemporary high watchmaking, not only with its unmistakable Spherion
W&W 2021: Presenting the Hermès H08
Fully developed in-house, the new Hermès H08 is a new pillar collection for the brand. An everyday, all-terrain watch that embodies Creative Director Véronique Nichanian’s vision of the men’s universe. Light and travels easily for any experience. The design is a collaboration between Véronique, Pierre-Alexis Dumas —Artistic Director, Hermès—, and Philippe Delhotal —Artistic Director, Hermès Horloger. Created completely in-house, the new H08 features the manufacture H1837 movement.
News: Presenting the Genus Dragon
Genus presents a watch with a spectacular centerpiece: a guardian dragon in motion that indicates the passage of time. Bringing together Haute Horlogerie, mechanical engineering, goldsmithing, sculpture and engraving:to create a fascinating equilibrium between technical constraints and aesthetic requisites. The result is unprecedented. a graceful, powerful, expressive dragon crafted from 18K gold, like the main components of the movement, revealing not only a full range of horological artistry,but also unlocking vast creative possibilities.
News: FVF Genève FVF1 Tourbillon Superligero by Franc Vila
Franc Vila was born in Valencia, Spain and after studying science, art, and philosophy he started crafting high-end leather goods which fully immersed him in the world of luxury. At the same time, his fascination for mechanical timepieces led him to learn horology and launch a namesake watch brand in 2004 after creating his very own first timepiece. With his love for horology and the ambition to create one of the most beautiful watches ever imagined, he combined functionality with a unique upsidedown ‘figure eight’ design inspired by the world of ‘luchadores’ —Mexican professional wrestlers.
