Continuing the saga of the iconic Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch in Zirconium Oxide Ceramic, the Speedmaster 'Lunar Dust' or 'Grey Side of the Moon' was released at Baselworld 2014 as a successor to the highly coveted Speedmaster 'Dark Side of the Moon' released the previous year. The 'Grey Side of the Moon' just like the 'Dark Side of the Moon' is fitted with a Zirconium Oxide and Zirconium Carbide — ZrO2/ZrC— ceramic case measuring 44.25 mm in diameter and fitted with a gorgeous grey alligator strap with grey rubber applique on the perforated section, red contrast stitching on the back lining and a matching ceramic pin buckle.
News: Presenting the New A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Tourbillon 'Pour le Mérite' Boutique Edition. Unveiled at the NYC Boutique Opening.
Last night September 25th, 2014 at the opening of the new A. Lange & Söhne boutique in New York City, the brand presented the boutique edition Richard Lange Tourbillon 'Pour le Mérite' in 18K white gold with blued hands and blue hour markers. With its regulator style that expresses the ultimate in precision, the Richard Lange Tourbillon 'Pour le Mérite' is a complication that unites A. Lange & Söhne’s unique fusée-and-chain transmission and a one-minute tourbillon with a patented stop-seconds mechanism. This timepiece whose name pays tribute to what is probably the most inventive mind in the Lange watchmaking dynasty will only be available only at A. Lange & Söhne boutiques.
Insider: Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Split Seconds Co-Axial Chronograph. Doesn't Get Any Better for the Price.
The Omega Speedmaster is one of the most iconic watches in the world and one that has helped Omega be who they are today. The Omega Speedmaster was originally launched in 1957 and since its landing on the moon it has been awarded the title of moonwatch. The Omega Speedmaster Split Seconds Co-Axial Chronograph ref. 311.30.44.51.01.001 —now a discontinued reference— features a black ceramic dial covered by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and graced by a small seconds sub-dial, 30-minute register and 12-hour register along with central chronograph and split-seconds mechanism. This exceptional timepiece was produced in a limited edition of only 357 pieces and here we have one of them for your enjoyment.
Photo Gallery: Carl F. Bucherer Manero Tourbillon Limited Edition. Only 188 Pieces of Pure Beauty.
The Carl F. Bucherer Manero Tourbillon ref. 00.10918.03.33.01 is definitely one of the most beautiful and well balanced point of entry level tourbillons in the market. While this watch is not fitted with a fully in-house calibre, its 35 jewel manual wound movement with tourbillon —calibre CFB T1001— is exceptionally finished and equipped with a nice 70-hour power reserve indicator, 24-hour indicator and peripheral date indicator. Fitted with a nicely finished 18K rose gold case and with a black sunburst or silvery white dial, this limited edition timepiece delivers in terms of design, craftsmanship and looks.
Insider: Armin Strom One Week Skeleton. Mastering the Art of Skeletonization.
Armin Strom is a brand very well known for mastering the art of skeletonizing and the One Week Skeleton watch we are reviewing here, is one of the best examples from this relatively young manufacture founded in 1967 by Armin Strom in the picturesque town of Burgdorf located northwest of Bern the capital of Switzerland. Armin Strom's first masterpiece was a gold pocket watch, with a hand-engraved dial in polished blue lapis lazuli. Armin's mature manual dexterity and incredible attention to detail soon made the him aware of where to specialize in his valuable items: the art of skeletonizing.
In 2009, Armin Strom presented their first in-house movement the manual wound calibre ARM09, which happens to be the same base calibre powering the exceptional One Week Skeleton. The One Week Skeleton ref. RG14-WS.5N is fitted with a satin brushed 18K rose gold case measuring 43.4 mm in diameter and 13.00 mm in thickness. Fitted with a highly polished bezel and an anti-reflective treated sapphire crystal, the view of the skeletonized dial is uncompromised.
Insider: Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green. A Watch With a Forged Carbon Outer Case at its Finest.
Earlier this year at Baselworld 2014, Linde Werdelin released three novelties —we have already reviewed the SpidoSpeed RoseGold Black here and the Oktopus MoonLite here. This time we are presenting you our in-depth review of the third novelty presented by Linde Werdelin. We are talking about the SpidoSpeed Green that showcases skeletonization not only throughout the outer case as with previous iterations in the Spido family, but also into the dial and movement.
The new Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green is fitted with a stylish black forged carbon outer case measuring 44 mm x 46 mm x 15mm that is complimented by other smaller details making this timepiece truly unique. Frankly, after perusing this watch, we can say that the quality of the forged carbon outer case is almost at the level of forged carbon cases from Audemars Piguet which is known as the pioneer and master of forged carbon application in the watch industry.
News: Presenting the New Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique. Celebrating its 5th Anniversary.
On the occasion of the 5th Anniversary of the launch of the Chapter Two Original, Maîtres du Temps - Atelier d’Horlogerie is proud to present the new Chapter Two Classique in red gold and white gold. This new model underlines even stronger the architectural aspect of the collection through its Art Deco inspired dial on which the bold indices majestically indicate the hours. The Chapter Two collection features an instantaneous triple calendar displayed in large format thanks to the innovative high precision cylinders that in fact makes it the most legible mechanical calendar wristwatch in the world. Its outstanding movement is imbedded in a shaped case that expresses the strength and character of this collection.
News: Presenting the New Blancpain Villeret Chronographe Pulsomètre. The First 36,000 vph Calibre for this Manufacture.
The new Blancpain Chronographe Pulsomètre from the Villeret collection is welcoming a brand new automatic in-house movement this year, beating at a rate of 36,000 vph —5 Hz— and equipped with a flyback chronograph function. Moreover, for the very first time, it also displays a pulsometer function serving to check a heart rate quickly and easily, a convenient tool for doctors. This Villeret Chronographe Pulsomètre houses a new 13-ligne in-house calibre perfectly suited to the size of the case. This new movement with its heart beating at 36,000 vph, a first at Blancpain, comprises 322 parts including a silicon balance spring. It is equipped with a vertical clutch as well as a chronograph mechanism controlled by a column wheel. It also features a flyback function enabling instant chronograph resetting and restarting simply by pressing a pusher at 4 o’clock —a device that proves extremely useful when measuring successive time periods.
News: The Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève Unveils the Pre-Selection for 2014. Time To Vote Online.
The Foundation of the GPHG —Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève has revealed the list of the 72 pre-selected watches in the running to win the “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix or one of the 16 prizes that will salute 2014's finest watch creations. This edition of the GPHG 2014 has attracted record participation, with all the major watch groups represented, along with a number of independent companies. Small and large brands alike are confronting their creations in a competitive and unifying spirit, thereby contributing to promoting the renown of an art that consistently targets excellence and displays exceptional vitality. For your convenience, we have included all the 72 pre-selected watches on this post, as well as the links to the reviews we have published here for a vast majority of them.
Insider: JEANRICHARD Terrascope Aluminum. A Fun Timepiece in the Three Primary Colors.
The JEANRICHARD Terrascope ref. 60500-10-702-FK4A released earlier this year during Baselworld 2014, is as colorful as any luxurious timepiece gets. This is not a bumble bee, nor a volcano —perhaps some of the most colorful timepieces out there—, this is a beautifully finished timepiece that might be perceived as too loud and bright by a few, but for others quite fun and unique looking. The new JEANRICHARD Terrascope Aluminum features an ultra colorful aluminum case —not as light as many would imagine weighing 108 grams— in blue, red and green measuring 44 mm in diameter with the unmistakeable vertical satin brushed finish of the JEANRICHARD collections. Literally, a perfect interpretation of the three primary colors, all rounded up by a beautiful white dial with blued applied markers with orange luminescent material and a blue rubber strap.
Insider: Girard-Perregaux Traveller WW.TC Titanium DLC Black. Hands-on Review of a True Road Warrior Companion.
Released a little bit over a month ago, today we bring you our hands-on review of the latest iteration of the iconic Girard-Perregaux Traveller WW.TC, we are talking about the new Girard-Perregaux Traveller WW.TC Titanium DLC with its intense black look. This new watch offers a combination of high performance and understated wrist presence that meet in a very sporty, yet elegant timepiece. Fitted with a feather light —weighing only 104 grams— DLC treated titanium case measuring 44 mm in diameter this new reference is pure masculinity. Featuring two of the most useful horological complications —a chronograph and a world timer— the new Girard-Perregaux Traveller WW.TC Titanium DLC ref. 49700-21-631-BB6C is not only very practical but a perfect companion for those road warriors changing time zones frequently.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore LeBron James Limited Edition. A Collection of Live Close-ups and Wrist Shots.
Last year we reported live from Miami during the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore LeBron James launch party and we presented you images of the new watch inside the showcase.
This time, we are bringing you some very personal and closeup images of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore LeBron James limited edition ref. 26210OI.OO.A109CR.01 that we took last year while attending the SIAR in Mexico City.
As it is customary with our insider reviews, we have now included the mandatory wrist shot for your viewing pleasure. Now, please enjoy the eye candy!
Rare Bird: Patek Philippe Annual Calendar ref. 5396G 'A Shared Vision'. Especially Created for the Anniversary of the Patek Philippe Boutique at Tiffany's.
Especially developed by Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. and released at the end of 2012 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Patek Philippe Boutique located inside the Tiffany & Co. flagship New York store, the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar ref. 5396G-012 is one of the most exclusive and rare timepieces from Patek Philippe in the modern era. Fitted with a 38 mm 18K white gold case, this annual calendar featuring day, date, month, moon phase and 24-hour indication comes with a glossy black dial and a matte black alligator strap. A perfect symphony to commemorate such an important partnership. To make things even more special, its black dial is double-signed by Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. featuring applied white gold classic Breguet numerals and a pearled recessed minute track, making this watch a true classic in all the sense of the word.
Experience: 1952 Hudson Hornet. Black and Cream Just like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari.
The Hudson Hornet is an automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit for three years between 1951 and 1954 and then produced between 1955 and 1957 by the now long gone American Motors Corporation —AMC. In case you don't know who AMC was, they were the company behind two of the ugliest cars ever built in the seventies, the Pacer and the Gremlin.
Last Saturday, we stumbled upon this beautiful 1952 Hudson Hornet during a rainy afternoon in Dallas, Texas. As we were driving by the affluent Preston Hollow area, this gorgeous automobile caught our eye and brought us back in time to 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. During the late 50s and early 60s many police departments throughout the U.S. —including the Dallas Police Department— stocked Hudson Hornets as their police cars.
News: Presenting the New Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph. A Masterpiece of Horology.
It was in 1993 that Audemars Piguet launched the Royal Oak Offshore. A natural evolution of the Royal Oak launched in 1972, the supersized 'Offshore' was large, bold, rugged and highly functional. Genta’s original Royal Oak was the definitive source of reference and inspiration for the Royal Oak Offshore designed by a talented, young, second generation designer working for Audemars Piguet named Emmanuel Gueit. The new design diverged from the original in several significant ways that came to be the defining characteristics of the Royal Oak Offshore. The most pronounced shift was the dramatic case size of 42 mm. While this is standard fare in 2014, it was a shock when introduced in 1993 at Baselworld. By this time, the watch had already been nicknamed, ‘The Beast’ due to its staggering proportions.
Experience: The Audemars Piguet Museum. An Unforgettable Afternoon in Le Brassus.
A while back, while we were in Switzerland, we had the opportunity to visit the Audemars Piguet Museum in Le Brassus, a lifetime experience for any Audemars Piguet watchlifestyler.
Our appointment at the museum was scheduled for 1:30pm on a gloomy Friday. Considering that we were staying in Zürich and the drive to Le Brassus is almost three hours long, we knew we had to be on the road by 10 o'clock in order to be there on time. Here's a picture while we were getting ready to go pick up our car, right before breakfast time. This classic Hermès belt has been worn along with several Audemars Piguet Jumbos in the collection since the 90s.
Insider: Omega Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial Titanium. Hands-On Review of an Icon.
The first Omega Seamaster 300 was originally launched in 1957 and introduced specifically for divers and professionals who worked underwater. This new model of the Omega Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial is fitted with a case measuring 41 mm in diameter and is available in stainless steel, a platinum limited edition of 357 pieces, in grade 5 titanium like the one under review here, in grade 5 titanium with 18K Sedna gold, in stainless steel with 18K Sedna gold or in 18K Sedna gold.
The new Omega Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial features a sandblasted ceramic dial —that appears matte to the naked eye— with a 'faux patina' vintage look, Arabic transferred numerals, carved out Super-LumiNova markers —not a sandwich dial as many of you thought— and a smooth stainless steel bezel with a beautiful blue Liquidmetal insert.
Insider: Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX5 World Chronograph Racing. Only 100 Pieces of this Stunning Limited Edition.
Inspired by the Aston Martin, the design of the Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX5 World Chronograph Racing ref. 193J420 is the ultimate in refinement and a timepiece that is quite exclusive as only 100 pieces were ever made.
The partnership between Jaeger-LeCoultre is not the result of chance but the meeting of the minds. The AMVOX series was born from a rich shared history whose beginnings lie in Jaeger car dials and a reciprocal passion for high watchmaking and beautiful mechanics. The partnership between Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin has thus developed around a respect for shared values and a constant quest for technical and aesthetic perfection. The AMVOX5 World Chronograph Racing ref. 193J420 is a perfect example of what bright minds can achieve when joining forces and working together.
Insider: Richard Mille RM028 Americas Limited Edition Diver. Outstanding Wrist Presence and Only 30 Pieces Made.
Just like any other Richard Mille watch, the RM028 Americas Limited Edition Diver has superior craftsmanship. Richard Mille timepieces are very well known for their groundbreaking design and for the use of very unique metal alloys. The Richard Mille RM028 Americas Diver is a limited edition watch of only 30 pieces that is exclusively available in North and South America. It follows the design lines of the RM025 —Richard Mille's first diver's watch.
This watch is composed of a three-piece DLC titanium case, measuring 47 mm in width and 14.6 mm in thickness. The rotating bezel is formed by three layers that are connected with 22 eight-point-star-shaped screws which means that the bezel cannot be dislocated by impact. It is sturdy and very functional with white and red Arabic numerals that contrast very nicely with the dark finish of the case and the open-worked dial.
Insider: Blancpain Villeret Chronographe Monopoussoir. A Complete Calendar with Moon Phase and Mono-Pusher Chronograph.
Villeret, Blancpain’s native village, is the inspiration for this manufacture's most classic collection. This time, we are presenting you our review of the Blancpain Villeret Chronographe Monopoussoir ref. 6685-1127-55B, a mono-pusher chronograph featuring a complete calendar and moon phase complication. This is perhaps one of the best priced complications out there with a ton of pedigree behind it.
This amazing watch is fitted with a double-stepped stainless steel case measuring 40mm in diameter and 12.98mm in thickness. The watch is fitted with a white 'grand feu' enamel dial with Roman numerals, chapter ring for the dates, chrono-hour register at 9, chrono-minute register at 3, moon phase aperture at 6 and two small rectangular apertures at 12 o'clock for the day of the week and the month.
