This past Wednesday December 10th, 2014 we had the pleasure to join our friends at Omega for a very special celebration in lieu of the upcoming opening of its Miami Design District boutique. The Miami Design District and its Aranda/Lasch-Designed space is soon to be the mecca of watch boutiques in the Miami area. This wonderful evening with a red carpet soirée that drew stars and socialites including actress Camilla Belle, along with nearly 400 of Miami's influentials was hosted by Omega's Vice President and Head of International Sales, Raynald Aeschlimann. This tasteful and elegant celebration had its main focus on paying homage to Omega's Master Co-Axial technology —the world’s first industrialized anti-magnetic movements with all non-ferrous components that are more prevalent across a wide variety of Omega timepieces. For sure, an evening filled with delicious hors d'oeuvre, Omega signature cocktails, celebrities, beautiful women and stunning timepieces. As usual, our drink of choice for the evening was our usual Negroni.
News: MB&F Legacy Machine No. 1 LM1 Goes Platinum. As if White and Red Gold Were Not Impressive Enough.
Wild, extreme, outrageous, unrestrained: all might be used to describe MB&F's futuristic Horological Machines, but traditional, classical, round? With its monumental central balance; superlatively finished movement; completely independent dual time zones; unique vertical power reserve indicator and elegant annular case, Legacy Machine No. 1 —LM1— is a tribute to the great innovators of traditional watchmaking; and above all, an authentic three-dimensional MB&F Machine. Legacy Machine No. 1 was conceived when Maximilian Büsser started fantasizing: "What would have happened if I had been born in 1867 instead of 1967? In the early 1900s the first wristwatches appear and I would want to create three-dimensional machines for the wrist, but there are no Grendizers, Star Wars or fighter jets for my inspiration. But I do have pocket watches, the Eiffel Tower and Jules Verne, so what might my more traditional machine look like? "It has to be round and it has to be three-dimensional: Legacy Machine No. 1 was my answer."
Insider: Girard-Perregaux 1966 Full Calendar in Platinum. A Timeless Timepiece in a 100-Piece Limited Edition.
Constant Girard (1825-1903) and Marie Perregaux (1831-1912), whose surnames united in 1854 still form the Girard-Perregaux corporate name to this day, passed the baton to their son Constant Girard-Gallet (1856-1945), who in 1906 would buy up the Old Bautte Firm. The three brothers of Marie Perregaux, Henri (1828-1893), François (1834-1877) and Jules (1838-1903) also joined the business, Henri and Jules by representing it in the Americas, and François in Asia. Constant Othenin-Girard (or Girard) began his watchmaking career initially in partnerships, under a variety of collective names. In 1854 he married Marie Perregaux (1831-1912), the product of a watchmaking family from Le Locle, and together they founded the Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds which to this day bears their combined surnames (1856).
Insider: Audemars Piguet Millenary Minute Repeater in Pink Gold. A Noble Horological Complication.
The Audemars Piguet Millenary Minute Repeater ref. 26371OR.OO.D803CR.01 in pink gold —presented at the Watches and Wonders Salon in Hong Kong last year— is fitted with an 18K pink gold oval shaped case —measuring 47mm in diameter and 15.79mm in thickness— with enamel off-centered hour/minute dial at 3, an off-centered seconds sub-dial at 7 and minute repeater lever at 9 o'clock. This Millenary Minute Repeater features the Audemars Piguet Direct-Impulse Escapement and a flat double balance-spring.
The beautiful white enamel dial features Roman numerals with blued hands and the finely tuned blued steel gong is fully visible around the circumference of the face of the watch. A perfectly balanced dial with very intricate and nicely finished touches.
Insider: Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date Moon Phases Squelette. Stunning Art Deco Timeless Design.
Today, we bring you our hands-on review of the Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date Moon Phases Squelette ref. 25882-11-222-BB6B. This new timepiece from the legendary manufacture from La Chaux-de-Fonds features a first time ever sapphire dial that reveals the beating heart of the Vintage 1945 XXL watch. The Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Large Date Moon Phases Squelette is a perfect example of the Art Deco inspired timepieces released during the mid-century era in the 1900s. The new Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Large Date Moon Phases watch fully reveals the complexity of its movement for the first time, thanks to a transparent dial carved in sapphire. This new timepiece available in stainless steel or 18K rose gold features a rectangular —almost square— 'tonneau' shaped case measuring 36.10mm in length and 35.25mm in width.
News: Pre-SIHH 2015 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Acoustic Research Episode 1. A Water-Resistant Minute Repeater Tourbillon Chronograph.
Exceptional engineering and the power of sound merge in one of the most innovative concept watches created by a Swiss haute horlogerie watchmaking house. The result of an in-depth eight year sound research program with three patents pending, this new Royal Oak Concept watch, a unique prototype, will be unveiled by Audemars Piguet at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2015 —SIHH— in Geneva. We will bring you live images once we get to see this watch in the metal at the SIHH during the week of January 19th, 2015.
Engineered within Audemars Piguet’s acoustic research lab, this new Royal Oak Concept is the first chiming watch so acoustically considered as to become a sound concept in its own right. It has been sonically developed through an ongoing acoustic study program in collaboration with the EPFL —Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne— and it took three years to transfer that technological study into a watch concept.
Insider: Omega De Ville Diamond Encrusted Central Tourbillon. Nicknamed 'Bellagio' and Priced at $700K USD.
A few months ago, we were invited by our friends at Omega to a very exclusive retreat along with some other VIP Omega collectors. During that retreat, Omega hosted an informal presentation of this amazing diamond encrusted central tourbillon timepiece nicknamed at the time 'Bellagio'. This fascinating timepiece featuring a central tourbillon with encrusted diamonds is a unique piece recently completed by the master watchmakers at the manufacture and worth $700,000 USD.
What makes this timepiece so special is the fact that not only its tourbillon cage is encrusted with diamonds but also the bridges on the movement as well as around its bezel and case. If you like bling, it really doesn't get any better. Fitted with a traditional Omega De Ville case in platinum measuring 38.7 mm in diameter this exceptional timepiece is a true work of art. The Omega De Ville Central Tourbillon is not only the first and only central tourbillon watch ever made, but it's also a watch that is crafted by a very select group of horologists from Omega.
News: Presenting the Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Large Date and Moon Phases Squelette. A First Time Ever.
For the first time ever, the mechanical heart of the Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 watch is revealed under a transparent sapphire dial. In a deft combination of technology and style, this model is enhanced by its Art Deco-inspired aesthetic code and its uncompromisingly contemporary mechanical structure. The new Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Large Date, Moon Phases watch fully reveals the complexity of its movement for the first time, thanks to a transparent dial carved in sapphire. This offers the wearer a fascinating mechanical spectacle of gears, display disks, screws, levers and wheels, all arranged in a perfectly orchestrated system. Here, the movement goes beyond its merely functional role to become a full-time spectacle. Testifying to the Manufacture’s long history and expertise, it unveils all the secrets that give it its beauty and originality. Its shape, adapted to that of the case, represents a distinctive, emblematic mark of identity.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26300. Celebrating 16 Years of a True Royal Oak Essential.
After 16 years, the Royal Oak Chronograph remains a classic in the Royal Oak line-up and a watch that demands admiration. Therefore, we have decided to work on a special review of this amazing reference.
The first Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 25860 was launched in 1998 equipped with calibre 2385, an automatic chronograph movement based off of the legendary Frederic Piguet calibre 1185 also used on the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph —as caliber 1137— and the Breguet Marine Chronograph —as calibre 576— amongst other timepieces. This movement still remains the thinnest automatic chronograph calibre ever made, measuring only 5.5mm in thickness. The movement is composed of 304 parts, beats at 21,600 vph, is fitted with 37 jewels and provides a power reserve of 40 hours when fully wound. The same calibre is fitted in the Royal Oak City of Sails for Alinghi, the Leo Messi limited edition and is also used as a module on the Royal Oak Grande Complication.
Insider: Linde Werdelin SpidoLite II Titanium Red. Stunning Craftsmanship with Great Design.
Even though most of you are very familiar with Linde Werdelin, we will share some background information about this amazing manufacture for those watchlifestylers that are still not quite familiar with it.
Linde Werdelin was founded eleven years ago in 2002 by two fine Danish gentlemen. The name comes from its founders Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin. Since its conception, Linde Werdelin has focused on creating some of the most unique and fascinating timepieces with very avant-garde Danish design and fully Swiss made.
Linde Werdelin also produces digital instruments for skiing —the Rock— and diving —the Reef— that can be clipped to the top of their mechanical watches. Their watches are designed to carry the Reef or the Rock and they are made in very limited quantities making them super exclusive.
News: The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication Sells for 20.6 Million Swiss Francs at Sotheby's in Geneva. Making History Once Again.
The most complicated and expensive watch in the world, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication started in 1925 and completed in 1932 has fetched the amount of 20.6 Million Swiss Francs at Sotheby's in Geneva just minutes ago.
This exceptional timepiece is a gold, double dial and double open-faced, minute repeating clockwatch with Westminster chimes, grande and petite sonnerie, split seconds chronograph, registers for 60-minutes and 12-hours, perpetual calendar accurate to the year 2100, moon-phases, equation of time, dual power reserve for striking and going trains, mean and sidereal time, central alarm, indications for times of sunrise/sunset and a celestial chart for the night time sky of New York City at 40 degrees 41.0 minutes North latitude.
News: Rolex Daytona Paul Newman Non-Oyster Sotto Sells at Christie's for $479,705. Possibly the Only One in the World.
It happens at times, in the field of watch collecting, that a timepiece previously unknown to the market is discovered and upsets what is until then considered an unmovable tenet by market and scholars alike. It is of course an extremely rare occurrence, but when such a hidden treasure appears on the market it never fails to stir the hearts of collectors and to amaze scholars. For example the history of Patek Philippe minute repeaters was rewritten in 2011 when a previously unknown reference, 2419, was discovered. With this lot, Christie's is proud to rewrite the textbooks about Rolex Daytona as it introduces to the public the only example of reference 6263 with black non-oyster sotto Paul Newman dial.
Until yesterday, it was believed that black Paul Newman dials mounted on reference 6263 were all and necessarily distinguished by the different disposition of the designations: instead of reading, as in all other dials, Rolex/Oyster/Cosmograph, a correct black 6263 Paul Newman should read Rolex/Cosmograph/Oyster.
News: Christie's Patek Philippe 175th Anniversary Sale in Geneva Fetches Over $21 Million USD. Lot 59 a Pink Gold Patek Philippe ref. 2499 First Series Sells for $2.7 Million USD.
Christie’s historic Patek Philippe 175th Anniversary Sale was the most highly anticipated sale in the watch auction calendar for 2014. Today November 9, 2014, this unique Evening Sale provided collectors with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire rare and important timepieces from Patek Philippe. This thematic sale further solidified Patek Philippe’s historic breadth of production as true works of art. Each piece had been scrupulously vetted for this sale, and included only the rarest, most sought-after, beautiful timepieces representing Patek Philippe’s expert craftsmanship. The sale included only vintage watches spanning from the early years of the esteemed manufacturer’s production in the 19th century through to the 1980s. To memorialize this unique sale, a commemorative silver Patek Philippe coin was included with each of the 100 lots, engraved with the individual lot number.
Experience: Celebrating Patek Philippe's 175th Anniversary at the Rainbow Room in NYC. A Once in a Lifetime Invitation.2014
If you are a true watchlifestyler and a Patekaholic, it is very likely that you already know who's wearing the ultra rare Patek Philippe ref. 5208 in this picture. If you are still in the process of becoming one, this epic wrist shot was taken by us with monsieur Thierry Stern, President of Patek Philippe during the unforgettable 175th anniversary celebration —the brand hosted at the Rainbow Room in New York City— that we were honored to attend. Very often, journalists in the watch industry become jaded by the amount of watch parties and watch related events they attend and take for granted invitations like this one. Luckily for us, we are collectors first and then journalists. Therefore, we like to share with our readers these type of events and do a full article about the experience. Now, this once in a lifetime invitation, is one that we will never forget and one that we will always cherish. Before we go into the details of the celebration and the amazing watches we enjoyed two nights ago, we would like to thank Patek Philippe for thinking of us.
News: Presenting the new MB&F Horological Machine No. 6 HM6 'Space Pirate'. Straight Out of a Sci-Fi Film Pushing the Boundaries of Horology.
Space is an extremely hostile environment. To survive you need protection against powerful accelerations, dangerous thermonuclear radiation, extreme temperature fluctuations and constant risk of unexpected collisions. The new MB&F Horological Machine N°6 —HM6— ‘Space Pirate’ has been designed to operate in the hostile environment of space: the space on your wrist. The initial inspiration for this new MB&F HM6 Space Pirate came from a Japanese anime TV series from Maximilian Büsser's childhood called "Capitaine Flam" —Captain Future in English. "Capitaine Flam" had a spaceship called the Comet that consisted of two spheres joined by a connecting tube.
The curved lines of Horological Machine N°6 make it a softer, more organically shaped Machine than its predecessors. The inspiration for this came from the biomorphism art movement, which takes its cues from design elements based on the shapes of living organisms.
News: The Winners of the 2014 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Congratulations to the Winners and Especially to Breguet.
Excellence, innovation and watchmaking expertise were duly rewarded today October 31st, 2014 at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, on the occasion of the 14th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève —GPHG— prize-giving ceremony. The international jury of this edition 2014 of the GPHG handed out 16 prizes, including the supreme “Aiguille d’Or”, distinction, awarded to Breguet for the Classic Chronométrie model. This prize was officially presented on-stage by the Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann, who praised the vitality of the Swiss watch industry. 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.
News: Presenting the Jaquet Droz Bird Repeater Openwork. The Manufacture Does it Again with a Half a Million USD Timepiece.
In 2012, The Bird Repeater featured two blue tits and their young birds close to the heart of the company’s founder Pierre Jaquet-Droz. This remarkable model reaffirmed the virtuoso expertise of Jaquet Droz, passed down from the 18th century and realized here in miniature. The following year, The Charming Bird watch marked the brand’s 275th anniversary with a new interpretation of the bird in an ultra-modern decorative setting and this time singing.
Now, the story continues with a previously unseen version of The Bird Repeater in a more streamlined, contemporary-looking model that has nonetheless retained intact the animated features that made it a success: a duo of blue tit birds feeding their fledglings, the spreading wings, the tumbling waterfall and the hatching egg.
Insider: Hublot Big Bang Depeche Mode Steel Limited Edition. 'Your Own Personal Jesus'.
If you used to dance to the beats of Depeche Mode's 'Music for the Masses' or 'Personal Jesus' was your party anthem, then the Hublot Big Bang Depeche Mode Steel Limited Edition ref. 311.SX.8010.VR.DPM14 is no stranger to you. This limited edition watch unveiled at the beginning of the year during a very special event at the Hublot boutique in the heart of the Place Vendôme in Paris, is the result of a fundraising project with Charity:Water, for which Depeche Mode's Delta Machine Tour is raising funds. The non-profit's mission is to ensure clean and safe water supply in developing countries.
This watch definitely targeted to all of us that were teens in the 80s —and most Generation X individuals— is available in a limited edition of 250 pieces that also includes 10 exceptional unique box sets, each containing a signed guitar by Depeche Mode and a special watch with a red chrono central hand, each engraved for one of the 10 cities with iconic meaning to Depeche Mode including Paris, New York, Basildon, Los Angeles, Milan, Warsaw, Moscow, Zurich, Berlin and Hamburg.
Experience: 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15300ST. A Perfect Combo of the Good Life.
A Ferrari 330 GTC is as iconic in the 'Cavallino Rampante' history as it is the Royal Oak in the history of Audemars Piguet. The Ferrari 330 GTC Berlinetta was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1965 as a two-seater coupé designed by iconic car designer Pininfarina. Produced for a short period of two years between 1966 and 1968, the 330 GTC quickly turned into a popular Ferrari for those seeking for a quieter and smoother ride. It has been stated that this "was probably the first Ferrari in which you could actually enjoy a radio". This fascinating Ferrari 330 GTC of which only 598 cars were ever made is as mint and pristine as it gets, just like the discontinued Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15300ST on our wrist.
This 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC in one of our favorite colors the 'Nocciola Metallizzato' —metallic hazelnut– is a successor to the Ferrari 250GT and 275 GTS sharing the short wheelbase of the 275 as well as its independent rear suspension. Equipped with a 12-cylynder engine this 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC is one of the most iconic automobiles we have ever featured here.
Experience: 20 Years of A. Lange & Söhne. Like a Phoenix Rising from the Ashes in 1994.
No other event has spurred the renaissance of fine watchmaking in Saxony like the presentation of Lange & Söhne’s first four timepieces 20 years ago. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, what must be Germany’s most famous watch brand took the stage of time. The beating heart of a flourishing region, it has long since regained its place among the world’s best watch brands. After the presentation of the quartet of new watches from A. Lange & Söhne on 24 October 1994 in the residential palace in Dresden, the world of fine watchmaking would never be the same. Congratulations to everyone at A. Lange & Söhne for this amazing milestone!
Suddenly, exclusive mechanical timepieces no longer came from Switzerland alone, but also from Saxony once more. Indeed, with their new technical ideas, individual signature construction and supreme perfection of craftsmanship, the four watches on exhibition set a new standard. This historic moment was the culmination of four years of intensive development work.
