Back in January 2015, we brought you the news fresh from the SIHH 2015 in Geneva regarding the launch of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15400SR.OO.1220SR.01 'Two-Tone'. Today, we bring you our usual live images with as many macro shots as possible so you can see its beauty for yourself. This Royal Oak needs like introduction as we reviewed its stainless steel predecessor here. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Two-Tone' powered by the in-house automatic calibre 3120 is fitted with the largest case ever made on a Royal Oak measuring 41 mm in diameter. This novelty marks the return of one of our all-time favorite Royal Oaks phased out in the 1990s and originally launched under reference 5402SA as a 'Two-Tone' Royal Oak Jumbo in 1976. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo 'Two-Tone' ref. 5402SA was only produced for a few years and only 951 were ever created.
Macros: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver. All About Mastering the Details in Watchmaking.
A few days ago, we took some macro pictures of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver ref. 15703ST.OO.A002CA.01. These pictures are a perfect example of what attention to detail means when it comes to watchmaking.
As it is the norm with Audemars Piguet timepieces, attention to detail is one thing that this 'Haute Horlogerie' really masters. From the glossy look and details on the Méga tapisserie dial to the perfectly brushed finish of the case and the rubberclad crowns, all design elements of this watch join in a symphony that only Audemars Piguet can play.
News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 011 Flyback Chronograph 'Midnight Fire'. 88-Piece Limited Edition for the Americas.
Introducing the new Richard Mille RM 011 Flyback Chronograph 'Midnight Fire'. This new watch is available in a 88-piece limited edition exclusively available in the Americas. Fire glows brightest in the darkest of night. Richard Mille’s new limited edition version of the RM 011 Automatic Flyback Chronograph, “Midnight Fire,” employs high-tech materials to capture the deepest black of the night’s darkest hour, and ignites it with fiery red details. Black TZP ceramic is extremely resistant to scratches while not being brittle. For the RM 011 Midnight Fire, the material is blasted to provide a matte finish, then formed into the front and back bezels of the timepiece’s tripartite case. The center caseband of the Midnight Fire is crafted from NTPT —North Thin Ply Technology — carbon. Already used in the fields of aerospace technology, the manufacture of racing sales, and Formula 1 racecar design, NTPT carbon is incredibly strong and light, and composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibers.
Insider: Presenting the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 'Tribute to the Rolling Stones'. Live Pictures and Pricing.
In 1969, just a few months before humankind’s first steps on the moon, Zenith presented El Primero, the world’s first integrated automatic chronograph movement. That same year, one of the world’s best known rock bands reached the height of its fame. To celebrate this pivotal date, Zenith is launching a new second version of the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tribute to The Rolling Stones. Zenith naturally wished to celebrate its friendship with the rock’n’roll legends The Rolling Stones by crafting a modern watchmaking legend. This new version of the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 'Tribute to the Rolling Stones', is being issued in a 1,000-piece limited edition. As a truly worthy heir to the model that revolutionised the watch industry more than 40 years ago, the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 'Tribute to The Rolling Stones' limited edition reprises its codes while introducing a very dark, contemporary, rock-style look.
News: Introducing the HYT H2 Aviator. A Limited Edition of 40 Pieces for Aviation Lovers.
With an already imposing name, the H2 Aviator is the first time HYT creates a timepiece destined for aviation lovers which each step of its concept designed to satisfy aeronautical codes. The H2 Aviator isn’t simply an evolution, it is a true transformation of HYT’s iconic H2 launched in 2013, a piece easily distinguishable by its ‘V’ shaped positioned bellows. "The H2 Aviator is a well thought out design conceived to go the distance over years, to evolve, follow and even anticipate horological trends and to think that our creations are all of this quality, gives me enormous satisfaction." says HYT CEO Vincent Perriard. "The H2 transcends different orbs and is now propelled 10,000 feet upward as if it had always been meant for this." The H2’s new aviatic garb underlines the piece’s legibility, a defining element for all flight instruments. The path and the color of the minute hand has been redrawn with its quarter hour indexes enlarged and in red.
Insider: Zenith Pilot Montre d'Aéronef Type 20 Extra Special 'Bronze'. Hands-On with One of Our Favorite Bronze Watches Out There.
The new Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special 'Bronze' ref. 29.2430.679/21.C753 is the successor to the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special ref. 03.2430.3000/21.C738 launched last year. This new watch opposed to its predecessor, features a case made of bronze, a metal that is now highly coveted in the watch industry and which became extremely popular after the launch of the Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 'Bronzo' PAM 382 and its successor the PAM 507. Today, numerous watches are now available in bronze all the way from C-list 'wannabes' like the Helson or the Armida, to the exceptional IWC Aquatimer 'Expedition Charles Darwin' featured here. The new Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special ref. 29.2430.679/21.C753 is fitted with a robust 45 mm case that is just very unique an destined to develop a gorgeous patina as it gets worn by its owner.
News: The Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève Announces the Finalists for the 2015 GPHG Prize. Some of Our Favorites are There.
The list of watches pre-selected by the 2015 jury is now available on the official website of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, gphg.org. These 72 timepieces will be competing to win the prestigious “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix or one of the 16 prizes awarded for contemporary creative talent and watchmaking expertise. By consulting this list, watchmaking enthusiasts from all over the world are invited to vote for their favorite watch. They will thus take part in electing a model to be awarded the Public Prize and automatically participate in the draw to win a timepiece. The 2015 awards will be revealed on October 29th at the Grand Théâtre de Genève. Presented jointly by Frédéric Beigbeder and Gaspard Proust, the prize-giving ceremony will be attended by Alain Berset, Federal Councillor, and will see representatives from the international watchmaking community congregate in Geneva to recognize the dynamic buoyancy of their sector. The event will be broadcasted live on gphg.org.
News: Richard Mille Donates the Rafael Nadal RM 27-01 Tourbillon Prototype to ONLY Watch Auction.
For the 6th edition of the ONLY Watch auction, Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal are partnering up once again to donate the RM 27-02 tourbillon prototype for the auction taking place in Geneva on November 7th, 2015. This unique piece has accompanied “Rafa” to all the biggest Grand Slam tournaments, from the French and U.S. Opens all the way to Wimbledon. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy. With the Rafael Nadal RM 27-02 tourbillon prototype, the Swiss brand unveiled the very first skeletonized baseplate to be known as “unibody”. Inspired by the bodywork of racecars and machined from NTPT carbon, this construction increases rigidity and shock-resistance, and seamlessly fuses the case middle and the baseplate, eliminating the need to join the two components together.
Insider: Panerai Radiomir Black Seal 8 Days PAM 609. Delivered an Actual 9 Days, 3 Hours and 10 Minutes of Power Reserve During Our Hands-On Review.
Launched a few months ago, the new Panerai Radiomir Black Seal 8 Days PAM 609 is the latest addition to the 'Black Seal' family within the Radiomir collection. The first modern Panerai Radiomir watch honoring ref. 3646 from the late 1930s was launched in 2004 as the Panerai 'Radiomir Black Seal' PAM 183 with a 45mm —the original Radiomir watches had a case measuring 47mm in diameter— stainless steel cushion-shaped case. Since then, many iterations of the 'Radiomir Black Seal' have followed with dial changes —i.e. today, the PAM 183 features the 'Black Seal' writing at 12 o'clock instead of at 6 o'clock as it did when it was launched in 2004—, release of new models with in-house calibres that include date functions, power reserve indicators and most recently powered by the manual wound Panerai in-house calibre P.5000 with an outstanding 8-day power reserve. Interestingly enough, while working on our hands-on review, the PAM 609 reviewed here, ended up delivering an impressive total power reserve of 9 days, 3 hours and 10 minutes.
Insider: Zenith Pilot Montre d'Aéronef Type 20 Annual Calendar. A Vintage Inspired Massive Chronograph and Annual Calendar.
More than a century ago during the summer of 1909, air pilots were challenged to fly across the English Channel in a competition set by the British newspaper The Daily Mail. On July 25, 1909 Louis Blériot achieved a major first by crossing the English Channel by air, while wearing a Zenith watch on his wrist. At 4:15 am, the wind had dropped at Calais, France and it seemed like a propitious time to accomplish the challenge flying 40 kilometers from Calais, France to Dover, England. With his Zenith on his wrist, he took off aboard the Blériot XI, a frail ‘bird’ featuring a wooden frame and parchment-like wings and crossed the channel in merely 37 minutes.
Insider: A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1. Larger, Thinner and Just as Good Looking as the Lange 1.
The A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 in white gold ref. 117.028 is another spectacular and iconic creation from this manufacture that was unveiled earlier this year. This iconic Grand Lange 1 is fitted with a white gold case measuring 40.9 mm in diameter and 8.8 mm in thickness —2.4 mm larger and 1.2 mm thinner than the Lange 1— and is also available in platinum, yellow gold or pink gold. As it is common with watches from this manufacture, the craftsmanship is just exceptional. This white gold model features a black dial with the exact same layout as the Lange 1 with an off-centered hour/minute sub-dial at 10, a small seconds counter at 5, an Up/Down power reserve indicator between 2 and 4 and a large date aperture at 1 o'clock. The dial is perfectly balanced and simply beautiful.
News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 69 Erotic Tourbillon. The Classiest and Most Tasteful Erotic Timepiece Out There.
Today, we present you the new Richard Mille RM 69 Erotic Tourbillon. Its name is a clear affirmation of the creative longing to reveal our most secret intentions in all their glory. Playfully and tastefully interpreted, this fine watchmaking creation will delight and amuse its owners, teasingly displaying phrases that evoke desired pleasure without being as graphic as other erotic timepieces out there like the Ulysse Nardin Hourstriker Erotica Jarretière we featured here. Erotic timepieces are an important part of watchmaking history since Jaquet Droz was around. Because they broke with conservative moral, religious and political customs, these objects were often banned and confiscated. But like all forbidden love, their pleasure was enjoyed away from prying eyes. Thus by concealing the complications at the heart of watches in question, certain models have survived to this day.
News: Introducing the Ulysse Nardin Hourstriker Erotica Jarretière. Equipped with a Little Something for Voyeurists.
Ulysse Nardin reveals its sensual side with the new Hourstriker Erotica Jarretière. Ulysse Nardin is known for its daring watchmaking ingenuity, with the new Hourstriker Erotica Jarretière, the manufacture pushes the boundaries, once again, revealing a side never seen before —sensuality. Adding a little risqué to its repertoire of wristwatches is the new Hourstriker Erotica Jarretière. Erotic scenes are a long-standing tradition in the watch industry. Ulysse Nardin takes the subject matter to new heights through its implementation of the Hourstriker movement and Jaquemarts. A delicate, handcrafted miniature brings the romance of Venice to life. The delicately finished black onyx dial portrays the scene exposing lovers, viewable from the interior balcony, enjoying each other. Set admist traditional Venetian décor, the nude man and woman make love on a chaise; these figures are handmade 18K gold Jaquemarts that move in rhythm with the Hourstriker.
News: Introducing the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 'Cornes de vache' 1955. Pre-Watches & Wonders A Legendary Chronograph Makes its Appearance.
Celebrating a heritage forged by 260 years of uninterrupted expertise and innovation, Vacheron Constantin is enriching its Historiques collection with a classic chronograph fitted with iconic ‘cow-horn’ lugs. This contemporary interpretation of a legendary model created by Vacheron Constantin in 1955 embodies a remarkable blend of rigorous technicality and bold creativity. Featuring a central complication in line with the heritage of the Geneva-based Manufacture, the Historiques Cornes de vache 1955 ref. 5000H/000P-B058 is powered by the hand-wound Caliber 1142, housed in a 38.5 mm-diameter platinum case. This timepiece bearing the Hallmark of Geneva and issued in an exclusive production run is joining an exceptional collection dedicated to connoisseurs and which revives legendary Vacheron Constantin creations in a spirit of timeless excellence.
Insider: Panerai Radiomir Black Seal 3 Days Automatic PAM 388. An Upgraded PAM 183 with Date and Automatic Movement.
In the 1930s, the men in the Italian Royal Navy's Gamma Group, carried out their maneuvers astride human torpedoes a.k.a. "pigs" or indeed "black seals". The first modern Panerai Radiomir watch honoring ref. 3646 from the late 1930s was launched in 2004 with a 45mm —the original Radiomir watches had a case measuring 47mm in diameter— stainless steel cushion-shaped case with detachable wire lugs, display case back, black matte sandwich dial with superluminova, onion-shaped crown, gold calf strap with beige contrast stitching, large pin buckle and the OP XI hand-wound movement —based off of the ETA 6497/2 but with a swan neck regulator. This Panerai, was released under the 'Radiomir Black Seal' name and usually referred to by Paneristi as the PAM 183. Today, the PAM 183 includes the 'Black Seal' writing at 12 o'clock under the word 'Radiomir' instead of at 6 o'clock as it did when it was launched in 2004.
Experience: The Audemars Piguet Floral Clock at Singapore's Gardens by The Bay. Celebrating Singapore's 50th Year of Independence.
To celebrate Singapore's 50th Independence anniversary, Audemars Piguet and Gardens by The Bay have come together to commemorate the occasion with the unveiling of Singapore’s only sizable public floral clock. Blending timekeeping precision with botanical artistry, the Floral Clock was unveiled by Minister for National Development, Mr. Khaw Boon Wan, together with Dr. Kiat W. Tan, CEO of Gardens by the Bay, and Mr. Oliviero Bottinelli, Member of the Board of Directors, Audemars Piguet Holding SA. Displayed prominently in the Gardens, at the intersection between the cooled conservatoires and the Supertree Grove, the seven-meter-wide Floral Clock draws inspiration from the signature characteristics of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak collection and fuses traditional and contemporary landscaping elements in its design. Featuring tropical plants with colored foliage and flowers, its plant palette will be refreshed regularly for the public to enjoy.
Insider: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Chronograph. One of the Most Classical and Elegant Chronographs in the Market.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Chronograph ref. 1538420 is another one of those classical timeless pieces from this manufacture. The Master Chronograph is perhaps the most well balanced and most classical looking chronograph in the market. This chronograph fitted with a highly polished stainless steel case measuring 40mm in diameter, comes with perfectly balanced proportions and a timeless design. The Master Chronograph ref. 1537420 is fitted with a convex silver sunray brushed dial with applied hour-markers, recessed chronograph registers and alpha hands —all chronograph hands are anodized blue. The configuration of the dial includes an hour-chrono register at 9, a minute-chrono register at 3, running seconds at 6, a date aperture between 4 and 5 o'clock and a pulsometer scale around the edge of the dial.
Macros: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore Dials. The Different Types of Tapisseries.
We often run into watchlifestylers that are curious about the differences between the different types of 'tapisseries' on the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore dials. While many know their names, few know the difference between them. Now, how does Audemars Piguet create these iconic 'Clous de Paris' guilloché pattern dials?
The brass dial is engraved by a burin —a precision metalwork chisel— that reproduces the motif on a disc attached to the machine, like a pantograph. A pointer rotates across the disc from the periphery to the center. The system is combined with a tool that forms the little lozenges between the pyramidal squares and takes between 20 and 50 minutes, depending on the dial's diameter. It's a delicate operation. A mere skip is all it takes to damage the piece as the slightest impact is as visible as dust on a mirror. Here's a video courtesy of Audemars Piguet showing the work to create one of these iconic dials.
Insider: Christophe Claret X-TREM-1 White Gold. Hours and Minutes Displayed by a Magnetic System.
Christophe Claret's X-TREM-1, is one of those watches where your mind needs to wrap around the idea that a magnetic field is the one working behind the scenes to display the hours and minutes. While horological fans understand that magnets and mechanical timepieces don't go well together, Christophe Claret decided to do the impossible by mixing them in one amazing horological complication. The X-TREM-1 ref. MTR.FLY11.100-108 features an 18K white gold and grade 5 titanium case with white gold metalized numerals and a tourbillon case at 6 o'clock. This timepiece is as visually striking as it is technically innovative. Christophe Claret has always focused on developing original timepieces incorporating the latest technological innovations. The brand is known for pushing the boundaries of mechanical watchmaking and straying away from the beaten horological path. First presented in 2012, X-TREM-1 is a testament to this endeavor and represents a totally new way of telling the time.
News: Officine Panerai Opens Flagship at Miami Design District. Largest Panerai Point of Sale in the U.S. To Date.
Adding up to the large number of watch boutiques now opening in Miami's Design District, Officine Panerai presents its first ever flagship store in the Americas, created by the architect and designer Patricia Urquiola. The new flagship is situated in the heart of the Miami Design District, an area of the city which has recently been transformed into an exclusive luxury shopping destination. The boutique extends over an area of 2,200 square feet on two floors with two different entrances making this the largest Panerai point of sale in the United States to date. The flagship store is in the south-west corner of the Design District’s Palm Court and it has seven windows, five on the ground floor and two on the upper floor. The boutique windows face onto the piazza of the Palm Court, which is easily recognized by the large glass sculpture shaped like a geodesic dome in the center of the courtyard.
