Earlier this year, Audemars Piguet unveiled the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher ref. 26221FT.OO.D002CA.01. Finally, we were able to get our hands on one of the watches to bring you this hands-on review and live pictures. The watch, was a true collaboration between Audemars Piguet and Michael Schumacher, taking five years to come to fruition after Schumacher challenged Audemars Piguet to create a watch with the ability to measure and record an extended series of consecutive lap times. In late 2010, F1 legend and Audemars Piguet ambassador Michael Schumacher posed an apparently simple question to the engineers at Audemars Piguet: would it be possible to create a mechanical wristwatch designed specifically for use in motorsport which would make it possible to measure and record an extended series of consecutive lap times?
Insider: Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Earth. This 100-Piece Limited Edition is a Perfect Example of Skeletonization.
Since we know that not everyone has a chance to see the watches we review here in the metal —especially when it comes to some of the more exclusive independent brands with a limited distribution network and limited production—, we try to bring you live images under natural light so that those of you that don't have the opportunity to see the watches in person, can get a clear idea of what we are talking about, when we say that Armin Strom is a true master of skeletonization. As we've said it before, Armin Strom is a brand that excels in the art of skeletonization and the Skeleton Pure Earth ref. ST15-PE.40 we are reviewing here, is a perfect example of it. The Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Earth like all other Armin Strom timepieces, is fitted with a case measuring 43.4 mm in diameter and 13.4 mm thick.
Insider: Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition. Our Hands-On Review with Live Pictures and Pricing.
Just released a few days ago at the SIAR 2015 in Mexico City —which we attended—, the new Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition brings the best of the vintage world to the modern era in what we think is a flawless execution. While Montblanc's watchmaking history is still short, the Richemont brand has taken great strides in the past three years to become a 'haute horlogerie' force with a very competitive pricing strategy. Taking advantage of the horological resources of the Richemont watch conglomerate, Montblanc now presents a vintage inspired chronograph powered by the legendary Minerva calibre with its iconic 'V-shaped' bridge. The 1858 collection is inspired by the heritage of Minerva as one of Switzerland's most revered timekeeping specialists and its spirit has been revived in an contemporary vintage timepiece that is just stunning in the metal. Like its historic predecessor from the 1930s, the Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter comes with a black dial and historical shaped hands with aged lume.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26574OR. A Look into the History of the Royal Oak Quantième Perpétuel Since 1983.
Just released a little bit over a month ago on September 14, 2015, we patiently awaited until we could finally meet with Audemars Piguet to work on a proper hands-on review of this new stunning Perpetual Calendar and bring you our usual live pics under natural light . Well, the reward was worth the wait. As you will see in this post, the live pictures we took bring the watch to a different level, as if you could almost touch the dial. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Quantième Perpétuel —Perpetual Calendar— ref. 26574, joins all other Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars previously released since 1981 but with a larger case at 41 mm and a new automatic calibre. Audemars Piguet has an uninterrupted history of creating exceptional calendar watches that goes back to the company’s origins over 140 years ago. Sales of Audemars Piguet’s first full calendar wristwatches with phases of the moon began in 1924 and according to the Archives, the first perpetual calendar wristwatch was made and delivered in 1950.
News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 030 Automatic 'Black Dash'. A 50-Piece Limited Edition Right on Time for the SIAR Mexico City 2015.
As the SIAR 2015 kicks-off in Mexico City today, we are pleased to announce the new Richard Mille RM 030 Automatic 'Black Dash'. We will bring you live pictures later today. The newest version of Richard Mille’s RM 030 Automatic with Declutchable Rotor, cloaked in black with scarlet red details, debuts as the dark and dramatic sibling to previous editions of the popular tonneau-shaped timepiece. Like a carbon negative to this year’s White Rush limited edition, the Black Dash incorporates boundary-pushing new materials and a hand-finished innovative movement to achieve a new level of style and performance in haute horlogerie. Black TZP sand-blasted ceramic forms the front and back bezels of the RM 030 Black Dash, while its caseband is comprised of incredibly strong and light black NTPT carbon. The watch’s crown and rubber strap are also black, while the combination of red and white for its Arabic numerals, hands, indicators and inner flange produce a high degree of legibility.
News: The SIAR 2015—Salón Internacional Alta Relojería México— Kicks Off Tomorrow October 20, 2015. Live Coverage Right Here.
Only one day left before the 9th edition of the 'Salón Internacional Alta Relojería México' a.k.a. SIAR kicks-off at the St. Regis Hotel in Mexico City from October 20-22, 2015. The SIAR is the most important show in Latin America for exhibiting, promoting and selling fine timepieces in the region. A premium international event where locals and foreigners of very high disposable income —by invitation only— gather to share their love and passion for horology. Established in 2007, the SIAR has turned into a 'must attend' event among other international horology events including Baselworld and the SIHH. With over 17,000 attendees since its first edition and more than 50 exclusive brands involved, the SIAR is now the greatest watch event in the American continent. Participating brands this year include Armin Strom, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, F.P. Journe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, MB&F, HYT, Richard Mille, De Bethune, MCT, Ressence and Tudor amongst others.
News: Introducing the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black ref. 79220N. What Everyone was Dreaming of and More.
The day Tudor unveiled the Black Bay One unique piece for ONLY Watch Auction —as we reported here—, everyone started dreaming of Tudor one day releasing the model for the general public. While the new Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black ref. 79220N is not exactly identical to the Black Bay One made for the ONLY Watch Auction —as it lacks of the red writing on the dial—, this new model is a wonderful addition to the Heritage Black Bay lineup joining its siblings the Black Bay Burgundy Red and the Black Bay Blue. After receiving the information from the brand, we immediately knew that this watch was going to be a home run and probably sold out the same day its hitting the stores. Hopefully we will be able to get one today as it is supposed to be available at the Tudor authorized dealer network. We'll keep you posted on that front.
News: Introducing the HYT H4 Alinghi. Live Pictures and Pricing. Fitted with a Mechanically Powered White Light Under the Crystal.
Innovation within tradition, the DNA of haute horlogerie, the movement heritage, and so on: forget it all. HYT does things its own way, and discards these received ideas. Need a known quantity to hang on to? Good news: the H4 Alinghi tells the time. As for the rest, you will need to forget anything that has been seen, designed, or even imagined before now. Nothing has changed, except the essential. The chassis is a familiar beast. Since the start of the year, the H4 has had more ink in publicity than it has in its capillary. It is based on the same movement architecture as the H1, HYT's inaugural piece, which has been completely skeletonized. With a 65-hour power reserve, it unveiled its sculptural mechanism for the very first time and opened up a new creative universe for HYT. One so appealing that the brand decided not to meddle with it: the new H4 Alinghi is virtually a carbon copy of its big brother. Or is it? All is not as it seems. Using this as its basis, HYT has returned to its favourite game: creating, surprising, sometimes unsettling, always astounding. This time the brand has applied a radiant idea, as brilliant as it is difficult to spot at first glance.
News: Introducing the Girard-Perregaux 1966 in Stainless Steel. Available in Steel for the First Time.
Available in stainless steel for the first time, Girard-Perregaux the manufacture based out of La-Chaux-de-Fonds unveils the new Girard-Perregaux 1966 in a metal never used before for this collection. Often suggested, long imagined, Girard-Perregaux presents the eagerly awaited steel edition of the 1966 collection. Girard-Perregaux is a Manufacture known for its haute horlogerie and emblematic Three Gold Bridges. Its expertise in finishing movements has earned it the status as one of the most prestigious supporters of workmanship. The Manufacture of la Chaux-de-Fonds presents a minimalist style by introducing a new material to its flagship 1966 collection: steel. The new star of the collection mixes styles and genres —male-female and classic-contemporary— but maintains the iconic aesthetic and manufacture movement of the 1966 line. The model joins the ranks of watchmaking “must-haves”. Like a piece of Haute Couture designed with expertise and precision, this Girard-Perregaux 1966 steel watch delivers all the messages of traditional watchmaking.
Insider: Tudor Heritage Chrono ref. 70330N. As Good as it Gets for the Price.
Mirroring the original shape and proportions of the original Tudor Chronograph Monte Carlo 1970s model —references 7149, 7159/0, 7169/0 and the 7031/0 —the Tudor Heritage Chrono ref. 70330N launched five years ago in 2010, brings the best of the vintage world into modern times with a flawless execution that will captivate those watchlifestylers wanting to avoid the headaches that vintage shopping can bring. The Tudor Heritage Chrono ref. 70330N really brings that vintage feel without the headaches or budget issues that purchasing a vintage Tudor Monte Carlo might bring, especially considering all the fakes and redone dials out there. If you like vintage Tudors as much as we do, this is the way to go. Fitted with a generous 42 mm case that wears slightly smaller, the Tudor Heritage Chrono is a robust sporty looking timepiece that can be worn in any setting or with any outfit —even better when wearing your fancy orange Hermès ties.
News: Introducing the Hautlence Tourbillon 01. The First Tourbillon for this Manufacture and Powered by H. Moser & Cie. Calibre HMC 802.
Contemporary watchmaker Hautlence enlarges its Atelier collection with the addition of the Tourbillon 01, an elegant timepiece featuring H. Moser & Cie.’s exclusive Calibre Tourbillon HMC 802 beating at its heart. Equipped with a dual-time function, a one-minute tourbillon, a three-day power reserve and an automatic winding system, the Tourbillon 01 introduces new synergies between two brands owned by the Meylan family company, MELB Holding. The new Hautlence Tourbillon 01 reinterprets all of the design codes that are dear to Hautlence and follows in particular the aesthetics of the very first HL05 timepieces, offering a three-dimensional dial with a multi-level reading of time. Demonstrating Hautlence’s avant-garde approach to design, this new timepiece is housed in a round 44 mm two-tone case crafted out of rose gold and black PVD-coated titanium. Built on several levels, the dial highlights a black enamelled base embellished by Côtes de Genève decoration.
Insider: MB&F Legacy Machine 101. Dominated by the Monumental Suspended Balance Wheel. Live Pictures and Pricing.
MB&F does it again and this time they're wowing us with the new Legacy Machine 101. For a classically sized 40 mm watch with a immaculate satin-brushed finished case, the Legacy Machine 101 —LM101— covers a lot of ground. Or to be more precise, LM101 covers a lot of time: over 100 years between inspiration and realization. Legacy Machine 101 embodies and accentuates the very essence of what is essential in a wristwatch: the balance wheel, which is responsible for regulating precision; how much power remains in the mainspring, which indicates when it needs to be next wound; and of course, the time.
News: Introducing the New Richard Mille RM 011 RED TPT Quartz. The New Little Red Devil on the Block in a 50-piece Limited Edition.
Continuing with the recent launches of new watches from Richard Mille, may we present you the new Richard Mille RM 011 Red TPT Quartz, and when we say quartz we are not talking about a battery operated watch but the quartz used in the case material. Coupled with its RM 011 automatic flyback chronograph caliber, Richard Mille presents the latest incarnation of its TPT quartz case dressed in vibrant red. A unique color in fine watchmaking, it redefines the graphic limitations of this material. Since it was unveiled two years ago, Richard Mille’s NTPT carbon has enabled the Jura-based brand to produce cases and components with exceptional mechanical performances. Originally developed for the manufacture of racing boat sails, this material finds applications in Formula 1 chassis construction, aeronautic and now watchmaking, since it has rapidly become the brand’s trademark composite material.
Insider: Armin Strom Gravity Earth. A 100-Piece Limited Edition with Skeletonization and Micro-Rotor at its best.
As all of you know, Armin Strom is a brand very well known for mastering the art of skeletonization and the Gravity Earth ref. ST13-GE.90 we are reviewing here, happens to be one of our favorite watches from this manufacture, especially when fitted with a black rubber strap and tang buckle. This relatively young manufacture, was 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 skeletonization. The Armin Strom Gravity Earth like all other Armin Strom timepieces in the Gravity collection, is fitted with a case measuring 43.4 mm in diameter and 13.4 mm thick. The Gravity collection is composed of four different watches that represent the four terrestrial elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
News: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 26-02 Tourbillon Evil Eye. A $575,000 USD Watch in a 25-Piece Limited Edition.
The concept of the Evil Eye, also known as Ayin Harsha in Arabic, Mauvais OEil in French, Dhristi in Hindu and Ayin Ha’ra in Hebrew, is recorded in every culture from early history. This universal symbol of foreboding summons suffering and misfortune to whoever is exposed to its power. The Evil Eye knows no bounds except those imposed on it by various protective talismans, such as the Eye of Horus amulet, the Jewish red string or the Irish four leaf clover, to name just a few. Today, a new talisman to protect against these negative energies in the 21st century has been developed by a visionary of contemporary watchmaking. Nonconformist by nature, Richard Mille seized on this imagery as inspiration for the new Richard Mille RM 26-02 Tourbillon Evil Eye just unveiled at Watches & Wonder 2015 in Hong Kong. In the same way as he did when creating the earlier RM 052 skull timepiece —recalling the spirit of Memento Mori— with its remembrance of our personal mortality, both of these technical masterpieces, born in the Swiss Jura, go far beyond the norm to bring timekeeping to inspirational and intriguing levels of expression.
News: Introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time. Our Favorite World Timer at the Moment.
Renowned for its horological mastery and its creative talent, Jaeger-LeCoultre now wishes to share the fruits of its expertise with a broader public. This is why it is introducing an original collection with a pure, uncluttered design, driven by a new Haute Horlogerie calibre encapsulating the inventive spirit of the Manufacture. In 1958, the International Geophysical Year, Jaeger-LeCoultre created a chronometer for scientists on mission. Capable of withstanding the magnetic fields of the North Pole while losing nothing of its formidable precision, its overriding characteristic was extreme resistance. The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time with its 41.6 mm is available in either stainless steel or 18K pink gold. This new watch is fitted with a stunning dial that features a planisphere where the sea is depicted with subtly graded lacquered shades of blue, while the engraved continents are graced with a magnificent sunburst finish.
News: Introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic True Second. A Dead Beat Seconds Timepiece at its Finest.
Renowned for its horological mastery and its creative talent, Jaeger-LeCoultre now wishes to share the fruits of its expertise with a broader public. This is why it is introducing an original collection with a pure, uncluttered design, driven by a new Haute Horlogerie calibre encapsulating the inventive spirit of the Manufacture. In 1958, the International Geophysical Year, Jaeger-LeCoultre created a chronometer for scientists on mission. Capable of withstanding the magnetic fields of the North Pole while losing nothing of its formidable precision, its overriding characteristic was extreme resistance. The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic True Second with its 39.6 mm x 11.7 mm case is available in either stainless steel or 18K pink gold. This new watch is fitted with a stunning silver grain dial with applied markers matching the metal of the case. Its finely grained dial lends added texture and further accentuates the readability of the information provided. The hands and hour-markers stand out clearly against their backdrop.
News: Introducing the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731. The Thinnest Minute Repeater in the World, Now in Two New Platinum-Clad Versions.
Here we have another two new pieces also just unveiled at 2015 Watches & Wonders in Hong Kong. The new Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 is the thinnest manual wound calibre and the thinnest manual wound minute repeater watch on the market, at respectively 3.9 and 8.1 mm thick. Initially introduced in 18K 5N pink gold, this timepiece now appears clothed in a platinum case —framing a silvered opaline or slate-colored opaline dial— naturally bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. The first repeater watch appeared in the 18th century in an age before the advent of electric lighting. The timepiece enabled its owner to tell the time in the dark by means of an audible indication. While this complication is no longer an imperious necessity, it nonetheless remains a pinnacle of the watchmaking art. Each minute repeater watch is indeed unique and carries the signature of the master artisan who made it.
News: Introducing the Vacheron Constantin Maître Cabinotier Perpetual Calendar Regulator. A 'Pièce Unique' That is Simply Amazing.
Here's the new one-of-a-kind Vacheron Constantin Maître Cabinotier Perpetual Calendar Regulator ref. 4000C/000R-B121 right on time for the 2015 Watches & Wonders in Hong Kong. With this new watch —a unique-piece—, Vacheron Constantin showcases its expertise in creating original and exclusive calibers providing a highly specific time read-off. This exceptional timepiece is distinguished by its regulator-type display, inspired by the precision clocks used to adjust watches from the 17th century onwards. Along with this dissociated display of the hours and minutes, the 2460 RQP movement specially designed for this model also drives a major horological complication: the perpetual calendar. An elegant hand-guilloché dial accentuates the exclusive nature of this watch certified by the Hallmark of Geneva, crafted in keeping with the spirit of the 18th century Geneva cabinotiers.
News: Introducing the Bell & Ross BR 01 Skull Bronze Limited Edition. Hands-On Live Pictures and Pricing.
In 2009, Bell & Ross made a lasting impression by breaking with traditional watchmaking codes with its first "Skull" BR 01. This year, the brand presents a surprising variant in a limited edition of 500 pieces. The new Bell & Ross BR 01 Skull Bronze —the inspiration for the Bell & Ross Skull Tourbillon for ONLY Watch auction— with its distinctive character, pays tribute to the epic of the parachutists of the Second World War. On their jumpsuits, these elite fighters proudly wore a crest bearing a skull and these words: "Death from Above". Falling from the sky at dawn on June 6, 1944, the troops of the 101st and 82nd American airborne divisions played a vital role in the Normandy landings. From time immemorial, the most formidable fighters have shown their courage by sporting such skulls, both to intimidate their adversaries and to ward off bad fortune. Today, while it continues to figure on a lot of military equipment —such as uniforms, emblems and even airplanes—, the famous "Jolly Roger" as decorative element appears as a talisman or a rebel symbol.
