Before I started this website, I was already known to be one of the biggest watch purchase instigators out there, every time I would post comments or post pictures on different watch fora —or forums as most people prefer to pluralize the word as such. In only two years of existence, we have positioned our website as one of the leading watch destinations for 'top-notch' watch content with amazing live photography and barely any stock images as many other watch blogs or watch websites do. Furthermore, we are perhaps the biggest instigators of watch purchases when watch collectors are seeking for that little push as they are standing on the edge of a watch purchase. This time, we will limit the use of words for this watch review and let the images do the real talking. When it comes to a watch like the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5980/1R-001, really how much there is to review or say about the watch. We all know how iconic the Nautilus line is —launched in 1976 and still looking timeless— and we also know what makes this Patek Philippe chronograph one of the best watches out there.
News: Presenting the New Tudor Fastrider Black Shield ref. 42000CN. Inspired by the Ducati XDiavel and Available Via Special Order.
Directly inspired by the distinctive sporting elegance of the new Ducati XDiavel, Tudor adds a third model to the existing Fastrider Black Shield collection with a new matte black and white version of the Fastrider Black Shield. Just like the other two models, the new watch is fitted with a 42 mm monobloc high-tech bead blasted black matte ceramic case, automatic chronograph and date function. The Tudor Fastrider was originally created in 2011 to mark the partnership between Tudor and Ducati, becoming the technical and sporty TUDOR line dedicated to the world of performance motorbikes. In 2013, with the Fastrider Black Shield Chronograph and its matte black monobloc ceramic middle case, TUDOR presented the result of a cross-disciplinary approach to design, connecting the world of sports motorbikes to that of fine watchmaking. The collaboration also extended to the customization of a Ducati Diavel using the same design language. In 2015, a new Ducati —the XDiavel— has inspired Tudor to create a new edition of its all-ceramic chronograph.
Experience: 1964 Ferrari 250 Le Mans by Scaglietti. When You Stumble Into a Legendary $14-18 Million USD Racing Car.
It's been a while since we've ran into a special automobile worthy of featuring. Today, we bring you one of the most legendary Ferraris and classic cars ever made, with only thirty-two examples ever produced and its price tag anywhere between $14-18 Million USD. The Ferrari 250 Le Mans, a.k.a Ferrari 250 LM, was presented at the end of 1963 to replace the Ferrari 250 GTO. Originally produced to compete in the GT class, the 250 Le Mans was forced to compete as a sports-prototype since Ferrari didn't meet the 100-vehicle requirement that the FIA stipulated at the time. The Ferrari P series cars, were mid-engine prototype racing machines that at the same time, were street legal. The predecessor to the Ferrari 250 LM was the Ferrari 250 GTO, evolving into a mid-engine racing car sold to the general public and released under the name Ferrari 250 Le Mans. Launched at the Paris Auto Show at the end of 1963, the Le Mans became very successful among the elite of private car racers around the globe. A winner of the 1965 '24 Hours of Le Mans', the 250 LM stands as the last Ferrari to win at an Endurance Race.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26574 in Stainless Steel. Hands-On with the New Grail Watch for AP Lovers.
Released almost two months ago, the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26574 in stainless steel is quickly joining the ranks of grail watches for AP lovers and purists. On this hands-on review of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 26574ST.00.1220ST.01, we will tell you why in our opinion, this is a new AP grail and a perfect daily wearer for most watchlifestylers. Since we already discussed the history of the Royal Oak Perpetual calendars since 1983 during our review of the rose gold version ref. 26574OR.00.1220OR.02 here, we will skip those details and head straight to the watch. But not before we warn you that our live pictures are so good that you better have that card number ready, because we know you will be calling your nearest Audemars Piguet boutique right away after reading this post. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Quantième Perpétuel —Perpetual Calendar— ref. 26574, joins all other Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars previously released since 1983 but with a larger case at 41 mm and a new automatic calibre.
Experience: A Vintage Racing Weekend with Zenith at the Circuit of the Americas. Simply an Unforgettable Experience. Part Two of Two.
If you read yesterday's post about our vintage racing weekend experience with Zenith, continue reading part two of this unbelievable weekend. Now, if you did not read yesterday's post, we advice you to first read part one here. Just as if day one of our vintage racing experience with Zenith wasn't exhilarating enough, wait till you see the last part of our time at the Circuit of the Americas. Could it get any better after what we posted yesterday? Well, it actually does. After a nice evening on Saturday filled with Negronis, Austin's staple Tito's Vodka and a few glasses of champagne, we woke up early morning on Sunday to head to the track for the Hawk Performance Historic GT/GTP Enduro race that was supposed to start at 10:15am. After gearing up with the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Limited Edition and our matching red ear muffs, we arrived at the Paddock. Few minutes later, vintage and modern cars were about to start lining up on the pre-grid for the race.
Experience: A Vintage Racing Weekend with Zenith at the Circuit of the Americas. Simply an Unforgettable Experience. Part One of Two.
This past weekend, we were part of a select group of invitees —mainly collectors— invited by Zenith watches to be part of an amazing vintage racing experience at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The Circuit of the Americas —COTA— is a FIA Formula One grade track with 20 turns, a length of 3.427 miles —5.515 km— and home to the Formula One United States Grand Prix since 2012. Additionally, the circuit also hosts the MOTO GP of the Americas, the Road Racing World Championship, the FIA Endurance Championship and the SVRA U.S. Vintage Racing Championship amongst others. This weekend's experience courtesy of Zenith, was far from average and one that we will hardly ever forget. Being the crazy Formula One fans that we are, setting foot in the actual track, was a long life dream that was about to come true.
Insider: Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Water. One of the Winners of the 2015 Red Dot Product Design Award.
This time, we are bringing you our hands-on review of the Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Water, one of the winners at the 2015 Red Dot Product Design Awards. For those of you not familiar with the Red Dot Award, this competition dates back to 1955 and is organized by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen. With more than 17,000 entries each year is one of the best-respected design competitions in the world. The sought-after award, the “Red Dot”, is the revered international seal of outstanding design quality. You can read more about it here. Now, back to our hands-on review of this Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Water, made by a very exclusive independent brand by nature and also one with a very limited production of around 500 pieces a year —all of them of course handmade. Just to put things in perspective, Rolex makes one million watches a year and a more exclusive brand like Breguet, close to 30,000. The live images under natural light you'll see here, will give you the best idea of what we are talking about, when it comes to a brand like Armin Strom which is known to be a true master of skeletonization.
News: Pre-SIHH 2016 Introducing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in 18K Yellow Gold. As Warm and Brilliant as the Sun.
n 2016, Audemars Piguet brings the enduring lustre of yellow gold back to the forefront. Launched in 1972, the Royal Oak was the first luxury watch to treat stainless steel, and meticulously craft, polish and decorate it, like a precious metal. As the copy on the first campaign mentioned: "A Tribute to Steel" and then the following one: "Steel at the price of Gold". Using steel in such a manner was a risk, yet ultimately a game-changing triumph. The revolution it launched opened a new and extremely creative chapter for Audemars Piguet, during which it explored traditional and unconventional materials in great depth: platinum, carbon, alacrite, bronze, rubber, ceramic, titanium, tantalum, etc.
Insider: Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage II. Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Manufacture in a 10-Piece Limited Edition.
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the manufacture, Zenith presented several special watches this year. Today, we bring you our hands-on review with our now usual live pictures of the new Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage II ref. 18.2215.8805/36.C713 in tribute to the legendary explorer and discoverer of the Americas Christopher Columbus. This exceptional timepiece issued in an entirely hand-finished 10-piece limited edition, sets the stage for three major breakthroughs in watchmaking history: a patented Gravity Control system, fusée-chain transmission and an exceptional frequency of 36,000 vph.
News: James Bond's Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 from 1972 Sells for $365,000 USD at Phillips Auction Two. Live and Let Die.
Yesterday November 8th, 2015 in Geneva at the Phillips Watches Auction Number Two in partnership with Bacs & Russo, the Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 worn by Sir Roger Moore as James Bond, sold for $365,000 USD. The most recognizable watch in history with 1 billion people having watched the film “Live and Let Die”, the wristwatch worn on the wrist of Sir Roger Moore as James Bond is in fact a Rolex Submariner reference 5513 made in 1972, and was later modified for the movie. The present Rolex reference 5513 “Q” is the most unforgettable watch prop used in a movie and is even signed inside the caseback “Roger Moore 007”. As a highlight in the most iconic scenes of “Live and Let Die”, this watch is sure to interest both watch collectors and true fans of cinematography alike.
News: Vintage Patek Philippe Split Seconds Chronograph ref. 1436 Sells for $3.29 Million USD. One of Two Examples Known to Exist.
Yesterday November 8th, 2015 in Geneva at the Phillips Watches Auction Number Two in partnership with Bacs & Russo, another vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch sets a record at auction. Selling for $3.301 Million Swiss Francs —roughly $3.291 Million USD at today's exchange rate—, the Patek Philippe Split Seconds chronograph ref. 1436 makes history. With only two examples in stainless steel that are known to exist, this watch is far from the norm where the elite of watch manufacturers would reserve their most complicated and consequently valuable movements for precious metal cases. The consequence is, however, that lovers and collectors of the finest complicated vintage wristwatches will struggle to ever find a favorite piece in a stainless steel case. The perfect example of this theory is Patek Philippe, and only too many passionate collectors of the firm’s vintage pieces regret not to have yet seen a reference 2499, two crown world time, or vintage minute repeater in a stainless steel case.
News: ONLY Watch Auction Brings Crazy Money in Geneva. A Patek Philippe ref. 5016A Sells for $7.3 Million Swiss Francs.
With the proceeds from the sale donated to the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy in order to help finance research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease affecting 1 in 3,500 boys, therefore 250,000 children, adolescents, and young adults around the world, the ONLY Watch auction executed by Phillips this afternoon in Geneva, brought crazy money. Some of the highlights of the auction include a Patek Philippe ref. 5016A selling for more than $7.3 Million Swiss Francs, a Richard Mille RM 27-02 prototype worn by Rafael Nadal sold for $650,000 Swiss Francs, an F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Bleu selling for $550,000 Swiss Francs, the long awaited Tudor Black Bay One for $375,000 Swiss Francs, a Hublot Classic Fussion Only Watch Britto for $135,000 Swiss Francs, a Louis Vuitton Escale World Time selling for $130,000 Swiss Francs, the Bell & Ross BR01 Skull Bronze Tourbillon bringing in $100,000 Swiss Francs and lastly the Breguet Type XXI Flyback in Platinum ref. 3813 for $90,000 Swiss Francs. Of all 44 lots, this eight lots brought in the most money.
News: The Tudor Heritage Black Bay One Sells for 375,000 Swiss Francs at the 2015 ONLY Watch Auction by Phillips.
For its first participation in the 6th ONLY Watch charity auction to take place on November this year, Tudor has decided to reinterpret one of the least known tool-watches in its history: reference 7923. Launched in the mid-1950s and produced in tiny quantities, this is the brand’s only divers’ watch to have been equipped with a hand-wound movement. It also stands out from the other divers’ watches produced by Tudor with its baton-type hands. Highly sought after by collectors today, this rare reference was an excellent starting point for the creation of a one-off model destined for this unique initiative. The Tudor Heritage Black Bay One created for this auction mixes the best of both worlds —vintage and modern— in a flawless execution. This unique piece Tudor Heritage Black Bay One created for Only Watch 2015 is part of Tudor's heritage inspired approach, reinterpreting the reference 7923 with enlightened freedom.
Insider: Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time. You Can't Get This Much Watch Elsewhere.
If you ask us which is the brand that gives you the most value for your money, we will always continue to say Jaeger-LeCoultre. Working on this hands-on review was yet another great chance to see why Jaeger-LeCoultre's value equation is so good. Whether you're looking at the brand's greatest complications or just at more simple time telling timepieces. The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time is right on the money. Launched as part of the new Geophysic collection about a month ago, this new watch along with the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic True Second bring 'haute horlogerie' movements at luxury timepiece prices. 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 x 11.84 mm case, is available in either stainless steel or 18K pink gold.
Insider: Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black ref. 79220N. 21 Days of Ownership and Still Loving It.
Today, we are going to approach this hands-on review in a very different way. Instead of focusing on all the technicalities and the pros and cons of this new watch, we will strongly focus on the emotions that surround a watch purchase and why we still love the new Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black a.k.a. the 'BBB' after 21 days of ownership. As you all watch collectors know, timepieces not only track time for us, but they also gather memories as we wear them. You guys also know —especially those of you that are compulsive watch flippers—, that many times we buy watches by impulse and as a mere 'fix' for that watch collecting addiction we have, only to end up flipping the new watch within days or just a few weeks after the purchase. Well, all we can say is that at least for us, this new Tudor BBB is a keeper for us.
Insider: Montblanc 1858 Manual Small Second. Three Different Models Plus One Limited Edition Piece All Under $4K USD.
Just released a week and a half ago at the SIAR 2015 in Mexico City, the new Montblanc 1858 Manual Second is another great addition to the new 1858 collection for the brand. Available in three different models, the Montblanc 1858 Manual Small Second brings a vintage look with contemporary design cues and excellent craftsmanship for the money. The four different models available include: Montblanc ref. 113860 a limited edition in 858 pieces fitted with a matte black dial with 'vintage' beige Arabic numerals and black alligator strap with contrast stitching, Montblanc ref. 112639 with a matte black dial and white Arabic numerals on stainless steel 'Milanese' mesh bracelet, Montblanc ref. 112638 with a matte black dial and white Arabic numerals on brown Sfumato —nubuck— leather strap and lastly a sunburst blue dial model with blue alligator strap for which we have no reference number and a piece that doesn't even appear on Montblanc's website or their brochures.
Insider: Introducing the New MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual. Hands-on with Live Pics and Pricing. The Brand's First Perpetual Calendar Changing How We've Looked at Perpetuals so Far.
Perhaps one of the top five biggest news of the year and a watch that we think for sure will be a prize recipient at the GPHG next year. May we now present you MB&F's first perpetual calendar. The new MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual is a perpetual calendar timepiece that is reinventing the most traditional horological complication. The new MB&F LM Perpetual, developed from the ground up with independent Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell, breaks all codes and perspectives on how we've looked at perpetual calendars up until now.
While conventional perpetual calendars are generally modules comprising the complication which is fitted on top of an existing movement, the calendar indications are synchronized by a long lever —called 'grand levier' in French— running across the top of the complication and passing through the center.
Insider: Hublot Big Bang Unico World Poker Tour Limited Edition. 200 Pieces for Those that Play Poker for a Living.
The World Poker Tour —WPT— is the premier name for the internationally televised poker gaming tournaments. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments. To mark the announcement of Hublot's entry into the world of poker, the brand has developed yet another limited edition —in addition to all others— named Big Bang Unico World Poker Tour ref. 411.SX.1170.LR.WPT15 with a design that suitably encapsulates the world of poker. The watch chosen to entice the players was the iconic Big Bang, equipped with the in-house Unico Manufacture Chronograph, unique in the industry for its column wheel and double clutch visible on the dial side. The Hublot Big Bang Unico World Poker Tour is available in a 200-piece limited edition and is fitted with a 45 mm mirror polished and microblasted stainless steel case with a matching mirror polished and microblasted bezel with engravings of the four iconic poker game suits —spade, club, heart and diamond.
Insider: Richard Mille RM 63-02 World Timer Automatic. Fitted with a Special Mechanism on its Bezel.
Richard Mille first unveiled the RM 58-01 Tourbillon World Timer at the SIHH 2013. Designed for frequent travelers and others alike, this timepiece made a strong impression thanks to its remarkably easy to use multi-time-zone mechanism. When designing the RM 58-01, Richard Mille’s goal was to simplify the setting of this complication as far as possible, notably by removing the pusher. Now, just a week ago, Richard Mille unveiled the RM 63-02 World Timer Automatic at the SIAR in Mexico City. After working on this hands-on review with live pictures, our first impression of the watch is that while the round shape doesn't immediately convey Richard Mille, the rest of the watch DNA does. While there are other Richard Mille timepieces out there with a round shape like the RM 028 Diver or this watch's predecessor the RM 58-01 Tourbillon, we are more used to identify Richard Mille timepieces by their tonneau-shaped cases.
News: The Winners of the 2015 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Congratulations to the Winners and Especially to Greubel Forsey for Winning the 'Aiguille d'Or' Grand Prix.
Excellence, innovation and watchmaking expertise were duly rewarded today October 29th, 2015 at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, on the occasion of the 15th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève —GPHG— prize-giving ceremony. The international jury of this edition 2015 of the GPHG handed out 16 prizes, including the supreme “Aiguille d’Or”, distinction, awarded to Greubel Forsey for the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision. 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. This 15th edition of the GPHG registered a record participation with representation from all the major watchmaking groups as well as a number of independent companies.
