For 20 years, Chopard Manufacture has been creating the watches in the L.U.C collection. This year at Baselworld 2016, Chopard is once again shaking up the classic codes of complicated Haute Horlogerie by introducing the new L.U.C Perpetual Twin, an all steel chronometer-certified perpetual calendar. The L.U.C Perpetual Twin is endowed with the mechanical excellence of Chopard complications while housing its perpetual calendar movement within a stainless steel 43 mm case.
News: Presenting the new MB&F Legacy Machine LM1 M.A.D. Dubai Edition. 13 Pieces in Titanium Exclusively Sold at the M.A.D. Gallery in Dubai.
The concept of Friends is such an integral part of MB&F that it's right there in the name: the “F” in MB&F stands for Friends. And few Friends have been as supportive to the creative horological lab as the Seddiqi family in Dubai. Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons was one of the six core retailers that supported —well before the first watch had been produced— Büsser's vision of a horological laboratory focused on creating kinetic sculptures that give time.
Experience: Some of Our Picks from the Phillips Watch Auction THREE. Live Pictures of Nine Exceptionally Rare Lots.
Last spring, the international team of Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo consisted of only nine people. Today, only a year later, their team around the world has almost doubled and grown to 17. Thus far, Phillips Watches sales exceed $80 Million USD and have set price records for different watches including the Patek Philippe Split Seconds chronograph ref. 1436 that sold for $3.301 Million Swiss Francs as we reported it here, the Patek Philippe Monopusher Chronograph ref. 130 Doctor's Watch selling for $4.645 Million Swiss Francs as we reported it here and of course the privilege to bring down the gavel on what is today the world’s most valuable wristwatch ever sold —not only at auction—, we are talking about the Patek Philippe reference 5016A selling for $7.3 Million Swiss Francs as we reported here.
Insider: Manufacture Royale 1770 Haute Voltige Dual Time. Hands-on with a Beautiful Execution of Haute Horlogerie.
Presented last month at Baselworld 2016, the new Manufacture Royale 1770 Haute Voltige Dual Time is enriching the 1770 Voltige line with this new version equipped with an easy-to-set second time zone and a raised balance wheel that dominates the majority of the dial. Available in a 45 mm micro-blasted stainless steel case, the watch comes with either blue or black dial. Personally, we feel the blue dial is way more appealing and extremely beautiful since we are suckers for blue dials.
The Watch Collectors: Meet Yanina LeCristal. An Instagram Fashionista that Loves Watches and Everything Hermès.
A few weeks ago, we were asked why we've never featured any female collectors or watchlifestylers within our Watch Collector's Corner. Well, today we bring you what you've been asking for. A little over a year ago, we came across Yanina LeCristal's Instagram profile. After realizing we had friends in common, we started following each other. The fact that she keeps her feed very real and ultra luxurious, is something that we really enjoy about it.
Experience: Our Picks from the Upcoming START-STOP-RESET Phillips Watches Auction. Live Pictures of Exceptionally Rare Stainless Steel Chronographs.
A meeting with Paul Boutros at Phillips Watches is always a real treat and a thrilling experience. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo will be conducting their Geneva Watch Auction Three next month in Geneva at the Hotel La Réserve. After two very successful auctions last year, their third auction will take place on May 14th and May 15th. The auction will kick-off with the START-STOP-RESET watch auction, a very special auction dedicated to 88 epic stainless steel chronographs.
Experience: A Special Night with Panerai in New York City. A Delightful Dinner at Daniel.
When watches, food, wine and superb people get together, the end result is an epic unforgettable evening. Such is the case of the amazing dinner we were invited to that was organized by Panerai to celebrate the kick-off of Madison Avenue Watch Week and the release of their novelties at the SIHH 2016. If you consider yourself a true Paneristi, you are then definitely a foodie and a connoisseur of great restaurants.
Insider: Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Blue Dial. Hands-on with a Refined Elegant German Beauty.
Presented at Baselworld 2016 less than a month ago, the most recent edition of the Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer offers certified precision in a distinctive and expressive dark blue version. The color blue is inseparably bound up with the Glashütte Original collection. For more than twenty years the brand has presented, again and again, exclusive timepieces in vibrant shades of blue, thus adding a modern, elegant nuance to the watchmaker's classic color palette.
Experience: A Day at the North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking NAIOSW. An Exceptional Free Program Fully Subsidized by Richemont Group and Cartier.
Last week, we had the pleasure to visit the North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking —NAIOSW— invited by our friends at Cartier. This visit that we can refer to as one of the 'most enlightening' days in our watch collecting life, was for sure a day very well spent. The NAIOSW was established in 2008 —education began in 2009— by the Richemont Group with the purpose of educating and training successful watchmakers for a career in luxury watch repair.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet 18K Yellow Gold Coin Watch. Twenty Dollars in Your Pocket with a Concealed Watch.
Only twice in our watch collecting life we have ran into one of the most fascinating and unique timepieces made by Audemars Piguet. We are talking about the ultra rare Audemars Piguet Coin Watch in 18K yellow gold. As far as we know, these rare coin watches were created by Audemars Piguet between 1915 and the late 1980s. The coin watches were produced in very limited quantities and in different currencies including U.S. dollars, Swiss Francs, French Francs and Mexican Pesos.
Insider: Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Minute Repeater in Titanium. Hands-on with an Exceptional Timepiece Light as a Feather.
The new Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Minute Repeater in Titanium just released at Baselworld 2016, brings the ultra-light metal into the equation for the very first time. Typically seen in 18K pink gold, the new Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Minute Repeater in Titanium features a titanium case measuring 45 mm in diameter by 9.35 mm in thickness.
Insider: Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered Onyx. Hands-on with the Perfect Watch for a Black Tie Gala Night.
The new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered embodies the essential Jaquet Droz design codes, balancing a sense of history with sheer, modern elegance. The Grande Seconde Off-Centered Onyx displays a striking graphic simplicity and its stylized black dial of edgy, intense black draws one deep into the heart of Jaquet Droz’s history. The creative concept underlying this model was born in the 18th century, at the height of the Enlightenment, when Pierre Jaquet-Droz revolutionized watchmaking with his Grande Seconde.
Insider: H. Moser & Cie. Venturer Tourbillon Dual Time. Hands-on with a Classic Looking Timepiece Priced Right Under $100K USD.
TGIF, and just because of that, how about we now talk about another one of those gorgeous looking pieces from H. Moser & Cie. so you can dream and think about it the whole weekend. The new Baselworld 2016 Venturer Tourbillon Dual Time in 18K white gold is a perfect addition to the existent Venturer Tourbillon Dual Time line. This exceptional timepiece where simplicity and clean lines are the name of the game.
Insider: Angelus U20 Ultra-Skeleton Tourbillon. Hands-on with an Impressive Sapphire, Carbon and Titanium Skeletonized Timepiece.
Released during Baselworld 2016 and after the successful launch last year of the Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière —our hands-on review here— that brought the brand back from the ashes; Angelus presents now, the U20 Ultra-Skeleton Tourbillon. The new Angelus U20 Ultra-Skeleton Tourbillon has been conceived as a beautiful mechanical haute horlogerie sculpture in its entirety. Built like a supercar, its design is streamlined and based on structural optimization. Made of sapphire, carbon and titanium, the U20 is at the forefront of cutting-edge watchmaking.
Insider: Jaquet Droz Charming Bird Métiers d'Art. Hands-on with One of the Most Fascinating Timepieces Out There.
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.
Insider: Breitling for Bentley GMT B04 S Carbon Body. Hands-on with the First Bentley Piece We Really Like.
We have never been big fans of the Breitling for Bentley timepieces, however, when it comes to the new Bentley GMT B04 S Carbon Body just released at Baselworld 2016 less than a month ago, we have to say that we really like this watch. While the dial still seems quite busy as all other Breitling for Bentley models, there's something special about this piece that draw our attention to it.
Insider: Presenting the new HYT H1 Ghost. Hands-on with the First Timepiece from the Hydromechanical Horologists to Feature Superluminova.
The new HYT H1 Ghost is fitted with a black DLC titanium case measuring 48.8 mm in diameter and a thickness of 17.9 mm just exactly like all other H1 pieces, but this time, featuring a strikingly beautiful new dial and fluid where day and night intertwine just as the shadow and light constantly contrast. The new HYT H1 Ghost ref. 148-DL-60-NF-RU has been designed around a new black fluid that does not emit or reflect any light.
News: Presenting the new Armin Strom 'Las Vegas Gravity' Special Edition. Hands-on Review of a Stunning 77-piece Limited Edition for Casino Lovers.
As all of you know, Armin Strom is a brand that releases all their watches in very small limited editions. Only a handful of times, they've released a limited edition watch only available in certain markets, with a special partner or through certain authorized dealers. The new Armin Strom 'Las Vegas Gravity' Special Edition is even more special because you can only buy it through Roman Times at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and only 77 pieces are available.
Insider: Bremont ALT1-C/PB Polished Black. Hands-on with a Beautiful Elegant Black Knight.
As a natural extension of the line, Baselworld 2016 saw the launch of the new Bremont ALT1-C/PB Polished Black. This new handsome chronograph was Bremont’s first non-limited edition polished steel watch forming part of the core collection. In a very short period of time, this chronometer has become an important and successful part of the Bremont watch range.
Insider: MB&F Starfleet Machine Black Badger. Hands-on with the Newest Coolest Mechanical Table Clock that Now Also Glows in the Dark.
As part of their recent collaboration with James Thompson a.k.a 'Black Badger', MB&F has just released at Baselworld 2016, a new iteration of their Starfleet Machine launched during Baselworld 2014 and that we reviewed here. This new clock named MB&F Starfleet Machine Black Badger is just like the first Starfleet Machine clock by L'Epée 1839 and MB&F —from an horological and functioning standpoint— but more visually striking thanks to the long lasting luminescent material added for this release.
