Muhammed Ali —Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.— passed away last night June 3 , 2016 after a 32-year long battle with Parkinson's disease. Today, let's remember the 'Greatest of All Time' and the 'Sportsman of the Century' with a special watch that was presented by IWC more than four years ago at the end of March of 2012. The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Edition Muhammad Ali in white gold is a unique timepiece that was created and auctioned by IWC to benefit Muhammad Ali's charity. Selling for an impressive winning bid of $60,000 USD, this special watch also marked Muhammad Ali's 70th birthday.
Insider: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Cerachrom Bezel ref. 116500LN. Hands-on with the Hottest Watch of the Summer of 2016, Already Selling Above Retail.
Released less than three months ago —on March 16, 2016— at Baselworld 2016 as we reported here, the new Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with Cerachrom bezel ref. 116500LN quickly started to arrive at the Rolex authorized dealers throughout the U.S. Just within days from its arrival, the frenzy caused by collectors trying to get their hands on this new watch, is already pushing its price outside the ADs as high as $22,000 USD —that's close to 70% above retail. Clearly one of those situations were supply and demand are dictating the final value of the watch.
Insider: Hautlence Atelier Playground Labyrinth 01 & 02. Hands-on with a $12,500 USD Wrist Object that Looks Like a Watch but It is Not One.
It looks like a watch but it is not one. It's meant to be worn like a watch, but it is not one. It is made by a 'haute horlogerie' brand but has nothing to do with horology. What is it? It's a wrist toy meant for watchlifestylers who think that money is no object and that Hautlence refers to as "an entirely essential yet fundamentally useless object"; however, this useless wrist object sells for CHF 12,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $12,500 USD. Founded in 2004, Hautlence shook the watchmaking world by revolutionizing the way we tell time.
News: The Audemars Piguet Museum Buys the Largest Collection of Vintage Audemars Piguet Timepieces from the Hands of Marcus Margulies the owner of MARCUS and Time Products. Simply Epic.
The Audemars Piguet Museum has recently acquired the Time Products vintage watch collection of Audemars Piguet timepieces. This is the most significant private collection of Audemars Piguet vintage watches worldwide and it was put together over 27 years by Marcus Margulies. The widely diverse creations have been meticulously selected and curated over time before returning home to Le Brassus this year.
News: Presenting the new Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Cohiba Edition. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Legendary Habano Maker.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Cohiba —the most prestigious and luxurious hand rolled cigar brand in the world—, Zenith is presenting the new Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Cohiba Edition. Created in 1966, today Cohiba is celebrating half a century of existence. At its side on the occasion of this anniversary, Zenith is presenting a limited series of its legendary El Primero chronograph, with 50 watches in 18K rose gold and 500 in stainless steel, all featuring a Havana brown dial and emblematic Cohiba motifs.
Experience: The Worldwide Launch Event of the New Vacheron Constantin Overseas Collection. An Amazing Evening at The High Line in New York City.
This past Wednesday May 25th, 2016, we were invited to the worldwide launch of the new Overseas collection from Vacheron Constantin in New York. The ultra exclusive event that took place at The High Line, was nothing but spectacular and very tastefully done. We really could've not thought of a better city and venue for this event. While we had already seen the new pieces from the revamped Overseas collection at the SIHH 2016 as we reported here earlier this year; we were eager to see in person the new Overseas World Time unveiled just two weeks ago as we brought you the news here.
Insider: Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5712. One of the Most Iconic Nautilus Models.
The Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5712/1A-001 in stainless steel, is one of the most iconic Nautilus models as it was originally released as ref. 3712/1A in 2005 and produced for less than a year. Fitted with a date indicator, moon phases and a power reserve indicator, this reference is simply awesome. The Nautilus ref. 5712 stays true to the design cues of the original Nautilus ref. 3700 and its predecessor ref. 3712. The Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5712 is available in 18K white gold and 18K rose gold on crocodile strap and in stainless steel with matching stainless steel bracelet like the one we have here.
Insider: Presenting the New MB&F Legacy Machine No.1 LM1 Silberstein. Hands-on with This Very Unique Looking 12-piece Limited Edition.
In 2009, MB&F approached Alain Silberstein to create its very first piece of ‘Performance Art’, the result was the MB&F HM2.2 ‘Black Box’. For this new Performance Art series with Silberstein, the creative minds at MB&F have taken the Legacy Machine No.1 and tweaked it resulting in three watches available in a super exclusive limited edition of 12 pieces each —titanium, black titanium and 18K red gold.
Insider: Angelus U40 Racing Tourbillon Skeleton. Hands-on with a Very Sporty Tourbillon.
As part of its return to the forefront of cutting-edge Swiss watchmaking, Angelus presented the Angelus U40 Racing Tourbillon Skeleton during Baselworld 2016 earlier this year. The U40 Racing Tourbillon Skeleton is powered by the A-300 in-house tourbillon movement, which was developed from the bottom up to enhance its three-dimensionality and sculptural beauty while boosting its performance and shock-resistance.
Insider: Zenith El Primero 36,000 vph Openworked. Hands-on with a Very Edgy and Contemporary El Primero Chronograph.
Following some of the design cues of the El Primero Lightweight, the new Zenith El Primero 36,000 vph Openworked brings the beauty of a partially skeletonized dial to one of the most iconic chronographs from this manufacture from Le Locle. Fitted with a 42 mm stainless steel case with the traditional pump pushers, the dial of the new Zenith El Primero 36,000 vph Openworked maintains the traditional light grey-anthracite-blue color scheme of the iconic El Primero chronograph.
News: Presenting the new Richard Mille RM 35-02 Rafael Nadal Automatic. A Watch That Can Withstand Accelerations of Up to 5,000Gs.
As is now customary in the run-up to the Roland Garros French Tennis Open, Richard Mille and the Spanish tennis champion have joined forces once again, this year to present the Richard Mille RM 35-02, the first piece to feature an automatic calibre in the collection they have been developing together for the past six years. From their first meeting in 2008, Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal embarked on one of the most extraordinary shared adventures in contemporary fine watchmaking.
Insider: Tudor Heritage Advisor ref. 79620TC Cognac Dial. Hands-on with a Very Functional Timepiece Fitted with a Mechanical Alarm.
About 90 years ago, Hands Wildorf had the idea of making a watch that his sales agents could sell at a more modest price than his Rolex watches without compromising the quality and reliability of a Rolex timepiece. Therefore, he decided to form a separate company named Tudor Watch Company, today, that company, continues to put out amazing watches that won't break the bank like the Tudor Heritage Advisor ref. 79620TC we are reviewing here.
News: Panerai Unveils 12 New Watches. Including the Radiomir Firenze, the New Luminor Due Line and the New Luminor Marina Collection with Calibre P.9010.
With a historical exhibition in a space of 1,000 square meters —10,764 sq. ft.— in the city of Florence, Italy, Officine Panerai unveils 12 new watches including a Radiomir with a fully engraved case, a new Luminor Due Case and the new Luminor Marina Collection equipped with a brand new automatic movement calibre P.9010. This exhibition is an invitation to dive into time, to discover the past, the present and the future of Officine Panerai.
News: Vintage Rolex GMT Master ref. 6542 Sells for $350K USD at Phillips Watch Auction THREE. Setting a New World Record for Any GMT Master Ever Sold at Auction.
Setting a new world record for any Rolex GMT Master ever sold at auction, this rare Rolex GMT Master ref. 6542 in 18K yellow gold sold for CHF 341,000 Swiss Francs —including Buyer's premium—, approximately $350,000 USD. Not only this watch is one of the most well preserved and most complete sets out there, but it also features a very unique bronze hue dial.
Special Report: Six Watches Bring $6.6 Million USD at the Phillips Watches Auction THREE in Geneva.
This past Sunday May 15th 2016, at the Phillips Watches Auction THREE that took place at the Hotel La Réserve in Geneva, six lots brought close to CHF 6.5 Million Swiss Francs —approximately $6.6 Million USD. Among the heavy hitters of the night, we found most of our picks we brought you here a few weeks ago. This six watches bringing crazy money, are separate from those at the Phillips Start-Stop-Reset auction that took place the night before and which we brought you here.
Breaking News: Ultra Rare Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 'The Doctor' with Blue Pulsations Dial Sells for 900,000 Swiss Francs at the Phillips Watch Auction.
One of the main highlights of the Start-Stop-Reset Phillips watchauction was lot number 88, an ultra rare Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 nicknamed 'The Doctor' with pulsations dial. This watch, expected to surpass its original estimate of CHF 350,000-700,000 Swiss Francs, just sold for 900,000 Swiss Francs at the Phillips Watch Auction that took place at the Hotel La Réserve in Geneva on May 14, 2016.
Breaking News: Rolex Split Seconds ref. 4113 Sells for Two Million Swiss Francs at the Phillips Start-Stop-Reset Watch Auction in Geneva. A New World Record for Any Rolex Ever Sold at Auction.
Breaking any previous records set at any watch auction including the world record just set less than 45 minutes ago by Lot 31 a super rare Rolex Daytona Paul Newman Tropical Oyster Sotto —selling for CHF 1,650,000 Swiss Francs at the Phillips Watches Start-Stop-Reset auction in Geneva—, lot 56 another ultra rare watch from Rolex just set a new world record selling for CHF 2,000,000 Swiss Francs at the auction taking place at La Resérve in Geneva on May 14th, 2016.
News: Patek Philippe ref. 530 Oversize Chronograph from 1942 Sells for 680,000 Swiss Francs at the Phillips Watch Auction
Another one of our picks and a favorite at the Phillips Watches Auction in Geneva, Lot 69 a rare and stunning Patek Philippe ref. 530 Oversize Chronograph from 1942 just sold for CHF 680,000 Swiss Francs. With an original estimate of 500,000-1,000,000 Swiss Francs, this safe queen is another one of the most expensive Patek Philippe wristwatches ever sold at auction.
Insider: A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar. Grande Complication Prize and Public Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.
The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar was presented at the SIHH 2013 and was awarded two prizes at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève the same year —not only it received the Grande Complication Prize but also the Public Prize. This fascinating timepiece available in Platinum or Pink Gold —like the one we are reviewing here— is not only amazing from an horological standpoint but also extraordinary when it comes to its visual appeal and looks.
Insider: Rolex Explorer II ref. 216570 White Dial a.k.a Polar. Hands-on Review of our Favorite Modern Era Rolex.
Considering that it's been a while since we last published a hands-on review of a modern Rolex timepiece, we decided to work on this special review of what we consider to be our favorite modern era Rolex watch. As you all know, Rolex is the typical gateway to the luxury watch category and a brand with the highest 'top of mind' in the luxury watch world. Additionally, Rolex ranks as one of the top five most valuable brands when it comes to luxury goods.
