Today, we bring you our hands-on review of the exceptional Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph ref. 5960/1A. When the ref. 5960P was first launched in 2006, this reference won instant acclaim. It was the manufacture's first self-winding chronograph, manifested a new and unique style with its prominent monocounter and three large calendar apertures, and quickly established itself as one of the most coveted timepieces of the Patek Philippe portfolio. The success story continued with further versions in rose gold. Now, the letter 'A' in the model designation 5960/1A —which stands for 'acier', steel in French—, announces a paradigm change. The Annual Calendar Chronograph in stainless steel is not only the latest sibling of its lineage but had also replaced the gold and platinum versions.
News: Presenting the New Zenith Pilot Type 20 GMT and Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special North America. Two 50-Piece Limited Editions for the U.S.
Right on time for the 4th of July weekend here in the U.S., Zenith presents two limited edition watches from their legendary aviator watches collection. The two new pieces are issued in a limited edition of 50 pieces to be exclusively sold in the U.S. market. Admirably combining power and elegance, the new Pilot Type 20 GMT America and the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special America are fitted with 45 mm cases and are attired in deep blue sprinkled with crimson accents.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Themes 'Panda' ref. 26170ST. One of the Most Iconic Offshores with a Racing Inspired dial.
Released in 2009, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Panda' ref. 26170ST.OO.D101CR.02 quickly became an iconic Royal Oak Offshore. Fitted with a silvered dial —that depending on the light looks more like a white dial— with black chrono registers and red accents, this particular Offshore, is one that brings its racing inspired look in either matching stainless steel bracelet or black alligator hornback strap with white contrast stitching. The one we are featuring here is fitted with a black rubber strap to make it look even sportier.
Insider: Glashütte Original Senator Panorama Date. Elegance and Superb Craftsmanship Straight from the Birthplace of German Watchmaking.
The Glashütte Original Senator Panorama Date ref. 100-03-32-42-04 was one of the novelty timepieces presented at Baselworld 2013. This watch is a quintessential example of the superb craftsmanship of this manufacture straight from Saxony, the birthplace of German watchmaking. The Senator Panorama Date is available in stainless steel or rose gold and is part of the extensive Glashütte Original Senator line-up.
News: Presenting the new Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30 Degree Technique Sapphire. An 8-piece Limited Edition priced at $1.1 Million USD.
Without a doubt, the new Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30° Technique Sapphire is the craziest and most unique piece ever released by the brand. Available in a limited edition of 8 pieces, this amazing timepiece features a round sapphire case measuring 49.95 mm in diameter and 17.15 in thickness, an absolute first for the brand when it comes to case materials. Equipped with a manual wound movement with patented double tourbillon set at an inclination of 30 degrees, the outer tourbillon does a rotation every four minutes, while the inner tourbillon does a full rotation every minute.
News: Presenting the new Vacheron Constantin Historiques Collection. Three Stunning Heritage New Timepieces.
The Vacheron Constantin Historiques collection, dedicated to Vacheron Constantin’s creative archetypes, highlights the wealth of the technical and aesthetic heritage of the Manufacture through contemporary reinterpretations. Three new models, are now reviving three icons much sought-after among collectors. Inspired by a legendary 1955 chronograph, the Cornes de Vache 1955 model —named 'cow horns' because of the unique shape of its lugs— is interpreted in pink gold, while the emblematic cushion-shaped American 1921 and the remarkable Ultra-fine 1955 with its 1.64 mm-thin gold caliber appears clothed in platinum.
Insider: A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase. Perfection as Perfect it Gets.
Back in January 2014, A. Lange & Söhne officially unveiled the new Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase at the SIHH in Geneva. Back then, we brought you some live images of this new watch and the 'hot-of-the-press' details on it. Today, we bring you our hands-on review of the A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase ref. 139.032 in 18K pink gold with our usual images under natural light. This new exceptional timepiece where perfection is as perfect as it gets, gives the exactly calculated to 122.6 years moon phase display a shiny appearance on the dial and a majestic look never achieved by another manufacture.
Experience: Michael Schumacher's Ferrari F1-2000. The Car in Which Schumi Won his Third World Championship and the Constructors' Championship for Ferrari.
Last week, we had the pleasure of attending a special event here in Dallas with our good friends at de Boulle —featured here. This was one of those 'just because we can' type of events featuring Michael Schumacher's Ferrari F1-2000 as the guest of honor. The Ferrari F1-2000 was a Formula One car designed by Rory Byrne for the year 2000 Season. This car featuring improved aerodynamics when compared to its predecessors, is the same car that Schumi drove during the season, to obtain his third World Driver's Championship and the first World Constructors' championship for the Ferrari team in 16 years.
Insider: Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time ref. 5164A-001. Hands-on with a Travel Companion Perfectly Suited for Summer Adventures.
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time ref. 5164/1A-001 is for sure one of our favorite Aquanauts and one that is definitely worth reviewing hands-on. The Patek ref. 5164 is fitted with a very similar movement as the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5990 —we reviewed here—, but without the 60-minute chronograph complication. Regardless, this model in the Aquanaut collection, brings the best from Patek Philippe to the table. The Aquanaut Travel Time ref. 5164 is available in stainless steel or in 18K rose gold —launched earlier this year and reviewed by us here.
Insider: Presenting the New Arnold & Son Métiers d’Art True Beat Dragon Limited Edition. Hands-on, Live Pictures and Pricing.
The latest addition to the Arnold & Son Instrument Collection is the new Arnold & Son Métiers d’Art TB Dragon Limited Edition ref. 1ARAP.B04A.C120P/121P which combines the marine precision of the true beat —TB— movement with aesthetic perfection. Featuring one of the instantly recognizable design cues of the Instrument Collection, the off-centered positioning of the time display at 9 o’clock leaves a generous open area and creates a perfect setting for the exquisite engraved and hand-painted depiction of a dragon.
News: Presenting the new Richard Mille RM 68-01 Kongo Tourbillon. A $685,000 USD Graffiti Inspired 30-Piece Limited Edition.
Today, Richard Mille unveiled the RM 68-01 Kongo Tourbillon, a collaboration with Cyril Kongo, the international street artist that transforms the tourbillon movement itself into an unprecedented work of art. The 30-piece limited edition will be available exclusively at Richard Mille boutiques worldwide, starting in July. A veritable ‘work of art for the wrist’, the new Richard Mille RM 68-01 Kongo Tourbillon watch will make horological history. For the first time ever, a street artist has transferred his universe of the tremendously large to the heart of a watch movement.
Insider: Officine Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days PAM 1359. Hands-on with the Successor to the PAM 359.
Just a month ago, we brought you the news on twelve new Panerai timepieces being unveiled in Florence, Italy as part of the Panerai Exhibition 'Panerai Dive Into Time' right here . Today, we bring you our hands-on review of the new Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days PAM 1359, which replaces the Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic PAM 359. Just like the PAM 1312 we reviewed here, the PAM 1359 features the same thinner case that is now part of the new Panerai Luminor Marina collection equipped with the new calibre P.9010.
Insider: De Bethune DW5 Dream Watch 5 Meteorite. Hands-on with an Intergalactic Meteorite Timepiece.
Originally launched in 2014 with a grade 5 titanium case, the latest iteration of the De Bethune DW5 Dream Watch 5 features a tourbillon and a full meteorite case from 'Campo del Cielo' in Argentina. 'Campo del Cielo' is an area located about 620 miles —1,000 kilometers— northwest of Buenos Aires, that holds the largest number of iron meteorite fragments in the world and is also the site where the two largest meteorites ever recovered on earth where found—100 tons and 37 tons respectively.
Experience: A Day at the IndyCar Series Firestone 600 with Armin Strom. A Perfect Day at the Garages and the Pits of the Texas Motor Speedway.
Last Monday, we brought you the news about the new Armin Strom Max Chilton Edition Edge Double Barrel right here. For the unveiling of the watch, we spent an unforgettable day with our friends from Biel at the Texas Motor Speedway in order to watch the IndyCar Firestone 600 race in Fort Worth, Texas. With a rainy forecast ahead of us, we geared up with our Armin Strom Edge Double Barrel and decided to spend most of the time inside the Chip Ganassi Racing Team hospitality tent and the garages.
Experience: Penhaligon's Halfeti Eau de Parfum. Leathery Like the Hornback Strap on the Armin Strom Tourbillon Skeleton Air.
Using the finest rare ingredients, from hand squeezed Bergamot, to jasmine at twice the price of gold, Penhaligon's was founded in London in 1870 by its founder William Penhaligon, an Englishman living in an age of excess and flamboyance, William was witty, wildly creative and always inspired by the unusual. Hammam Bouquet was Penhaligon's first scent, dreamed up by William in 1872 after inhaling the steam and sulphurous aromas of his neighbouring Turkish baths.
Insider: Officine Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days PAM 1312. Hands-on with the Newest Panerai with Calibre P.9010.
Just a month ago, we brought you the news on twelve new Panerai timepieces being unveiled in Florence, Italy as part of the Panerai Exhibition 'Panerai Dive Into Time' right here . Today, we bring you our hands-on review of the new Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days PAM 1312, which replaces the Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic PAM 312. A considerable reduction in the thickness and weight of the case is a feature of the new Luminor Marina collection and we've finally been able to peruse some of the new watches to bring you our impressions on them.
Experience: Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago. A Perfect Weekend with Bremont and the Oracle Team USA.
This past weekend, June 10th, 2016, the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series —LVACWS— a.k.a the 'Auld Mug' took place for the very first time in fresh water. The setting, Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront and Navy Pier. Since Bremont is the timing partner for the America's Cup and one of the partners for the Oracle Team USA —the defending champion—, we were invited as one of their special guests. The Louis Vuitton America's Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two sailing yachts.
Insider: Rolex Submariner Hulk ref. 116610LV. Our Favorite Sub at the Moment.
Last month, we published our hands-on review of the Rolex Explorer II ref. 216570 White dial a.k.a Polar here, after a long hiatus from publishing any Rolex related content. While our interest in Rolex timepieces diminished as their watches became a little more flashier and less 'toolish', the Rolex Submariner Date ref. 116610LV a.k.a 'The Hulk' is yet another one of those pieces that has something special that made us gravitate back into the brand.
Insider: Presenting the New Armin Strom Max Chilton Edition Edge Double Barrel. Hands-on Review & Live Pictures of a Very Unique 8-Piece Limited Edition.
This past Sunday June 12, 2016, our friends from Armin Strom unveiled a very special limited edition of the Edge Double Barrel —their newest and hottest watch released just a few months ago during Baselworld 2016. The new Armin Strom Max Chilton Edge Double Barrel was designed along with British pro racing driver Max Chilton, a friend and brand ambassador of Armin Strom. The new Max Chilton Edition Edge Double Barrel was unveiled at the Texas Motor Speedway with Max Chilton himself sporting his very own piece.
Insider: Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Brasil Limited Edition. A 75-Piece Special Edition with 25 Pieces in King Gold and 50 in Carbon Fiber.
Since the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are right around the corner, how about we bring you some Brazilian relevant content. While Omega is the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Brasil Limited Edition is one of those watches that makes a lot of sense wearing, as we prepare for the most important sports competition in the world. The Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Brazil is available in a limited edition of 75 pieces —50 pieces in Carbon Fiber and 25 pieces in King Gold.
