Sitting a notch above the Havana Club 'Selección de Maestros' is the Havana Club Gran Reserva Añejo 15 Años from Cuba. Produced by repeatedly blending and aging selected rums and 'aguardientes' in old oak casks that add that delicate touch of tannin, this unique ageing process liberates the aromas and flavor and gives that extra smoothness that is the top mark of top quality rum. Aged for no less than 15 years and with a limited production of only 58 barrels per year, the Havana Club Gran Reserva is one of the best rums we've ever had with a unique aroma, intense flavor and unparalleled smoothness.
Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Everose Rolesor Two-Tone ref. 116621 Chocolate Dial. Hands-on with a Delicious Piece of Rolex Goodness.
As we approach Baselworld 2017 happening in less than a week, we bring you our hands-on review of one of the Rolex watches that didn't get much attention after its release at Baselworld 2016. The Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Everose Rolesor ref. 116621 with chocolate dial is the first watch in the Yacht-Master family to ever feature Everose Rolesor —Rolex's two-tone combination of 904L steel and 18K Everose gold. This new model maintains all design elements of the Yacht-Master with large hour markers and broad hands with a stunning combination of gold coveted for its luster and nobility and stainless steel to reinforces strength and reliability.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rodeo Drive Limited Edition ref. 26060ST. Harder to Find than Finding a Needle in a Haystack.
More challenging to find than finding a needle in a haystack, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rodeo Drive Limited Edition ref. 26060ST.OO.D017CR.01 was released on May 16, 2005 as a tribute to the opening of Westime's —AP authorized dealer in Los Angeles— second location on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. This watch, also marks the second limited edition ever created in honor of an AP authorized dealer. After the successful release in 2004 of ref. 26034TS to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sincer Watch in Singapore, the Rodeo Drive was released in a 50-piece limited edition that quickly sold out.
Unboxing Panerai Luminor Base 8 Days Oro Rosso PAM 717 Istanbul Boutique. When Number 1 out of 50 Lands in Dallas.
If you read elsewhere that all 50 pieces of the highly coveted Panerai Luminor Base 8 Days Oro Rosso PAM 717 for the Istanbul Boutique were sold out during the Panerai launch event at Les Ottoman's in Turkey at the end of 2016, please don't believe a dime of what that website said. We still can't believe that they were selected by Panerai as the only media partner to cover that event. Well, let's get back on the topic. Yesterday, we had the honor of documenting the unboxing of number 1 out of 50 of a PAM 717 purchased by a friend and Panerai collector in Dallas, Texas.
Pre-Baselworld 2017 Presenting the new MCT Dodekal One D110. Hands-on Live Pictures & Pricing.
Right on time for Baselworld 2017 and to mark its tenth anniversary, MCT Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps presents the new Dōdekal One D110, the first mechanical watch featuring an innovative digital hours display in the center of the dial. With its name taken from the Greek 'Dodeka' meaning twelve, the new MCT Dodekal One D110 takes its inspiration from the digital electronic watches from the seventies. Driven by a new in-house manufacture movement, calibre D1, the new Dōdekal One features one of the most unique and intriguing digital time displays for a mechanical watch.
News: Pre-Baselworld 2017 Presenting the new Arnold & Son DBG Skeleton
Arnold & Son unveils a new rendition of its unique DBG dual-time —GMT— timepiece, the DBG Skeleton. An acronym for “double balance” and “GMT”, the DBG Skeleton references the precise chronometers built by John Arnold and his son. With a new skeletonized execution, the DBG Skeleton showcases Arnold & Son’s watchmaking prowess as well as attention to aesthetic details with the newly developed manufacture A&S1309 calibre, which has been conceived, designed and manufactured entirely in-house.
Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges. Hands-on with one of the Most Modern Looking Timepieces from this Manufacture.
A stunning timepiece with exposed balance wheel on the dial side is the new Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges ref. 84000-21-001-BB6A. This new timepiece faithful to the DNA of its manufacture is equipped with a generous 45 mm case in titanium and is as modern looking as it gets. However, it is hard to not confuse the looks of the Neo Bridges with an Arnold & Son or an Angelus. With its movement playing an integral part of the design and the overall look of the watch, the new Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges priced at $24,000 USD is a very forceful competitor to some of the creations from the Independent brands out there.
News: Pre-Baselworld 2017 Presenting the new Arnold & Son Tourbillon Chronometer No. 36
In preparation for Baselworld 2017 which is only 12 days away, Arnold & Son just released the new Tourbillon Chronometer No. 36. Symmetry and skeletonization are two traits that should come to mind whenever Arnold & Son is mentioned, and the Tourbillon Chronometer No. 36 is certainly no exception. Drawing inspiration from the John Arnold pocket chronometer No. 1/36, which will mark its 240th anniversary in 2018, the Tourbillon Chronometer No. 36 is a commemorative creation leading up to the milestone year for the historically significant John Arnold chronometer.
Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date. Hands-on with a Retro-Looking Watch Perfectly Suited for Water Activities.
The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date with in-house calibre 37-02 was launched at Baselworld 2014 and we brought you the news here. This time, we bring you our in-depth hands-on review and some stunning images as we enjoyed this timepiece underwater. The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date is powered by the newly developed column wheel chronograph movement Glashütte Original Calibre 37-02 and represents a perfect addition to the Seventies collection.
Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronograph Annual Calendar Grand Feu Enamel Dial. Hands-on with an Exceptional Quantieme Annuel.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Marine collection, Ulysse Nardin released the Marine Chronograph Annual Calendar 'Grand Feu' Enamel dial less than two months ago at the SIHH 2017. This exceptional timepiece featuring a 30-minute chronograph and an annual calendar —one of the most noble complications that sits right in between a Perpetual Calendar and a Date function watch— is one that requires adjustment only once a year in February. While an annual calendar cannot be compared with a perpetual calendar, for those wanting a very functional and less expensive complication, this is the way to go.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli Double Flying Tourbillon. Hands-on with an Exceptional Racing Inspired 8-Piece Limited Edition.
As the 2017 Formula One Season is about to kick-off on March 26th, today we bring you one of the finest racing inspired timepieces just released less than two months ago at the SIHH 2017 in Geneva. The new Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli Double Flying Tourbillon is the result of a partnership between tire maker Pirelli and Roger Dubuis. Present in sporting competitions since 1907, Pirelli is the exclusive supplier for the World Superbike championship and many prestigious single marque championships, but above all of the Formula One Championship for which it has been the sole supplier since 2011.
Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie Exo Tourbillon Rattrapante. Hands-on with of the Most Complicated Watches From Montblanc.
Released in January of 2017 at the SIHH in Geneva, the Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie ExoTourbillon Rattrapante in a limited edition of 8 pieces is one of the most complicated and most expensive watches from Montblanc. Combining Montblanc's patented ExoTourbillon with a monopusher split-seconds chronograph, the beating heart inside this watch is of course a Minerva movement from Villeret. During the 1930s, the workshop’s fascination with recording elapsed time led to the production of split-seconds stopwatches, also known as “rattrapante” chronographs, from the French word “to catch up”.
Hublot Big Bang MECA-10 and MECA-10 All Black. Hands-on with an Impressive Looking Timepiece.
Fitted with a 10-day power reserve the new Hublot Big Bang MECA-10 presented at Baselworld 2016 brings the best from Hublot to the table. With a brand new in-house movement that took two years to fully develop from start to end, this watch is made for all those watch collectors who used to spend hours playing meccano building and dismantling technical constructions and experimenting in the engineering world.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Tourbillon 45 mm Titanium and 18K Rose Gold. Hands-on with the Top Watch in the Laureato Collection.
This year, Girard-Perregaux was back at the SIHH Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie —after four brief years exhibiting at Baselworld— and to mark their return, they launched a whole new Laureato collection including this Laureato Tourbillon 45 mm in titanium and 18K rose gold. Sitting at the top of the Laureato collection, this new watch embodies all the historic expertise of the Girard-Perregaux Manufacture. Its 45 mm case, made of titanium and topped with an 18K rose gold bezel and first inter-link —end link.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Pride of Argentina' Titanium Limited Edition. A Stunning Blue Dial 100-Piece Edition.
If you like blue dials, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Pride of Argentina in titanium ref. 26365IS.OO.D305CR.01 features what to us is one of the most beautiful blue dials AP has ever made. Along with its sibling the Royal Oak Offshore 'Pride of Argentina' in 18K rose gold ref. 26365OR.OO.D801CR.01 —reviewed by us here— also sporting the same blue dial, this watch is not only extremely rare limited edition but a very understated one.
MCT Sequential Two S220 Bronze. Hands-on with the Most Impressive Bronze Watch Out There.
Without a doubt, the MCT Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps is the most impressive bronze watch out there considering how complicated this watch is from an horological standpoint but also as far as looks. With the round case of the Sequential Two line, the new 10-piece limited edition MCT Sequential Two S220 Bronze features a generous and robust case in bronze.
Rolex GMT Master II BLNR 'Batman' ref. 116710BLNR. Hands-on with One of the Hottest Rolex Watches on Instagram.
In preparation for Baselworld 2017, today we are going to talk about one of the hottest Rolexes on Instagram with more than 30,000 posts. Released during Baselworld 2013, the Rolex GMT Master II BLNR a.k.a 'Batman' ref. 116710BLNR was the first attempt by Rolex to release a bi-color cerachrom bezel in their lineup. Today, almost four years later, the GMT Master BLNR has turned into an icon and a watch that is quite hard to get as the supply by Rolex is always somewhat limited.
Experience: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Schiphol Airport Limited Edition. Perfectly Paired with the Blue dial on the AP Royal Oak Extra-Thin 15202OR.
Landing at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is always a treat if you like the finer things in life as much as we do. After a long-haul flight on KLM's World Business Class, the perfect way to start your day on the other side of the pond is by enjoying all that this airport has to offer. Schiphol is without a doubt, one of our favorite airports in the world and one that truly offers a great experience for watchlifestylers.
H. Moser & Cie. Swiss Mad Watch Unique Piece. The Watch with a Cheese Case Priced at $1.07 Million USD.
In response to new legislation on the Swiss Made ordinance for watches, H. Moser & Cie. launched the Swiss Mad Watch unique piece earlier this year. To make a statement as they usually do, they released the Swiss Mad Watch which is truly a 100% Swiss watch. With its in-house movement encapsulated in a 42 mm case made of Swiss cheese mixed with Itr2 composite —almost like a resin— and fastened by a hand-stitched cowhide strap from a Swiss cow, this is truly a 100% Swiss Made watch from top to bottom.
MCT Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps Sequential Two S200 Eagle Rich Time. Hands-on with the 10-Piece Limited Edition Exclusively Sold in Moscow.
Founded in 2007 and after the launch of the very successful Sequential One we reviewed here, MCT Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps released the Sequential Two in 2014 also featuring MCT's signature prism display to tell time and for the very first time cased in a round-shaped case composed of 43 components.
