We are very lucky here at WCL that we get to review impressive timepieces like the Jacob & Co. Astronomia collection on a regular basis. Jacob & Co. was founded by Jacob Arabo, an immigrant from Uzbekistan that is very well know for selling high ticket jewelry creations, timepieces and diamonds to a handful of celebrities and hip-hop and rap music artists. As his company flourished in the 1990s and Mr. Arabo became 'Jacob the Jeweler' —a nickname that first made its appearance in several rap songs....
Insider: MCT Dodekal One D110. Hands-on with a Mechanical Digital Watch Like No Other.
Earlier this year, we brought you the news about the new MCT Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps Dōdekal One D110. This time we bring you our hands-on review of the final watch instead of the prototype like back then. The MCT Dodekal One D110 is 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.
News: The ONLY Watch Auction 2017 to Include 49 Unique Watches for its 7th Edition
For the second time since its first edition in 2005, the world renowned biennial charity auction ONLY Watch will be taking place in Geneva instead of Monaco. On November 11th, 2017, this exceptional fundraising for research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy will be opening the autumn Geneva watch auction week, in presence of hundreds of connoisseurs, donators and collectors who will undoubtedly engage in strong bidding competition for the unique timepieces especially made by the finest watchmakers for ONLY Watch.
Insider: Carl F. Bucherer Manero Power Reserve Blue and Manero Power Reserve Green. Hands-on with Two Very Eclectic Looking Watches.
Available now in stainless steel with two very eclectic looking dials, the new Carl F. Bucherer Manero Power Reserve with blue or green dial is very reminiscent of the Glashütte Original Sixties Iconic Square with its crazy electric five colors. The new Manero Power Reserve is available in two new dials, one blue and the other green. and equipped with a power reserve indicator, day of the week, date and seconds subdial. Giving special special attention to each of these two new watches, each iteration is very unique looking and with its very own character.
Eye Candy: A. Lange & Söhne Double Split. A Collection of Some of Our Best Macro Photography of this Double Rattrapante Chronograph.
The A. Lange & Söhne Double Split Chronograph ref. 404.032is the world’s first and only mechanical chronograph with a double-rattrapante function. It features two pairs of stopwatch hands that can run together as well as separately. For the first time, they allow time comparisons, lap-time and reference-value measurements as well as fastest/slowest measurements of events that last up to 30 minutes.
Insider: Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Quantième Satin-Brushed. Hands-on with a Very Elegant and Understated Timepiece.
The figure eight layout on the dial of the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Quantième just got much better with the addition of two satin-brushed finished dials, one in an anthracite color and the other in silver grey. The new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Quantième Satin-Brushed was released at Baselworld 2017 and is a watch that is instantly recognized by connoisseurs thanks to its two off-centered dials, direct-drive seconds hand and pointer-type date display highlighted with a touch of intense red.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy. The 1,500-piece Limited Edition that Marked the End of an Era.
When you see an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy reference 26378IO.OO.A001KE.01, the first thing that comes to mind is 'The Governor' Arnold Schwarzenegger screaming: "Get to da choppa" as he played Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer in the 1987 action film Predator. Originally released in 2011, the AP Legacy is the last watch made in honor of Arnold Schwarzenegger by Audemars Piguet.
Insider: Blancpain Villeret 8-Day Week Indication. Hands-on with a Stunning 'Grand Feu' Enamel Dial Timepiece.
Villeret, Blancpain’s native village, is the inspiration for this manufacture's most classic collection. One of the latest creations from Blancpain is the new Villeret 8-Day Week Indication timepiece which is a wristwatch that provides the wearer with a date, day of the week and week indication in a simple and intuitive way. With a timeless and classic design, this is for sure what we would consider to be a dress watch that could be perfectly paired with a Brioni suit.
Insider: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Oysterflex Bracelet ref. 116518LN, 116519LN and 116515LN. Hands-on Review and How to Size the Oysterflex.
Just released in March at Baselworld 2017, the new Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with Oysterflex bracelet is available in three different 18K gold case options. While reference 116518LN sports an 18K yellow gold case, reference 116519LN is fitted with an 18K white gold case and lastly reference 116515LN with an 18K Everose case. While all three new models are fitted with the same black Oysterflex rubber strap, the look of each of them is very unique and extremely sporty.
Experience: WCL Collector's Evening at Hublot Dallas. An Evening of Negronis, Food and Watchmaking.
Last week, we hosted a special evening with a select group of watch collectors at the Hublot Boutique in Dallas, to spend some time with the newly released Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 years Tourbillon Chronograph in titanium —which we reviewed here— and to learn more about watchmaking as some of our signature Negronis were served. At this intimate gathering, watch collectors were not only able to peruse the prototype of this new watch released at Baselworld 2017 but they were also able to experience first hand what disassembling an assembling a timepiece entails.
Insider: Rolex Sky-Dweller White Rolesor ref. 326934. Hands-on with a Long Awaited Stainless Steel Model.
The new Rolex Sky-Dweller White Rolesor reference 326934 with its combination of stainless steel and 18K white gold bezel is a watch that many were hoping for since the launch of the first Sky-Dwellers in 2012. Released at Baselworld 2017, this new stainless steel Sky-Dweller is the perfect watch for those that were dreaming of owning a Sky-Dweller one day but that couldn't afford it because of its steep price tag —$48,850 USD for the Everose model on bracelet we reviewed here.
News: Jackie O's Cartier Tank Sells for $379,500 USD at the Christie's Rare Watches and American Icons Sale. A Piece of American History.
The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Cartier Tank watch just sold for $379,500 USD —including buyer's premium— at the Christie's Rare Watches and American Icons Sale in New York City today June 21st, 2017. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this Cartier watch and her “50 Mile Hike” painting will be donated to the National Endowment for the Arts. While this watch not only comes with significant provenance and rich history, Jackie O's Cartier Tank also has an interesting story behind.
Rare Bird: Rolex Triple Calendar ref. 6062 in Stainless Steel with Moonphases and Two-Tone Dial. A $2 Million USD Watch that is a True Watch Collectors Dream.
Last month we had the pleasure of perusing this rare bird. The Rolex Triple Calendar ref. 6062 from 1953 that sold at the Phillips Watches Geneva Watch Auction FIVE for almsot $2 Million USD is one of the most expensive 6062s ever sold at auction. With the interior of its case back stamped III.53, this Rolex ref. 6062 measures 36 mm in diameter and is fitted with a stainless steel case and a two-tone dial.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon Platinum ref. 26510PT. Hands-on with a 309-gram Platinum Grail of All Grails.
Stunning, exceptional and very rare, are some of the words that come to mind when thinking about what we think is the perfect tourbillon for daily wear. The first Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon was released in 1992 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak and in 2012 the Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon was released to celebrate the Royal Oak's 40th birthday.
Insider: IWC Ingenieur Automatic 18K Red Gold ref. IW357003. Hands-on with the Latest Redesigned Ingenieur Collection.
The history of the IWC Ingenieur is very rich and this particular watch is not only one of the most iconic watches from this manufacture from Schaffhausen but also a legend and icon in the watch world. Originally launched in 1944 and revamped way too many times —at least five that we can remember—, the biggest changes to this model have taken place in 1976, 2005, 2008, 2012 and now in 2017.
Experience: WCL Collector's Evening with Jacob & Co. First Time the Astronomia Timepieces Make it to Mexico City.
A couple of weeks ago, we gathered with a small group of VIP watch collectors from Mexico City and our friends from Jacob & Co. to present for the very first time in Mexico, the three Astronomia timepieces. With a perfect setting at the ultra exclusive Executive Members Club Piso 51 located in the heart of Mexico City, we hosted a relaxing evening with champagne, hors d'oeuvres and incredible timepieces. As the sun set over one of the largest cities in the world, the Magnums of Taittinger champagne started to flow.
Insider: Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta Oracle Team USA 3 Days Chrono Flyback Titanio PAM 726. Hands-on with a 200-piece Limited Edition.
As of January 2017, Officine Panerai is an Official Partner of the 35th America’s Cup. As part of this new partnership, Panerai released five new limited edition watches at the SIHH 2017 and three of them are specific to the Oracle Team USA. The Luminor 1950 Regatta Oracle Team USA 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanio PAM 726 is one of them and available in a 200-piece limited edition. Fitted with a 47 mm titanium case and blue and red accents on dial and strap, this new chronograph is very sporty and eye catching.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Platinum ref. 26470PT. Hands-on with a 50-piece Limited Edition that Weighs Almost a Pound.
Just launched a few months ago, the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26470PT.OO.1000PT.01 in platinum is one of the heaviest watches we've ever reviewed. With a total weight only 23 grams short of a full pound —total weight of this watch is 431.9 grams—, this is also one of the most special watches ever made by AP. Released in a 50-piece limited edition, this is the first Royal Oak Offshore watch in platinum that doesn't feature a blue dial which is the common 'tell tale' when it comes to limited edition platinum Royal Oak Offshores.
Insider: Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue Bucherer ref. 79250B. Hands-on with Tudor's First Limited Edition.
The day we received the news that a new Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze with blue dial had been released as a limited edition for watch retailer Bucherer, we knew we had to have one. Well, after a whole week of ownership, here's our hands-on review of this very special watch that is as hard to get as finding a needle in a haystack considering that is exclusively sold through Bucherer.
News: Paul Newman's Very Own Rolex 'Paul Newman' Daytona ref. 6239 to be Sold at the Phillips Inaugural New York Watch Auction
With an estimate in excess of one million US dollars, Paul Newman’s very own Rolex 'Paul Newman' Daytona will be offered at the Phillips’ Inaugural New York Watch Auction on October 26th, 2017. This inaugural auction named 'WINNING ICONS: Legendary Watches of the 20th Century' will be dedicated to the most iconic collectors watches of the last century. A historic event in its own right, WINNING ICONS will offer what is without a doubt amongst the most important Rolex watches to ever be offered on the market including the singular, one and only Rolex 'Paul Newman' Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239 owned and worn by none other than Paul Newman.
