To celebrate the 'Year of the Rooster' Blancpain and its Métiers d’Art Workshop released a unique piece in 18K rose gold with a rooster crafted in the art of 'Shakudo', this old Japanese technique is now mastered by the manufacture from Villeret and six unique pieces have been released in the past couple of years. Based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar, the months are 29 or 30 days long and always begin with a new moon, due to that, a year could have 12 or 13 months.
Insider: Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Grande Date Full Open 45 mm. Hands-on with a Beautifully Skeletonized Watch.
If you like skeletonized watches but you can't afford to go with an independent brand like Armin Strom or with an openworked Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet, lately Zenith has been doing a great job at adding skeletonization to their watches. Therefore, the new Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Grande Date Full Open ref. 51.2530.4047/78.C810 could be the perfect option as far as a skeletonized watch without having to break the bank.
Insider: Patek Philippe Nautilus Annual Calendar with Moonphases ref. 5726. Hands-on with One of our Favorite Nautilus References.
Another one of Gerald Genta's iconic creations. The Patek Philippe Nautilus was conceived using the universal shape of a porthole found on most maritime vessels and released just four years after the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was launched in 1972. Without a doubt, the year 1976 marked a milestone for Patek Philippe with a design that was not conventional and that would help the brand appeal to a younger demographic.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello II Rose Gold. Still a Very Special AP Amongst Watch Collectors.
Almost eleven years ago, Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello II in Istanbul, Turkey. Today, this magnificent watch still turns heads around when you run into it in the wild. While the AP Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello II in titanium we featured here is a huge favorite among watch collectors, the 18K rose gold version of it is even more special.
Experience: Patek Philippe's 'The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition' at Cipriani 42nd Street. The Most Epic and Fascinating Watch Exhibition.
With Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City as the perfect setting for this Grand Exhibition, we were invited by Patek Philippe to the opening cocktail and preview of 'The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition' last Wednesday July 12th, 2017. This magnificent exhibition, open to the public with free admission for only 11 days from July 13th thru the 23rd is meant to showcase Patek Philippe’s tradition of high-precision watch manufacturing as well as to give the visitors an insight into the company’s 178-year history.
News: Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Watch ref. 5522A-001 New York 2017 Special Edition. Live Pictures of the 600-piece Limited Edition.
Another highlight from the nine new watches released in honor of Patek's “The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition New York 2017” from July 13th to the 23rd at Cipriani 42nd Street, is the new Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Watch ref. 5522 New York 2017 Special Edition cased in stainless steel. This 'grand taille' watch measuring 42 mm in diameter comes in a 600-piece limited edition and features an exclusive dial reminiscent of vintage Patek Philippe aviator's watches.
News: Patek Philippe World Time Minute Repeater ref. 5531R New York 2017 Special Edition. Live Pictures of the Two 5-piece Limited Edition Watches.
As a highlight to “The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition New York 2017” from July 13th to the 23rd at Cipriani 42nd Street, Patek Philippe created nine limited special editions watches and two that take the center stage are the two 5-piece limited edition World Time Minute Repeaters ref. 5531. As usual, here are our first live pictures of these two fascinating watches. Yesterday July 12th, we were invited by Patek Philippe to the opening cocktail of this amazing exhibition and after seeing the watches in person all we can say is wow.
News: Patek Philippe Releases Nine New York 2017 Special Edition Watches to Celebrate 'The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition'. Live Pictures Included.
To celebrate Patek Philippe's “The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition New York 2017” from July 13th to the 23rd at Cipriani 42nd Street, the brand decided to release nine limited special edition watches for ladies and men, that manifest the manufacture’s in-depth expertise in all of its facets. The company will also present a rich collection of rare handcrafts watches during these exhibition.
News: Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic Acciaio PAM 722 and PAM 723. Yet, another Redesigned Bracelet for Panerai.
After several attempts trying to create the perfect bracelet for their watches, our friends from Panerai have decided to go back —one more time— to the drawing board and release a third redesign of the stainless steel bracelet for the Luminor Marina collection. With the release of two new watches fitted with the new bracelet, Panerai is trying to continue to expand their customer base among those that are not very fond of watches on a strap.
Insider: Hublot Big Bang Unico GMT Titanium and Big Bang Unico GMT Carbon Fiber. Hands-on with a Very Practical GMT Watch.
Without a doubt one of the coolest looking GMT watches out there is the relatively new Hublot Big Bang Unico GMT. With its robust 45 mm case in either titanium ref. 471.NX.7112.RX or
carbon fiber ref. 471.QX.7127.RX, the Big Bang Unico GMT features a graduated bezel with its signature H-shaped titanium screws and a skeletonized home time arrow-shaped hand that allows the wearer keep track of a second time zone.
Insider: Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Water. Hands-on with the Only True Resonance Watch in the Market.
Back in May 2017, we brought you the exciting news about Armin Strom releasing their Resonance watch also in stainless steel. Well, today, we finally bring you our hands-on review of this great timepiece that is nothing but spectacular. Fitted with an stainless steel case measuring 43.4 mm in diameter, the Armin Strom Mirrored Resonance Water and the Mirrored Resonance Fire are truly the only Resonance watches in the market.
Insider: Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer. Hands-on with a Watch that Falls Short in our Book.
Yet another one of those releases from Omega that didn't make much waves at Baselworld 2017 and a watch that you can hardly find any information about it. The new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer is fitted with a platinum case measuring 43 mm in diameter and available in a limited edition of only 57 pieces with a quite hefty price tag. This watch that intends to continue to perpetuate the unsuccessful Aqua Terra collection is not bad looking at all but one that clearly falls short in our book.
Insider: Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Tourbillon. Hands-on with an Extremely Impressive Tourbillon.
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.
