Following the trend set by brands like Richard Mille, Greubel Forsey, MB&F and Hublot, comes the Bell & Ross BR-X1 Tourbillon Sapphire. This new sapphire watch released by Bell & Ross during Baselworld 2017 was a big surprise, considering that the price point for their timepieces has always been under $8K and with just a few misfits highly priced in the $20K price range. Furthermore, an almost half million US dollars timepiece that is not even powered by an in-house calibre should be something even out of the question.
News: Richard Mille Releases the RM 035 Black Toro and RM 035 Gold Toro. Two New 50-Piece Limited Editions for the Americas.
Richard Mille releases two new limited editions of the manual wound RM 035. Based on the original RM 035 in the Rafael Nadal series of watches, the two new 50-piece limited editions are available exclusively and immediately at authorized Richard Mille retailers in The Americas. The new models named 'Toro' after Rafael Nadal 'The Bull' —Toro in Spanish— from Manacor in Mallorca, Spain are the RM 035 Black Toro and the RM 035 Gold Toro.
Experience: When Money is No Object. A Very Impressive Collection of Audemars Piguet Timepieces, Cars and One of the World's Largest Diecast Scale 1:18 and 1:12 Cars.
Continuing with this new series where we showcase some of the most impressive and versatile watch collections in the world, this is the time to share with you a watch collection mainly composed of Audemars Piguet timepieces. Since often, it is quite common to find that watch collectors happen to also be collectors of many other objects of desire; call it writing instruments, lighters, banknotes, coins, stamps, fragrances, bags, shoes or automobiles, just to name a few, it is no surprise that this AP watch collection...
Insider: Carl F. Bucherer Manero Peripheral Chocolate Dial. Hands-on with a Unisex Timepiece with a Gorgeous Brown Mother-of-Pearl Dial.
Conceived as a unisex timepiece thanks to its generous case measuring 40.6 mm in diameter and 11.2 mm in thickness, the Carl F. Bucherer Manero Peripheral with chocolate dial is a great looking watch with one of the most unique brown mother-of-pearl dials out there. Also available in 18K rose gold with other dial options and in stainless steel without diamonds, the Manero Peripheral we have here, is fitted with a stainless steel case with diamond encrusted bezel as ref. 00.10917.08.83.11.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 44mm Platinum ref. 26401PO. Hands-on with Another Platinum Heavy Hitter from AP.
In 2011 Audemars Piguet introduced the 44 mm Royal Oak Offshore collection with a 44 mm diameter case and a whole new design under ref. 26400 and later ref. 26401. Three years later, AP released the 44 mm Royal Oak Offshore Ceramic and the platinum reference 26401PO we have here. Following APs usual approach to platinum limited or special edition Offshore watches —which is not the case on this regular production watch—, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 44mm Platinum...
Experience: 1958 Porsche 356 Cabriolet Auratium Green. One of Our Favorite All-Time Classic Porsches.
As the Porsche lovers that we are, we all know that there's a special aura that surrounds driving or just looking at a Porsche 356 pass us by. But that aura turns into a triple whammy when that Porsche 356 happens to be painted in the legendary Auratium Green color and when it happens to also be a Cabrio with ivory interiors. The Porsche 356 was the first car ever produced by Porsche...
Experience: When Watch Collecting is a Journey and Not a Destination. A Father and Son Share their Very Impressive Watch Collection with Us.
A few days ago, someone asked us how come we don't talk more about the hobby of watch collecting when our name is Watch Collecting Lifestyle. Since we see watch collecting as a journey and not a destination, we've limited how much we talk about the subject so that we don't end up being too redundant. However, in lieu of delivering more of what our readers want, we will start talking more about watch collecting and when possible share some interesting watch collections with you.
Insider: Manufacture Royale 1770 Flying Tourbillon Squelette. Hands-on with a Timepiece that is Exquisitely Skeletonized for Maximum Transparency.
Manufacture Royale is an independent watch brand that was revived in 2010 and that is directly linked to the Manufacture Royale des Montres de Ferney, which was a watchmaking atelier in which thinker and philosopher Voltaire was involved back in 1770. The Manufacture Royale des Montres de Ferney produced watches from 1770 until 1778 when Voltaire died at the age of 83.
Insider: Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Paillonnée. Hands-on with a Very Special 8-piece Limited Edition with Grand Feu Blue Enamel Dial.
With its signature figure eight on the dial and encased in an exquisitely mirror polished 18K red gold case measuring 43 mm in diameter, the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Paillonnée with blue Grand Feu enamel dial reference J003033424 pays homage to the artistry and mastery of its founder Pierre Jaquet Droz. Born in 1721 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, at age seventeen in 1738, Pierre had already opened his first workshop for clock making and produced a series of grandfather clocks with very sophisticated movements.
News: Rolex Ambassador Jordan Spieth Wins 'The Open' and Wears his Rolex Explorer II ref. 216570
Jordan Spieth’s rise to golf prominence can be traced back to the athletic family into which he was born in 1993 in Dallas, Texas. A left-handed pitcher, Spieth gave up baseball at age 12 to focus on golf and quickly became one of the most heralded junior players. Winning two U.S. Junior Amateur Championships he's the second player after Tiger Woods to ever win multiple Juniors. A first-team All-American three times for the American Junior Golf Association —AJGA.
News: Richard Mille Releases the RM 67-02 'Sprint' Wayde Van Niekerk and the RM 67-02 'High Jump' Mutaz Essa Barshim. The Lightest Automatic Watch by this Brand.
Just released yesterday July 20th, 2017, Richard Mille adds two new watches to their timepieces designed for track and field athletes. The new Richard Mille RM 67-02 Sprint and the RM 67-02 High Jump, will be adorning the wrists of Wayde van Niekerk and Mutaz Essa Barshim respectively, during the World Championships in Athletics at the Olympic stadium in London. These two new watches are the sports versions of the Richard Mille RM 67-01.
Insider: Blancpain Métiers d’Art Shakudo 'Year of the Rooster'. Its Dial Features One of the Most Impressive Japanese Forms of Art.
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.
