For the first time in an IWC watch, the Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition “150 Years” combines a constant-force tourbillon with a single moonphase display. Available in a limited edition of 15 pieces for each dial variants and cased in a generous but very elegant platinum case measuring 46 mm in diameter, one can choose between a blue lacquered dial ref. IW590203 or a white lacquered one ref. IW5902002. Featuring a dial that seems a little busy at first, the constant force tourbillon takes the center stage at 9 o'clock.
Insider: HYT H2O. Hands-on with Two New Watches in a 25-Piece Limited Edition Each.
After the successful launch of the HYT H0 Origin at Baselworld 2017 where the HYT hydromechanical timepiece became more modern and minimalistic thanks to its redesigned case and crystal, this year at the SIHH 2018, HYT presented two new watches that follow a similar approach with a redesigned case and a more prominent box domed sapphire crystal. The new HYT H20 is rooted in the continuous movement of a colored and a transparent fluid in a capillary and it's available in two different limited editions of 25 pieces each.
Insider: Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Hand Guilloché Dials by Kari Voutilainen. This Watch Just Got Much Better.
First released at the end of 2016 and then revisited this year at the SIHH 2018, the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance just got considerably better thanks to its new hand guilloché dials created in a variety of colors and finishes by master watchmaker —and one of the authorities in dial and movement decoration— Kari Voutilainen. Available in a wide variety of colors that include blue, black, white, anthracite, bi-color and even red, Armin Strom’s most remarkable timepiece to date is now offered to collectors with superb hand made guilloché dials, delivering an outstanding synergy of modern and classic looks.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph ref. 26421OR 25th Anniversary. Hands-on with an Incredible Timepiece.
When Audemars Piguet announced the release of two new Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronographs to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Royal Oak Offshore, we were not thrilled by the stock images that accompanied the press release and decided to wait until the SIHH 2018 to see the watch in person and then provide our thoughts and honest opinion about these two new references in 18K pink gold and in stainless steel. Well, we have to say that it was well worth waiting to see this new model in the metal and we are pleased to say that we were blown away by it.
Insider: Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight Heure d'Ici & Heure d'Ailleurs. Hands-on with a New Interpretation of this Jumping Hours Timepiece.
First presented in 2014 by Van Cleef & Arpels as the Pierre Arpels Heure d’ici & Heure d’ailleurs in an 18K white gold pebble-shaped case measuring 42 mm in diameter —which you can read about it here—, VC&A presented a new iteration of this watch during the SIHH 2018, this time with the more appealing and contemporary 'Midnight' round case in 18K pink gold measuring 42 mm in diameter. The new Midnight Heure d’Ici & Heure d’Ailleurs is equipped with Van Cleef's own dual time zone movement which offers an understated and poetic interpretation of time, suspended between two horizons. Reading the hours becomes an invitation to travel, like a window open on the world.
Insider: A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph in 18K Pink Gold. Hands-on with a Cornerstone Timepiece from Germany's Finest Watchmaker.
This year, A. Lange & Söhne has decided to add two new 18K pink gold models to the successful 1815 Chronograph collection. Endowed with column-wheel mechanism, a flyback function and a pulsometer scale, the two new watches are available with black —ref. 414.031— or silvered colored —ref. 414.032— dials. While the black dial version is a very nice watch, there is something about the silvered colored dial model that we absolutely love.
Insider: Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph ref. 9022450. Hands-on with a Stunning in-House Chronograph in 18K rose gold.
Released at the SIHH 2018 two weeks ago, Jaeger-LeCoultre surprised everyone with a full new collection under the Polaris name. This new Polaris collection is inspired by the iconic Memovox Polaris watch from 1968 and the new Polaris Chronograph is one of our favorite timepieces from it. Fitted with a 42 mm 18k rose gold case —also available in stainless steel with blue or black dial and on strap or matching bracelet—, a stunning grey dial and delivered on a chocolate brown alligator strap, ref. 9022450 could very well be one of the best chronographs money can buy if you like precious metals.
SIHH 2018: New Santos de Cartier Large and Medium Size. Fitted with New Case Sizes, SmartLink and QuickSwitch Systems.
One of the most iconic and popular Cartier watches from the 80s just got even better. Named after Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos Dumont whom Cartier made a watch for, the Cartier Santos with its rounded angles of the dial, the seamless curve of the horns, and the exposed screws made for an iconic watch that would inspire countless reinterpretations. The new Santos de Cartier is now available in two different sizes, the first one, a medium size measuring 35.1 mm x 41.9 mm and the second one, a large model with a case measuring almost 40 mm wide —39.8 mm x 47.5 mm actual size.
Insider: Ulysse Nardin Diver Deep Dive Hammerhead Shark. Hands-on with the new 300-Piece Limited Edition.
When one thinks of Ulysse Nardin watches, the first models to come to mind are the diving and maritime inspired timepieces. The new Ulysse Nardin Diver Deep Dive Hammerhead Shark Limited Edition is the newest addition to the Diver collection with a very robust timepiece. This new watch with a blue color scheme and incredible wrist presence is ready to take on the oceans and any diving challenge it is confronted with.
Insider: Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph WT. Hands-on with a Perfectly Designed Chrono with World Time Complication.
Released at the SIHH 2018 a week and a half ago, Jaeger-LeCoultre hits a home run with the new Polaris line and in particular with this new chronograph that we absolutely love. The new Polaris collection is inspired by the iconic Memovox Polaris watch from 1968 and the new Polaris Chronograph WT —World Time— is a perfect example of how good is JLC at releasing new watches that give you a lot of bang for your buck with a slightly vintage feel to them.
SIHH 2018: IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition “150 Years” ref. IW5105. A 100-Piece Limited Edition that is Simply Stunning.
Available in either white lacquered or blue lacquered dial comes the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition “150 Years”. This is the first time that IWC presents a Pilot’s Watch with a double date display featuring large numerals at 12 o'clock. Available in a limited edition of 100 watches for each dial color, the new Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition comes with a stainless steel case measuring the same 46.2 mm as the previous iterations of this watch and featuring a soft-iron solid case back with small opening.
SIHH 2018: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph QEII Cup 2018 ref. 26474TI. Live Pictures & Pricing.
Referred to by Audemars Piguet as a thoroughbred to celebrate one of the world’s great horse races. This year’s new Royal Oak Offshore QEII Cup 2018 sports a full titanium construction with a winning blue and grey color combination. Slightly inspired by the first Titanium Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721TI comes the new Royal Oak Offshore QEII Cup 2018.
SIHH 2018: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak RD#2 ref. 26586PT. Hands-on with the World's Thinnest Automatic Perpetual Calendar.
This SIHH 2018 was a great one for Audemars Piguet as most of their novelties were absolutely on point and the brand was able to show how they master the rules and how they can break them. One of the most special watches at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2018 was the new Royal Oak RD#2 —where the RD stand for Research & Development— ref. 26586PT.OO.1240PT.01 in platinum. This watch presented as a concept is now the world’s thinnest automatic perpetual calendar at just 6.30 mm thick, marking a new watchmaking record for the brand.
SIHH 2018: Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Complete Calendar ref. 4000E. Live Pictures & Pricing.
Last week, we brought you the live pictures on the new FiftySix Self-Winding here and the FiftySix Day-Date Power Reserve here; well, today, we bring you our live pictures of our second favorite watch within this new collection. The FiftySix Complete Calendar ref. 4000E with moonphase indicator. With an extremely well balanced dial thanks to its double apertures at 12 and a gorgeous moonphase indicator at six o'clock, this is without a doubt, one of the best looking Vacheron Constantin watches out there.
SIHH 2018: Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Planétarium. A Fascinating Astronomical Complication for Ladies.
Following the successful release of their Midnight Planétarium in 2014, the watch that we still talk about to date and one of the most read articles here at WCL —you can read it here—; on the occasion of the SIHH 2018, Van Cleef & Arpels has drawn new inspiration to come up with a new interpretation of the watch created in collaboration with Netherlands watchmaker Christiaan van der Klaauw. The new Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Planétarium takes a slightly different approach not only in terms of size —measuring 38 mm instead of 44 mm like the Midnight Planétarium— but also in terms of functionality by centering the watch complication around fewer planets.
SIHH 2018: Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Automatic 910P. The World's Thinnest Automatic Watch.
It is very well known by watch collectors and watch scholars that when it comes to ultra-thin watches, Piaget is an authority. Defying the limits of feasibility, Piaget released three new watches —one as a concept— that continue to demonstrate their ability to succeed in the field of ultra-thin timepieces. Three years after the launch of the slimmest manual-winding watch in the world at that time, the Piaget Altiplano 900P, Piaget is once again wowing everyone, this time with the new Altiplano Ultimate Automatic 910P.
SIHH 2018: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Havana' Brown Dial. Live Pictures & Pricing.
Another brand new dial for the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in stainless steel, this time with an eye-catching 'Havana' brown Méga Tapisserie dial with navy blue subdials, white Arabic numerals and white chronograph hands. This new watch is exactly like all other Royal Oak Offshores in 42 mm with ceramic pushers and redesigned crown guards in black. Presented as ref. 26470ST.OO.A099CR.01, this new watch will be sold with a non-hornback large square scale brown alligator strap with blue contrast stitching.
SIHH 2018: Armin Strom Pure Resonance Fire and Pure Resonance Water. The New Resonance in a More Classic Size Measuring 42 mm.
Trying to appeal to a more conservative customer that prefers smaller timepieces, Armin Strom has just presented the new Pure Resonance housed in a slimmer 42 mm case —1.4 mm smaller than the original Mirrored Force Resonance— with reduced lugs and crown and practically with no bezel, though the characteristic lip at 6 o’clock remains as an homage to the ability of Armin Strom to customize any of its watches as well as to their founder Armin Strom, who offered this space to clients for personal engraving.
SIHH 2018: Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision. The First Automatic Watch in the Freak Collection.
The first automatic watch in the Ulysse Nardin Freak Collection is the new Freak Vision. A feat of horology and a very good looking timepiece, the new Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision incorporates the revolutionary innovations unveiled in the Ulysse Nardin InnoVision 2 Concept Watch at SIHH 2017 to give birth to a brand new winding mechanism called the Grinder Automatic Winding System. T
SIHH 2018: DeWitt Academia Endless Drive. The Watch with the Helical Screw at the Center of the Dial.
A huge comeback for DeWitt after presenting at the SIHH 2018 for the very first time. The new DeWitt Academia Endless Drive reveals an original design, consistent with the strong and distinct character of DeWitt creations, with an endless screw as the dial’s signature element. This rotating endless screw is a nod to automotive mechanics, which has been the field of inspiration to the brand's founder, Count Jérôme de Witt.
