With the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Edition “150 Years”, IWC combines the legendary perpetual calendar created by Kurt Klaus with a tourbillon on the dial for the first time. This masterpiece of watchmaking is available in a limited edition of 50 watches. It has an 18K red gold case, a white dial with a lacquered finish, and blued hands. To make the tourbillon visible at 12 o’clock, the designers opened up the calendar advance ring and integrated the moon phase in the month display at 6 o’clock.
Rare Bird: Hublot Big Bang Unico Depeche Mode Limited Edition. A Punkish 250-Piece Limited Edition.
Hublot and Depeche Mode have been partners since 2010 and have supported Charity: Water on three other occasions since 2013. The Hublot Big Bang Unico Depeche Mode in a limited edition of 250 pieces is one of the most unique looking watches released in partnership with this iconic post-modern era band to celebrate their latest album 'Spirit'. Sporting a knurled and polished black ceramic case measuring 45 mm in diameter, the dial is reminiscent of the very first model produced between Hublot and Depeche Mode.
News: Zenith Unveils the Two New Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Watches at the 20th Cuban Habanos Festival. The Cobiha Maduro 5 Editions.
Zenith’s partnership with high-end cigar brand manufacturer Cohiba gets off to a smoking start in 2018, at the 20th prestigious Cuban Habanos Festival, with the launch of two new limited edition versions of the Pilot Type 20. The first, the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Cohiba Maduro 5 in 18K rose gold and available in a limited edition of only 50 pieces, and the second, the Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Extra Special Cohiba Maduro 5 Edition in bronze in a limited edition of 150 pieces.
Experience: Visiting the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture. An Incredible Morning at the Oldest Watch Manufacture in the World.
As you all know, Vacheron Constantin is not only one of the three brands that integrate the 'Holy Trinity of Watchmaking' but also the oldest watch manufacture in the world with an uninterrupted history that spans across almost three centuries —263 years to be precise. Therefore, a visit to the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates —a municipality in the outskirts of Geneva, Switzerland— is a fascinating experience that as watch collectors and scholars, we will cherish forever.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 44 "Combat" ref. 26400SO.OO.A054CA.01. Hands-on Review Under Natural Light.
Perceived as a controversial watch by many and nicknamed by us as the 'Combat' because of its color scheme and unique camouflage pattern rubber strap, the recently released Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26400SO.OO.A054CA.01. in 44 mm is a watch that is definitely better appreciated under natural light. When we perused this new watch at the SIHH 2018, the bezel didn't seem to be as bright green as the stock images suggested and even our pictures captured it...
News: IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII 'Laureus Sport for Good Foundation'. A Limited Edition of 1,500 Pieces.
At the occasion of the 2018 Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco, IWC has just released new watch with a case made of black ceramic. This new IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVIII 'Laureus Sport for Good Foundation' features a blue dial and a special engraving on the case back. This is now, the 12th special edition timepiece released after the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation by IWC Schaffhausen. The new Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition 'Laureus Sport for Good Foundation' ref. IW324703 comes in a 41 mm black ceramic case and is available in an individually numbered limited edition of 1,500 pieces.
Insider: New MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual in Titanium. Hands-on with the New 50-Piece Limited Edition.
Without a doubt, one of the biggest launches of 2015 was when MB&F launched the Legacy Machine Perpetual. Not only the Legacy Machine Perpetual is MB&F's first perpetual calendar but the recipient of the Calendar Prize at the 2016 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Today, MB&F presents a new iteration of this incredible watch now in Titanium with a gorgeous blue greenish dial and in a limited edition of only 50 pieces. Developed from scratch with independent Irish watchmaker Stephen McDonnell, this perpetual calendar is very different to conventional ones that rely on modules...
Experience: Watches & Wonders Miami 2018. When Haute Horlogerie Meets the MIA.
This past weekend, we had the pleasure of attending the debut of 'Watches & Wonders Miami' which took place from February 16th-19th, 2018. This event organized by the Miami Design District Associates in partnership with the FHH —Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie— presented 21 watch maisons including: A. Lange & Sohne, Armin Strom, Audemars Piguet, Bvlgari, Cartier, F.P. Journe, Hermès, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Kari Voutilainen, Louis Vuitton, Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Ralph Lauren, Romain Jerome, Romain Gauthier, Tag Heuer, Vacheron Constantin and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Insider: HYT H0 'Feel the HYT' Edition. A 5-Piece Limited Edition in 18K Yellow Gold with Bright Red Fluid.
After the release of the HYT H0 during Baselworld 2017, where the hydromechanical horologissts decided to take a step back and head back to basics and straight to their very essence, the HYT H0 Feel the HYT Edition is the newest addition to the H0 Origin lineup. With the fully redesigned case and crystal from last year, this new watch is a perfect addition for those in love with yellow gold. With primal curves from a pebble smoothed by the water from a mountain stream, the new HYT H0 Feel the HYT Edition is very minimalist and eye-catching with its 18K yellow gold case paired with bright red fluid and a bright red rubber strap.
News: Elvis Presley's Omega Watch Gifted by RCA Records to Be Auctioned at the Phillips Geneva Auction SEVEN. Our Live Pictures & All Details.
This weekend at Watches & Wonders Miami 2018, we had the opportunity to peruse and photograph one of the most important celebrity-related timepieces to come up for auction. We are talking about the Omega watch gifted by RCA Records to icon Elvis Presley in 1961. This historically important watch, will be sold at the upcoming Phillips Geneva Watch Auction: SEVEN taking place in Geneva, Switzerland on May 12th and 13th of this year. The watch once belonging to Elvis Presley is a highlight of this upcoming auction and it's the watch which was owned and worn by the rock and roll icon...
Insider: A. Lange & Söhne 1815 'Homage to Walter Lange'. Honoring Mr. Lange's Favorite Complication.
A historically inspired timepiece with dead beat seconds from A. Lange & Söhne to honor its deceased company founder Walter Lange, who passed away in January 2017. The new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 ‘Homage to Walter Lange’ is the first 1815 model fitted with this extraordinary complication. This new watch equipped with a jumping seconds hand that dates back to a 150-year-old invention conceived by Ferdinand Adolph Lange is as classic as it gets.
Watch Art: Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Les Aérostiers. Five Incredible Creations with Pounced Ornament and Plique-à-Jour Enamel Dials.
One of our favorite releases at the SIHH 2018 were the five incredible Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Les Aérostiers with their pounced ornament and plique-à-jour enamel dials featuring five different hot air balloons to celebrate the five flights taken in France between 1783 and 1785. A faithful reproduction in miniature of the historical depictions of these flights are carefully and splendidly hand engraved and micro-sculpted in gold against a translucent plique-à-jour enamel background.
Budget Watches: Seiko Presage Cocktail Time 'Starlight' SSA361 Limited Edition. At this Price Point, Years Ago a Dial Like this was Just Too Good to be True.
For our second installment ever of Budget Watches, we've decided to bring you a watch that we have been eyeing now for a few months. Introduced back in November 2017, the new Seiko Presage collection welcomed the addition of two new watches priced under $1,000 USD and inspired by cocktails created by Hisashi Kishi, the head bartender at Tokyo's 'Star Bar' located in the heart of the Ginza area.
Insider: IWC Portugieser Constant Force Tourbillon '150 Years' Limited Edition. Hands-on with the Quarter-Million Dollar Watch from Schaffhausen.
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.
