Cecil Purnell is a name that only a few hundred watch collectors know very well and a name that only a handful of people in the watch industry understand what it stands for and the type of product they put out there. Luckily, we are within that select group, and that’s why we are presenting you the just-released C. Purnell Spherion watch with our usual live pictures and captivating macro photography. Much like other independent horologists that prefer to remain ultra-exclusive, C. Purnell flies under the radar with little to no advertising, no mass communications, limited distribution, and their unique business model. However, regardless of the lack of media exposure their watches are incredible and a real treat for the eyes.
The Watch Collectors: @RJKama. The Doctor that Likes to Be Called SUPERDOC.
We met @RJKama at an Omega watch collector’s hospitality trip, and after instantly clicking with him, we became close friends. We still remember back then when we would pressure him non-stop about opening an Instagram account, and he wouldn’t do it. Finally, after several attempts on our end, he surprised the social media world with his passion for watches and incredible photography. @RJKama is a doctor that likes to be called SUPERDOC, and that sees health as a sensation of well being instead of an absence of disease. After launching his IG account many years ago, he rapidly became a most follow account for those looking for incredible photography of Omega timepieces with a very particular look and feel. Without a doubt, this is one of the most interesting interviews we’ve published on Watch Collectors here at WCL.
Now, you’ll hear straight from him all that he wants to share about this fantastic hobby that brought us together in the first place.
Experience: Hermès Leather Treasure. Perfectly Designed for those Exploring the World.
When you closely examine the orange hand on the Rolex Explorer II ref. 216570 —which we reviewed here—, you'll notice that its hue, is as close as it gets to the color of those fascinating orange boxes we love from Hermès. The Hermès Leather Treasure is a clever solution for those exploring the world and wanting to take a small amount of their favorite fragrances with them.
Presenting: MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT. The First MB&F Ladies Timepiece Ever.
The unexpected and a very surprising move by MB&F when they shared with us what is their first ladies timepiece ever. The creative process behind the just released MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT started four years ago, when Maximilian Büsser began thinking about making something inspired by the feminine influences in his life. “I created MB&F to do what I believe in, making three-dimensional sculptural kinetic art pieces that give the time. But at some point there came a desire to create something for the women in my family. I’ve been surrounded by their influence all my life, so I gave myself the challenge to do something for them” says Büsser. “The last thing I wanted to do, was to take a masculine timepiece, resize it, put a different color on it and call it a ladies’ watch.”
Eye Candy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance 'Rainbow'. There's a Pot of Gold at the End of Every Rainbow.
With a unique look and following the steps of other watch manufactures like Rolex, comes the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked ‘Rainbow’ reference 15468BC.YG.1259BC.01. This new model cased in a 37 mm frosted 18K white gold case, sports a bezel featuring 32 baguette-cut ‘rainbow-colored’ sapphires totaling 2.24 carats. The sapphires have been all individually cut and set in a breathtaking way. The openworked rhodium-toned dial exposes the golden double balance wheel mechanism at 8 o’clock, which happens to be visible on both sides of the watch.
News: Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition. Celebrating 17 years of Partnership and 100 Years of Luxury Motoring.
Breitling and Britain’s Bentley Motors enjoy the longest-ever partnership between a watch brand and an automobile manufacturer. In fact, it dates back to 2002, when Bentley, the world’s most admired luxury car brand, launched the very first Continental GT. For this particular car, Bentley commissioned Breitling to create an onboard clock that would reflect the unparalleled luxury, peerless quality, and extraordinary performance of the new grand tourer, which was debuted in 2003. To celebrate their partnership and 100 years of luxury motoring, Breitling just announced the new Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition ref. RB01181A1Q1X1 produced in 18K red gold or stainless steel.
Insider: HYT H1.0 Black Fluid. One of the Best Looking HYT Watches Out There.
A couple of weeks ago we brought you our hands-on review of the new HYT H1.0 collection, and we told you how much we fell in love with it. During Watches & Wonders Miami 2019, the HYT H.10 lineup got even better after the brand added a fourth model with black fluid giving the watch a fascinating color combination. Like we mentioned it before, the new HYT H1.0 is the natural evolution and progression of the minimalist design of the H0 Origin released two years ago at Baselworld 2017. The new HYT H1.0 Black Fluid rises above with an even more futuristic approach as the capillary tube is filled with black fluid and the glass capillary features superluminova C7 in vintage mint green color underneath.
From the Editor: Almost a Year After its Release, the new Rolex GMT Master II 'Pepsi' is Still Selling Way Above Retail. Will this Bubble Finally Burst after Baselworld 2019?
It’s been almost a year since the release of the Rolex GMT Master II ‘Pepsi’ ref. 126710BLRO in stainless steel and we can’t wait any longer to see what Rolex will be unveiling at the end of the month during Baselworld 2019 from where we will be reporting live with all the novelties. Even though we are excited about all the Rolex novelties coming out this year, the most we are intrigued about is not necessarily that. While it is very likely that Rolex will release a new Milgauss or maybe a new GMT Master II ‘Coke’ and perhaps downsize the Explorer II to 40mm, what we can’t stop thinking about is how much longer the price bubble will hold before it bursts.
Insider: Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar. A Feat of Horology that Blends Classic and Modern Watch Design Cues.
A big highlight of the SIHH 2019 and a true feat of horology is the new Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar. Inspired by the seasonal system from the Japanese Edo Period which divided day and night into six segments —of which the length varied from day to night and from one season to another—, the clocks from this period were equipped with a single or double foliot balance enabling automatic changes in their operating speed. And just like those clocks, the Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar beats at a high frequency when worn and on demand, it can be slowed down by pressing a pusher in order to guarantee an extended outstanding power reserve of at least 65 days when the watch is not been worn.
News: A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase '25th Anniversary'. The Second Limited Edition from the Anniversary Collection.
Today, A. Lange & Söhne announced the second model of the ten watches they will be releasing this year for the anniversary collection. This new 25-piece A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase limited edition features a lunar disc engraved by hand for the first time. Commemorating the launch of the Lange 1 in October 1994, the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase will be released as a jubilee edition in white gold with a limitation of 25 watches. It features a silver colored dial in solid silver with printed deep blue numerals and a white-gold lunar disc with hand engraved stars.
The Watch Collectors: @Orangedial17. Our Very Own IG Contributor in Singapore and One of Asia's Finest Watch Guys.
Our very own special Instagram contributor located in Singapore and a well-rounded watch collector, @orangedial17 is very well known for his stellar photography as one of Asia’s finest collectors. Not only @orangedial17 is a good friend of ours but someone that we also admire from a watch collecting standpoint. A longtime contributor to The Rolex Forums, The Purists and Timezone, he is a watch collector that is easily recognized because he is either wearing his very unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chrono in 18K white gold with salmon dial or his 36 mm Royal Oak in Tantalum.
Experience: Sipsmith London Dry Gin. As Refreshing as the Look on the Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Collection.
A few months ago while we attended the release of the Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Tourbillon, we visited the Sipsmith distillery in London. Sipsmith is the first copper pot distillery in London in nearly two hundred years. A classic and refreshing London Dry Gin that is bold, complex and very aromatic, this well balanced gin is perfectly suited for a Negroni or a classic Gin and Tonic. As refreshing as the look on the recently launched Vacheron Constantin FiftySix collection, Sipsmith is produced using a complex mix of botanicals that include the fundamental juniper berries —without them you can’t make Gin—, Bulgarian coriander seed, Belgian angelica root, Chinese cassia bark —from the same family as cinnamon—, Italian orris root, Spanish ground almond, Madagascan cinnamon bark, Spanish liquorice root, Seville orange peel and lemon peel.
Experience: Smythson Greenwich Holdall Bag. The Attention Grabber While Attending the SIHH in Geneva.
After receiving dozens of compliments about this bag during our time attending the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève last month, we decided to do a feature on it and tell you everything about it. At the end of the day, we know you come to WCL for the extensive watch content but also because of the good life and the occasional Paella recipe on our Instagram stories —no pun intended. As we travel the world in search for new luxury items to fall in love with, bags are one of our biggest weaknesses here at WCL and Smythson of Bond Street along with Faure Le Page are among the top of our list due to their exclusivity and understated look, very much like wearing a stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15400ST with ruthenium toned dial.
Insider: Roger Dubuis Excalibur Huracán. Almost Like Wearing a Lamborghini on the Wrist.
Taking inspiration from the Lamborghini Squadra Corse and its unique automobile aesthetic showcased in the Huracan Performante the watchmakers at Roger Dubuis have developed a few incredible timepieces brimming with racing design codes. Along with the new Roger Dubuis Excalibur Huracán Performante and its new movement —the RD630 with its 12-degree inclined balance wheel representing the calibre signature associated with Lamborghini—, comes the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Huracán with its 45 mm titanium case and the automatic winding mechanism displaying a rim‑like oscillating weight. The upper calibre features a strut‑bar designed bridge recalling the ones of the V10 engine of the Lamborghini Huracan super car.
Insider: HYT H1.0 Blue, Red and Green. Unconventional Fluidic Timekeeping with a Skeletonized Dial.
The HYT H1.0 is the latest and greatest iteration of the hydro-mechanical timepieces by the avant-garde house that is nestled in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. HYT is the only watchmaking company to display time with fluids and it was launched in 2012 with the introduction of the H1 at BaselWorld. Today, after much work done in the R&D department, HYT has consolidated as one of the top independent watchmaking brands with a truly unique offering that remains unrivaled and that awarded them the innovation prize at the Grand Prix de Horlogerie de Genève in 2012.
Experience: Watches & Wonders Miami 2019. Watches, Cars, People and the Good Life.
This past weekend, we attended the second edition of Watches & Wonders Miami 2019 which took place at the Miami Design District from February 15th-17th, 2019. This event organized by the Miami Design District Associates in partnership with the FHH —Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie— presented 30 brands including: A. Lange & Sohne, Audemars Piguet, Bvlgari, Cartier, De Bethune, Dior, F.P. Journe, Girard-Perregaux, H. Moser & Cie., Hublot, HYT, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Kari Voutilainen, Louis Vuitton, Omega, Panerai, Piaget, RJ Romain Jerome, Roger Dubuis, Romain Gauthier, Speake-Marin, Tag Heuer, Tiffany & Co., Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels and Zenith.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402ST 'Blacked Out'. The Watch that Belonged to Karl Lagerfeld Himself?
A very sad day in the world of luxury, fashion and glamour as Karl Lagerfeld passed away today February 19, 2019. Karl Otto Lagerfeld was a German creative director that led design at Chloé, Chanel and Fendi amongst others. In his early days as the mastermind of the fashion house Chloé, where Lagerfeld worked until 1992 —with a short 8-year hiatus in the 80s—, the are numerous pictures that were taken by Daniel Simon at Gamma-Rapho where Karl Lagerfeld is wearing nothing else than a ‘blacked out’ Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402ST A-series.
Insider: Ulysse Nardin Marine Mega Yacht Watch. As Amazing as the Mega Yacht Where it was Launched.
Just released in Miami on Saturday February 16th, 2019 while we were attending Watches & Wonders Miami 2019, the new Ulysse Nardin Marine Mega Yacht was presented aboard an incredible 156-foot mega yacht made by Baglietto boasting 342 square meters —3,681 square feet— of luxury area accommodations for 12 guests. During the presentation, we enjoyed a few early morning glasses of Perrier-Jouèt Grand Brut along with some fresh tuna and caviar. Without a doubt, the perfect luxury setting to reveal an incredible timepiece priced at $310,000 USD. For Ulysse Nardin setting out to sea is a key moment in any new voyage.
Insider: Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech Special Edition PAM 961. A Watch that Includes a Training Experience with Commandos of the Italian Navy.
This year Panerai focused their SIHH novelties around their Submersible line and released a dozen Submersible timepieces. The new Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Carbotech Special Edition PAM 961 is one of our absolute favorites and the buyers of this 33-piece limited edition will have the opportunity to participate on a spectacular experience that includes one day of training with the COMSUBIN —Comando Subacquei ed Incursori— “Raiders and Divers” Commandos of the Italian Navy. The number of pieces in this limited edition is 33 like the number of gold medals earned by COMSUBIN for Military Valour. First and foremost the COMSUBIN is a secret special operations unit. Its membership is a fairly well-guarded secret and estimates account for this group to have around 700 specialized men.
News: Romain Gauthier Prestige HMS Stainless Steel. A Meteorite Dial 10-Piece Limited Edition.
Today, Romain Gauthier announced its first series watch in stainless steel featuring a stunning dial crafted from ultra rare, visually arresting meteorite. Founded in 2005, Romain Gauthier is a very high-end independent watch brand based in the Vallée de Joux and led by its passionate founder Romain Gauthier. The new Romain Gauthier Prestige HMS Stainless Steel is available in a 10-piece limited edition and its dial is crafted from an ultra rare Henbury meteorite. The meteorite used to make the dial is an octahedrite —an iron meteorite— that was discovered in 1931 at the Henbury crater field in the Northern Territory of Australia, one of the country’s best known meteorite impact sites.
