The iconic Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Quantième is paving a novel aesthetic path with a 41 mm model. The brand has released seven new versions of its Grande Seconde Quantième with a smaller and more compact case at 41 mm in diameter. With a case size now in-between 39 mm and 43 mm, clients have yet another option when pursuing the best fit. This new variation launches with gold and steel cases, Grand Feu enamel, matte black, and sandblasted dials, as well as alligator and calfskin straps.
From the Editor: My First and Last Day at Baselworld. The Demise of the World's Largest Watch and Jewelry Fair.
I still remember my first day at Baselworld like it was yesterday. The first time I attended the fair was back in 2013 just weeks after Watch Collecting Lifestyle was launched. Attending Baselworld had been one of my lifelong dreams as a watch collector. At the end of 2012, my spouse gifted me a trip to attend Baselworld in 2013 as a birthday present. Little did I know at the time, that this would give birth to what is today my full-time job. After my spouse planned the whole trip without sparing anything —premium tickets on KLM and a long stay at the Park Hyatt Zürich—, I decided to take advantage of the trip and put my marketing and media expertise to work and that’s how WCL was born.
Breaking News: Baselworld Will Not Take Place in 2021. The Fair is Finally Dead.
The MCH Group has taken the decision not to hold Baselworld 2021 that had been planned for 28 January to 2 February 2021. "Together with the exhibitors and visitors, we are working intensively on clarifying and discussing the requirements and options for new platforms," says Michel Loris-Melikoff, Managing Director of Baselworld. "We will be making a decision on possible follow-up formats by the summer and will then provide information on the new concept and scheduling."
Watch Goodies: The Ultimate Rolex Daytona Mini Book by Pucci Papaleo. A Must Have for Vintage Rolex Daytona Lovers.
If you consider yourself a vintage Rolex Daytona lover this book is a must have. The 'Ultimate Rolex Daytona' book by Pucci Papaleo —the authority when it comes to understanding and learning about some of the most rare Rolex Daytonas in the world— is a jewel in the world of watch literature. Available in two different formats, the 2000 images in this book tell the story of the Rolex Daytona as never before.
Experience: The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus. A Watch Museum Like No Other.
We still remember like it was yesterday, our first visit in 2013 to what is now ‘the old Audemars Piguet Museum’. The original museum was nestled in the historical building where Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet established the manufacture in 1875 in Le Brassus, Switzerland. The ‘old AP museum’ was very small, intimate, and a space full of charm that transported you back in time. However, it lacked the necessary space to properly showcase a large number of historical pieces in the museum’s collection, and it wasn’t very functional due to its multilevel layout.
News: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Yoshida Exclusive ref. 15206PT
Audemars Piguet presents a brand new iteration of the legendary iconic Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin in a limited edition of 70 pieces and exclusively available at watch retailer Yoshida in Tokyo, Japan. Since the establishment of their business in 1920, Yoshida set up a store along Koshu Street in Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. In 2020, Yoshida will proudly celebrate its 100th anniversary, and this new AP along with its 18K rose gold version is one of the watches they are presenting to commemorate the occasion. The case back features a special engraving ‘Limited Edition of 70 Pieces’.
News: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Yoshida Exclusive ref. 15207OR
Audemars Piguet presents a brand new iteration of the legendary iconic Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin in a limited edition of 30 pieces and exclusively available at watch retailer Yoshida in Tokyo, Japan. Since the establishment of their business in 1920, Yoshida set up a store along Koshu Street in Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. In 2020, YOSHIDA will proudly celebrate its 100th anniversary, and this new AP is one of the watches they are presenting to commemorate the occasion.
News: Urwerk UR-100 Gold Edition. The First Piece to be Auctioned to Fight COVID-19.
This new creation is the fourth episode in the UR-100 saga, recounting the adventures of an atypical time instrument written, produced, and directed by Urwerk. The UR-100 Gold Edition pushes the boundaries of technology, design, indications, and functionality. First and foremost, the UR-100 Gold Edition is very slim for a satellite-geared watch with angular contours; it’s an elongated octagon with three notched sides. The form uses subtle asymmetry, taking clues from Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon.
Experience: Lamborghini Urus and an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Ultra-Thin. Two Impossible to Believe Feats of Design.
When the Lamborghini Urus came out, everyone thought it was impossible for a supercar brand like Lamborghini to ever release an SUV that would still feel like a Lambo without losing its soul. In parallel, when the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Ultra-Thin was presented as a concept watch under the RD#2 name, everyone thought that such a thin automatic perpetual calendar only 6.30 mm thick would never be put into regular production. Well, Lamborghini and AP have proven everyone wrong.
Watches & Wonders 2020: IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Moon and Tide
The Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide features a tide display that keeps you informed about the next high water. It is possible thanks to a special wheel train that translates the rhythm of the hours into the constantly shifting chronological sequence of high and low water. The Greek mariner Pytheas recognized the link between this natural phenomenon and the moon as early as the fourth century B.C. It is particularly noticeable at the coast that the moon visible at high tide is almost at the same place in the sky again at the next but one high tide.
Watches & Wonders 2020: IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 'Boutique Edition' and Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 42
For the first time, the famous IWC calendar complication is integrated into an IWC-manufactured movement from the 82000-calibre family. The new IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 42 ref. IW3442 which has a diameter of 42 mm, displays the calendar information on three subdials. IWC is also unveiling a boutique edition of the iconic 44 mm Portugieser Perpetual Calendar in 18K Armor Gold. No other complication expresses IWC’s values quite as eloquently as the perpetual calendar developed by legendary watchmaker Kurt Klaus in the 1980s.
News: De Bethune Launches Certified Pre-Owned Online Boutique
Following the steps of other independent watchmaking brands like Urwerk or MB&F, De Bethune finally decided to jump on the Certified Pre-Owned bandwagon. Whether you are looking for a rare De Bethune from the past or you just can’t find a current one you like at an authorized dealer anymore, this new offering will make your dreams of owning a De Bethune come true no matter what. The De Bethune Certified Pre-Owned online boutique is the perfect place to look for that one particular watch.
The Watch Collectors: @NYCWatchGuy. An Incredible Watch Collecting Journey Well Documented on 'The Gram'.
As many of you know, Instagram is the favorite social media platform for hard core watch collectors. One thing all these accounts have in common is that all the content is created by their owners portraying their journey through watch collecting. As we've said it before, watch collecting is a journey not a destination. Despite that there are hundreds of watch related accounts we follow on the gram, there are probably a couple dozen watch collectors we really admire and we would like to feature them here on WCL. Therefore, today, we will be talking about @NYCWatchGuy, a young watch collector with 17,000+ followers —and counting— and someone who clearly embraces our motto that watch collecting is all about the journey.
Watches & Wonders 2020: Piaget Limelight Gala Watch
The world is full of extraordinary women who are inspiring, creative, daring, and powerful, all while embracing femininity in their own unique way. Women appreciate craftsmanship, talent and creativity. The new Limelight Gala was inspired by an iconic model created in 1973 when the brand’s famous Piaget Society was in full swing. Celebrities, artists, clients, and friends of the Maison would get together for the most fabulous parties, gathering stars such as Salvador Dali, Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Warhol, Cary Grant and Sami Davis Jr.
Watches & Wonders 2020: A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Now in White Gold and First Rubber Strap Ever for the Brand
The latest A. Lange & Söhne watch family is growing. The Odysseus ref. 363.038 now comes in white gold with an integrated rubber or leather strap. The sporty-elegant timepiece with the large-format date and day display and a water-resistant case features a grey dial with a special surface structure for a very textured effect.
Experience: A Very Impressive Collection of Precious Metal Modern Timepieces. When You Can Have Them All and Then Some.
Watch collectors come in all sizes and types. From all sorts of personalities, styles, and tastes. While it is interesting to see what Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes like own when it comes to watches, there is nothing more rewarding than to see the watch collection of that normal guy or gal that we can relate to as mere mortals. As we’ve done it since day one, here at WCL we don’t recourse to using musicians, movie stars or major athletes when it comes to showing you impressive watch collections, instead, we just like to keep it plain and simple and showcase those collections that belong to those discreet and somewhat mysterious watch collectors with a fine taste for timepieces.
Watches & Wonders 2020: Hermès Arceau L'Heure De La Lune Moon Phase Watch with Five New Dials
First released last year at the SIHH 2019, the Hermès Arceau L'Heure De La Lune moon phase watch was only available in 18K white gold with two different dials, one with meteorite dial and the other in aventurine —you can see the previous iterations here. Today, we bring you the new Hermès Arceau L'Heure De La Lune Moon Phase Watches with five new dials and now also available in platinum and in 18K rose gold.
Watches & Wonders 2020: Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication Split-Seconds Chronograph Tempo
Chiming watches hold a special place within the world of horological complications. For more than two centuries, these complex mechanical devices have been given pride of place by Vacheron Constantin. The new Les Cabinotiers Split-Seconds Chronograph Tempo ref. 9740C/000R-B692 is the crowning embodiment of this approach, with its 24 complications orchestrated by the new in-house 1,163-part calibre 2756.
Watches & Wonders 2020: Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Singing Birds Unique Pieces
Honoring the talent and expertise of the Les Cabinotiers department, Vacheron Constantin presents four one-of-a-kind timepieces with enameled dials depicting a songbird, beautifully offset by the delicate guilloché pattern adorning the area devoted to time indications. Artistic crafts play a unique role through the enameling work done using the champlevé technique on each of the dials. To give life to the bird motifs, the master artisan has broadened his palette to encompass ten colors and their subtly graded shades.
Watches & Wonders 2020: Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Watch Regular Production Now Available (Live Pictures Included)
At the SIHH 2018, Piaget unveiled the Altiplano Ultimate Concept, the thinnest mechanical watch in the world. Two years later, Piaget presents the same watch as a regular production watch that you can now finally get to own. You can see our live pictures of the concept watch in this feature. Measuring 2 mm in thinness, the new Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept served as a stage for numerous Piaget innovations, including a case that formed part of the movement, a unique, integrated winding crown, an ultra-thin crystal and, more importantly, new constructions for the barrel and energy regulation.
