Jaeger-LeCoultre’s history is intimately tied to its peaceful and unspoiled surroundings in the Vallée de Joux, where the sounds of nature still prevail. The icy winters meant countless hours spent indoors, allowing the valley’s early watchmakers the time needed to develop and build complicated chiming watches. Although the structure of chiming watch mechanisms has remained essentially unchanged since the early 19th century, Jaeger-LeCoultre has constantly worked to improve both the mechanical efficiency of its movements and the clarity and beauty of the sound being produced.
From the Editor: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , His Watch and His Legacy. Let's Keep Fighting for His Dream.
I’ll start this feature by first saying that ‘Black Lives Matter’ and I wouldn’t be talking about this watch right now, had it not belonged to the man that did so much for the American Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his incredible speech “I Have a Dream” almost 57 years ago on August 28th, 1963. On that day, he was probably wearing either this Timex watch —exhibited at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport— or the Rolex Datejust that we’ve seen in many of his pictures.
News: Presenting the MB&F x H. Moser LM 101 and the H. Moser x MB&F Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon
In this crowning expression of the ties binding H. Moser & Cie. and MB&F for more than ten years, Edouard Meylan and Maximilian Büsser have composed a duet recital in the form of an exceptional concerto for devotees of fine watchmaking. For the first time in its history, MB&F is contributing to a Performance Art endeavor flowing in both directions in an entirely reciprocal manner.
News: Presenting the Zenith Defy 21 Ultraviolet
If all the colors that our eyes can perceive are to be considered as frequencies of visible light, then violet has the highest frequency of them all, beyond which is invisible ultraviolet light. It was only natural to pair this intense, energetic color with the highest-frequency chronograph in regular production, the Zenith Defy 21. In past centuries, violet was coveted as the most sought-after color dye for garments, the production of which was a closely held secret by certain civilizations such as the Phoenicians.
Experience: Zenith Journey to the Stars. A 360-degree Immersive Video into the Manufacture.
Today, Zenith unveiled a really cool virtual reality video that takes you into the manufacture and also into that secret attic where Charles Vermot safeguarded the El Primero production equipment, enabling Zenith to begin producing its legendary chronograph again in 1984. A hero, a rebel, and a savior. Charles Vermot was a humble yet exceptional character, who unknowingly played a pivotal role in Zenith’s legacy.
Experience: Fauré Le Page Watch Case for Vacheron Constantin
Here at WCL, we were the earliest adopters of the Fauré Le Page brand. Not sure whether we had anything to do with Vacheron Constantin reaching out to them for this collaboration as we shared our love for Fauré Le Page several times. Renowned for creating Napoleon's vermeil saber and Louis XVI's hunting pieces, Fauré Le Page evolved in becoming a provider of hand-painted leather holsters and gun bags for the same firearms and weapons their VIP clients were buying from them.
News: Presenting the Krayon Anywhere. Displaying the Time of Sunrise and Sunset Anywhere.
Krayon is a very new independent watch brand founded three years ago in Neuchâtel and their first release was the watch called Everywhere. A year later, the Everywhere would bring them the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève Innovation Watch Prize. Krayon was launched by Rémi Maillat a watch design engineer and watchmaker. Krayon's approach was born from a dream of having a mechanical movement, adjustable by hand, that would make it possible to read the time of sunrise and sunset in any place in the world.
From the Editor: The Holy Trinity of Watchmaking or What I Call the Caviar of Watches
Back in the 1990s, almost five years after I became the serious watch collector that I am today, I first heard the term ‘The Holy Trinity of Watchmaking’. This term has been used for decades in order to refer to the three most important luxury watch brands in the world. But what sets the brands conforming the holy trinity of watchmaking apart from other brands? Well, they all three hold unparalleled prestige, uninterrupted history, exclusivity, and serious accolades in the horological world.
News: Vacheron Constantin Selects Haute Couture Prodigy Yiqing Yin to Epitomize the Égérie Collection
Vacheron Constantin is delighted to unveil its latest talent to join the “One of not many” communication campaign. Yiqinq Yin, a youthful prodigy in the world of Haute Couture, is joining the roster of talents who have chosen to collaborate with the Maison. She will epitomize the Égérie collection, dedicated to women, that was launched by Vacheron Constantin in February 2020.
News: Presenting the Lundis Bleus 'Vipera Aspis Blue Green' ref. 1120 Unique Piece
Lundis Bleus is a two-men operation to this day. An independent brand that started out of a conversation between two watch school friends. Johan Storni and Bastien Vuilliomenet met in 1994 while attending the watchmaking school of La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland. We still remember the first time we meet with Bastien in 2018 at the lobby of the Hotel Euler in Basel, Switzerland and we were quite impressed with their watches —considering the price point— but mostly by the quality of their dials. It was back in November 2016 when they released their first watch ref. 1100.
News: Presenting the Jacob & Co. Opera Scarface. Honoring Tony Montana.
Who doesn’t remember the so many lines of one of the most legendary gangster movies of all time? Yes, we are talking about Scarface. Brian De Palma’s Scarface from Universal Pictures had an incredible impact on entire generations of people all around the world. The year 1980 marked a new decade, a new era, and the most amazing time for us that were born in the 70s. The movie Scarface takes place during the spring of 1980 when the Mariel Boat Lift took place bringing thousands of Cuban immigrants into the U.S.
Experience: Hendrick's Midsummer Solstice Gin with an Armin Strom Edge Double Barrel for Those Longer Summer Nights
On June 21, the midsummer solstice will take place and the days will become shorter, while the nights become longer. This is the day when the Earth's axis is most aligned with the sun, providing us with the longest day of the year. That’s the time when a black PVD watch like the Armin Strom Edge Double Barrel captures the essence of the night dressed in its dark cloak and when a Hendrick's Midsummer Solstice washes away all worries.
News: Presenting the Breitling Superocean Heritage '57 Limited Edition II
Last month Breitling launched the Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition during the brand’s Summit Webcast which, because of the pandemic and lockdowns, was streamed globally. The Summit audience saw its rainbow-inspired design elements as symbols of hope and optimism, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback led Breitling to launch a second edition, this time with a blue dial, limited to 1,000 pieces.
News: Presenting the Piaget Altiplano Tourbillon Infinite Blue Collection
Today, Piaget is unveiling three new watches with a 41 mm case in 18K white gold. The new Altiplano Flying Tourbillon Infinite Blue Collection features a blue color that is reminiscent of the immense night sky above our heads and the mysterious depths of the ocean. These three novelties feature dials that have been designed with a gem-set motif that echoes the Infinite symbol formed by the juxtaposition of the tourbillon carriage and the off-centered hour and minute counter. This Infinite shape is handcrafted in Piaget’s Ateliers de l’Extraordinaire and requires the utmost precision and expertise to cut the shape and set the array of sparkling diamonds.
News: Phillips Watches GWA 11 Features an Unknown Patek Pocket Watch ref. 605 HU and Four Patek Philippe Watches from Mr. Jean-Claude Biver's Collection
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo presents additional highlights from The Geneva Watch Auction Eleven, following the earlier announcement of four extraordinary Patek Philippe watches from the private collection of Mr. Jean-Claude Biver to be included in the sale. Taking place at Hôtel La Réserve, Geneva on June 27 and 28, 2020, the double-evening sale will feature over 200 lots including important timepieces that are exceptional in terms of provenance, aesthetics, condition, and rarity
News: Presenting the Grand Seiko Toge Special Edition Exclusively Sold at The Watches of Switzerland
Ever since its first creation sixty years ago, Grand Seiko has enchanted watch connoisseurs with timepieces that offer extremely high precision, supreme legibility, and a uniquely Japanese aesthetic. The brand has revolutionized watchmaking with many innovations including the Spring Drive movement, which offers a seamless seconds-hand motion and accuracy unlike any other mechanical watch, and continues to do so today.
News: Presenting the MB&F L'Epée Starfleet Explorer Clock
Six years after the launch of the MB&F Starfleet Machine, the first clock co-created by MB&F and L’Epée 1839, a new expedition is underway. The space station returns in 2020, in a more compact size and enhanced with bright colors, accompanied by a fleet of three small spacecraft exploring the universe; it rightfully bears the name of Starfleet Explorer. Designed by MB&F, the Starfleet Explorer is an intergalactic spaceship table clock crafted by L’Epée 1839, the last remaining Swiss manufacture specialized in high-end table clocks.
From the Editor: Swiss Watch Exports Strongly Impacted by COVID-19. The U.S. and China are Still Holding Up.
With more than 30,000 cases in Switzerland and 4.3 million cases worldwide, the impact of COVID-19 has hit the Swiss Watch Industry really hard. Swiss watch exports fell sharply in March, by -21.9% equivalent to CHF 1.4 billion Swiss Francs. With exports expecting to deteriorate even more in the month of April —figures to be published at the end of this month—, the steep decline in exports comes mostly from certain countries in Asia like Hong Kong —one of the most important watch markets in the world—, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, and throughout the European Union from countries like the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy which have seen a very steep decline.
Insider: Hublot Classic Fusion Cruz Diez Limited Edition
Available in two different sizes and three materials, the new Hublot Classic Fusion Cruz Diez will for sure satisfy your hallucinogenic needs. Released to honor deceased Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz Diez, the design of the watch from its dial to its strap is a perfect rendition to the colorful works of art of Cruz Diez who died last year in Paris, France at the age of 95. Cruz Diez was a major protagonist in the field of Kinetic and Optical Art, a movement that encourages an awareness of the instability of reality. His works established him as one of the key 20th-century thinkers in the realm of color.
Experience: The Making of an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
Our visit to the Audemars Piguet Manufacture was documented almost two years ago here. But today, we are going to show you through our images and some of the videos produced by Audemars Piguet, the making of the iconic Royal Oak. When you walk through the doors of the newest and largest building at the Audemars Piguet manufacture suited up in an electric blue guest lab coat you know you are about to experience how the magic is done at Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus. The making of an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak involves dozens of tasks and a mastery that you only obtain after breaking the rules. To break the rules, you must first master them.
