At first glance, the Orb clock by MB&F and L’Epée 1839 looks like a futuristic model of an eye with its perfectly formed shiny sphere, and its dial taking the place of the iris and the pupil. But nothing is ever quite what it seems with the collaborative clocks of these two brands. The minimalistic structure is composed of four elytra —that’s the technical word for a beetle’s protective wing covers, in case you were wondering— that not only open up but can also swivel like a transformer to display the Orb in a variety of different positions.
Introducing: Armin Strom Zeitgeist Unique Piece. Celebrating Five Years of Resonance.
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Armin Strom Resonance watches, the manufacture from Biel/Bienne presents this new unique piece named “Zeitgeist” —which translates into a collective outlook of people or culture at a specific point in time. The new Armin Strom Zeitgeist Unique Piece is the fifth piece in the Armin Strom Resonance saga that started with the Mirrored Force Resonance watch. The Zeitgeist Unique Piece marks the next chapter for resonance watches.
Introducing: Louis Moinet Astronef. A Super Watch with a Flying Satellite Double Tourbillon.
The Louis Moinet Astronef is the latest and greatest new mechanical masterpiece presented by Ateliers Louis Moinet. Heir to both ancestral know-how and an unyielding desire to create the design of tomorrow, its character combines adrenaline and contemporary art. The Louis Moinet Astronef propels us into the exclusive world of uncompromising modern watchmaking. The making of the new Astronef lies behind human curiosity with a mechanism that took three years to develop.
Breaking News: Two Men Steal 1.5 Million USD in Watches from B. Young & Co. at Chicago's Bentley Gold Coast
This Saturday, December 11, 2021, two African American men stole watches worth $1.5 million USD in a smash and grab from B. Young & Co. at Chicago’s Bentley Gold Coast. This car dealership is home to the watch and jewelry boutique as well as a luxury automobile dealer for Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Rolls-Royce. Located on Rush Street in the heart of Chicago’s upscale Gold Coast area, the dealership is just steps away from Michigan Avenue —the Magnificent Mile— and is a ‘must’ destination for watches and fancy cars.
From the Editor: Patek Nautilus 5711 Tiffany 170th Anniversary Sells for $6.5 Million USD. My Honest Thoughts.
Well, today December 11th, 2021 in New York City, this new Patek Nautilus Tiffany 170th Anniversary ref. 5711/1A-018 just sold for $6.5 million USD at Phillips. The world of watch collecting has finally just lost its sanity. I can only think that some of the reasons behind these prices in the watch market have to do with money-laundering schemes, tax write-offs through charitable contributions, using watches as money instruments to transport funds between countries without the need to report them and/or some people who made so much money through crypto-currencies that simply don’t care anymore and would pay anything to have what they want.
Experience: Diptyque Eau Rihla. Just like a Journey in Watch Collecting.
Olfactory memories are the longest lasting memories and smelling good is always a must. When you collect watches for the right reasons and not for bragging rights, you are the kind of man that also likes to indulge in life’s luxuries in a non-pretentious way. An exquisite fragrance very much like an understated iconic watch brings an air of distinction that is unrivaled and that is gently appreciated by those in the know.
From the Editor: The 'Hyped' Patek Nautilus 5711 Tiffany 170th Anniversary and My Thoughts on Double-Signed Watches
In the last decade, double-signed watches have become a thing and are now some of the most coveted timepieces out there. When I look back at auction results from twenty or thirty years ago —yes I have some very old catalogs in my possession—, these double-signed watches were not priced like they are today. Commanding a high premium when compared to models that don’t include the name of a famous retailer on their dials, double-signed timepieces have simply skyrocketed.
Introducing: Richard Mille RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal with New Butterfly Effect Rotor
Inspired by the tourbillon watches of the RM 027 collection that Rafa Nadal wears on the tennis court, the new Richard Mille RM 035 ‘Baby Nadal’ collection is designed as a condensate of technology for anyone in thrall to performance. The new RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal, the fourth timepiece in the collection is fully worthy of its place in this distinguished lineup, to which it brings a patented innovation, namely the butterfly rotor.
News: Vacheron Constantin Unveils 'Celebrations' Sensory Exhibition at its NYC North American Flagship
Today, December 6th, 2021 Vacheron Constantin celebrates the artistry, patrimony, and perpetual pulse of New York City, past and present, by unveiling a sensory exhibition at its North American Flagship on 57th Street in New York City. ‘Celebrations’ is a sensory exhibition that delves into the playful world of Pop Art with from December 6, 2021 through March 2022. To honor the contemporary world of Pop Art in 2021, and in line with the Maison’s long held dedication to the advancement of the Arts, Vacheron Constantin has collaborated with New York City Pop Artist Jojo Anavim.
From the Editor: My Visit to The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus
Almost a month ago while I was in Geneva attending the GPHG, I finally visited the new Audemars Piguet museum ‘Musée Atelier’. After many visits to Le Brassus and the ‘old Audemars Piguet Museum’, every trip to Le Brassus has its touch of magic and a special charm that is sometimes hard for me to describe. Back in 2013, right after I had just launched WCL, I visited the AP Museum for the very first time. A year later, Audemars Piguet decided to expand the original museum and the idea to create the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet was born.
Experience: Hendrick's Orbium Limited Edition. Its Bottle Matches the Dial on the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time.
Hendrick’s Gin is produced by the family-owned William Grant & Sons distillery in Scottland and their gin is distilled at the Girvan distillery that mainly focuses on distilling whiskey. What makes Hendrick’s so unique is their blend of nine botanicals that include Bulgarian roses and specially selected cucumbers. While the rest of their botanicals —orange peel, yarrow, juniper berries, angelica root, and orris root amongst others—…
News: Phillips Watches Sells $30 Million USD at Their Hong Kong Auction XIII
Phillips continues to break watch auction records and set new benchmarks for watches sold at auction. Following their very impressive sale in Geneva which achieved the highest ever sale total for a watch auction in history, Phillips realized over HK$231 million/ $30 million USD at their Hong Kong Watch Auction XIII. Selling for more than 43% of its pre-sale high estimate…
Introducing: De Bethune DB25 Perpetual Calendar Titanium and Green Guilloché
De Bethune is enriching its collection of classic watches with a state-of-the-art interpretation of the perpetual calendar, this time endowed with a gorgeous green dial with guilloché. The De Bethune DB25 Perpetual Calendar is tinged with poetry and combines the finesse of watchmaking with precision mechanics by bringing together moon phase, starry sky, and perpetual calendar in an exceptional timepiece. Inspired by the drum, the round titanium case with a diameter of 44 mm and a thickness of 11.1 mm, with its fine and resolutely classic lines, is subtly raised by hollowed horns, characteristic of the DB25 collection.
Introducing: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1.4-3 Unique Piece. Inspired by an 18th-Century Armillary Sphere.
The winner of the “Aiguille d’Or” prize at the 16th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève —GPHG 2016— and a now six-year-old manufacture Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud is a very well-known name in the horological world but sometimes forgotten by many. Resurrected by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the co-president of Chopard and founder of Chopard's in-house manufacture L.U.C division, Ferdinand Berthoud comes back with the concept of the Chronomètre FB 1.4-3 is inspired by an 18th-century armillary sphere whose movement, created by Ferdinand Berthoud, indicated the time on a glass dial.
Breaking News: HYT Watches Rises Back from the Ashes with David Cerrato as CEO
Kairos Technology Switzerland SA takes over the reins of HYT, acquires all of its assets, and appoints David Cerrato as CEO. A revival and long-term development of the brand are thus assured by a Swiss company. In 2012, the HYT watch brand created a buzz within the watchmaking community with its hybrid mechanical-fluidic technology allowing the time to be displayed using fluids. This unique module is driven by a manufactured mechanical movement.
Introducing: MB&F LM FlyingT Allegra X Bulgari. An Unprecedented Collaboration.
Back in 2010, MB&F partnered with Parisian jewelry house Boucheron to create the JwlryMachine. This time, they’ve joined forces with Bulgari out of Rome. The new MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT Allegra X Bulgari was initially motivated by mutual professional respect and subsequently evolved into a strong friendship between Bulgari’s Product Creation Executive Director, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani; and MB&F’s Founder and Creative Director, Maximilian Büsser.
Introducing: Greubel Forsey GMT Sport Sincere Fine Watches Special Edition
Collectors wanted it and Greubel Forsey delivered. To highlight the sport’s ethos of its GMT Sport, the Chaux-de-Fonds-based Atelier has developed an even livelier, edgier, and more contemporary version of its GMT Sport in a strictly limited edition for its Singapore-based partner Sincere Fine Watches. For the majority of collectors over at Sincere Fine Watches —Greubel Forsey’s long-standing partner in Singapore—, the answer is orange. It’s a rare color, little used in watchmaking and even more so in Greubel Forsey’s usual palette.
Insider: Breitling Super AVI Collection. Celebrating Four Legendary Planes. (Live Pictures)
Yesterday November 17th, 2021, we gathered at the Commemorative Air Force facility at the Dallas Executive Airport to see the new Breitling Super AVI collection. This new collection celebrates four North American legendary planes with designs inspired by Breitling’s original 1953 ‘Co-Pilot’ aviator’s watch reference 765 AVI. The four legendary planes are the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and the de Havilland Mosquito.
Experience: Artisans de Genève The Honey Pearl Project Nautilus 5711/1R
The Honey Pearl Project is a pure stylistic exercise that follows the Pearl Project created at the beginning of the year. This time, their client wanted to combine the technical aspect of a skeletonized calibre with a unique color and material combination that included his Nautilus 5711/1R in 18K rose gold, a touch of blue and red, and also anthracite grey.
From the Archives: Experience The Patek Philippe Museum. The Most Amazing Horological Museum in the World.
The Patek Philippe Museum is a must-see for any watch collector. Located in the heart of Geneva on Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 7, this museum holds the largest collection of horological pieces and the most fascinating horological exhibit in the world. The Patek Philippe Museum holds more than 2,200 timepieces within their collection divided into two segments, the antique collection dating from 1500-1850 and the Patek Philippe collection that includes not only almost every single reference ever released by Patek Philippe —including commemorative pieces from their various anniversaries as well as unique pieces— but also some of the impressive Henry Graves Jr.'s timepieces, the Supercomplication 'Duke of Regla', the Calibre 89 and a special exhibit with all the pieces commemorating the 175th anniversary amongst others. Once you make yourself into the museum an air of grandeur fills every corner.
