The new A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 reflects A. Lange & Söhne’s ambition to achieve ever-new milestones in horology and it was first presented in 2013. Its true grandeur comes from the numerous remarkable details around its dial and generous 41 mm case. Up until the release of two new models at Watches & Wonders 2022, the Grand Lange 1 was exclusively available in four different versions that included the 25th anniversary model in white gold with silver dial, the platinum with rhodié dial, the white gold model with a black dial, and the pink gold model with silver dial.
Insider: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 2RSM.2-1. A Regulator with Dead Beat Seconds.
Ferdinand Berthoud devoted his life to experimentation and to passing on his knowledge by publishing numerous specialized works and training apprentices. The Chronomètre FB RSM continues this tradition by enabling a young watchmaker from the University of Neuchâtel to participate in the development of the movement as part of his graduation project. The Chronomètre FB 2RSM.2-1 is a tourbillon regulator with the fusee-and-chain transmission, and for the very first time, it incorporates an independent deadbeat seconds visible on the dial side and a stop-seconds mechanism.
Insider: De Bethune DB28GS 'JPS'. Here's Why We Love This Watch.
De Bethune captures the racing spirit and our hearts with the DB28GS'JPS' —John Player Special. Three letters evoke the legendary association of the colors black and gold. Growing up in the era where the John Player Special car was one of the most iconic cars in Formula 1, makes the DB28GS'JPS' hit home. Back in that era, it was common to see tobacco companies sponsor some of the most renowned Formula 1 teams including Lotus-Renault and McLaren.
Introducing: Richard Mille RM 47 Tourbillon Samurai. A Limited Edition of 75 Pieces.
Associating art and spirituality. Creating a new masterpiece designed as an aesthetic tribute to Japanese culture. Richard Mille presents the RM 47 Tourbillon, the fruit of intense reflection and nearly four years of design work. This is an artful watch of a new kind, incorporating an extremely compact calibre, specifically designed to make room for a stylized Samurai suit of armor entirely crafted by hand. The model was born of a friendly conversation between Richard Mille and the twice Formula 1 world champion and brand partner Fernando Alonso, a passionate enthusiast of Japanese traditional arts and the Samurai principles.
Insider: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Ultra-Thin Skeleton Blue
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Ultra-Thin Skeleton was first presented in 2020 with a white minute track ring and white rings around the perpetual calendar indications. Now for Watches & Wonders 2022, Vacheron Constantin brings a new iteration also cased in pink gold but with blue rings that add amazing contrast to an already very good-looking watch.
Insider: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton. The Star of Watches & Wonders 2022.
Without a doubt, our favorite watch at Watches & Wonders 2022 is the new Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton. Beautifully streamlined with its entirely open-worked movement, this new watch comes in two versions, one in 18K 5N pink gold and the other in Grade 5 titanium. The titanium model marks the first time that the brand has entirely made a watch in titanium from crown to bezel and from bracelet to the case.
Insider: Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Yellow Gold ref. 226658
For Watches & Wonders 2022, Rolex brings a third iteration —now in yellow gold—of the Yacht-Master with an Oysterflex. The first iteration of the Yacht-Master with Oysterflex bracelet was released at Baselworld 2015 sporting an Everose Gold case and in two different sizes that included a 37 mm —perfectly sized for ladies or for men with smaller wrists— and a 40 mm one. Then for at Baselworld 2019 Rolex presented a Yacht-Master in 18K white gold with a 42 mm case. The new Rolex Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226658 in 18K yellow gold marks a new step in the Oysterflex saga and the Yacht-Master.
Introducing: Hublot Big Bang Integral Ceramic
Hublot’s prowess in the field of ceramics is indisputable. Since the release of the Bing Bang in different colors of ceramic, we have witnessed that Hublot definitely knows what they are doing when it comes to this material. After the release of their Big Bang Integral with an integrated bracelet, Hublot decide to now add full ceramic watches —case and integrated bracelet— to the lineup.
From the Editor: Happy 50th AP Royal Oak. Up Close and Personal with Genta's Personal Watch.
Today April 15th, 2022 is the official birthday of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. There’s no better way to celebrate the most iconic sports watch —that changed the watch industry— than by posting some of the pictures I recently took of Gérald Genta’s very own Royal Oak. While I was in Geneva for Watches & Wonders 2022, I was lucky to run into Genta’s Royal Oak at a somewhat secluded and seemingly insignificant small exhibition that almost all other media outlets missed.
Introducing: Hublot Square Bang. Five New Watches Reminiscent of the Santos de Cartier.
The new Hublot Square Bang is the first square-shaped watch for the brand. Reminiscent of the Santos de Cartier —without calling it an absolute copycat— is it almost impossible not to think of the Santos 100 when looking at this new watch from Hublot. Five new watches compose the new Hublot Square Bang collection and all are equipped with the new Unico 2 calibre designed to equip smaller chronographs and also open the world of Hublot to new enthusiasts.
Introducing: Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date. A True Diving Watch that Meets the ISO 6425 Norm.
When it came to imagining a new sports diving watch, Montblanc didn’t go to the world’s tropical waters for inspiration, but rather climbed up to the glacial lakes of the Mont Blanc Massif. Ascending via the Chamonix Valley to the Mer de Glace —Sea of Ice—, the Maison’s designers were captivated by the texture of the glacial ice with its interlocking network of crystals that have been frozen in time for millennia.
Introducing: Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Dazzling Star. A Shooting Star Graces its Dial Randomly or On Demand.
In 2022, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Dazzling Star recreates this enchanting celestial phenomenon on the wrist, thanks to an entirely new mechanism conceived and developed within the Manufacture. Activated by the movement of the wrist, the shooting star appears on the dial at random moments —usually four to six times per hour— its unpredictability makes it even more special.
Introducing: Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590. The Half a Million Dollar Sublime Objet d'Art.
A sublime objet d’art is the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590. In keeping with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s eternal quest for precision, the Manufacture’s engineers and watchmakers have created a new complication that reproduces the true cycles of the Earth, Sun, and Moon more closely than ever before, developing it specifically for the Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590.
Introducing: Grand Seiko 200m Diver SLGA015 'Black Stream'
The new Grand Seiko 200m Diver SLGA015 is inspired by the Black Stream —Kuroshio Current. The Kuroshio Current also known as the Black or Japan Current —Nihon Kairyū— flows northwards past Japan towards the North Pacific and is one of the largest ocean streams in the world. The dynamic and sometimes violent tides caused by the Black Stream inspire the deep black color and richly textured surface of the dial of this new 200m diver’s watch.
Insider: Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin. The Most Beautiful Complicated Watch for the Ladies.
In our opinion this is the most beautiful complicated watch for the ladies and a favorite from Vacheron Constantin’s releases this year. The Ladies Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin is available in 18K white gold and 18K 5N pink gold versions with a 36.5 mm case. This is the brand’s response to women wanting more complicated timepieces besides those that only tell time. It is inspired by Vacheron Constantin models from the first half of the last century.
Introducing: Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT Titanium SBGE285 and SBGE283
While the pedigree of the Grand Seiko Style is unmistakably evident in every watch, the refinements of the Evolution 9 Style are also clear to see. With its unique glide motion seconds hand, Spring Drive mirrors the continuous, silent and smooth passage of time. To watch the seconds hand move serenely and with no ‘tick’ across the dial is to be brought as close as is possible to the nature of time itself. The two new watches are the Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT Titanium SBGE285 and the Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT Titanium SBGE283.
Introducing: Richard Mille RM 032 Voiles de Saint Barth
Eagerly anticipated by everyone, the launch of the 11th Les Voiles de Saint Barth Richard Mille regatta on April 17th thru the 23rd will signal the start of six captivating days in the Caribbean Sea. With patrons including world freediving champion Arnaud Jerald and the President of the International Maxi Association —IMA— Benoît de Froidmont, the 2022 edition also represents the third stage of the Caribbean Maxi Challenge, a new Caribbean competition open to all Maxis over 60 feet.
From the Editor: Why the new Left-Handed Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR Touched my Heart
I don’t talk much about my personal life here on WCL and what makes me tick, no pun intended. However, the reason why I really liked the new Left-Handed Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR has to do with why I fell in love with Rolexes in the first place. Let’s go back to Mexico City in the late 1970s when I was not even a tween yet. At that time, a distant cousin of mine who’s nickname was ‘El Chico’ would come for dinner at my parent’s house and he would always be wearing a different Rolex or Tudor watch.
From the Editor: M.A.D.1 RED Edition. Good Luck on the Lottery for the Hottest Watch at the Moment.
After so many inquiries and direct messages via Instagram I felt the need to write an editorial on the new M.A.D.1 RED Edition. First of all, I consider myself very fortunate that after many emails that I sent out to MB&F back when the M.A.D.1 Friends Edition came out last year, I was added to the list of interested people and this gave me access to be one of the first ones to be able to purchase the just released M.A.D.1 RED Edition. I am also very lucky that I was in Geneva for Watches & Wonders 2022 a couple of weeks ago and I was able to collect my piece in person at the M.A.D. Gallery. What an incredible experience to say the least.
From the Editor: The Revamped Rolex Air-King ref. 126900 is a True Winner
When the Rolex Air-King ref. 116900 came out in 2016, it was love at first sight for me and I was one of the first ones to buy one. While I loved the watch back then and even took it with me on a trip through Japan and Hong Kong, I feel there was something missing about this watch that didn’t make me fall in love with it forever. Now that the Air-King has been revamped and the new reference 126900 was presented a week ago at Watches & Wonders 2022, my love for this watch is back.
