Last year at Watches & Wonders 2023, Zenith presented yet another revamped line of their Pilot watches with less of a steampunk look and a more contemporary modern look. Now, Zenith presents the Pilot Automatic and the Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition in stainless steel with a blue dial.
Insider: Carl Suchy & Söhne Belvedere Danube. The Finest from Vienna but Still Swiss Made.
Carl Suchy & Söhne was founded in 1822 by Austrian watchmaker Carl Suchy and quickly became the most important watchmaking company of the Habsburg Monarchy. In 2017, the brand was revived, and combining Viennese elegance with high Swiss watchmaking skills, the brand now produces its watches in Switzerland. The Belvedere Danube is a perfect story teller of this brand.
Introducing: Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 'Rocket Seconds'
Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to the moon, entering lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, December 24th, 1968. That evening, the astronauts —Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders— held a live broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed pictures of the Earth and moon as seen from their spacecraft.
Introducing: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Quartz 33 ref. 1225V
Cloaked in 18K 5N pink gold and set with 78 diamonds comes the first Vacheron Constantin Overseas Quartz 33 mm with an integrated bracelet and a denim blue dial. This 18K 5N pink gold Overseas combines femininity, delicacy, and sporty allure.
Experience: Cohiba Exquisitos. When Time is of Essence and You Need a Quick Cigar.
Cohiba is a brand that enjoys a formidable reputation in the world of cigars and is considered to be the 'crème de la crème' when it comes to Habanos —Cuban cigars. Created in 1966 for Fidel Castro and handmade at the world famous 'El Laguito' factory, these cigars were originally only seen outside of the island when presented as gifts to heads of state or dignitaries throughout the world.
The Watch Collectors: @GregWatchman. One of the Finest Collectors in the Midwest.
Our friend @GregWatchman is a unique watch collector who we need to thank for his service as a Federal Agent. When it comes to his watches and firearms, he is one of the finest collectors in the Midwest.
Introducing: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon Enamel
Contrasting with the fully polished 40 mm pink gold case, the blue dial of the new timepiece provides a dramatic backdrop for the tourbillon and the date display, and reflected light dances across the sunray pattern of the guillochage with every movement of the wrist. The hand-guilloché pattern is a work of immense precision and skill: each of the 180 ‘sun rays’ required six passages of the hand-operated rose engine lathe, making 1,080 lines altogether.
Insider: Bianchet Tourbillon B1.618 Openwork Hybrid Blue Carbon Titanium
Devoted to just two collections with a tonneau-shaped case —the Grande Date equipped with a date indicator and flying tourbillon and the B1.618 open-worked with a regular tourbillon—, Bianchet exclusively sells tourbillons at a relatively affordable price point. For those of you who don’t know the difference between a regular tourbillon and a flying tourbillon, we will explain everything you need to know about tourbillon watches right here.
Experience: Flip Clocks are a Timeless Trend. All About These Timekeeping Objects.
Flip clocks operate on the principle of flipping or rotating tiles to display the time. Each minute or hour is represented by a series of numbered or patterned tiles that mechanically flip to reveal the changing time. This dynamic movement creates an engaging and interactive way of reading time, transforming the act of checking the time into a captivating experience.
Experience: Artisans de Genève 'Caumasee' Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A
This personalization was ordered by a customer, who owns a Patek Philippe Aquanaut ref. 5167A and wanted something different and special for his private use. Their client decided to request the Artisans de Genève services to have his watch personalized and look just like Lake Caumasee from the air. He wanted to feel the emotion he felt when flying over the lake in his hot air balloon. Lake Caumasee is a lake near Flims, in the Grisons, Switzerland.
Insider: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai Limited Editions. Paying Homage to Japan's Katsushika Hokusai.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai Limited Editions were unveiled at the Reverso Stories Exhibition in New York City back in November 2023. The Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai limited edition watches showcase the expertise of the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares atelier in the crafts of miniature painting, guillochage, and Grand Feu enameling.
From the Editor: My 12 Favorite Watches of 2023
As I wrap up the year here at WCL, I decided to put together a list of my favorite 12 watches of 2023. Each of these watches sang to me one way or another during 2023 so I thought it would be good to share with all of you and celebrate each of the months of the year that is now ending. There is a little bit of everything for everyone, from Vacheron Constantin to Ferdinand Berthoud and everything in between including IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Tudor. Now let’s take a look at the best watches of 2023.
From the Editor: My Thoughts on the Breitling Chronomat B01 42 and Why I Had to Get One
It’s been more than 20 years since I purchased a new out-of-the-box Breitling watch. In the early 1990s as I was starting my journey as a watch collector Breitling was a brand that I truly loved. I still remember buying my first Breitling, which was a Colt with a white dial on a brown calf strap. Later, I added the stainless steel bracelet to the watch and I nose-dove back then buying more than half a dozen Breitlings including Chronomats, Crosswinds, Navitimers, Aerospace Navitimers, and a Blackbird Chronomat that I will never forget as it was one of the two Chronomats to have a full satin brushed —including the bracelet, rider tabs, case, and bezel— finish at the time.
From the Archives: Visiting the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture. World’s Oldest Watch Manufacture.
As you all know, Vacheron Constantin is not only one of the three brands that integrate the 'Holy Trinity of Watchmaking' but also the oldest watch manufacture in the world with an uninterrupted history that spans across almost three centuries —268 years to be precise. Therefore, a visit to the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates —a municipality on the outskirts of Geneva, Switzerland— is a fascinating experience that as watch collectors and scholars, we will cherish forever.
Insider: IWC Pilot's Watch Timezoner TOP GUN 'Woodland'. Hands-on with a Dark Green Stunner.
While the new IWC Pilot's Watch Timezoner TOP GUN ‘Woodland’ is not a limited edition with a specific production limitation, it is a special edition produced in short runs making it very hard to get. The Timezoner TOP GUN ‘Woodland’ is equipped with a dark green ceramic case measuring 46 mm in diameter and 15 mm in thickness, an olive green dial with Arabic numerals, an olive green ceramic bezel slightly lighter than the color of the case, and a green rubber strap with an olive green nylon insert.
Experience: Ardbeg 10 Years Old. Scottish Tweed, a JLC Reverso Tribute, and a Fabulous Single Malt.
Scotland gives the world some of the most beautiful landscapes and two things they excel at, their tweed and their scotch. Honoring the green luscious landscapes of Scotland and the deep green bottle of Ardbeg 10 Years, we decided to pair this Islay Single Malt with the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green. Ardbeg Ten Years Old was launched in 2000 as an extraordinary balance of peaty notes and floral sweetness that makes it one of the best single malt whiskies in the world.
Experience: Celebrating 50 Years of the Piaget Limelight Gala
Instantly recognisable for its generous curves and the asymmetrical lugs of its bezel, set with precious stones —typically with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 1.65 carats—, one side stretching upwards and the other down, the Limelight Gala stands out with its unique audacious look. Dubbed by some as a “fashion watch” at the time of its creation, Limelight Gala set the tempo for the incredible spirit of freedom that reigned in the Maison.
Insider: IWC Big Pilot's Watch AMG G 63 Armor Gold
IWC Schaffhausen brings up a stunning collaboration in partnership with the iconic Mercedes-Benz G Wagon. The Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 in Armor Gold is the result of what we think is a great collaboration between these two brands that have been involved with one another for 20 years since the early days of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team partnership.
Breaking News: Breitling Acquires Universal Genève to Revive the Legendary Brand
Breitling, founded in 1884, is renowned for its high-precision timepieces, development of the wrist chronograph, and an uncompromising commitment to design excellence. With the acquisition of Universal Genève, Breitling, together with its majority shareholder Partners Group headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, continues to build a legacy of luxury watchmaking, rooted in heritage. The acquisition of Universal Genève marks a new chapter for the brand renowned for its horological artistry and innovation. This strategic move promises to restore the prestige of a hallowed name in the world of luxury timepieces.
Introducing: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon High Jewelry
A first in the Overseas collection is the new Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon High Jewellery in a combination of white gold and the collection's signature blue dial, along with the setting of 85 baguette-cut diamonds on its Maltese cross-shaped bezel, indexes, and strap’s clasp. This 42.5 mm diameter sporty-chic watch features a slender curvature thanks to its ultra-thin automatic movement the in-house Calibre 2160 with tourbillon. The watch comes with a matching 18K white gold bracelet and two additional interchangeable straps in blue calfskin and rubber that are secured by a likewise interchangeable white gold pin buckle set with baguette-cut diamonds.
