If I could go back and add an additional watch to my Top 5 watches at Baselworld 2010, it would be this new collection from Bell Ross. Last year, one of their hottest models was the BR01-92 Instrument Heritage (that I wrote about here). It had a new (old) type of vintage aircraft cockpit dial design and a tan leather strap that looked like it was made out of baseball glove leather. People loves the pieces, and it finalized Bell Rosss trifecta of aircraft instrument themed watches (though there [...]
Piaget is a watch maker I love. I may give it a hard time because it reminds me petite European man in flamboyant attire, but Piaget makes nice looking watches. Piaget came to the watch scene from a jewelers perspective, so everything had to look nice. Their watches each embody a degree of minimalism with subtle accents of top design flair. These are extremely attractive watches for people innately comfortable with their sense of taste. Flicking out their Piaget nonchalantly to tell the time, r [...]
On November 14th, 2014, I personally invite you to join myself and fellow watch lovers in participation with sponsor Hublot to celebrate the launch of my debut book The Worlds Most Expensive Watches here in Los Angeles at the historic and very trendy Chateau Marmont Hotel at 8pm in the evening.Space is limited, and since the event is coming soon, youll need to RSVP by November 10th. The party will take place at a private suite with terrace at the Chateau Marmont hotel in West Hollywood, where gu [...]
Earlier today Paris-based LVMH Group announced that the several watch brands in its watches division (Hublot, TAG Heuer, and Zenith), and Bulgari (which also produces a number of luxury watches) are following the lead of a number of other major timepiece makers and severing ties with Baselworld. This news comes just days after - and is directly related to - the announcement that omega, Tudor, Patek Philippe, Chopard, and Chanel were leaving Baselworld.While not all of LVMHs watch making brands h [...]
Pretty wild right? This is the new version of the La Clef du Temps watch. From La Clef to La Cle, funny enough they both mean the key of time. The original La Clef du Temps was never originally meant to be an Hublot watch. It was designed for the Confrerie Horlogere under BNB Concept before it went bankrupt. When Hublot bought up the Confrerie and Mathias Buttet, it got the La Clef du Temps with it. I wasnt really too enthused on that watch writing about the La Clef du Temps here. I later learn [...]
Frankly, I unashamedly took every opportunity on every single day to wear the Richard Mille RM 011 Felipe Massa Black Night NTPT Carbon watch while reviewing it over these past couple of weeks-much as how one?would spend every last moment driving that (thus far imaginary) convertible supercar parked in front of the house if finally given the chance The irresistible force of sheer curiosity and excitement will not allow you to do anything else but make use of such fascinating circumstances. But?w [...]
Here is a one-of-a-kind Breguet pilot watch that has been made for the Only Watch 2015 auction event that will take place in Geneva this November. We dont take much stock in watch auctions, but we like to make an exception for Only Watch when it at least comes to noticing the lots available-since each of them are, by the rules of the event, unique. For Only Watch 2015, Breguet has produced this platinum-cased, vintage-inspired version of one of my favorite pilot watches, the Breguet Type XXI 381 [...]
This is an interesting limited edition watch that combines everything I like about diving themed watches and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak lines of watches. Bearing the name of Wempe, a? line of luxury watch stores strategically placed all over the world, this limited edition of 175 watches is rare and very cool. This watch was created in honor of Wempes 100th anniversary. The iconic eight sided octagonal Royal Oak watch bezel was never the type of design that was good for a rotating bezel so A [...]
Oh metal, where art thou metal? One of the more interesting new-for-SIHH-2015 watches from Panerai is a timepiece produced from a material originally design for automobile brakes which certainly isnt metal. The Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech 3 Days Automatic (ref PAM00616, aka PAM616) takes the popular yet niche-loved Luminor Submersible 1950 watch and dresses it in a material that helps frame what part of the contemporary high-end timepiece market it all about; material innovation. [...]
Having a well-established brand in the world of watchmaking is often enough to shift new products. When that brand is primarily associated with an iconic model referenced by said new products, you can all but bank on a favourable reception. 2015 sees the release of the Blancpain Bathyscaphe in ceramic. This material update brings the Blancpain Bathyscaphe, originally designed to be the Fifty Fathoms kid brother, screaming into the modern market. Given that Blancpain is owned by the Swatch Group- [...]
The Piaget Secrets Lights collection of 38 unique pieces was unveiled at the recent Watches Wonders fair in Hong Kong. Perhaps, the stand-out model of the collection was the Piaget Polo Tourbillon Relatif Enamel watch. It takes the range-wide concept of celebrating the historic Silk Route between Venice and Samarkand, and depicts the journey in a lustrous enamel frieze, flanking the sides of the case.The range en masse is an impressive showcase of Piagets unusually broad skill set (we debuted [...]
While the brand itself may not have such deep roots in the West, Japanese luxury brand Grand Seiko celebrates is 60th anniversary in 2020. While celebrations for the occasion started back in January, Grand Seiko has a full year of commemorative activity lined up, and two of the most exciting anniversary gifts have just been announced. First, the original Grand Seiko design from 1960 has been resurrected for three handsome new regular production models, while the brand itself moves to an all new [...]
Sponsored post presented on by advertiser2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the invention of one of the most visually captivating and elegant watchmaking complications: the Flying Tourbillon. Conceived and first realized by Alfred Helwig, teacher and master watchmaker of the German Watchmaking School Glashutte from 1913 until 1954, the Flying Tourbillon is a genuine Saxon contribution to modern watchmaking. Up to this day, its history is intertwined with that of Glashutte Original. Let us cele [...]
Pre-SIHH 2019, Montblanc unveils new models in the recently reimagined Star Legacy line of watches. The Montblanc Star Legacy collection has long featured a number of dressy watches that I feel fall into the most Montblanc-ian of their watch offerings, and this new batch expands on that. Five watches inspired by Minervas history are announced: the Star Legacy Automatic Date 39mm, the Star Legacy Automatic Date 42mm, the Star Legacy Full Calendar, and two new Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronogr [...]
One of Maurice Lacroixs new watches for 2019 has a special trick which can be very easily missed if you are just looking at pictures of the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Mercury. The otherwise attractive version of the Aikon with skeletonized dial also has an in-house movement module which allows the hands to perform a sort of trick. The hour and minute hands are attached to a cam system that allows them to float freely and then fall back into place indicating the current time. It is something whose val [...]
After spending a few weeks with the Mido Commander Big Date, its really hard for me to think of a versatile mechanical dress watch that provides better value for less than $1,000. Being under the Swatch Group allows Mido to keep production costs in a place unachievable almost anywhere else and quality control standards consistent. Hugely popular in parts of South America, China, and especially Mexico, Mido really should be on the list of brands for anyone looking for that elusive three-figure to [...]
Mido?is something of an underdog in the Swatch Group, possibly due to a long period of a lack of cohesive brand image or identity. Rarely will someone see a Mido on the wrist of a friend or colleague and instantly recognize the model, for instance. Lately, the brand has been working on remedying this and are now reminding us of their history going back a hundred years. They were founded on November 11th 1918, the same day as the armistice that ended the fighting in World War I. The?Mido Commande [...]
If the traditional, self-aggrandizing watch enthusiast were in charge, we would all be awash in sober, 39mm no-date references with colorless matte dials, integrated stainless steel bracelets, and nonsensical hand-wound movements. And because of this, not a day goes by that I dont thank the powers upstairs that the peanut gallery holds no such power, that we have brands like Hublot, which has built its entire brand ethos around ignoring the traditionalists and going against the grain. The latest [...]
First unveiled in 2020, the sporty and versatile Longines Spirit collection has quickly grown to become one of the brands most popular watch lines. Over the past two years, the Spirit series has introduced new sizes, materials, and complications in an effort to cement the series as a true go-anywhere, do-anything sporting option. For 2022, the brand takes its next step in this ongoing campaign, introducing a new collection of Spirit models in their most compact size to date. These new 37mm Longi [...]
Among many other things I like about this Breguet watch are the applied hour indicators. These are most certainly ranked among the best hour markers I have ever seen. They are done in a brushed metal (likely titanium to match the case) and are applied to the dial. The finish on them is very smooth and they appear luxurious as well as being very clear to the eye. What exactly makes them look so good? The trick is that the surface isnt flat. Each numeral is rounded, just a bit. Trust me, they look [...]