At SIHH 2014, the Swiss watch maker Piaget introduced a new watch model called the Piaget Altiplano 38mm 900P (debuted here), which set a new record for the thinnest mechanical watch in the world. With a total case thickness of just 3.65mm, the Piaget Altiplano 900P attempted to once and for all end the fight of what prestigious watch maker would produce an impossibly thin mechanical movement and case. For now, Piaget has won, and I have a feeling it is a title they will hold for quite some time [...]

Its hard to make something new. Its especially hard to make something new when youre breaking away from nearly forty years of reliance on one of the most iconic designs in the history of watchmaking. Such is the weight on the shoulders of Audemars Piguet, who just unveiled a massive new modern collection called Code 11.59 designed to do just that. With six original new models split into 13 references, including three new movements, Code is, in a word, ambitious. But is it the watch that everyone [...]

As the world heads deeper into mid-July 2021, the pandemic-delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are finally slated to begin on July 23rd. While this historic delay has kept fans across the globe from experiencing the athletic spectacle of the Olympic Games, official partner Omega has taken the past year to expand its range of Tokyo 2020-inspired designs. As the Olympic Games near opening day, the marque has debuted one final set of commemorative timepieces in its versatile Aqua Terra series. With th [...]

Fifteen years after the introduction of the Big Bang, Hublot just introduced the Big Bang Integral, which adds an integrated bracelet model to the collection. The Integral debuts in three variations: Titanium, as seen in this article; King Gold; and an all-black ceramic. Though the Big Bang so far hasnt exclusively come on a strap (see this bracelet model from a few years back), we are living in the era of integrated bracelet proliferation. In fact, Im pretty surprised it took this long for Hubl [...]

Much of modern luxury watch design exists in the realm of safe decision-making. By and large, many timepieces are designed to offer as broad an appeal as possible, avoiding any possibility of offending enthusiast sensibilities. Hublot has never subscribed to this approach, instead has sttod by a loudly defiant visual spirit that prizes spectacle above all else. For its latest release, the brand takes this spirit of spectacular defiance to new heights, combining some of its most in-your-face gem- [...]

As far as I know, this Automatic 24H (24 hour) watch is the first single-hand timepiece produced by Montblanc and it does a good job of looking like a retro-wrist instrument that never was. The entire Montblanc 1858 sub-family of watches is actually rather new (even though it borrows a mid-20th century version of the Montblanc logo) and is meant to be inspired by mountain climbing. What connection does that have with the historic maker of writing instruments? Not much, but everyone gets liberty [...]

Having the opportunity to analyse new watches of this calibre is really quite something. A. Lange Sohne have a long and rich history of watchmaking excellence that has been compounded over the past decade. With the SIHH 2016 release of the A. Lange Sohne Grand Lange Moon Phase Lumen watch, the Glashutte-based manufacture has combined the show-stopping complications of two of their previous Grand Lange watches.Seeing a new piece that literally integrates the selling points of previous models is [...]

As a champion of global conservation and wildlife protection efforts, Oris has spent the last several years supporting environmental causes, ranging from preserving the coral reefs of the Florida Keys to cleaning the Hangang River in South Korea. For its first major release of 2022, the independent Swiss brand has taken on a cause closer to home, partnering with sustainable leather brand Cervo Volante to shine a light on the ongoing effort in Switzerland to control the wild red deer population a [...]

There is no shortage of consumer products that at least say they were designed for a specific type of buyer. In the camera world-and probably some others-even a range of users called prosumers exists. However, once you find that you are a demanding consumer in at least one particular niche of products, youre bound to shortly find that only a fraction of the available goods will get even close to delivering on the promised features that they boasted about. World timer and GMT watches are similar, [...]

First produced in 1970 and later relaunched in 2009, the Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M Co-Axial Master Chronometer-as it is today called-is one of the worlds most unique and, yes, iconic dive watches. It quite remains the Quasimodo character today, even among professional dive watches, which admittedly?have a tendency of getting rather lairy-looking from time to time. But there is charm-and a lot of it-to go with the Ploprof and its, well, developed taste looks. This new model for 2016-originall [...]

IWC has launched the?limited-edition IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition 50th Anniversary Of Mercedes-AMG watch to commemorate, as the name suggests, the golden anniversary of AMG, the performance motoring arm of Mercedes-Benz. The watch will be available in a limited run of 250 pieces?and is available at only a small premium over the standard Ingenieur Chronograph Sport.Under the dial, this watch shares the same movement?as the regular production IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Sport or the Portu [...]

Just released by Parmigiani are the Tondagraph GT Steel Silver Black and Tondagraph GT Rose Gold Silver Black - two new Panda dial variants of last years Tondagraph GT sports watch collection. I went hands-on with both the basic Tonda GT and Tondagraph GT, the former of which will give you a much clearer picture of the steel variant debuted here.Last years debut run of the Tondagraph GT Annual Calendar Chronograph came in a dark, almost slate-gray dial with polished steel hands and indices that [...]

To my eyes, the Breguet Marine equation Marchante 5887 is a rather unusual watch from the brand. Though Breguet is often at the cutting edge of watchmaking technology, their watches still retain a very classic and elegant look-case in point: the Breguet Classique Chronometrie Ref. 7727. Unless you knew what you were looking at, you would have never guessed that the watch contains one of the most groundbreaking escapement designs in the entire history of watchmaking. However, the Marine equation [...]

If you like modern chronograph sport watches, it might be in your best interest to take a good look at the new-for-2016 versions of the Bulgari Diagono Chronograph collection. In the past, Bulgari hasnt been shy about producing a vast range of Diagono timepieces, as the Diagono collection continues to be possibly their best selling range. With that said, the Diagono has a new family of watches introduced last year with the Bulgari Diagono Magnesium (hands-on here). Now, for 2016, we see the arri [...]

International Swiss watchmaking conglomerate Swatch Group has confirmed that prices for at least six of its brands will increase by 5% in the UK according to a recent WatchPro news report. The price adjustment is due to take place starting March 1st, 2017, and follows the pounds recent 15% loss in value against the Swiss franc. This is the first price increase weve seen since the Brexit decision in June of last year and it presents yet another unexpected economic development for an industry that [...]

For those who still think of Montblanc as a pen company with no business in the world of haute horology, the brands tier of products made at their Minerva facility should change your mind and the Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition 100 is a good example. Cased in bronze and with an unusual salmon colored dial, this is a vintage-styled watch with a very real lineage from the brands historic factory in Villeret.Montblanc has been enjoying a renaissance as a watchmaker since it ac [...]

Held in Geneva between the 18th and 22nd of January, 2016, major luxury watch industry exhibition?SIHH 2016 is just around the corner, and?we have hence been seeing some rather cool pre-SIHH releases already. The latest to tease us with some (more or less) new-for-2016 pieces is Jaeger-LeCoultre, this time around, specifically with their iconic Reverso collections latest additions to officially debut at SIHH 2016.Iconic-a term so overused in the world of horology, its on par with luxury, refined [...]

Watch What-If is a special column on aBlogtoRead.com that asks the playful question what if an iconic watch you know and love was offered in a different style? The idea embraces a good timepieces core design and has fun by offering new colors and material concepts to stimulate your senses. These ideas may be provocative, artistic, or just plain silly. This is about fun, Photoshop, and the celebration of wrist watch design and experimentation. The original design we work off will always be at the [...]

If youre in the market for a tough, durable, outdoor watch and ask a watch enthusiast what to buy, 10-to-1 odds say the answer is a Casio G-Shock. Not a bad suggestion, by any means, but its not the only worthy contender within Casios line. Casios Pro Trek line is often overshadowed by itsuber-popular older sibling, but the Pro Trek line was designed specifically for rough-and-tumble outdoor use. For those in the know, the Pro Trek line was (and to some extent still is) the choice du jour if you [...]

One of my favorite sleepers of Baselworld this year was a Longines reissue inspired by a 1940s pilots watch supplied to the Royal Air Force. While the vintage piece was a hot commodity, this modern take brings a faux-vintage charm and availability. The new-for-2018 Longines Heritage Military Watch has earned a bit of a reputation for spectators literally having to ask whether its?actually?new.The Longines Heritage Collection has been well-received, albeit controversial, among some enthusiasts wh [...]