As Bell Ross retreats into the history of timepieces to create more vintage, original, and heritage timepieces, we see an increasingly interesting range of retro designs as only Bell Ross can do it. This year Bell Ross has gone all the way back to the origins of the wrist watch with the WW1. The name means wrist watch 1, but not so ironically sounds like world war I. This is the era when wrist watches really began so the name sort of has a double meaning.The WW1 is a different feeling Bell [...]
Watches like the Parmigiani?Ovale Pantographe come along only once in a rare while. This is a timepiece myself and others on the team have been more or less smitten with for years given its mixture of fantastic design, historical roots, and emotionally charged technical fascination. Of course, a niche-appeal timepiece such as this isnt for all tastes, but if you are sympathetic to what the Parmigiani Ovale Pantographe does well, then I think youll agree this is really some special watch.The mod [...]
The sun isnt supposed to shine like this on the Northern California coast. Well, not this time of year, anyway - and most certainly not around this hour in the evening. But here we are - skimming alongside the Marin Headlands in a crimson Robinson R44 with nary a patch of fog to be seen, the late-summer sun bathing the cabin in a warm glow. The pilot banks hard at historic Point Bonita and points the four-seater northwest, leaving the weathered mid-century lighthouse to fade into the San Francis [...]
If there is one watch brand that can rightfully claim its podium in the Olympic Games, it is Omega. Since Omegas debut as the first Olympic timekeeper in 1932 at the Los Angeles games, chosen to supply 30 stopwatches and a watchmaker to measure elapsed times, the Swiss brand has been a regular participant in the worlds most famous sporting event. To celebrate the two-year countdown to Omegas participation in the next Winter Olympic games beginning on February 9, 2018, in PyeongChang, South Kore [...]
Ive written about Raymond Weils popular Nabucco collection at least two times prior to this hands-on experience. In fact the last time I covered the collection was with another hands-on experience going over some of the pre-2011 models here. I liked wearing the watches even though the designs in some ways felt a little bit derivative for the price. Many Raymond Weil watch designs are a bit (or a lot) derivative, but thats actually OK. They are a brand that doesnt seek to reinvent the wheel, but [...]
GMT watches are also often sport watches, which makes perfect sense if you think about it. If GMT watches are designed to be great travel companions, then its logical to also ensure that they are robust enough to take whatever comes their way on the road. Hence, the most popular and iconic GMT watches - think omega GMT-Master and Tudor Black Bay GMT - are also sport watches. But what if you are the kind of person who only travels in comfort and avoids any form of exertion? Is there a GMT watch t [...]
The ongoing stream of retro watch re-releases continues. The culprit this time is Eterna the brand who makes all the Porsche Design watches (these days). Back with a vengeance, this watch is really suited to driving around in your DMC DeLorean. Now there is a item begging for a proper release! I? heard that a company in Texas bought the rights to the DeLorean name. They make money refitting older ones to actually kick-ass levels (better than original even in terms of performance, engine, etc). [...]
While most mens watches Breguet produces are round, the Breguet Heritage 5410 is a rare exception. The reason most watch cases are round is because designers have the easiest time making round-cased watches look nice. Thus, making a non-round case such as something square, rectangular, otherwise geometric, or tonneau (barrel-shaped) is a special challenge. The risk is that despite best efforts these non-round cases will not look attractive but the reward of getting it right is a truly distinctiv [...]
For 2016, Patek Philippe released the new 5930 series starting with the white gold 5930G, a world time chronograph and a rare occasion for us to see arguably two of the most useful complications for mechanical watches in alluring combination. The Patek Philippe 5930G world time chronograph is further an attractive piece, but does all this translate into a winner for the famous brand?Despite its $70,000-plus price tag, we can say that the new Patek Philippe 5930 is a watch that will actually get [...]
Have you been to the Gstaad Palace? No? Well, then I am sorry to say that you probably dont know about GreenGo the popular club that is now celebrating its 40th anniversary. I dont think it has changed since it was created. According to their site (and images), the club remains in its 1970s era fittings. Looks like what would happen if you built a lounge in an underground pool that just happened to double as a dungeon. Though for this Californian, the name of the hot spot is just gringo. What i [...]
A trait that many timepiece collectors enjoy about Patek Philippes Grand Complications is that they dont always immediately appear so well, grand. Strap on the Patek Philippe Alarm Travel Time 5520P ( debut here), and youll have a busy but subdued and highly practical travel watch with an alarm complication. Little will most people (who arent timepiece enthusiasts) know that the watch on your wrist has a retail price that is a stones throw from a quarter-million dollars. Thats Patek, and thats h [...]
Details are scarce around this beast right now, but this is the top dog in Audemars Piguets new Code 11.59 collection. It may look simple but it actually costs more than double the next most expensive watch in the collection. Why? Because this deceptively simple-looking watch is the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Minute Repeater Supersonnerie.SpecificationsBrand: Audermars PiguetModel: Code 11.59 Minute Repeater SupersonnieDimensions: 41mmWater Resistance: 20 metersCase Material: White goldCrystal/L [...]
Cartier is a name that is synonymous with timeless design. Historically speaking, since the companys inception in 1847, Cartier watches tend to be somewhat reserved in stature and walk the line between utility and fashion. Not one to rest on its laurels, the brand took the 1980s as an opportunity to display novel artistry and incorporate new aesthetics into a timepiece that had not been seen before - thus, the Pasha de Cartier was born.Recognizing the outgoing nature of the Pasha de Cartier, and [...]
Special Content For BulgariThe dial is often called the face of the watch, and there is very good reason for that. For anyone who has ever seen a genuinely beautifully detailed dial-or a horribly?made, illegible one, for that matter-the importance of the components quality is?certainly unquestionable. Complicated-looking dials can be made cheaply, and remarkably simple-looking ones can require hours or days of painstaking work to get right. Beyond case and movement manufacturing,?the age-old cr [...]
One of the more interesting Hublot watches for 2015 is the limited edition Hublot Big Bang Alarm Repeater which comes in two styles. Limited edition Big Bang? Yes, I know that is something that we have all heard before from Hublot, but in this instance, the more exclusive nature of the watch makes a bit more sense even though there will be a combined 500 pieces in total.So, what is the Hublot Big Bang Alarm Repeater? This is an answer to the interesting question of how you make the traditional m [...]
The most classic of classic chronographs is here. The newest A. Lange Sohne 1815 Chronograph is the least likely drool worthy watch whod a thought youd want a classy sober looking watch this much? In a white or pink gold 39mm wide case and a famous A. Lange Sohne in-house made movement. Beautiful $43,000. Read my full article on the 1815 Chronograph at Haute Living here. [...]
Oris is one our of favorite Swiss watch brands when it comes to offering a durable, useful design in a relatively affordable package. We especially like their sport watches including racing chronographs and of course divers. Until now most people know Oris as a company that sources movements from other Swiss companies to put into their watches. There is nothing wrong with that, but for 2014 OrisClike many others these daysCis beginning to produce watches with their own movements, starting with [...]
Under still-new leadership from Mr. Guido Terreni (formerly of Bulgari), Parmigiani Fleurier is trying to be the anti-omega, anti-Patek Philippe luxury watch brand. Celebrating 25 years of existence after having been founded by the extremely talented Mr. Michel Parmigiani, the Swiss brand today is focusing its virtues around a watch collection known as the Parmigiani Tonda PF. This collection includes a novel case and bracelet design, which is paired to a few watch models that begin with the Ton [...]
Panerai can often get some flack for producing watches that are a bit too similar looking through their?model lines, which can often make it hard for a non-Paneristi to actually distinguish between many of them. This year at SIHH, Panerai debuted four new Radiomir 1940 GMT watches (Hands-on with those here), but they also released another Radiomir 1940?watch that is actually a first for the brand. The Panerai?Radiomir 1940 3 Days Automatic Acciaio (PAM00655) watch is, as our David Bredan covered [...]
Even in tough times, a watch can be the perfect present whether it be for the father of the family or a recent graduate. If you do your homework, you can find the perfect gift to celebrate such an occasion. There are literally thousands of good choices out there, but here are just a few to help stimulate your thoughts or point you in the right direction. Each of these timepieces will be a good choice, but there are others of course.A watch will carry you to next phase in your life, and reflect [...]