If youre looking for traditional watchmaking techniques, interesting material use, and avant-garde concepts of high-end horology, consider this article a light palate-cleanser between courses. Japanese watchmaker Citizen has announced a collection of clocks meant to offer modern designs based on the brands watches. The Citizen wall and desk clocks are at least reminiscent of Citizen watch designs, and with prices ranging between $100 and $250, it is easy to imagine they could be fun gadgets for [...]

Allow us to introduce the Longines Avigation Type A-7, a new monopusher chronograph with an offset dial design meant to recall Longines rich history in aviation watches. This new chronograph has been released as a modern interpretation of a design from the 1930s that carried the US Army designation of Type A-7 suggesting it has been specifically created with Army pilots in mind. The Type A-7 employs a 47mm stainless steel case that allows for a large and legible dial design that allowed pilots [...]

The tourbillon version of the A. Lange Sohne 1815 watch introduced four years ago gets updated today with an enamel dial. In a platinum case, the new A. Lange Sohne 1815 Tourbillon Enamel Dial watchs most prominent feature is still the large tourbillon on the otherwise elegantly simple face. The white enamel, however, should make the contrast between the dials simplicity and the tourbillons complexity all the more stark.We saw the A. Lange Sohne 1815 Tourbillon hands-on when it was first intr [...]

If you havent looked at Oris Big Crown ProPilot watches in a while, it might be time to give the modern aviator timepiece collection a fresh glance. The very sporty Big Crown ProPilot now has dressier options which offer a brand new look and fashionable versatility to the otherwise straight-forward tool watch collection. Case in point is the Big Crown ProPilot Big Date, which I check out here as the reference 01 751 7761 4063-07 8 20 08P.Oris uses the term Big in the name of the watch twice a m [...]

New for 2014 from Oris is the Big Crown ProPilot collection of watches. The Big Crown is an existing popular model family from the Swiss brand, and the Big Crown ProPilot adds a new series to their already pretty good collection of pilot watches. Cant have enough aviator watches right? Today, I am going to look at the current flagship model in the Big Crown ProPilot collection, which is the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Chronograph GMT watch model set (ref. 677 7699 4164).In total, the Oris Big Crown [...]

If there was such a thing as a pedestrian watch at A. Lange Sohne then it would surely be one of their more basic watches priced under $50,000 like this 1815 Up/Down. Anything over that simply could not be considered ordinary. There of course is jest in my words as A. Lange Sonhe is among the most exclusive high-end brands in the world that given their volume (about 5,000 or less watches a year) produce the nicest movements around. Turn over one of their watches ideally a chronograph, and you [...]

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda MetrographeStriking the necessary balance to be a successful dress chronograph isnt easy. Independent brand Parmigiani Fleurier makes several impressive examples (like the Toric Chronograph that Prince Charles wore to the royal wedding) on par with or exceeding offerings from peers like A. Lange Sohne, Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, and others. Often, the dress chronos?that are impressive are quite stratospherically priced. However, with the updated in 2017 Tonda [...]

If you havent yet worn a Bell Ross BR01 or BR03 Instrument watch, I do recommend you try one on. The company makes excellent and affordable alternatives to many Panerai watches for the budget-conscious. The Bell Ross BR 03-92 Nightlum is the latest in the Instrument collection, which debuted in 2004 with the BR01 and its distinctive 46mm square case and dial meant to evoke an airplane cockpit instrument wearable on your wrist. The later-released BR03 is more or less the same watch, but with a [...]

The Perrelet Turbine watch caused a lot of stir when the images of the watch that will be released in October 2009 were displayed here on aBlogtoRead.com first. Then the Turbine Collection video was leaked was really hit home exactly what the Turbine Double Rotor watch was going to look like in action. I think it is clear that this special timepiece collection is going to be a big hit for Perrelet. A few days ago I got to experience pre-production models of the watch myself and they are sweet!T [...]

Normally, the news that Godzilla was on his way to town would inspire mass panic and a city-wide evacuation. Luckily, for Japans premier brand, the Grand Seiko Godzilla 65th Anniversary Limited Edition watch is highly unlikely to cause the same reaction. This new release celebrates both the 20th anniversary of the Spring Drive movement and the 65th anniversary of everyones favorite urban developer, the (almost) unstoppable force from the depths of the ocean and our nightmares, Godzilla. Joining [...]

In my opinion the now 12-year-old Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon design is still one of the brands coolest high-end sport watches to date. It mixes haute horology, modern design, and the appeal of a sport watch in a unique way that is difficult to beat. It isnt the ultra luxury watch for everyone, but there is a refined urban sensibility to it that takes it out of the private watch nerd den and into the real world. This particular version of the Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon [...]

IWC has partnered with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation for the 12th time to release the IWC Pilots Watch Mark XVIII Edition Laureus Sport for Good Foundation watch. Announced during the 2018 Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco, the limited edition run of 1,500 pieces features a black ceramic case with the signature Laureus edition blue sunburst dial. Theres been an IWC watch done for Laureus (a sports-charity organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged children around the world) and [...]

It might have been about 2005 that Jaeger-LeCoultre released the first Gyrotourbillon watch. When it came out, it caused a real stir and it was released during what I call the tourbillon wars. During this time brand after brand began to release tourbillon escapement-based watches. This was interesting because the entire idea of a tourbillon was to be complicated and exclusive. Theoretically speaking (if you believed the hype) only a few top brands in the world could master a tourbillon and not e [...]

This is either the weirdest or coolest Audemars Piguet watch around depends on your point of view. This is the $50,000 plus Royal Oak Offshore Survivor a watch meant to look like it can survive the next 5 or so world wars being worn by the heroes of battle. Conversely, this is the bad-ass watch that will help you in your fight against the Predator, or other such daring feats of Hollywood-esque escapades that you might encounter on a daily basis. At least you looking at the watch will make you [...]

Despite the fact that bronze seemed to be one of the #watchfams favorite subjects?on social media in 2016, the rise of the modern bronze age of watches dates back much earlier to 2011 when Panerai acknowledged a small, but growing demand in the micro community for rugged divers cased in bronze. Their answer? One thousand pieces of the green-dialed PAM 382, which disappeared fast, and remains one of the Italian watchmakers most memorable (and collectible) special editions. Panerai appears to be l [...]

Most commonly known for their square watches, Bell Ross has been making their classic round vintage collection of watches like the BR-126?and?BR Sport Watch?for years now. Its been a while since took a look at this collection and fortunately for us, 2017 sees the release of three new Bell Ross vintage watches: the BR V1-92 Black Steel three hand and date watch; the slightly larger and more aggressive BR V2-92 Black Steel; and the chronograph BR V2-94. Lets see what the three new Bell Ross Vi [...]

Swiss watchmaker Piaget has made it clear that over the next few years, it will place some extra attention on its complicated movement manufacture located in the small town of La Cote-Aux-Fees, Switzerland. The primary Piaget headquarters is in Geneva, but up high in the mountains is where Piaget manufactures its most elaborate mechanisms, including its tourbillons and ultra-thin movements. I recall visiting the La Cote-Aux-Fees manufacture myself some years ago.One guess as to how Piaget will c [...]

Over the course of the past 20 short years, the Seiko Spring Drive movement has become embedded in the watch collector and enthusiast vernacular. At this point, countless words have been dedicated to discussing the Spring Drive movement, but if you want a truly in-depth explanation of the mechanism, as well as a thorough history, then I recommend you read The Amazing History Functionality of the Seiko Spring Drive Movement, as well as our interview with Grand Seiko master watchmaker Mr. Yoshifu [...]

Keeping up with Baselworld can be daunting, even for those of us who spend all our days reading about, playing with, and writing about wristwatches. While the big names like omega, Omega, and TAG Heuer can suck the oxygen out of a room due to how anticipated their new releases are, that doesnt mean there arent other new watches worth taking note of at Baselworld 2017.For example, I think one of the most interesting pieces that came out this year is the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec [...]

Flower Petals and Diamonds and Rubies What else would you want your watch to be made up of?Diamonds set upon the unique double rotor?Powered by the motions of your wrist?Sold. Perrelet, a seemingly quiet brand with TONS of potential, is going beyond print ads and marketing materials with this elegant video of the Perrelet Diamond Flower Rotor Watch. Which is a brilliant idea, especially for this model.How else would a woman, or a man, be able to truly understand the beauty at play here?Set wi [...]