Since its launch during the mid-1980s (with the stunning, oversized reference 5251 and its moon-phase display), the Portofino has been the most classic offering of IWC. Even more than the Portugieser, it has to be seen as the brand’s dress watch and evokes pocket watches of the past. Recently revamped, with the 39mm Chronograph model […]
Today marks the dawn of the Year of the Rabbit, the new year according to the Chinese Lunar calendar. And as every year, multiple brands have dedicated a special watch to celebrate the occasion. Incorporating the theme either in spirit, with images of rabbits or colours important to Chinese culture, or with an adaptation of […]
Earlier this week, we were proud to bring you the news and our exclusive live images of the updated Christiaan van der Klaauw Ariadne. We presented you the three classic editions of this watch, an important one for the brand. First, these timepieces marked the evolution of an emblematic model of CVDK, a cornerstone watch that […]
The world of horology isn’t only located in Switzerland. There are talented watchmakers worldwide, and the Netherlands is no stranger to creating fine timepieces. One of the most prominent and enduring names on the Dutch scene is, without a doubt, Christiaan van der Klaauw. A man recognised by his peers for his involvement in astronomical […]
Calendar watches are, by definition, complex creatures; the Chinese calendar, which fuses a solar and a lunar calendar, takes complexity to another level. Luckily, Michel Parmigiani is undaunted by complications and has abundant experience as a restorer and his development of a Gregorian Annual Calendar followed by the world’s first Hijri Perpetual Calendar, or Islamic […]
Instead of looking at a TV screen, a gigantic clock or some type of countdown timer to usher in the new year, some mechanical watch fans might have gazed down at their watch to watch the indications jump from 2022 to 2023. Hardcore watch enthusiasts and collectors might have even strapped on an annual or […]
Special Editions are a common thing in the industry by now and can be connected to pretty much anything. From cars to football clubs, to high-profile individuals and everything in between. One connection that seems to resonate very well from time to time is the connection between watchmaking and the culinary world. With an appetite […]
Dr Ludwig Oechslin, the mastermind behind ochs und junior, has a knack for developing complications with as few components as possible. His radical minimalism invades all aspects of watchmaking, and his style is unmistakable. The good news for fans is that the idea of supplementing the brand’s limited customisable watches with serial production models has […]
There is a widespread opinion that the date indicator in the absence of other calendar functions violates the “original purity” and “balance” of the classic dial. It is only accurate when little thought is given to the design and the execution. The famous Panoramadatum, an off-centred large panoramic date window by Glashütte Original, can quickly […]
In 2012, the Year of the Dragon, Blancpain presented a Traditional Chinese Calendar watch. It featured not just the Chinese but also a Gregorian calendar date indication. There is a practical reason for including both calendars; the Gregorian calendar is used for universal (civil) purposes, and the lunisolar determines when it’s (Chinese) party time. Since […]