High-end Watches Archives - Page 107 of 136

Singer Track 1 Geneva Edition In Yellow Gold (SIHH 2018)

When launched in mid-2017, the Singer Track 1 has been one real surprise, praised by many. Not only the story behind was cool (the link with the custom-built Porsches), not only the people behind are great, but the watch itself, its movement, its design and its display are just fresh. Prior to the SIHH 2018, Singer Reimagined unveils a new and sexy version of its Track1 chronograph. Meet the Singer Track 1 Geneva Edition, as we go hands-on with this chronograph clad in yellow gold and black.

The World’s Thinnest Mechanical Watch Ever, The 2mm Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept, Fully Explained

To follow with the video we just published, it is now time for us to go into all the details about what certainly is THE main technical achievement of the beginning of the year. Piaget smashes all previous records and unveils the ultra-lean 2mm Altiplano Ultimate Concept. What you see in front of you simply is the thinnest mechanical watch ever created… And by far. Ultra-thin redefined!

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept – a new Mind-Boggling World Record for Thinness at just 2mm

Now we see quite a few spectacular timepieces every year, sometimes when they’re about to be launched and sometimes when there’s still a lot of work before it’s ready to be launched. But what we got to see at Piaget the other day, was simply unheard of, and properly mind-boggling. Piaget has created a watch with a thickness of just 2.00 millimetre. And I’m not talking about the movement, the entire watch is 2mm thick. That’s thinner than the leather strap on your watch, thinner than a Swiss five Franc coin.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic vs. the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 5402ST

Now it makes zero sense to compare the very first luxury sports watch to the very latest in this desirable segment, at least not from a consumer’s perspective (the vintage AP RO Jumbo is of course not for sale anymore.) However, it does, when looking at if and how the luxury sports watch segment has developed over the past 4.5 decades. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 5402ST was introduced in 1972, and the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic was introduced in 2017. Forty-five years, only a handful of competitors in all those years and only one serious competitor survived: the Patek Philippe Nautilus. But will the new Bulgari become a serious competitor for the uncrowned king of the luxury sports watches?

Patek Philippe 5396R Annual Calendar with Blue Dial

Since its introduction in 2006, the Patek Philippe 5396 Annual Calendar is amongst the most classical options in the brand’s collection. It offers a cleaner and a slightly more modern option to the conservative reference 5146, the sub-dial based Annual Calendar watch. In addition to the existing versions, with silvery-white or grey dials (with appliques or Breguet numerals), Patek has decided to add a bit of flamboyance to this model, by giving it a rose gold case combined with a rich navy blue dial.

The Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance now with Guilloché Dials by Voutilainen

Recently, we had the opportunity to spend some quality hands-on time with the new Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance, and it now receives some superb guilloché dials. Creating an outstanding contrast between technology and modernity (the movement) and tradition (the dials), the creation of this new watch involved more than Armin Strom’s watchmakers… We had previously seen the watch at SalonQP in London, but it wasn’t quite ready for publication then, so we had to hold off until now to share all the tantalising details with you. We’re pretty sure you’ll agree though, that it was definitely worth the wait.

VIDEO – The Timelessness of the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia collection by Anthony de Haas and Bruno Moinard

A great looking simple dress watch has a certain “je ne sais quoi”. Of course there’s is only so much you can do as a designer, at least that what most laymen think. And also to us there are some very simple 2, or 3-hand watches that are just… perfect. The size, the shape of the case, that small bevel on the lugs, and that lovely straight-brushed case-band, or any other detail that can just hit the right note. But how difficult is it to find that perfect balance when designing something. We set out and asked the experts, Anthony de Haas, A. Lange & Söhne’s director product development, and Bruno Moinard, an acclaimed architect and designer. What is timelessness, and how to translate this, in all subtleness, into a design that will remain appealing for decades, or even centuries. Here’s what they told us about this ‘elusive’ property.

Hands-On – Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Chronor Anniversaire (and its superb movement)

Introduced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Parmigiani Fleurier (founded in 1996), the Tonda Chronor Anniversaire is powered by an exceptional movement, the first integrated chronograph movement from the brand – spiced up with a split-seconds functions and several cool features! The Tonda Chronor was awarded “Best Chronograph” at the prestigious GPHG 2017, which is …

A Technical Perspective – The Flexure Revolution, Compliant Mechanisms applied to Watchmaking

In mechanical engineering, compliant mechanisms (monolithic or joint-less structures) are flexible mechanisms that transfer an input force or displacement to another point through elastic body deformation, using the elastic properties of matter to affect the motion of mechanical components. These monolithic, compact and precise components replace several mechanically assembled parts. The absence of mechanical coupling eliminates contact, play, friction, wear, lubrication or dispersions.

Hands-On – Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Hémisphère Rétrograde

The Toric was the first watch ever designed by Michel Parmigiani back in 1996. The collection was reintroduced at SIHH 2017 with the elegant Toric Chronomètre, a subdued, less complex take on the original case design. It is now presented in a stylish travel watch version with the Toric Hémisphères Rétrograde. The result is simply superb and the model has been awarded at the prestigious GPHG in the 2017 Travel Time category. Read on to learn more.

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Category: High-end Watches