Category: High-end Watches

A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph Now In Pink Gold (SIHH 2018)

A. Lange & Sohne has introduced another iteration of its classic 1815 Chronograph this year at SIHH, now cased in warm 18ct pink gold but still with the same iconic pulsation dial. Considered by many to be the ultimate expression of a purist chronograph, these latest versions will be sure to strike a chord with collectors, who now find themselves literally spoilt for choice. Will it be the distinctive and powerful black dial or the equally elegant yet slightly more understated argenté dial? Perhaps one of each? We can dream.

7 years ago

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak RD#2, The World’s Thinnest Self-Winding Perpetual Calendar (SIHH 2018)

As all industries, the watchmaking world is subject to trends. One that we’re not unhappy to see resurfacing is ultra-thin watches. Piaget opened the show in December with the thinnest automatic watch, followed at the SIHH 2018 by the thinnest mechanical ever created (2mm thick, no less). It is now time for Audemars Piguet to come on board and demonstrate, if ever necessary, that they know a bit about watchmaking. Here is the Royal Oak RD#2, which at a staggering 6.30mm thick is the thinnest self-winding perpetual calendar on the market today.

7 years ago

MB&F MoonMachine 2 in collaboration with Sarpaneva (SIHH 2018)

One of the basic ideas behind MB&F has always been to have “friends” involved in the creation of new pieces. We can easily remember watches made together with Alain Silberstein (on the HM1 or the LM1), Black Badger or the involvement of Kari Voutilainen in the decoration of the LM movements. Another collab that stuck in collectors’ mind was the MoonMachine. Using the HM3 as a base, Stepan Sarpaneva added its famous moon-face complication. Here we go again, as both parties join forces for the second time to create the MB&F MoonMachine 2, this time based on the HM8

7 years ago

A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split – The New Mightier Than Mighty Chronograph (SIHH 2018)

Several years ago I had the pleasure of reviewing the A. Lange & Söhne Double Split and called it the über-chrono. To be clear, this has nothing to do with its functions but is entirely due to its spectacularly beautiful movement. Of course, the Double Split is the only mechanical double split-second chronograph, so that certainly demands some respect, but the movement’s architecture and finishing show a breath-taking beauty that no watch lover can ignore. And now there’s a Triple Split! Does that mean that the über-chrono has been surpassed? Yep, it does, and… it’s limited to only 100 pieces!

7 years ago

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.

7 years ago

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!

7 years ago

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.

7 years ago

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? 

7 years ago

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.

7 years ago