Category: Moon phase

Hands-on – Breguet Reine de Naples 8908, a Gold Easter Egg for a Queen

During our meeting with Breguet at Baselworld 2018, the brand pointed out that Breguet’s women’s watches account for a full 40% of the brand’s sales and that one of the current best-sellers worldwide is the Reine de Naples Ref. 8918 of 2017. The goose that lays the golden eggs at Breguet is the Reine de Naples watch, the distinctive egg-shaped watch that has appeared in countless jewellery variations since its debut in 2002. Revisited this year with Ref. 8908, this Reine de Naples automatic ladies’ model is housed in an 18k rose gold case set with diamonds and features a dreamy Tahitian mother-of-pearl dial, a moon phase complication, and a power reserve indicator.

8 years ago

Baselworld 2018 – Glashütte Original Adds New Dials and Casual Styles To The Senator Excellence Collection

At Baselworld 2016, Glashütte Original introduced a full new Senator collection named Excellence. Originally comprising no less than 4 different versions (time-only, tima-and-date, date-and-moon and perpetual calendar), it was only available with a classic design – Roman numerals and blued hands. For Baselworld 2018, the Saxon brand adds some casualness to two of the versions. Here are the Senator Excellence Panorama Date and Date and Moon with new dials and 42mm steel cases.

8 years ago

The Secrets Inside MB&F’s MoonMachine 2

After a long day admiring traditional watch fare from the more conservative brands, a visit to MB&F offers an energising boost of unorthodox horology.  Surrounded by a fleet of intergalactic watches, Balthazar the robot, an eight-legged table clock and even a chirping turtle automaton, it is plain to see that Max Busser’s enterprise is a bubbling cauldron of creativity. Busser is fast becoming the matchmaker extraordinaire of the watch world inviting talented friends from different disciplines to join in his creative cocktails where unlimited imagination coupled with impeccable craftsmanship are the main ingredients.

8 years ago

Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Planetarium – The World At Your Fingertips (Or At Least Your Wrist)

There is no denying that when it comes to women’s watches (and jewelry), the famed house of Van Cleef & Arpels pretty much always gets it right.  This year, at the SIHH 2018, the brand proved itself yet again – with a host of new feminine watches that could almost have women drooling.  However, one watch set itself apart from all the others for a host of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it brings the world to the wrist in stunning fashion.  The Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Planetarium Poetic Complication watch is an actual planetarium – a mechanical solar system model – on the wrist, the result of yet another collaboration with specialist Christiaan van der Klaauw.

8 years ago

Pre-Baselworld 2018 – Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Moon Black Enamel

As part of their Baselworld 2017 collection, Jaquet Droz introduced a watch that we reviewed here and that I personally loved and considered as one of the most achieved pieces in the signature “Grande Seconde” collection. Based on the iconic 8-shaped dial, the addition of the date and the moon indication gave the watch a lovely complicated, yet balanced design. As a preview of the upcoming Basel fair, a new version is coming, in the name of the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Moon Black Enamel.

8 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

8 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.

8 years ago

Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Stars Manufacture Hands-On

Decidedly feminine and intriguingly alluring, the new Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Stars Manufacture watch (yes, it is a long name) will dazzle you in an instant. The magnificent midnight blue dial depicts a stunning rendition of the moon and stars that captures the eye at a glance. However, this watch is not just a pretty face, as it will also talk to those with love for the nice mechanics.

8 years ago

Hands-On – New Versions of the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Moon Retrograde

Launched in the early 1990s, the Masterpiece family is Maurice Lacroix flagship collection. It offers small complications, yet with creative displays and with relatively accessible prices. At Baselworld 2017, the brand unveiled new versions of two models with retrograde indications, a speciality of the brand since 1999. Based on the same design introduced by the Masterpiece Double Retrogade we reviewed, here is the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Moon Retrograde, with yet another interesting display.

8 years ago