The Breitling Navitimer 8 Collection, Georges Kern’s First Creation as CEO of Breitling

After he unexpectedly left IWC and joined Breitling as new CEO, Georges Kern was under the radar… We were all waiting for the first novelty to come out of the Grenchen-based manufacture. And today, here THEY come. Indeed, it’s not a watch but a full collection, named the Breitling Navitimer 8 collection, which is today introduced. 5 different models, 5 different displays, 5 different movements, 1 entirely new concept. Let’s have a look at Kern’s first creation.

7 years ago

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition “150 Years” (SIHH 2018)

IWC is celebrating its birthday, and boy do they know how to throw a party! The Schaffhausen-based manufacture is having a birthday bash by not just releasing one simple anniversary piece, but by launching an array of models from various collections, all sharing one common theme: lacquered dials. We’ve shown you the superb IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition 150 Years and the new IWC Portugieser Constant Force Tourbillon Edition 150 Years – to name a few. It is now time to take a closer look at the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Annual Calendar Edition 150 Years.

7 years ago

Pre-Baselworld 2018 – Bell & Ross Vintage BR-V2 Steel Heritage

One year ago, for Baselworld 2017, Bell & Ross introduced a new “Vintage” collection, their classical range of watches, with round cases and more reasonable dimensions. This new BR Vintage collection was fully redesigned to be thinner, smaller and more elegantly shaped. Quite a success, which was later followed by several colourful limited editions, such as the Gardes-Cotes or Bellytanker. Prior to Baselworld 2018, Bell & Ross just introduced a new version in the Vintage collection, the Vintage BR-V2 Steel Heritage. And if the normal ones were already cool, these new ones are certainly even cooler.

7 years ago

The New Zenith Pilot Cronometro Tipo CP-2 Flyback, with a Bronze or Aged Steel Case

If the early El Primero watches (the ref. A386 in particular), fitted with one of the very first automatic chronograph movements, are certainly the most iconic pieces produced by the Le Locle-based manufacture, another watch has gained quite some fame recently: the Cronometro Tipo CP-2 Cairelli. Already reissued in 2016 in a limited edition, some new, non-limited versions of the Cairelli-inspired watch have been presented, with exotic materials and a new flyback function – quite relevant for a pilot chronograph. Meet the new Zenith Pilot Cronometro Tipo CP-2 Flyback, with Bronze or Aged-Steel case.

7 years ago

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “150 Years” (SIHH 2018)

IWC celebrates its 150th anniversary with a generous line-up of 27 limited editions of the brand’s icons – including this popular Pilot’s Watch Chronograph, also known as the  “FliegerChronograph“. The “150 Years” watch displays elapsed times against a glossy, white lacquered dial that pays tribute to the enamel dials of IWC’s historic pocket watches.

7 years ago

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition “150 Years” (SIHH 2018)

After introducing several editions of the Portugieser (including this superb automatic chronograph or a constant force tourbillon) as well as an unexpected yet desirable “Tribute to Pallweber” watch, IWC continues to deploy its 150-year concept of limited editions inside all its collections – and today we move into Pilot’s watches. Meet the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition “150 Years” ref. 5105, the first Flieger watch of the brand with a big date display.

7 years ago

Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph – The Minerva Style Made Accessible (SIHH 2018)

Looking at recent collections by Montblanc, one series of watches clearly created a strong interest amongst the collecting community. You name it; the Minerva-inspired Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymetre and its superb (to say the least) hand-wound Monopusher movement. One not-so-superfluous problem though with these watches… Their prices. Well, if you like the Military- and vintage-inspired Minerva chronographs and if you have a normal budget, MB has the solution at the SIHH 2018: the Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph.

7 years ago

Merry Christmas From Graham With a Dedicated Chronofighter Vintage Nose Art

Graham is not shy to create bold watches… If you know them already, you might be aware of the hyper-masculine and completely original Chronofighter watches, some large pilot-chronographs with a unique trigger device to activate the timing sessions. Even less common were the Vintage Nose Art Ltd. watches, showing on their dials some aviation-inspired pinups. And because the end of the year is coming, the brand has decided to bring something quite “à propos”, with the Graham Chronofighter Vintage Nose Art Merry Ltd…

7 years ago

Blue is the new Black – Oris Big Crown ProPilot Calibre 111 now with Blue Dial

We often hear that blue is new black… In recent years, we have seen dozens of watches evolving with the addition of blue dials, yet in sports watches, black is still quite the norm. Not for Oris! Just like they did recently with the Artelier Calibre 111, the brand introduces a blue version of its in-house version of the Big Crown ProPilot, a powerful (to say the least) aviation-inspired watch – which also happens to be one of the brand’s bestsellers in Switzerland (we knew they had some good tastes). Overview!

7 years ago

Review – The Hanhart Primus Black Ops Pilot, The German Pilot-Watch Modernized

Hanhart’s reputation in terms of Military/Pilot chronographs is not to be demonstrated anymore. The German “brand with the red button” (the brand’s signature feature since 1938) is indeed specialized in creating strong, powerful and slightly vintage-inspired chronographs (the Pioneer collection, reminiscent of 1940s pilots and naval officers watches). Yet, there’s another watch in the collection, one that, without losing the roots of the company, looks at future: the bold and aggressive Hanhart Primus. Today, we take a look at the latest version, the Black Ops Pilot, which also happens to be a limited edition (with pre-orders opened).

7 years ago