Review: A. Lange & Söhne Langematik

First launched in 1997, the Langematik is the first self-winding watch from A. Lange & Söhne. A brave move by the brand and also a watershed release, the Langematik is arguably one of the most characteristic watches from the brand. Particularly due to its spectacular new manufacture movement; the L921.2 was one of Lange’s earliest…

8 years ago

Review: Meditations on the Credor Fugaku Tourbillon

Baselworld 2016. The halls were abuzz…with news from Seiko. The first ever Seiko Credor Tourbillon wristwatch from this much loved, ultra conservative watchmaker from Japan. We made the beeline to see it. First through the showcase. The first impressions was one of moderate surprise. No, we lie. We were shocked! Then we had our…

8 years ago

Review – Ulysse Nardin FreakLab, the modern version of the mother of concept watches and silicon

In the small but fascinating world of watchmaking, some timepieces deeply influenced the whole industry. The Submariner almost defined what a dive watch should be. The story behind the Speedmaster is still an immense source of fascination. The Royal Oak created his own and so-respected category, the luxury sports watch. In a much more discreet way, Ulysse Nardin, in 2001, introduced a watch that deeply changed the face of modern watchmaking: the Freak, a watch that can be considered as the mother of concept watches and of silicon. Its time for us to review its successor, the Ulysse Nardin FreakLab.

8 years ago

Hands-on – Andreas Strehler Papillon Sauterelle à Lune Exacte – The Most Precise MoonPhase Wristwatch Ever

Watchmakers are like all boys. When it comes to numbers, being first or having the greatest is always better – even if having the biggest (watch of course…) is not always desirable. Watchmakers always looked for the most complicated watch, for the watch with the most features, for the most precise movement or for the lightest case. And even when it comes to a specific complication, being the most accurate is a very good marketing argument – which of course always implies stupendous technical developments and immense watchmaking skills. In terms of MoonPhase, the title for the most precise was already in the hands of Andreas Strehler, but it’s now even better with his new Papillon Sauterelle à Lune Exacte.

8 years ago

Review: Blancpain Ladybird

The Blancpain Ladybird was born more than half a century ago and in 1956, it was considered to be the world’s smallest round watch. This feat was made possible with the unveiling of the smallest round movement made back then, the R550 caliber was impressive and at a mere 11.85 mm in diameter, it boasted a power reserve of up to 40 hours that…

8 years ago

IN-DEPTH: We fight over the new grey-dialled Slim d’Hermès

The story in a second

With a slender profile, top-notch movement and a dial to die for, the Slim d’Hermès has a lot more going for it than just the name.

Hermès might be better known for its much-coveted Birkin bags than high-end horology, but the Slim d’Hermès looks set to change all that.…

8 years ago

Meister and Kalendar: The Journey of Junghans

If one were to trace the beginnings of German watchmaking (a whole other story unto itself), one would find that the history of Junghans is not very much unlike its famous German watchmaking cousins in neighbouring Glashutte. Established by Erhard Junghans in 1861, Gebr Junghans Uhrenfabrik was a partnership with Franz Xaver, supplying clock…

8 years ago

Hands-On with the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph Ref. 5500V

Vacheron Constantin overhauled its entire line of sports watches in 2016, not just restyling the Overseas but also endowing the range with new, in-house movements. Arguably the sportiest of the new range is the Overseas Chronograph (ref. 5500V), the largest watch of the line that’s powered by the calibre 5200. Vacheron Constantin’s latest is a contestant in […]

8 years ago