Hands-On: Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical

When Vacheron Constantin released news of their new “piece-unique” Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 watch for SIHH 2017, my first impression was that unlike the Reference 57260 most complicated pocket watch ever created, the Ref. 9720C/000G-B281, most complicated wristwatch…

8 years ago

Review: A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpetual “Pour le Mérite”

Each year for SIHH, it is Lange tradition to debut a timepiece of monumental complexity as the star novelty. Last year it was the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon – a perpetual calendar chronograph with a tourbillon regulator – and the year before that, the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, a decimal minute repeater that also…

8 years ago

Are Non-Purist Brands Beginning to Express Purist Watchmaking Approaches? Pt 1.

In a recent 2016 BBC news story, it was reported that Chimpanzees had entered the stone age for some 700 years now: Excavated ancient stone tools used by monkeys had given scientists a glimpse into the evolutionary process of simian technology. Analogously, there has been some grumblings amongst industry insiders that Swiss watchmaking has…

8 years ago

Throwback Sundays: Six Watch Recommendations for Running Errands, from Our Archives

Imagine yourself in this situation: you need to head down to a supermarket that is ten minutes away to grab some ingredients that have just run out. As a Watch-Idiot-Savant (WIS), you would not want to leave the house without wearing a watch, and yet you also not want to wear something that is too pricey too. Well, what will you choose?…

8 years ago

Review: HYT Skull AXL Rose

HYT cobrands its SKULL with a famous singer. The headline reads with resounding applause. Axl R0se, a founding member of Guns N’ Roses and probably one of the most respected rock artists of the last 30 years, is a famous friend of the brand. And now, the contemporary watch brand consummates their love for each other with a blue dial SKULL on a…

8 years ago

Review: Girard-Perregaux Laureato Tourbillon

Girard-Perregaux strengthens her presence in the haute horologie market with the return to SIHH by the re-launch of the Laureato Collection. A complete line revision, the offerings are in line with the “Complications for less” concept which was apparent in the PalExpo this year. The Laureato collection is expanded and now…

8 years ago

The Curious Legacy of Audemars Piguet Calendar Watches Part 2.

It is a commonly held belief that Gerald Genta’s Royal Oak watch launched in 1972, saved Audemars Piguet from collapse during the quartz crisis. However, the truth was the Royal Oak was almost universally panned when unveiled at the Baselworld Fair and there was another which played a crucial role – the Audemars Piguet…

8 years ago

Review: Christophe Claret Maestro

Christophe Claret always surprises us with his creations by combining excellent craftsmanship and great imagination of his. This time around at the SIHH 2017, we see the unveiling of the Maestro, an interesting take on the horological creativity of Christophe Claret. The main attraction is the unique architecture of the watch with its glass…

8 years ago

Review: Jaeger-Lecoultre Geophysic Tourbillon Universal Time

Jaeger LeCoultre updates the Geophysic Collection’s worldtime watch with a tourbillon, making it the world’s first worldtimer to have a flying tourbillon. The production of the Jaeger-Lecoultre Tourbillon Universal Time will be limited to 100 pieces. During SIHH we had the chance to hold it, look at it and feel it. In this…

8 years ago