The dial on the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is one of the most iconic dials in the watch world and there is more than meets the eye to its making and different textures. Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak in 1972 with a dial featuring a ‘Clous de Paris’ guilloché motif that is referred to by AP as ‘petite tapisserie’. Then in 1993, the Royal Oak Offshore was released with a similar type of tapisserie but there are small nuances between the two and the rest of Royal Oaks and Royal Oak Offshores out there.
Posts tagged #2015
Photo Gallery: Armin Strom Tourbillon Gravity Bicolor Unique Piece. A Perfect Color Combination.
This unique piece from Armin Strom, is inspired by the design of the Armin Strom Tourbillon Gravity Fire —full 18K rose gold piece— but fitted with a very unique case construction. With a middle case in 18K rose gold and a blackened PVD stainless steel case back and bezel, this unique piece comes in a perfect color combination and is a one off watch from the masters of skeletonization out of Bern.
Watch Goodies: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Alarm Desk Clock. Simply Beautiful.
Today, we start a new section to talk about those little —and sometimes big— goodies we all love to receive from the watch brands. Watch paraphernalia is commonly received as part of an important watch purchase at a brand boutique or just as part of those little swag bags we all receive while attending a watch event.
Insider: Richard Mille RM35-01 Rafa Nadal. Hands-on with the $120,000 Entry Level Nadal Timepiece.
Unveiled some time ago, the Richard Mille RM35-01 Rafa Nadal is simply a stunner. The Richard Mille RM35-01 Rafa Nadal is considered by many, the entry level Nadal timepiece by Richard Mille considering its price point in the low $100Ks. This timepiece taking its cues from the RM 027 Nadal family of watches, is an incredibly strong and light watch thanks to the use of the black NTPT carbon for its case.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26320. Hands-on with One of Our Favorite Chronos Out There.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26320 we are reviewing here, is the latest iteration of the Royal Oak Chrono. Released for the first time as ref. 25860 in 39mm and then as ref. 26300 —reviewed by us here. The Royal Oak Chronograph is a model with more than ten different reference numbers and all of them are fitted with the same calibre 2385.
Insider: Zenith Montre d'Aeronef Pilot Type 20 Extra Special. The Best Execution of a Pilot's Watch for the Price.
The Zenith Montre d'Aéronef Pilot Type 20 Extra Special ref. 03.2430.3000/21.C738 was launched in 2014. Earlier this year, a new version was released in bronze and we reviewed it here. The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special in stainless steel features a robust 45 mm case with screwed-on lugs and a satin-brushed finish that contrasts against the mirror polished bezel and ratcheted onion-shaped crown typical of historical aviator watches — that ensures a perfect grip even with pilot’s gloves.
Holiday Gift Guide: Five of Our Favorite In-House Chronographs All Priced Under $15,000 USD.
Since this is the time of giving, we have chosen five of our favorite in-house chronographs for you to gift to that special someone in your life. Not only these five watches come from some of the best manufactures out there, but they are all reasonably priced under $15,000 USD. Furthermore, all of them are powered by in-house calibres with consistent reliable craftsmanship.
Insider: Armin Strom Tourbillon Earth. Hands-on with a Sporty Rugged Looking Tourbillon with One of the Finest Skeletonizations Out There.
This relatively young manufacture, was founded in 1967 by Armin Strom in a small town named Burgdorf located northwest of Bern. The Armin Strom Tourbillon Earth ref. ST13-TE.90 is perhaps one of our three favorite watches from this manufacture. This particular tourbillon is not only beautiful but also very stealth looking thanks to its black PVD stainless steel case. A watch that seems rugged by its looks —specially when sported on its black rubber strap— and size —43.4 mm in diameter by 13 mm in thickness— but with a delicate and perfectionist craftsmanship.
Insider: A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up/Down Pink Gold. Hands-on with One of the Most Iconic Timepieces From Saxony.
For over ten years, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up/Down has been the benchmark in chronographs since its launch. Its assets include the oversized date, the high-speed flyback switching mechanism for the chronograph and a patented, precisely-jumping minute counter. The Datograph Up/Down also features a power reserve indicator. Only available in 18K rose gold or platinum both with a black dial, the new Datograph —as it replaced the 39 mm model— is one of the most iconic Lange timepieces out there.
Experience: de Boulle. The Largest Patek Philippe Authorized Dealer in the South and Now Also with a Boutique in Houston.
If you live in Texas, the de Boulle name is no stranger to you. Located in the heart of the Park Cities in Dallas and with a newly opened boutique in the River Oaks District in Houston with a fascinating Patek Philippe salon —as we featured it here—, de Boulle is one of those authorized dealers worth paying a visit and talking about.
Insider: HYT H2 Aviator Unique Piece. Hands-on with a Hydro-Mechanical Timepiece for Aviation Lovers.
With an already imposing name, the HYT H2 Aviator ref. 248-DL-01-GF-KG is the first time HYT creates a timepiece destined for aviation lovers which each step of its concept designed to satisfy aeronautical codes. The H2 Aviator we have here, is a unique piece where the liquid is green instead of yellow as in the regular production H2 Aviator.
News: Pre-SIHH 2016 Presenting the Piaget Emperador Coussin XL 700P. A Mechanical and Quartz Hybrid Timepiece.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its first in-house quartz movement, the famous ultra-thin 7P calibre presented in 1976, Piaget unveils the Emperador Coussin XL 700P. This new watch is an astonishing concept watch issued in a 118-piece limited edition.
News: Pre-SIHH 2016 Presenting Five New Jaeger-LeCoultre Reversos with Sixteen References to Celebrate the 85th Anniversary of an Icon.
In preparation for the SIHH 2016 next month, Jaeger-LeCoultre has just unveiled five new Reverso watches with sixteen references, commemorating the 85th anniversary of the birth of this iconic watch first presented in 1931. This undisputed style icon elicits the same wonderment decade after decade.
Insider: A. Lange & Söhne 1815 '200th Anniversary F. A. Lange' Limited Edition in Platinum. A 200-Piece Edition Where Less is More.
With the limited A. Lange & Söhne 1815 '200th Anniversary F. A. Lange', A. Lange & Söhne salutes the Ferdinand Adolph Lange the founder of Saxon precision watchmaking who was born 200 years ago. The exclusive anniversary edition is available in platinum and honey gold and is limited to 200 watches each.
Insider: Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5980/1AR-001. Hands-On with a Perfectly Executed Two-Tone Timepiece.
This time, just like we did on our hands-on review of the full rose gold version of this watch, we will limit the use of words and let the images do the real talking. When it comes to a watch like the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5980/1AR-001, there's really not much to say about the watch. The Patek Philippe Nautilus is simply perfect.
Insider: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph ref. 49150. A Classic that Needs No Introduction.
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph ref. 49150/B01A-9095 is a timepiece that needs very little to no introduction. The Vacheron Overseas is a watch inspired by the sea and by the lines of the Vacheron Constantin '222' —a 37 mm watch designed by Jorg Hysek Sr. in 1977 to celebrate the 222nd anniversary of the manufacture and to compete against the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak— and in our opinion with some cues from the defunct Vacheron Constantin Phidias.
Insider: Hublot Big Bang Jeans Ceramic Limited Edition. Only 250 Pieces for Denim Lovers.
If you are a denim lover and a fan of Citizens of Humanity, 7 For All Mankind, True Religion or Paper Denim & Cloth jeans, it is very likely that the Hublot Big Bang Jeans Ceramic Limited Edition ref. 301.CI.2770.NR.JEANS is the perfect watch for you. This watch, specifically designed with denim lovers in mind, is as bold and rebellious as it gets.
News: Presenting the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst. Commemorating the 200th Birthday of Ferdinand Adolph Lange.
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, A. Lange & Söhne has just released one of the most beautiful watches we've seen lately. The new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst ref. 730.048F is the first A. Lange & Söhne watch that combines a stop-seconds device for the tourbillon and the zero-reset mechanism. At the close of the anniversary year that commemorates the 200th birthday of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, this paragon of precision timekeeping is being presented in a limited 'Handwerkskunst' —artisanship— edition featuring extraordinary dial and movement decorations.
Insider: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Calendar in Stainless Steel. The Best Complete Calendar You Can Buy Under $10,500 USD.
We are suckers for complete calendars as they are one of the most fascinating complications without having to go for the whole nine yards and getting a Perpetual Calendar. If you like to know what day you are living in and have the month, day, date and moon phase on your wrist, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Calendar in stainless steel is the best value for your money and a fascinating timepiece with wonderful wrist presence.
Experience: H. Upmann Petit Coronas. JFK's Favorite Cuban Cigar Brand.
Just like the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black ref. 79220B is reminiscent of another era, the H. Upmann Petit Coronas is a cigar that will also transport you back in time. Well known among cigar connoisseurs, as president John F. Kennedy's favorite cigar brand, the H. Upmann Petit Coronas is a cigar that delivers way more than its size conveys. Similar in size to the 'Petit Upmann' —Kennedy's favorite H. Upmann cigar—, the Petit Coronas are as close as it gets to the now discontinued 'vitola' that JFK used to love. The H. Upmann brand gets its name from a German banker named Herman Upmann who decided to move to Cuba because of his love for Cuban cigars. In 1844, he set up a bank that closed in the early 1920s but his cigar making factory still remains as a fine example of a light to medium Habano like no other. H. Upmann Petit Coronas is definitely a cigar that goes well in any occasion and one that is a joy to smoke.
