When we think about Laurent Ferrier, the first thing that comes to mind is how flawlessly this brand executes its watches and particularly their movements and dials. Released with an Evergreen —forest green colored— dial, now comes a stunning pair composed of the Square Micro-Rotor Evergreen in stainless steel and the Classic Micro-Rotor Evergreen in 18K red gold.
Posts tagged #Independent Brands
From the Editor: Daniel Roth is Being Revived by La Fabrique Du Temps Louis Vuitton. The Resurrection of One of the Greatest Independent Watchmakers.
Yesterday, February 23, 2023, Jean Arnault announced that Daniel Roth is being revived by La Fabrique Du Temps Louis Vuitton and that Michael Navas and Enrico Barbasini —master watchmakers— would oversee the creation and execution of each Daniel Roth watch personally. Navas and Barbasini founded La Fabrique Du Temps Louis Vuitton and under their oversight, one of the most legendary names in modern watchmaking is being resurrected with the launch of souscription watches as far as I know per the limited information that was released with much of a teaser type of campaign.
Insider: Greubel Forsey Double Balancier Sapphire
In 2009, after extensive research on multiple regulators at Greubel Forsey’s EWT Laboratory—Experimental Watch Technology—, the inclined Double Balancier was introduced as a prototype at Baselworld. The two inclined regulating organs —then positioned on top of each other— now occupy distinct and separate three-dimensional spaces. Released for the first time at the SIHH 2016 in white gold, then in rose gold at the SIHH 2018, now comes this amazing Greubel Forsey Double Balancier in the most complex case material possible.
From the Editor: What is in Reality a Handmade Watch?
Many watches out there claim to be handmade but only a few can make that cut. The Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 is one of them. With 95% of this timepiece —including the hairspring— made using only hand-operated tools and 6,000 hours of work —three years of man-hours—, the Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 is in reality as handmade as a watch can get. A handmade watch requires to be made mostly by hand or utilizing processes that are hand operated, I’d say to at least 70%.
Insider: Gorilla Outlaw Drift Limited Edition. Wandering Hours, Swiss Made, and Budget Friendly. Gimme!
Gorilla Watches was launched in 2017 by Octavio Garcia —former Chief Artistic Officer at Audemars Piguet for more than a decade— and his business partner Lukas Gopp —a former employee of brands like IWC, Sector, Ralph Lauren Watches and Audemars Piguet.The first time we reviewed one of their watches, it was also the first time that we had posted a review of a watch under $1,000 USD. You can check out the review of the Gorilla Fastback here.
Introducing: MB&F HM10 Panda for ONLY Watch 2021
This year marks the ninth edition of ONLY Watch, a biennial charity auction of one-of-a-kind timepieces where 99 percent of proceeds go to fund research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration primarily affecting young boys. This is the sixth time MB&F has contributed one of its Machines to ONLY Watch, once again going above and beyond in the creation of a truly unique timepiece.
Eye Candy: MB&F Horological Machine No. 9 Flow. Inspired by Automotive and Aviation Design.
Released in 2018, the MB&F HM9 Flow was presented in two limited editions of 33 pieces each. The watch was conceptualized by Max Büsser and designed by mastermind Eric Giroud. With Guillaume Thévenin who developed the movement, Camile Fournet who worked on the strap and Jean-François Mojon who collaborated on the precision turning of wheels, pinions and axes, amongst other parts.
Introducing: MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT Malachite
First launched in 2019, the Legacy Machine FlyingT was MB&F’s first-ever machine dedicated to women. It embodies elegance and vitality over the softer conventions of womanhood. Awarded the prize for Best Ladies’ Complication at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, the Legacy Machine FlyingT launched in three different 18K white gold versions. Then in 2020, they were joined by limited editions in red gold and platinum, featuring guilloche dials as well as the sixth edition with a Lapis Lazuli dial and an 18K white gold case set with diamonds. Today, MB&F is presenting this masterpiece of horology with a stunning malachite dial.
News: Presenting the Genus Dragon
Genus presents a watch with a spectacular centerpiece: a guardian dragon in motion that indicates the passage of time. Bringing together Haute Horlogerie, mechanical engineering, goldsmithing, sculpture and engraving:to create a fascinating equilibrium between technical constraints and aesthetic requisites. The result is unprecedented. a graceful, powerful, expressive dragon crafted from 18K gold, like the main components of the movement, revealing not only a full range of horological artistry,but also unlocking vast creative possibilities.
From the Editor: The Day I Had to Shoot a Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 with an iPhone 11
As the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WCL, I have countless stories of challenging watch photoshoots or photoshoots going wrong. What could be my worst nightmare as a watch photographer? That my lens would break inadvertently or that I would drop my camera right before the shoot? Well, neither of them. The worst and most unexpected thing to happen was to forget my camera’s memory cards 1,100 miles away right before meeting with Stephen Forsey in Mexico City.
News: Presenting the MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT Lapis Lazuli
First launched in 2019, the Legacy Machine FlyingT was MB&F’s first-ever machine dedicated to women. It embodies elegance and vitality over the softer conventions of womanhood. Awarded the prize for Best Ladies’ Complication at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, the Legacy Machine FlyingT launched in three different 18K white gold versions. This year they were joined by limited editions in red gold and platinum, featuring guilloche dials. Today, the sixth edition of the LM FlyingT makes its appearance this time with a Lapis Lazuli dial and an 18K white gold case set with diamonds.
News: Presenting the Christophe Claret X-TREM-1 Azteca
This iconic work of Aztec art proudly adorns the new X-TREM-1. This timepiece including the "Stone of the Sun" in relief, made of solid gold entirely hand-engraved, will be offered as a Unique Piece at the SIAR 2020. Driven as ever by a determination to present avant-garde timepieces, 5N red gold and black grade 5 PVD titanium were the metals chosen to make the case of this new version of the X-TREM-1 Azteca.
News: Presenting the HYT FLOW with Light Emitting Mechanical Module
Meet the new HYT FLOW, a timepiece that takes the craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking into a new age of enlightenment. Mechanics replace electronics as the unexpected catalyst of illumination, with a proprietary new complication generating light on demand via a pusher on the case band. HYT’s FLOW watches mirror the brand’s relentless quest to bring innovation that resonates with its contemporary context. Literally speaking, the light brightens what already exists; figuratively it brings deeper understanding. The latter describes these timepieces’ purpose in the watchmaking arena
Insider: Laurent Ferrier Galet Square Micro-Rotor Chocolate Dial
Representing a subtle blend of traditions and contemporary techniques, the Laurent Ferrier Galet Square Micro-Rotor this time features an understated chocolate dial with white applied markers and white hands. Cased in stainless steel, the proportions of the pebbled-shaped square case are just perfect measuring 41 mm x 41 mm. Along with the unique shape and style of the watch, Laurent Ferrier's signature ball-shaped ratcheted crown rises in all glory to further elevate the overall aesthetics that appear classic yet very modern. Delivered on a chocolate brown alligator strap with a pin buckle, the watch is very elegant yet perfect for daily wear with jeans and a t-shirt.
News: Presenting the Greubel Forsey Balancier S
Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey unveil a new timepiece showcasing a large, high precision and inclined balance wheel within a 100 meters water-resistant titanium case tailored for the most active lifestyle. The two inventor watchmakers took up the challenge of fully —and visibly— combining sport and chronometry. The unique ovoid case with ergonomic profile and integrated lugs provides optimal protection for the movement. With this new calibre, the ‘Balancier S’, Greubel Forsey pursues the sporting adventure, pushing the technical limits to combine ergonomics, architecture, and precision. A new flagship in aesthetics and performance, innovation, and craftsmanship.
News: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 2RE
In 1770, Ferdinand Berthoud was awarded the title of "Clockmaker and Mechanic by appointment to the French King and Navy". Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud is celebrating this 250th anniversary by unveiling a new collection inspired by the Marine Clock No.6: the Chronomètre FB 2RE. This new timepiece reinterprets the architecture and design of this Marine Clock. Fitted along its middle with a large panoramic window, the round 18K gold case frames a grand feu enamel dial with complex two-tiered construction.
News: Arnold & Son UltraThin Tourbillon Koi Unique Piece
Delicately placed on a mother-of-pearl dial, hand-painted carp and sculpted lotuses surround a flying tourbillon. Arnold & Son presents the Ultrathin Tourbillon Koi, a delicate unique piece that blends fine watchmaking and artistic crafts. Showcasing its broad spectrum of skills within a 5N 18K red gold case measuring 42 mm in diameter and 8.34 mm in thickness, the finest craftsmanship builds on tried-and-tested watchmaking techniques.
News: Presenting the Urwerk EMC Time Hunter Desert Sage
Out-of-the-box, out of competition and out of this world as befits any Urwerk creation, the new EMC Time Hunter features an unprecedented surface finishing ensuring an amazing result: a military beige chronometer teamed with a camouflage canvas strap that earns it the nickname Desert Sage. Its case withstands the test of time thanks to a ceramic-type lacquer treatment. The latter, beyond its protective properties, beautifully enhances the finely grained surface of the micro-bead-blasted steel.
News: Presenting the Kudoke 2 Nocturne Limited Edition
Stefan Kudoke’s passion for watchmaking handcraft began at an early age when two skilled master craftsmen imbued in him an appreciation and love of the mechanical processes of timekeeping. Although not born into a long family tradition in watchmaking, Stefan finished his studies by graduating with honors. He continued to study and refine his skills at the Glashütte Original manufacture in the studio for complications and prototypes. He then continued his professional development in the service department for Breguet, Blancpain, and Omega in New York. But that is not the end of the story.
News: Presenting the Genus GNS1.2 TD Damascene Titanium
After inventing a new way of telling time, without dials or hands, Genus introduces a timepiece in Damascene Titanium. It is a rare material in Haute Horlogerie. An ancient technique that involves a savoir-faire as challenging as it is subtle. It is called Mokume-gane in Japan, where the method has been used for making katana sword blades since the 17th century. In the heart of the forge, the hammering and folding of layer upon layer of titanium is a craft reserved for the best.
