As we are five days away from Watches & Wonders 2023, I’d like to talk about one of the ultimate showstoppers at last year’s edition of Watches & Wonders. As I wonder what will Patek Philippe present this year, I can’t stop thinking about the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 5270 in platinum with green lacquered dial. Without a doubt, the reference 5270P-014 is an absolute grail in my book and here’s why.
Posts filed under From the Editor
From the Editor: Why I Think that the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin White Gold is Pure Perfection
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin reference 4300V was first released in an all-gold version including a matching bracelet during Watches & Wonders 2020 in the midst of the pandemic and only in 18K pink gold. Later, it made its appearance in 18K white gold becoming one of the most understated and under-the-radar luxury watches from Vacheron Constantin that I personally lust for and love.
From the Editor: The Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto is the Most Unexpected Watch of 2023. An Amazing Timepiece for the Price.
Without sounding like a snob, I never thought I would be featuring a Christopher Ward watch here at WCL, but the time has come. For me to talk about certain watches, these watches need to earn the right to be here, not because I think of WCL as the non plus ultra —nothing further beyond— but more than anything, because I truly believe in honest and unbiased watch content.
From the Editor: My Search for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 25854TI is Finally Over. Detailed Explanation of this Reference.
There are a number of words and phrases that would come to mind whenever I thought about finding one of my all-time grails, the titanium Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 25854TI.OO.1150TI.01. A range of adjectives describing this watch that go all the way from understated luxury to ultra cool sportiness, a Neo-vintage watch grail, pure watch badassery for those that really know, the ultimate FU watch, but most definitely, the words that would always come to mind, would be: a grand complication by Audemars Piguet for those that want the sportiest look possible in a very understated way.
From the Editor: Swiss Watch Industry Hits 28% Growth in the U.S. in 2022
According to the figures released by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH, the U.S. hit a record +27.7% growth in 2022 when compared to 2021. These figures do not account for the month of December 2022, but we are confident that with the holiday frenzy, the percentage might go even higher. Today, the U.S. solidifies its position as the most important Swiss watch market in the world with China and Hong Kong distantly following.
From the Editor: Fourth Generation of Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad Quietly Reintroduced by AP after 9 Years of Discontinuation. In-Depth History and Explanation of this Iconic Watch.
The iconic and legendary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad ref. 25940 needs very little introduction and is for sure one of those watches that is worth explaining in-depth, especially since it marks the first use of rubber as a main component in the watch industry. The AP Rubberclad is a watch that we've seen on the wrists of dozen of celebrities and AP lovers and a watch that is living testament of the continued innovation that AP has brought to the watch industry since the launch of the Royal Oak in 1972. A few months ago, Audemars Piguet quietly reintroduced the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad under reference 26238OK.OO.A002CA.01.
From the Editor: My 24 Favorite Watches for 24 Days of Christmas. Happy Holidays!
Since most people outside of the U.S. in Europe, Asia and Latin America celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve —and I happen to do the same—, today I have decided to put together a list with my 24 watches from this year to celebrate the 24 days of Christmas. These 24 favorite watches with a little bit of everything from Audemars Piguet to Vacheron Constantin and everything in between are my way of thanking you for your readership and wishing you and your loved ones the happiest of holidays.
From the Editor: Here's Why I Think the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual is a Perfect Watch for Guys Like Me
I’ve always been a big fan of A. Lange & Söhne, but I’ve never taken the plunge and purchased one. It is one of the brands that I really like but it doesn’t seem to fit my style and my lifestyle, as I typically gravitate toward very sporty watches or watches that are fitted with a bracelet. Now, I am not saying that you can’t wear a Lange watch with a pair of jeans and sneakers, nevertheless, every time that I try one on it seems to not go well with what I am wearing until the day that I took these pictures and the wristshot at the end of this article.
From the Editor: Dissecting the Akrivia AK-06. Up Close & Personal with the Great and Not-so-Great.
Akrivia was founded in 2012 by Rexhep Rexhepi who was born in Kosovo –part of the former Yugoslavia— in 1987. His fascination with watchmaking started at a young age. At age 11, Rexhep moved to Geneva where his father was working at the time, and at the age of 15, he began his apprenticeship at Patek Philippe where he was hired full-time after graduating from the apprenticeship.
From the Editor: Rolex Launches Rolex Certified Pre-Owned Programme. Here's What I Think Will Happen in the Secondary Market.
Rolex announced today that they are launching the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned Programme. Rolex is now offering the opportunity to purchase pre-owned watches that are certified pre-owned from its official retailers. The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned programme now enables retailers in the brand’s official distribution network to sell second-hand models that are certified as authentic and which come with a new two-year international guarantee.
From the Editor: $1.8 Million USD in Watches Stolen from Watch Collector in New Zealand
A total of 70 watches worth over $1.8 Million USD were stolen in New Zealand two weeks ago from a watch collector’s home that goes by the Instagram handle @Horolson. This fine collector had been collecting watches for almost ten years and is a big fan of independent watchmakers, and a seasoned collector that owned at one point more than 100 watches ranging all the way from Patek Philippe Grand Complications to Jaeger-LeCoultre, Roger Dubuis, and everything in between.
From the Editor: Fake Richard Mille Watches are For Fake People. This RM030 is the Real Deal and Will Help you Spot the Fake Ones.
This morning I busted a fake Richard Mille that had been posted on Instagram by someone who’s not a watch expert and that was fooled by someone that claims to be a legit watch collector. Fake watches are for fake people and a fake Richard Mille can often be spotted a mile away to those of us with a trained eye. When someone wears a fake watch, he/she pretends to be someone they’re not and wants to deceive others pertaining his/her status.
From the Editor: The "Holy Trinity of Watchmaking" in Reality Should Be "The Holy Quartet" with Jaeger-LeCoultre Included
We all talk about the ‘Holy Trinity of Watchmaking’ composed by Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet, and for years I have debated if it should be called the ‘Holy Quartet of Watchmaking’ instead. Since it seems unfair to drop Audemars Piguet out of the trinity and include Jaeger-LeCoultre in its place, I think that making it a quartet seems more fair and reasonable.
From the Editor: Texts From a Serial Watch Flipper. The Ridiculousness of Today's Watch Market.
I’ve been talking about the current situation of the watch market for a while and I’ve expressed my concerns as well as my anger about how the wrong people are getting watches allocated to ultimately just end up flipping them. I have to say that I have no problem with the well established grey/secondary market dealers as some of them are very fine gentleman and people whom I’ve done business for years and real businessmen. Without names like David S Williams, Kirill Yuzh, Watchbox, Adrian Taskin or Roman Sharf —just to name a few—, the watch market would’ve not boomed like it did in the last 10 to 15 years.
From the Editor: The 90 Nominated Timepieces for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2022
As an Academy member of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, I cast my votes last month for the watches to become the nominees for the 2022 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Along with other 649 members from around the world, we submitted our votes digitally to narrow down the list from 254 watches—entered into this year’s competition— down to 90 selected timepieces.
From the Editor: Finally Got an Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch. Here's What I Really Think About It.
t only took me five months and five days to finally be able to find a MoonSwatch at the Swatch Boutique at North Park Mall in Dallas, Texas. The Omega x Swatch Bioceramic MoonSwatch landed at the Swatch boutiques on March 26, 2022, a day before I headed to Switzerland for Watches & Wonders 2022. During my trip to Switzerland, I was able to peruse the MoonSwatch ‘Mission to Uranus’ —no pun intended—
From the Editor: Watch Theft is on the Rise Globally. As a Victim, I Tell You What to Do to Protect Yourself.
Watch theft is on the rise around the world and almost every week I get to see posts on Instagram about someone being robbed. This morning, I woke up to the video making the rounds on social media of a gentleman driving a Bugatti in London while two individuals in scooters smashed his window. In cities like London, Barcelona, Rome, Miami, Las Vegas, Mexico City, Bogota, Saint-Tropez, and Mykonos just to name a few, it is no longer safe to walk around with a nice watch on your wrist.
From the Editor: 20 Watch Pics That Will Make You Want to Buy Every Watch in Them
Watch pictures are one of the most important things when making the decision of buying a watch before seeing it on metal. You and I have drooled a million times over the thousands of watch pics that are posted on Instagram on a daily basis, across watch publications like mine, or throughout the most visited watch fora. Many of us have purchased watches from listings online just because the pictures were that good. Ultimately, there is a saying that says: “A picture conveys more than a thousand words.”
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%.
From the Editor: Will Panerai Ever Be, What it Once Was?
Long gone are the days of the sturdy and historical legendary-looking Panerai watches that I originally fell in love with, but regardless, I still have much appreciation for the brand. I really hope that sooner rather than later, Panerai takes a slight turn and brings back more of the historical aurae of the legendary watches like the Bronzo PAM507 or the L’Egiziano PAM341.
