This past weekend, June 10th, 2016, the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series —LVACWS— a.k.a the 'Auld Mug' took place for the very first time in fresh water. The setting, Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront and Navy Pier. Since Bremont is the timing partner for the America's Cup and one of the partners for the Oracle Team USA —the defending champion—, we were invited as one of their special guests. The Louis Vuitton America's Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two sailing yachts.
Insider: Hautlence Atelier Playground Labyrinth 01 & 02. Hands-on with a $12,500 USD Wrist Object that Looks Like a Watch but It is Not One.
It looks like a watch but it is not one. It's meant to be worn like a watch, but it is not one. It is made by a 'haute horlogerie' brand but has nothing to do with horology. What is it? It's a wrist toy meant for watchlifestylers who think that money is no object and that Hautlence refers to as "an entirely essential yet fundamentally useless object"; however, this useless wrist object sells for CHF 12,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $12,500 USD. Founded in 2004, Hautlence shook the watchmaking world by revolutionizing the way we tell time.
Insider: Angelus U40 Racing Tourbillon Skeleton. Hands-on with a Very Sporty Tourbillon.
As part of its return to the forefront of cutting-edge Swiss watchmaking, Angelus presented the Angelus U40 Racing Tourbillon Skeleton during Baselworld 2016 earlier this year. The U40 Racing Tourbillon Skeleton is powered by the A-300 in-house tourbillon movement, which was developed from the bottom up to enhance its three-dimensionality and sculptural beauty while boosting its performance and shock-resistance.
Macros: Louis Moinet Tourbillon Piece Unique. 18K White Gold Hand Engraved Case & Sapphire Crystal Dial.
Louis Moinet was one of the greatest watchmakers ever and the inventor of the chronograph in 1816. Today, his spirit lives on thanks to Jean-Marie Schaller, who as founder and creative director of the Louis Moinet brand, revived the prestigious name of the inspirational master watchmaker.
Insider: L.U.C Perpetual Twin by Chopard. Hands-on with a Classic Complication at Great Value.
For 20 years, Chopard Manufacture has been creating the watches in the L.U.C collection. This year at Baselworld 2016, Chopard is once again shaking up the classic codes of complicated Haute Horlogerie by introducing the new L.U.C Perpetual Twin, an all steel chronometer-certified perpetual calendar. The L.U.C Perpetual Twin is endowed with the mechanical excellence of Chopard complications while housing its perpetual calendar movement within a stainless steel 43 mm case.
Insider: Manufacture Royale 1770 Haute Voltige Dual Time. Hands-on with a Beautiful Execution of Haute Horlogerie.
Presented last month at Baselworld 2016, the new Manufacture Royale 1770 Haute Voltige Dual Time is enriching the 1770 Voltige line with this new version equipped with an easy-to-set second time zone and a raised balance wheel that dominates the majority of the dial. Available in a 45 mm micro-blasted stainless steel case, the watch comes with either blue or black dial. Personally, we feel the blue dial is way more appealing and extremely beautiful since we are suckers for blue dials.
Insider: Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered Onyx. Hands-on with the Perfect Watch for a Black Tie Gala Night.
The new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered embodies the essential Jaquet Droz design codes, balancing a sense of history with sheer, modern elegance. The Grande Seconde Off-Centered Onyx displays a striking graphic simplicity and its stylized black dial of edgy, intense black draws one deep into the heart of Jaquet Droz’s history. The creative concept underlying this model was born in the 18th century, at the height of the Enlightenment, when Pierre Jaquet-Droz revolutionized watchmaking with his Grande Seconde.
Insider: H. Moser & Cie. Venturer Tourbillon Dual Time. Hands-on with a Classic Looking Timepiece Priced Right Under $100K USD.
TGIF, and just because of that, how about we now talk about another one of those gorgeous looking pieces from H. Moser & Cie. so you can dream and think about it the whole weekend. The new Baselworld 2016 Venturer Tourbillon Dual Time in 18K white gold is a perfect addition to the existent Venturer Tourbillon Dual Time line. This exceptional timepiece where simplicity and clean lines are the name of the game.
Insider: Angelus U20 Ultra-Skeleton Tourbillon. Hands-on with an Impressive Sapphire, Carbon and Titanium Skeletonized Timepiece.
Released during Baselworld 2016 and after the successful launch last year of the Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière —our hands-on review here— that brought the brand back from the ashes; Angelus presents now, the U20 Ultra-Skeleton Tourbillon. The new Angelus U20 Ultra-Skeleton Tourbillon has been conceived as a beautiful mechanical haute horlogerie sculpture in its entirety. Built like a supercar, its design is streamlined and based on structural optimization. Made of sapphire, carbon and titanium, the U20 is at the forefront of cutting-edge watchmaking.
Insider: Jaquet Droz Charming Bird Métiers d'Art. Hands-on with One of the Most Fascinating Timepieces Out There.
In 2012, The Bird Repeater featured two blue tits and their young birds close to the heart of the company’s founder Pierre Jaquet-Droz. This remarkable model reaffirmed the virtuoso expertise of Jaquet Droz, passed down from the 18th century and realized here in miniature. The following year, The Charming Bird watch marked the brand’s 275th anniversary with a new interpretation of the bird in an ultra-modern decorative setting and this time singing.
Insider: Breitling for Bentley GMT B04 S Carbon Body. Hands-on with the First Bentley Piece We Really Like.
We have never been big fans of the Breitling for Bentley timepieces, however, when it comes to the new Bentley GMT B04 S Carbon Body just released at Baselworld 2016 less than a month ago, we have to say that we really like this watch. While the dial still seems quite busy as all other Breitling for Bentley models, there's something special about this piece that draw our attention to it.
Insider: Bremont ALT1-C/PB Polished Black. Hands-on with a Beautiful Elegant Black Knight.
As a natural extension of the line, Baselworld 2016 saw the launch of the new Bremont ALT1-C/PB Polished Black. This new handsome chronograph was Bremont’s first non-limited edition polished steel watch forming part of the core collection. In a very short period of time, this chronometer has become an important and successful part of the Bremont watch range.
Baselworld 2016: Presenting the new Hautlence Vortex Bronze. Hands-on Review, Live Pictures & Pricing.
For Baselworld 2016, Hautlence unveiled its fourth variant of the Vortex model, we are talking about the Vortex Bronze. Unlike most other bronze watches that come with a reasonable price tag, this exceptional piece of 'haute horlogerie' is as exclusive and pricey as it gets. The new Hautlence Vortex Bronze is the second model under the Concepts d’Exception collection and has made quite an impression through the combination of avant-garde watchmaking techniques and its futuristic design.
Baselworld 2016: Presenting the new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time. Hands-on, Live Pictures & Pricing.
The new Baselworld 2016 Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time comes in a 43 mm diameter case in three different versions that include an Ivory Grand Feu enamel dial with an 18K red gold case and a silvery opaline or onyx dial with a stainless steel case. A new timepiece that celebrates the magic in a two-beat tempo with a brand new mechanism and elegantly positioned second time zone.
Baselworld 2016: Presenting the new H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Perpetual Calendar. Hands-on Review, Live Pictures & Pricing.
For Baselworld 2016, H. Moser & Cie. has developed a perpetual calendar in its Pioneer collection that is the first complication of its kind to be water-resistant to 120 meters. The Pioneer collection launched last year, is a bold, modern interpretation of the classy spirit of this manufacture. With a strong design which makes reference to the industrial world, models in this collection are both elegant and sporty, tailored for daily wear.
Baselworld 2016: Presenting the new MCT Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps Sequential Two S210. Hands-on Review, Live Pictures & Pricing.
Still continuing with our Baselworld 2016 reporting, we present you the new MCT Watches Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps Sequential Two S210. This new watch featuring MCT's signature prism display concept is presented for the very first time in a 46.4 mm Titanium round case. The new MCT Sequential Two S210 is available in Titanium with light dial elements and blue hand and screws or in a Dark Grey DLC Titanium edition with dark dial elements and a red hand.
Baselworld 2016: Presenting the new Manufacture Royale 1770 Micromegas. Hands-on Review, Live Pictures & Pricing.
This is the very first time we are featuring Manufacture Royale on our website. While in the past we didn't feel compelled to do so because we felt their watches were sort of kitsch and tacky, the brand has gone through an interesting evolution and we now feel that Manufacture Royale is offering some great horological stuff. Especially, after reviewing their novelties presented during Baselworld 2016 last week.
Baselworld 2016: Presenting the new Breitling Superocean Heritage Chronoworks 100-Piece Limited Edition. Hands-on Review, Live Pictures & Pricing.
For Baselworld 2016, Breitling presented a highly exclusive 100-piece limited edition Superocean Héritage Chronoworks. This new Breitling is interpreted in an all-black version with a brand-new 46 mm black matte ceramic case ensuring an original, powerful and contemporary look. The black volcano dial is adorned with pointed hour-markers recalling the 1957 Superocean, created for diving enthusiasts.
Baselworld 2016: Presenting the new Angelus U30 Tourbillon Rattrapante. Hands-on Review, Live Pictures & Pricing.
Built like a supercar, the new Baselworld 2016 Angelus U30 Tourbillon Rattrapante unites three coveted 'haute horlogerie' complications in a contemporary, three-dimensional form that is unlike any other. With a tourbillon, a flyback double column wheel chronograph, a split seconds —rattrapante— chronograph and a power reserve indicator, this new watch from the reborn Angelus is one of the highlights this year at Baselworld 2016.
Baselworld 2016: Presenting the new Bremont Boeing 100 Limited Edition. Hands-on Review, Live Pictures & Pricing.
To celebrate Boeing’s 100th anniversary, Bremont presented at Baselworld 2016 the new Bremont Boeing 100 limited edition. The Boeing 100 watch, limited to only 300 pieces, harks back to the early days of aviation with the beloved Boeing ‘Totem’ logo proudly present on its dark matte vintage brown dial.