Lundis Bleus is a two-men operation to this day. An independent brand that started out of a conversation between two watch school friends. Johan Storni and Bastien Vuilliomenet met in 1994 while attending the watchmaking school of La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland. We still remember the first time we meet with Bastien in 2018 at the lobby of the Hotel Euler in Basel, Switzerland and we were quite impressed with their watches —considering the price point— but mostly by the quality of their dials. It was back in November 2016 when they released their first watch ref. 1100.
Posts filed under Other Brands
News: Introducing the Ressence Type 1DXB in Collaboration with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons
Ressence, the Belgian watch company that keeps challenging the status quo of mechanical watchmaking, in close collaboration with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the UAE’s leading retailer of luxury watches and jewelry, is excited to announce the release of the Type 1 DXB —a limited edition of the Type 1 Squared. The new Ressence in collaboration with Seddiqi is limited to 19 pieces and draws inspiration from Arabic geometric patterns, believed to unveil the underlying reality to the viewer. This traditional design composes with natural light and creates a unique shadow play. It is an Arabic take on skeleton dials.
Rare Bird: Voutilainen Vingt-8. A Perfect Example of the Hand Mastery of Kari Voutilainen.
Kari Voutilainen was born in Finland in 1962 and has a passionate interest in horology spanning thirty years. He completed his initial watchmaker’s training at the world-renowned watchmaking school of Tapiola in Finland. He first came to Switzerland in 1989 to attend the International Watchmaking School, where he completed the WOSTEP complicated watch course, a post-graduate course for those watchmakers dedicated to the restoration of complicated, high-quality rare watches. He was quickly spotted by Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps, where over the following ten years he was at the center of the restoration work of some of the world’s rarest pieces as well as the creation of new and original ‘one-off’ pieces.
Insider: Franck Muller Vanguard Racing Skeleton 'La Mejor Carrera del Mundo' Carbon. A Stunning 75-Piece Limited Edition Celebrating the World of Motorsports.
First presented at the SIAR 2019 just a week before the Mexican F1 Grand Prix comes the Franck Muller Vanguard ‘La Mejor Carrera del Mundo’ —the best race in the world— Limited Edtion. Available in carbon or in rose gold, the watch celebrates the world of motor racing with the colors of the Mexican flag. While the carbon model is available in a limited edition of 75 pieces, the rose gold model comes in a 25-piece limited edition. Both watches feature the colors of the Mexican flag between 11 and 1 o’clock.
News: Louis Moinet 'Only Mexico' Unique Piece. Honoring the Aztecs, Zapotecs, Mayans and the Allende Meteorite.
The just released Louis Moinet ‘Only Mexico’ watch is a unique piece that pays tribute to roots of Mexican culture. Ateliers Louis Moinet painstakingly gathered information and sought out the most typical materials for Mexico and then blended them together in this spectacular, original creation. One key highlight is the presence of the Allende meteorite, found in the State of Chihuahua. Released on the occasion of the SIAR 2019 —Salón Internacional de Alta Relojería México—, the Louis Moinet ‘Only Mexico’ is fitted with Louis Moinet’s mechanical tourbillon calibre LM35. This mechanical manual wound movement won the gold medal at the most recent International Chronometry Competition.
Insider: Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback Chronograph. A Great Watch Under $10K for Chrono Lovers.
If you like chronographs and you are looking for one that doesn’t break the bank and in the under $10K USD range, the Carl F. Bucherer Chrono is a perfect watch that not only appears much pricier than its actual price tag but also one that offers a clean and very understated look. A watch available in three versions —stainless steel with grey dial and 18K red gold with either black or champagne colored dial— and equipped with a flyback chronograph mechanism. Featuring a mirror polished round case measuring 43 mm in diameter and a double domed sapphire crystal the Manero Flyback Chronograph is very vintage looking and great looking, especially for under $10K USD.
Insider: Franck Muller Vanguard Tourbillon Rally Maya 2019. A Captivating 5-Piece Limited Edition.
Two months ago we brought you the news about the new watches released by Franck Muller to celebrate the the 6th edition of the Rally Maya. Today, we dive deep into the captivating beauty of the Vanguard Tourbillon Rally Maya 2019. Exclusively available in Mexico and in a 5-piece limited edition, the Vanguard Tourbillon is the most special of all watches ever released as the result of the partnership between Rally Maya and Franck Muller Mexico —Raconli Group. A percentage from the proceeds of the sale of these limited edition watches will be donated to a special foundation in the southeast region of Mexico that supports children with Down Syndrome. Now, on with this very good looking watch dressed in the colors of the Mexican flag and accentuated by the signature tourbillon with Franck Muller logo bridge and the figure eight snake logo of the Rally Maya.
News: Label Noir Creates the First Rolex Daytona Tourbillon Customization Using a ref. 116520
A world premiere by Label Noir is the new Rolex Daytona Tourbillon inspired by the mythical Daytona Paul Newman. Produced on special order for a customer who wishes to remain anonymous, this unique piece will be delivered after four exhibitions in Geneva, Paris, St-Tropez and Monaco. Before being released to its owner, this very first Rolex Daytona Tourbillon fully customized by Label Noir is in the safe custody of watchmaker Emmanuel Curti, a member of the venerable Société Suisse de Chronométrie —SSC— and CEO of Label Noir.
News: Presenting the Ressence Type 1 ZZ. A Collaboration with Laurent Picciotto from Chronopassion Paris.
Ressence was founded in 2010, winners of the 2013 Horological Revelation Award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, Ressence takes a distinctive approach to the craft of contemporary fine watchmaking. Ressence is a Belgian brand based in Antwerp that combines Swiss made calibres with unmatched self-engineered innovation to reimagine how mechanical watches can function and interact with its user in the modern age. When Chronopassion was first founded in 1988, the aim was to gather the most exclusive items in the world of watchmaking under one roof; and today, that original motivation is just as strong as ever.
News: Presenting the Bremont Jaguar D-Type Limited Edition
Jaguar Classic recently re-started production of the iconic 1950s D-type race car in Coventry, 64 years after the first examples were built. In 1955 Jaguar planned to build 100 D-types but only 75 were completed; Jaguar Classic is now fulfilling the company’s original ambition by creating 25 all-new, period-correct sports cars. The triple Le Mans-winning D-type is the third continuation vehicle to come out of the Jaguar Classic workshops, following six missing Lightweight E-types completed in 2014-2015 and nine XKSSs built in 2017-2018.
Presenting: The C. Purnell Spherion Tourbillon. The World's Fastest Triple-Axis Tourbillon.
Cecil Purnell is a name that only a few hundred watch collectors know very well and a name that only a handful of people in the watch industry understand what it stands for and the type of product they put out there. Luckily, we are within that select group, and that’s why we are presenting you the just-released C. Purnell Spherion watch with our usual live pictures and captivating macro photography. Much like other independent horologists that prefer to remain ultra-exclusive, C. Purnell flies under the radar with little to no advertising, no mass communications, limited distribution, and their unique business model. However, regardless of the lack of media exposure their watches are incredible and a real treat for the eyes.
News: NOMOS Glashütte Autobahn Awarded Gold at the 2019 German Design Awards
The NOMOS Glashütte Autobahn was released in 2018 and it is the most dynamic design from NOMOS Glashütte to date. This minimalist watch has officially joined the top echelons of the international design world by winning the Gold “Excellence in international design” at the 2019 German Design Awards —despite some less than stellar hands-on reviews by some of our competitors. The GDA is presided by the German Design Council, founded as an initiative of the German Federal Parliament in 1953. Since then, it is the leading authority on branding and design in Germany.
Insider: Manufacture Royale ADN. A Combination Between the Opera and the Androgyne with a Flying Tourbillon.
In an interesting combination between two of their most iconic watches comes the Manufacture Royal ADN —French for DNA. Offering a dual time zone complication, the case of the ADN is a delicate blend of the intricate case construction of the Opera and Androgyne collections. With a curvier outline the case presents mobile lugs that pivot for a perfect ergonomic fit on the owner’s wrist. In case you’ve forgotten about Manufacture Royale’s story, we’ll give you a quick refresher. This independent watch brand was revived in 2010 and is directly linked to the Manufacture Royale des Montres de Ferney, which was a watchmaking atelier in which thinker and philosopher Voltaire was involved back in 1770.
News: Bovet Releases the Edouard Bovet Tourbillon. 60-Piece Limited Edition Commemorating the Bicentenary of Bovet's Arrival in China.
Today marks the bicentenary of Edouard Bovet’s first arrival in China, on August 16, 1818, an auspicious day that forever linked the Swiss watchmaking Maison with the nation of China. To commemorate this important milestone, Bovet has just released the double face Edouard Bovet Tourbillon in a limited edition of 60 pieces in three different precious metals. Dedicated to world travel, this new watch presents a triple time zone with hemispherical maps of the Earth, reverse-fitted hands to display the time on both sides of the movement, a power reserve of ten days and all exquisitely executed with hand engraving and blue enamel guilloché.
News: Linde Werdelin Releases Two New Classic 3 Timers After Being Dormant for Several Years
After pulling out of Baselworld and going dormant for several years, Linde Werdelin has announced today the addition of two new watches to the Classic 3 Timer Ocean line. With no new product releases for years, last year Linde Werdelin released a watch for watch connoisseur and old friend Kristian Haagen. Kristian had expressed an interest in owning the 3 Timer brown dial that sold out within a month when it was released in 2009 and Morten Linde thought it would be the perfect opportunity to offer Kristian his own customized edition 3 Timer.
Rare Bird: Daniel Roth Sports Automatic 50th Birthday Limited Edition. Created by One of the Greatest Independent Watchmakers of our Time.
Released in 1995 on the occasion of his 50th birthday, this Daniel Roth limited edition watch is a perfect example of the mastery and finesse achieved by one of the first watchmakers to become an independent, after a successful career in the Swiss watchmaking industry that included companies like Breguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre and even Audemars Piguet. Now 72 years old, Daniel Roth is very well known for becoming an independent watchmaker after a very long tenure at Breguet and launching his own brand and atelier in the Vallée de Joux in 1989. After going selling his brand to Bulgari in 2000…
Insider: Hysek Design La Colonne du Temps Mechanical Clock. A 55-Piece Limited Edition with an Incredible Mechanism.
After decades designing some of the most iconic watches including the Breguet Marine, the Vacheron Constantin 222, the TAG Heuer Kirium and the Seiko Kinetic Actura, Jorg Hisek decided to launch his own agency named Hysek Design in the late 1990s, after four years working at the Rolex design department. After launching his own watch brand and selling it years later, Jorg Hysek marks his comeback to the watch industry with the release of a very special 50-piece limited edition clock called 'La Colonne du Temps' —the column of time.
Insider: Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight Heure d'Ici & Heure d'Ailleurs. Hands-on with a New Interpretation of this Jumping Hours Timepiece.
First presented in 2014 by Van Cleef & Arpels as the Pierre Arpels Heure d’ici & Heure d’ailleurs in an 18K white gold pebble-shaped case measuring 42 mm in diameter —which you can read about it here—, VC&A presented a new iteration of this watch during the SIHH 2018, this time with the more appealing and contemporary 'Midnight' round case in 18K pink gold measuring 42 mm in diameter. The new Midnight Heure d’Ici & Heure d’Ailleurs is equipped with Van Cleef's own dual time zone movement which offers an understated and poetic interpretation of time, suspended between two horizons. Reading the hours becomes an invitation to travel, like a window open on the world.
SIHH 2018: Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Planétarium. A Fascinating Astronomical Complication for Ladies.
Following the successful release of their Midnight Planétarium in 2014, the watch that we still talk about to date and one of the most read articles here at WCL —you can read it here—; on the occasion of the SIHH 2018, Van Cleef & Arpels has drawn new inspiration to come up with a new interpretation of the watch created in collaboration with Netherlands watchmaker Christiaan van der Klaauw. The new Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Planétarium takes a slightly different approach not only in terms of size —measuring 38 mm instead of 44 mm like the Midnight Planétarium— but also in terms of functionality by centering the watch complication around fewer planets.
SIHH 2018: DeWitt Academia Endless Drive. The Watch with the Helical Screw at the Center of the Dial.
A huge comeback for DeWitt after presenting at the SIHH 2018 for the very first time. The new DeWitt Academia Endless Drive reveals an original design, consistent with the strong and distinct character of DeWitt creations, with an endless screw as the dial’s signature element. This rotating endless screw is a nod to automotive mechanics, which has been the field of inspiration to the brand's founder, Count Jérôme de Witt.
