Wishing all of you the best wishes for the year 2023 that is about to start. We couldn’t be more grateful for your readership and loyalty. Because of you, our readers, we strive to do better every day. How about a little feature on Sabrage to welcome the new year in style. The act of Sabrage refers to the act of opening a bottle of champagne by sliding a saber over its neck. Now, while many believe that the saber slices the neck of the bottle or pushes the cork out, what in reality happens is that the slight impact of the saber on the seam of the bottle creates a chain reaction that makes the bottle release its pressure by breaking its top cork included.
Posts filed under Watchlife
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.
Experience: Three Exceptional Aladino Robustos by JRE Tobacco. Honduran Cigars with Cuban DNA.
JRE Tobacco is a family-owned company, founded by Julio R. Eiroa and his son Justo M. Eiroa. A fully integrated operation from crop to shop. The history of the Eiroa family goes back to the time when Julio Eiroa, a Cuban exile from Pinar del Rio, moved to Honduras to flourish the Cuban cigar-making tradition at the JRE Tobacco Farm specialized in handmade Cuban seed cigars and to become the premier ‘Corojo’ grower in Honduras.
Experience: Hibiki 17 Years Old Kacho Fugetsu Limited Edition Japanese Whisky. Unique, Harmonious and Ultra Rare.
Hibiki was introduced in 1989 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Suntory Distillery and since then, this whisky has been the paragon of the Art of Japanese Whisky. Not only it is one of Japan’s most highly awarded blended whiskies, but it is also among the most prestigious whiskies in the world. Hibiki 17 years old was first introduced in 2015 as a harmonious blend blessed with the riches of Japanese nature and craftsmanship.
Experience: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1931 Café New York. An Incredible Evening and a Decadent Morning in the City that Never Sleeps.
Last Tuesday, November 1, 2022, we were in New York City for the opening of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1931 Café. This experiential concept has just opened for a limited time in different locations around the world from New York to Paris, to Tokyo. The space located on Madison Avenue and the corner of 64th street brings its visitors into an exquisite Art Deco setting for a decadent journey through incredible coffees made to order and tailor-made pastries created by French chef Nina Métayer.
Experience: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Sardinian Citrus. Perfectly Paired with a Bulgari Diagono for the Autumn.
We’ve talked about Drumshanbo before but this time we are bringing you the latest Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Infused with Sardinian citrus for the last days of summer. Infused with twelve botanicals like the twelve months of the year, the Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is a well balanced gin unlike any other. Distilled at the edge of a lake in a shed in a small Irish town called Drumshanbo, the ordinary is made extraordinary.
From the Archives: Because Every Watch Has a Story. 'Dad's Missing Watch' by Matt Jackson.
Today, we start a new installment called 'Watch Stories', because every vintage watch, passed down family heirloom or preowned watch comes with a little bit of history. Unlike the rest of our content, these stories are shared and written by the actual watch collectors owning these watches. For these new section, our involvement will be limited to photographing the watches in their full glory and to editing, proofreading and style correcting the write-ups.
Experience: Dubai with a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual
In proper WCL style, a trip to Dubai is not complete unless you’ve stayed at what is referred to as the most luxurious hotel in the world. The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah —not to be mistaken with the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world— is not only one of Dubai’s most photographed buildings but also an iconic white sail-shaped building that hides a level of luxury accommodations and decor splendor within its walls, that has no parallel.
Experience: Fauré Le Page Back Up 32 Paris Blue Backpack. Perfect Match to a Patek Philippe 5524.
It is no secret that here at WCL we love all things Fauré Le Page. The latest addition to the collection is their new backpack called the Back Up 32 Paris Blue Ecailles Canvas. Available in three different sizes, the 32 is the largest one, this backpack is one of the nicest items we’ve gotten from Fauré Le Page. The backpack usually comes in steel grey —black—, empire green, red ivress, or Paris blue. Measuring 32 cm —12.6 inches— in width at the base by 34 cm —13.8 inches— in height and 11.3 cm —4.3 inches— in depth, the Fauré Le Page Back Up 32 Paris Blue is perfect for daily use or when you are traveling around the world in style.
Experience: AP Royal Oak Offshore Diver in the Cayman Islands. Nothing Beats a Watch in its Element.
A week in the Cayman Islands is always wonderful, specially when you stay at the Ritz-Carlton located in the heart of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. During our stay we enjoyed lenty of water activities including interacting with stingrays, smoking a handful of Habanos —Montecristo #4— and simply enjoying the good life. Summers spent by the beach in the company of a good timepiece is always something we really appreciate to the fullest.
Experience: Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. Influenced by World Travel, Like a Vacheron Constantin Overseas.
Infused with twelve botanicals like the twelve months of the year, the Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is as well balanced as the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar. Distilled at the edge of a lake in a shed in a small Irish town called Drumshanbo —like the Vacheron Constantin manufacture founded at the edge of a lake—, the ordinary is made extraordinary.
Experience: Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora with an AP Royal Oak Offshore Forged Carbon Diver
For those of you craving an island hideaway, we invite you to experience this wonderful trip to the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora with us. Adventure, luxury, and the warmth of the Polynesian people await you. Getting to Tahiti requires an 8-hour flight from LAX via Air Tahiti Nui in an exceptionally clean and tidy aircraft with turquoise blue accents, reminiscent of the waters that you will soon encounter and that await you. With world-class service in both Business and Economy class, the journey across the Pacific is a peaceful and easy one.
Experience: Parisian Affair at The Louvre with Vacheron Constantin. The Most Epic Watch Experience Ever.
We’ve taken a lot of trips with watch brands and have experienced some incredible watch experiences that money can’t buy, but nothing will ever compare to the few days we spent in Paris with Vacheron Constantin for the release of the new Metiérs d’Art Tribute to Great Civilizations set of watches. As we embarked on the trip of a lifetime, we were not even sure what Vacheron Constantin had in store for us.
Experience: The House of Creed Viking. As Bold and Manly as an AP Royal Oak Offshore Diver on the Wrist.
One of our favorite fragrances from The House of Creed since the launch of Aventus in 2010 is the Viking. For those of you not familiar with Creed, The House of Creed is the oldest perfumer in the world, established in London in 1760 by James Henry Creed. A supplier to the English Court with custom tailored clothing, scented leather gloves and commissioned fragrances, The House of Creed was a favorite to the Royal Court of England.
Experience: Montecristo Línea 1935 Dumas. A Bold and Beautiful Cigar Like a Panerai Radiomir 1940 PAM 662.
The year 1935 marks a big milestone for Panerai as they landed their first contract to supply the Italian Navy with professional diving instruments, but it also does for the world of cigars, as the iconic Montecristo Cuban cigar brand was founded that year. The Montecristo Línea 1935 celebrates the founding of Montecristo and it was released last year as a ‘totally by hand long filler’ line of cigars. The Línea 1935 cigars are available in three different vitolas and packaged in a very distinct presentation box unlike other Habanos. The beautiful box is dark brown matte Carmelite lacquer finished and uniquely shaped with beveled edges and the traditional fleur-de-lis that has distinguished the Montecristo brand since its founding.
Experience: Three of the Top Habanos, Hennessy X.O and a Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126715CHNR 'Rootbeer' to Light Them Up
Cuban cigars come in all shapes and forms and today there are 27 different brands. While all Habanos are Cuban, by no means all Cuban cigars are Habanos. The title ‘Habano’ is the Protected Denomination of Origin —Denominación de Origen Protegida D.O.P—, reserved for a selection of the most outstanding brands whose cigars are manufactured to highest standards from tobaccos grown only in particular areas of Cuba.
Experience: Leopine Gentalovers Socks. Keeping the Gap Between Your Pants and Shoes in Style.
While here at WCL we’ve never been the biggest fans of socks with patterns or designs, we do have to give our friends at Leopine a round of applause for releasing yet another splendid watch-centric collection of socks. As we’ve talked about it before, Leopine is a relatively new brand that started selling swimwear and pocket squares a couple of years ago.
Experience: Diptyque Eau Rihla. Just like a Journey in Watch Collecting.
Olfactory memories are the longest lasting memories and smelling good is always a must. When you collect watches for the right reasons and not for bragging rights, you are the kind of man that also likes to indulge in life’s luxuries in a non-pretentious way. An exquisite fragrance very much like an understated iconic watch brings an air of distinction that is unrivaled and that is gently appreciated by those in the know.
Experience: Hendrick's Orbium Limited Edition. Its Bottle Matches the Dial on the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time.
Hendrick’s Gin is produced by the family-owned William Grant & Sons distillery in Scottland and their gin is distilled at the Girvan distillery that mainly focuses on distilling whiskey. What makes Hendrick’s so unique is their blend of nine botanicals that include Bulgarian roses and specially selected cucumbers. While the rest of their botanicals —orange peel, yarrow, juniper berries, angelica root, and orris root amongst others—…
Experience: WOLF Memento Mori Triple Watch Roll. Protecting People's Legacies.
We’ve been using watch rolls and cigar cases from WOLF for several years but we have not featured them here at WCL. However, after getting their newest Memento Mori triple watch roll we knew it was time to give credit where credit is due and tell you guys/gals more about them.
