Vacheron Constantin is pleased to announce that Alexander Schmiedt —a native of Austria— will become the new President of Vacheron Constantin Americas, as of July 1, 2021. Mr. Schmiedt will oversee offices in New York and Miami and will be taking over the role that was previously held by Ms. Leslie Kobrin who was appointed President of the Americas on April 1, 2017. Ms. Leslie Kobrin left Van Cleef & Arpels to replace Vincent Brun at the time.
Insider: Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute 'Dragon' in Collaboration with John Howe from The Lord of the Rings
The new Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Dragon is the first masterpiece created from the collaboration between the brand and John Howe, the artist best known for his artistic direction for The Lord of the Rings. Equipped with a 41 mm case in 18K white or red gold, the dial features the mythical creature holding a luminous pearl in its claws.
News: Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Three Flying Bridges Aston Martin Edition. The First Watch from this Partnership.
The first timepiece borne of the recently announced partnership between Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin has been revealed. The Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges Aston Martin Edition unites the watchmaking expertise of Girard-Perregaux with Aston Martin’s unique knowledge of luxury and performance. Both brands demonstrate a passion for refined craftsmanship and have been working together, sharing their understanding of design, materials, and technology.
From the Archives: Visiting the Audemars Piguet Manufacture in Le Brassus. A Longtime Dream Becomes a Reality.
Back in 1998, I purchased my first Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, it was a stainless steel ref. 5402ST A-series that I should've never sold. After buying that first AP, the two-tone Royal Oak ref. 5402SA you see in the picture above was the one that followed. For 20 years as an AP collector and 28 years as a watch collector, I've longed to visit the Audemars Piguet manufacture in Le Brassus, Switzerland.
News: Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph ref. 5968G in Blue and in Khaki Green
First released in 2018 in stainless steel with a black gradient dial with orange accents, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph ref. 5968 returns to the center stage with two 18K white gold models. The first one, reference 5968G-001 with a midnight blue dial and blue matching strap, and the second one reference 5968G-010 with a khaki green dial and matching strap in the same color.
News: Introducing the Slim d'Hermès La Source de Pégase
Created in 2015, the Slim d’Hermès watch is all about essentials: a simplicity mingling rigorous discipline with aesthetic balanced. The distinctive yet understated lines of its round case with angular lugs frame a transfigured dial. Graced with a combination of several miniature techniques, the Slim d’Hermès La Source de Pégase watch features a winged horse in brilliant colors, born of the virtuoso skills of the enameling and engraving artists.
News: Richard Mille RM 74-01 and RM 74-02 In-House Automatic Tourbillons
Uniquely appealing and technically complex, the RM 74-01 and RM 74-02 In-House Automatic Tourbillons offer two new versions of the fully in-house automatic tourbillon calibre. These two striking models, both with the same ultra-skeletonized heart, are distinguished by the materials used for their cases as well as by their aesthetics, making them fraternal twins with unique personalities. Both watches have the same case size measuring 52.63 mm x34.40 mm x13.05 mm, however, their construction varies by model.
News: Urwerk UR-105 TTH 'Tantalum Hull'. The Final Edition of the UR-105.
Released in a limited edition of 12 pieces, the Urwerk UR-105 TTH ‘Tantalum Hull’ marks the final edition of the UR-105 model. Cased in the UR-105 CT ‘soap bar’ —due to its shape reminiscent of a soap bar— the case is made of titanium and tantalum. Measuring 39.5 mm wide by 53 mm long, the new Urwerk UR-105 TTH 'Tantalum Hull' is sporting one of our favorite metals.
News: Vacheron Constantin American 1921 Unique Piece. An Exact Reproduction of the Reference from 1921.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American 1921, Vacheron Constantin has faithfully created this emblematic model while safeguarding its original attributes. This exceptional unique piece creation symbolizes the Manufacture's commitment to the transmission and enhancement of traditional skills. To create this piece unique, Vacheron Constantin has delved into its archives and its horological expertise to offer a faithful reproduction of the timepiece emblematic of an era.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Championship Edition. The Nick Faldo Golfer's Dream Set.
Phil Mickelson won the PGA Championship this weekend becoming the oldest golfer at age 50 to win a major championship in the history of the sport. He was wearing an old Rolex Cellini with a white dial while making history. While professional golfers are often spotted wearing special timepieces, there are just a few watches out there that can be directly linked to a particular golfer.
News: Richard Mille's Equestrian Partner Carlos Hank Guerreiro Wears the RM 35-01 Carbon TPT
Carlos Hank Guerreiro is the fourth partner to join the Richard Mille family in the equestrian discipline of show jumping. He remembers precisely how his love for riding horses began. As a young child, he accompanied his mother and father to their amateur show jumping competitions in Mexico. Carlos quickly went from spectator to rider, and with little delay, his family pastime became his own passion.
Insider: Hublot Classic Fusion Concrete Jungle New York. Hands-on with a Very Unique Watch.
Released at the end of last year to celebrate Hublot’s largest flagship in the U.S. on Fifth Avenue in New York City, the Hublot Classic Fusion Concrete Jungle New York Limited Edition takes innovation one step further. After a few months, we finally got to peruse the watch in the ‘concrete’ —no pun intended— and we are quite impressed with it. Since Hublot has always remained at the forefront when it comes to the use of new materials for their watch cases, conceiving a watch case made out of concrete is a first in the watch industry and a first for the brand.
News: Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Infrared. An 88-Piece Exclusive to China.
Girard-Perregaux is releasing the new Laureato Absolute Infrared Limited Edition to celebrate the opening of their first boutique in China and the 230th anniversary of the manufacture. This new watch is equipped with a 44 mm case in black PVD Grade 5 titanium and a forged carbon dial with red applied baton indexes.
News: Presenting the Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI Limited Edition
Over the last 10 years, two-thirds of the rhinos in South Africa’s Kruger Park have been killed by poachers. Black rhinos in Kruger Park have disappeared dramatically and today there are estimated to be less than 500 remaining. Moreover, in late March 2020, the South African border was closed to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Prior, the day-to-day influx of foreign visitors had kept the poachers at bay.
Eye Candy: Assembly of the Calibre CRMT4 in the Million Dollar Richard Mille RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail
The new Richard Mille RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail was released yesterday and here’s the assembly process of its impressive calibre CRMT4. This movement is an automatic winding tourbillon movement with hours, minutes, variable-geometry rotor, oversize date, power reserve indicator, and function selector. The entirely new automatic movement architecture demanded a remarkable 8,600 hours of development, much of which went into finalizing the extreme level of detail.
Richard Mille RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail. A Totally New Case Shape Following the Car's Design.
For Richard Mille, the man, a future that involved the McLaren car brand was all but written in the stars. A lifelong automobile enthusiast, his passion dates back to 1966, when he was just 15 years old and his father took him to the Monaco Grand Prix, where he saw Bruce McLaren driving his M2B, the very first McLaren Formula 1 car. He recalls vividly the ‘absolutely terrifying’ sound of the Ford engine, which was really intended to power the McLaren Can-Am car in the Indianapolis 500.
From the Editor: Watch Concierge Service by WCL. We'll Help you Find the Watch of Your Dreams.
If you have been looking for a specific timepiece that you just can’t find, no worries. Here at WCL, we are launching a new Watch Concierge Service where we can help you source it. We have a wide network of private collectors, authorized dealers, resellers, secondary market dealers, and close friends we usually work with.
News: Presenting Three New Editions of the MB&F Legacy Machine 101
The MB&F Legacy Machine 101 series was first launched in 2014. As suggested by its ‘101’ name, it focuses on the essentials of a mechanical wristwatch, contained in one of MB&F’s most compact Machines with a case diameter of 40 mm. At the time, the LM101 movement was also the first entirely conceived by MB&F’s in-house engineering team. In 2021, the LM101 series evolves with technically and aesthetically upgraded versions distinguished by colorful dial plates, including a stainless steel version.
Watch Auctions: Patek Philippe ref. 570 'Calatravone', a Nautilus ref. 5711P and Four Different Series 2499s Sell for $10.6 Million USD at the Phillips GWA XIII
This past weekend May 8-9th, 2021 in Genève, Switzerland, Phillips Watches delivered —yet again— some incredible results at their Geneva Watch Auction XIII where six Patek Philippe watches within a total of 236 lots, fetched over $10.6 Million USD. A Patek Philippe ref. 570 'Calatravone', a Nautilus ref. 5711 in Platinum and Four Different 2499s all collectively broke the $10 million USD mark in another very exciting auction under the reigns of Aurel Bacs, who we like to call ‘King Midas’.
News: Greubel Forsey GMT Sport Final Edition in 5N Red Gold
The GMT Sport returns in a new rendition in 5N red gold, bestowing upon this exceptional creation a delicate balance of nobility and strength of character. This limited edition is a spectacular evolution that just 11 collectors will have the opportunity to discover firsthand. For this new creation, Greubel Forsey has once again taken on a daring challenge, that of a powerful aesthetic statement with a design predominantly in red gold that for the first time adorns the case and the globe.
