This New Year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the price for any Royal Oak has hit an all-time high like I never imagined it ever would. Furthermore, when you hover over the pricing information for any watch on Audemars Piguet’s website, you get the following disclaimer: “Non-binding recommended public price in the USA”. This literally means that AP is not obligated to sell you any watch at the price that appears on their website and potentially establish the ‘sale price’ according to the basic laws of supply and demand.
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.
Insider: Gorilla Outlaw Drift Limited Edition. Wandering Hours, Swiss Made, and Budget Friendly. Gimme!
Gorilla Watches was launched in 2017 by Octavio Garcia —former Chief Artistic Officer at Audemars Piguet for more than a decade— and his business partner Lukas Gopp —a former employee of brands like IWC, Sector, Ralph Lauren Watches and Audemars Piguet.The first time we reviewed one of their watches, it was also the first time that we had posted a review of a watch under $1,000 USD. You can check out the review of the Gorilla Fastback here.
Insider: Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8 HF. A High-Frequency Limited Edition of 250 Pieces.
The recently released Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8 HF is an upgraded version of the Alpine Eagle released in 2019. Just like its predecessor, the dial, the finishing and the bracelet are our favorite parts of this watch. The Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8 HF is a reinterpretation of the St. Moritz watch, the first watch created in 1980 by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, now co-president of Chopard.
Experience: Merry Christmas with Audemars Piguet's Tree Ornaments
Since most people outside of the U.S. in Europe, Asia and Latin America celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve and we happen to also do the same, we have decided to prepare a small collection of Christmas inspired images for today. This beautiful Audemars Piguet tree ornaments along with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin ref. 15202OR will for sure wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas.
From the Editor: Gérald Genta's Very Own Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402 and Original Drawings Up For Sale
The grail of all Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbos ever produced is for sure Gerald Genta’s very own Royal Oak. A very unique stainless steel AP Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402ST fitted with a yellow gold bezel never intended to become a two-tone Royal Oak. Since Genta was a genius, wearing such a unique-looking watch was yet another proof of his character and incredible personality, and way of thinking.
Insider: Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Ti 230 Limited Edition. An Ultra-Light Monochromatic Beauty.
Girard-Perregaux was founded 230 years ago in 1791, which is the same year titanium was discovered by William Gregor. Discovered as a black sand called menachanite, it contained oxides of iron and an unknown metal subsequently identified as titanium. Taking its name from Greek mythology, the name titanium alludes to Titans, the children of Uranus and Gaea. Today, titanium is widely used, not only in watchmaking but also in the fields of aerospace, medicine, and motorsport, because of its anti-corrosive and ultra-light properties.
News: Ferdinand Berthoud 'Naissance d'une Montre 3' Enters Last Stage Before Production Commences
Two years ago, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-President of Chopard and President of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud, announced the launch of ‘Naissance d’une Montre 3’. The Time AEon Foundation joins forces with Ferdinand Berthoud for a new adventure sharing the same values, their perpetual quest for the transmission of knowledge and training brings the two entities together for a common purpose.
Introducing: Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar Openface
Classically inspired with its round case featuring a fluted back, its railway minute-track and its Dauphine-type hands, the Traditionnelle complete calendar openface model adopts an avant-garde profile with these two distinctive versions in pink and white gold.
Experience: Artisans de Genève Armstrong Challenge Project
This personalization is a reflection of Lance Armstrong career and vision of time. He wanted retro functions on his watch while being very light. To live up to the challenge Artisans de Genève developed a pulse dial with dual counters at 3 and 6 o’clock so he could count time during his races. Even the Rolex calibre 4130 was converted from automatic to manual wound in order to allow for more visibility of the mechanism and give the watch a retro-feel as Armstrong wanted it.
Introducing: MB&F Orb by L'Epée 1839. A Chiming Desk Clock Like No Other.
At first glance, the Orb clock by MB&F and L’Epée 1839 looks like a futuristic model of an eye with its perfectly formed shiny sphere, and its dial taking the place of the iris and the pupil. But nothing is ever quite what it seems with the collaborative clocks of these two brands. The minimalistic structure is composed of four elytra —that’s the technical word for a beetle’s protective wing covers, in case you were wondering— that not only open up but can also swivel like a transformer to display the Orb in a variety of different positions.
Introducing: Armin Strom Zeitgeist Unique Piece. Celebrating Five Years of Resonance.
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Armin Strom Resonance watches, the manufacture from Biel/Bienne presents this new unique piece named “Zeitgeist” —which translates into a collective outlook of people or culture at a specific point in time. The new Armin Strom Zeitgeist Unique Piece is the fifth piece in the Armin Strom Resonance saga that started with the Mirrored Force Resonance watch. The Zeitgeist Unique Piece marks the next chapter for resonance watches.
Introducing: Louis Moinet Astronef. A Super Watch with a Flying Satellite Double Tourbillon.
The Louis Moinet Astronef is the latest and greatest new mechanical masterpiece presented by Ateliers Louis Moinet. Heir to both ancestral know-how and an unyielding desire to create the design of tomorrow, its character combines adrenaline and contemporary art. The Louis Moinet Astronef propels us into the exclusive world of uncompromising modern watchmaking. The making of the new Astronef lies behind human curiosity with a mechanism that took three years to develop.
Breaking News: Two Men Steal 1.5 Million USD in Watches from B. Young & Co. at Chicago's Bentley Gold Coast
This Saturday, December 11, 2021, two African American men stole watches worth $1.5 million USD in a smash and grab from B. Young & Co. at Chicago’s Bentley Gold Coast. This car dealership is home to the watch and jewelry boutique as well as a luxury automobile dealer for Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Rolls-Royce. Located on Rush Street in the heart of Chicago’s upscale Gold Coast area, the dealership is just steps away from Michigan Avenue —the Magnificent Mile— and is a ‘must’ destination for watches and fancy cars.
From the Editor: Patek Nautilus 5711 Tiffany 170th Anniversary Sells for $6.5 Million USD. My Honest Thoughts.
Well, today December 11th, 2021 in New York City, this new Patek Nautilus Tiffany 170th Anniversary ref. 5711/1A-018 just sold for $6.5 million USD at Phillips. The world of watch collecting has finally just lost its sanity. I can only think that some of the reasons behind these prices in the watch market have to do with money-laundering schemes, tax write-offs through charitable contributions, using watches as money instruments to transport funds between countries without the need to report them and/or some people who made so much money through crypto-currencies that simply don’t care anymore and would pay anything to have what they want.
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.
From the Editor: The 'Hyped' Patek Nautilus 5711 Tiffany 170th Anniversary and My Thoughts on Double-Signed Watches
In the last decade, double-signed watches have become a thing and are now some of the most coveted timepieces out there. When I look back at auction results from twenty or thirty years ago —yes I have some very old catalogs in my possession—, these double-signed watches were not priced like they are today. Commanding a high premium when compared to models that don’t include the name of a famous retailer on their dials, double-signed timepieces have simply skyrocketed.
Introducing: Richard Mille RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal with New Butterfly Effect Rotor
Inspired by the tourbillon watches of the RM 027 collection that Rafa Nadal wears on the tennis court, the new Richard Mille RM 035 ‘Baby Nadal’ collection is designed as a condensate of technology for anyone in thrall to performance. The new RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal, the fourth timepiece in the collection is fully worthy of its place in this distinguished lineup, to which it brings a patented innovation, namely the butterfly rotor.
News: Vacheron Constantin Unveils 'Celebrations' Sensory Exhibition at its NYC North American Flagship
Today, December 6th, 2021 Vacheron Constantin celebrates the artistry, patrimony, and perpetual pulse of New York City, past and present, by unveiling a sensory exhibition at its North American Flagship on 57th Street in New York City. ‘Celebrations’ is a sensory exhibition that delves into the playful world of Pop Art with from December 6, 2021 through March 2022. To honor the contemporary world of Pop Art in 2021, and in line with the Maison’s long held dedication to the advancement of the Arts, Vacheron Constantin has collaborated with New York City Pop Artist Jojo Anavim.
From the Editor: My Visit to The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus
Almost a month ago while I was in Geneva attending the GPHG, I finally visited the new Audemars Piguet museum ‘Musée Atelier’. After many visits to Le Brassus and the ‘old Audemars Piguet Museum’, every trip to Le Brassus has its touch of magic and a special charm that is sometimes hard for me to describe. Back in 2013, right after I had just launched WCL, I visited the AP Museum for the very first time. A year later, Audemars Piguet decided to expand the original museum and the idea to create the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet was born.
