In 2012, HYT created a buzz within the watchmaking community with its hybrid mechanical-fluidic technology allowing the time to be displayed using fluids. After a short hiatus ceasing operations in 2021, HYT was taken over by Kairos Technology Switzerland SA and appointed Davide Cerrato as CEO. Davide, a veteran of the watchmaking industry comes with a proven track record having worked with brands such as Panerai, Tudor, and Montblanc/Minerva. Now, in 2022 HYT returns with a totally new watch, the Hastroid.
Introducing: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel 'Tiger'
To celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in 2022, nine decades after the Reverso was born, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Tiger’. Created to coincide with the Chinese Lunar New Year and the grand opening of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new flagship boutique in Shanghai, the new timepiece pays tribute to the Year of the Tiger. Swiveling the 18K pink gold watch case —measuring 45.5 mm x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm— to its reverse side reveals a magnificent tiger.
Introducing: Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto. The Best Alternative to a Patek Nautilus 5711.
Today, Laurent Ferrier presents an incredibly gorgeous watch that could very well be the perfect alternative for anyone wanting a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. The new Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto takes its inspiration from the world of motorsports where Laurent Ferrier himself and his partner François Servanin were extremely active in the late 1970s.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 50th Anniversary ref. 26240ST with Live Photos
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph has seen many iterations and facelifts since its launch in 1997-1998 under reference 25860. Perhaps the most significant up until now took place in 2016 when the Royal Oak Chrono reference 26300 went from a 39 mm case to a 41 mm as reference 26320. Then in 2017, its dial was redesigned and reference 26331 replaced reference 26320. Back then, the hour and minute chrono registers were enlarged, the running seconds subdial was scaled down, shorter and wider applied markers were added and the typeface and transfers on the chronograph totalizers were updated.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' 50th Anniversary ref. 16202PT Platinum with Live Photos
Last week Audemars Piguet dropped the new watches to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ and the new reference 16202 replaces the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ Extra-Thin reference 15202. Among the new watches, an exclusive platinum Royal Oak that is exclusively sold at the AP Houses was presented —a similar watch reference 15202PT was released at the end of March of 2021— and we finally got to review it and photograph it last week.
Breaking News: Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022 In-Person Event Just Reconfirmed
Today January 31, 2022, it has been reconfirmed that the physical-digital hybrid format of Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022 will continue to take place as originally planned from March 30 through April 5, 2022. Eagerly awaited by both industry professionals and the general public, Watches and Wonders Geneva is stepping up preparations to keep this major watchmaking event on track. Its hybrid concept has been designed to adapt to the changing context by combining an actual physical salon, which respects health measures, with digital solutions that meet market expectations.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon ref. 26730. Three New Models to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary.
Continuing with our coverage of the new models celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak, we bring you the three new models of its 41 mm Royal Oak Automatic Flying Tourbillon. Available in stainless steel, titanium, and in 18K pink gold, these new models add to the first three unveiled in 2020 and present the design evolution developed for this jubilee year. All three are equipped with the calibre 2950, an automatic movement combining a flying tourbillon with a central rotor.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' 50th Anniversary ref. 16202
Today January 26, 2022, Audemars Piguet decided to drop the new watches to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' 50th Anniversary ref. 16202 replaces the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ Extra-Thin reference 15202 with a brand new automatic in-house calibre. The new calibre 7121 —which took five years to develop— replaces the legendary calibre 2121 that had been used for 50 years in the Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’.
From the Editor: Fully Stickered Rolex Watches Still Worth the Premium or the Hype?
When it comes to watch collecting, a lot has changed in the last five years. Before certain Rolex professional models became a big moneymaker for resellers and watch collectors, and before Patek Philippe and stainless steel Rolex watches became as scarce and difficult to obtain as they are today, watch collectors were buying watches just because they loved them and wanted to wear them. A little bit over two years ago, Rolex sent a letter to their authorized dealers demanding to remove all plastics —protective stickers— at the moment of purchase and that’s when the game drastically changed.
Rare Bird: Panerai Luminor 1950 GMT PAM320 on a Second-Generation Stainless Steel Bracelet. The Best Combo in our Paneristi Hearts.
Here at WCL, we have a sweet spot for Panerai watches and while we typically prefer those that are strongly inspired by the most legendary historical Panerai watches, there are certain more modern interpretations —that even when their design sways away from the historical DNA of Panerai—that we also find very interesting. While the Panerai bracelet is a thing of the present that was designed in the modern era —none of the Panerai historical timepieces were ever fitted with a bracelet—, we absolutely love the look of it and we see it as the most ‘underappreciated’ option that can make any 44 mm Panerai look simply out of this world.
Experience: Zenith DEFY El Primero 21 Carl Cox and an Awesome EDM Playlist on Spotify
If you are into EDM, then Carl Cox’s is no stranger to you. Carl Cox was the resident DJ at Space in Ibiza for 15 years until 2016. Born in the UK he is one of the pioneers of house music along with names like Frankie Knuckles better known as ‘The Godfather of House Music’, David Morales and Paul Oakenfold. If you want to see how everything started when it comes to EDM, you must watch the documentary ‘What We Started’ on Netflix. Additionally, there’s some great watch spotting on the wrists of Carl Cox, Afrojack, Steve Angello, Tiësto and others.
From the Editor: Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A is Finally 'Discontinued' for Good. Should we Expect its Replacement to Overshadow the 50th Anniversary of the AP Royal Oak?
A little bit over three years ago, I wrote one of my first articles about the crazy prices in the secondary market for the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711/1A. At that time, I talked about a ‘Sealed from Service’ Nautilus 5711/1A being offered at $50K USD. Today, that is finally official —the third time is a charm after the release of the Olive Green and Tiffany Blue dial 5711s after it was supposedly discontinued— that the 5711/1A and 5711/1R are long gone, I decided to bring this topic back and in retrospective, the $50K USD back then seems like a steal when compared to what this watch is selling for nowadays.
Introducing: Zenith DEFY Revival A3642 'Bank Vault'. Another Time Capsule Reissue from 1969.
Zenith is excited to announce a new addition to its Revival series. While 1969 will forever be known as the year of the birth of the El Primero, it also marks the important introduction of the first Defy timepiece. Originally dubbed the ‘coffre-fort’ —bank vault in English—, the new Zenity Defy Revival A3642 is a modern reproduction and a celebration of Zenith’s DNA in a 250-piece limited edition. With its octagonal case and distinctive 14-sided bezel, it showcases the historical source of inspiration of today’s Defy models.
From the Archives: Visiting the Armin Strom Manufacture in Biel/Bienne. A Small but Mighty Fully Integrated Independent Watchmaking Manufacture.
Biel/Bienne is the tenth largest city in Switzerland and the only Swiss city with bilingual signage in German and French. Located in between German and French speaking cities, Biel/Bienne —name in both German and French— is surrounded by the Swiss Alps and magnificent crystal clear water lakes. Home to the Armin Strom Manufacture and also to Swatch Group brands like Omega and Swatch along with one of Rolex’s final assembly facilities, Biel/Bienne will captivate your senses with its Art Deco architecture, Bauhaus landmarks and views of the Swiss Alps for days.
From the Editor: Is the Patek Nautilus ref. 5990/1R a Half a Million Dollar Watch? I Don't Think So. I'll Tell You What Else You Could Get for That Money.
I worked on a hands-on review only 20 days after its release last year and I called the 18K rose gold 5990/1R the ‘King of All Nautiluses’. Almost a year later, this watch with a sticker price of $106,450 USD is selling/trading close to half a million dollars. Yes, that is not a typo. In my book is this watch worth that amount of money? Absolutely not. Many will differ with me and will say that something is worth what people are willing to pay for it. In theory, yes; but in the practice this is pure stupidity.
Introducing: Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third 'Final Edition'
In 2019, Zenith became the first manufacture to produce a watch directly inspired by a depiction in a Japanese manga and anime series. In the very first episode of the animated Lupin The Third series, Daisuke Jigen, the debonair right-hand man and best friend of the title character Arsène Lupin III, is portrayed wearing a watch based on the A384 with a black, grey and gilt dial that had never actually existed.
Rare Bird: IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month '50 Years'. When was the Last Time you Saw One of These?
Every now and then we run into watches that are true ‘rare birds’. How often do you get to see a diving watch equipped with a perpetual calendar? Not very often, right? The IWC Aquatimer Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month Edition ‘50 Years Aquatimer’ is one of those watches that you rarely see in the wild and one that is worth talking about in our ‘rare birds’ section.
Insider: Arnold & Son Luna Magna. The First Three-Dimensional Moon Display of its Kind.
Since its release we’ve been wanting to bring you a proper hands-on review of the Arnold & Son Luna Magna and see what all the hype around it was really about. Without hesitation, we think that Arnold & Son makes the best moon phase indication watches out there and the Perpetual Moon by Arnold & Son is without a doubt our favorite moon phase watch in the market. The oversized realistic moon phase disc of the Perpetual Moon arching between 10 and 2 o’clock is something really captivating and there is no other watch that does it this well.
Introducing: Harry Winston Premier Valentine’s Flying Hearts Automatic 36 mm. A 14-Piece Limited Edition.
For 2022, a model from the luxurious Premier collection has been selected to deliver a joyous message of love. The many facets of love are portrayed by a bouquet of heart-shaped balloons made of precious gemstones and mother-of-pearl cabochons floating in an ethereal mother-of-pearl sky in a limited edition of only 14 pieces.
Experience: Byredo Bibliothèque Eau de Parfum. The Scent of a Library and its Leather-Bound Archive Books.
If you are an avid reader of WCL, then you already know we love great fragrances and especially those that are mode under the radar. From Creed and Penhaligon’s to Diptyque, Frédéric Malle, and everything in between, we are always in constant search for the ultimate scent to pair with our watches. Byredo and its most iconic scent Bibliothèque is our latest find and a new favorite here at WCL.
