From the Editor: Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G 'Root Beer'. Why I Think it was a Weak Release.

While Tudor was onto something with the release of the new Black Bay Pro and I told you already how much I liked it and how much I want one, I don’t feel the same way about the Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G 'Root Beer'. In my humble opinion, this was a weak release that didn’t really capture what Tudor was trying to do here. The new Black Bay GMT S&G ‘Root Beer’ was somewhat inspired by the Rolex GMT-Master 16753 ‘Root Beer’ but not necessarily by the Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126715CHNR as many would think.

Insider: Cartier Masse Mystérieuse. The Most Impressive Watch from Cartier with Mysterious Hours.

Continuing with their mysterious hours’ concept, Cartier continues to explore mysterious complications to play with illusion and the perception of time and the Cartier Masse Mystérieuse is the result of that. Mystery clocks make up their own chapter in Cartier’s history because their hands appear to float over the transparent body of the clock, with no connection to the movement.

Posted on April 26, 2022 and filed under Cartier, Watches & Wonders.

News: Vacheron Constantin Presents 'The Anatomy of Beauty' Art & Timepiece Exhibition at the NYC Flagship

A new art and timepiece exhibition has just opened up at the Vacheron Constantin New York City Flagship. Dive into an exploration of earth’s organic and complicated structures alongside the artistry of Vacheron Constantin’s timepieces in ‘The Anatomy of Beauty’ exhibition from April through September 2022. Vacheron Constantin creates an immersive experience that shines light upon the layered and minute details that create beauty through a curated collection of extraordinary watches alongside larger than life depictions of coral, and the viscerally moving artwork, ‘These Waters’, by artist Melissa McGill.

From the Editor: Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ref. 126679SABR aka 'The Cotton Candy'. Is this @ILikeRolexes Next Watch?

Where the sky meets the ocean and the sun comes up over the water, the new Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ref. 126679SABR creates a powerful combo already nicknamed ‘The Cotton Candy’ by my close friend @ILikeRolexes. If you follow him on Instagram, you then know he’s the king of modern Rolex watch collecting and a watch collector that loves gem-set Rolexes like no one else I’ve ever met.

Insider: A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Pink Gold and White Gold. The German Brand that Never Stands Still.

The new A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 reflects A. Lange & Söhne’s ambition to achieve ever-new milestones in horology and it was first presented in 2013. Its true grandeur comes from the numerous remarkable details around its dial and generous 41 mm case. Up until the release of two new models at Watches & Wonders 2022, the Grand Lange 1 was exclusively available in four different versions that included the 25th anniversary model in white gold with silver dial, the platinum with rhodié dial, the white gold model with a black dial, and the pink gold model with silver dial.

Insider: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 2RSM.2-1. A Regulator with Dead Beat Seconds.

Ferdinand Berthoud devoted his life to experimentation and to passing on his knowledge by publishing numerous specialized works and training apprentices. The Chronomètre FB RSM continues this tradition by enabling a young watchmaker from the University of Neuchâtel to participate in the development of the movement as part of his graduation project. The Chronomètre FB 2RSM.2-1 is a tourbillon regulator with the fusee-and-chain transmission, and for the very first time, it incorporates an independent deadbeat seconds visible on the dial side and a stop-seconds mechanism.

Insider: De Bethune DB28GS 'JPS'. Here's Why We Love This Watch.

De Bethune captures the racing spirit and our hearts with the DB28GS'JPS' —John Player Special. Three letters evoke the legendary association of the colors black and gold. Growing up in the era where the John Player Special car was one of the most iconic cars in Formula 1, makes the DB28GS'JPS' hit home. Back in that era, it was common to see tobacco companies sponsor some of the most renowned Formula 1 teams including Lotus-Renault and McLaren.

Introducing: Richard Mille RM 47 Tourbillon Samurai. A Limited Edition of 75 Pieces.

Associating art and spirituality. Creating a new masterpiece designed as an aesthetic tribute to Japanese culture. Richard Mille presents the RM 47 Tourbillon, the fruit of intense reflection and nearly four years of design work. This is an artful watch of a new kind, incorporating an extremely compact calibre, specifically designed to make room for a stylized Samurai suit of armor entirely crafted by hand. The model was born of a friendly conversation between Richard Mille and the twice Formula 1 world champion and brand partner Fernando Alonso, a passionate enthusiast of Japanese traditional arts and the Samurai principles.

Insider: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Ultra-Thin Skeleton Blue

The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Ultra-Thin Skeleton was first presented in 2020 with a white minute track ring and white rings around the perpetual calendar indications. Now for Watches & Wonders 2022, Vacheron Constantin brings a new iteration also cased in pink gold but with blue rings that add amazing contrast to an already very good-looking watch.

Insider: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton. The Star of Watches & Wonders 2022.

Without a doubt, our favorite watch at Watches & Wonders 2022 is the new Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton. Beautifully streamlined with its entirely open-worked movement, this new watch comes in two versions, one in 18K 5N pink gold and the other in Grade 5 titanium. The titanium model marks the first time that the brand has entirely made a watch in titanium from crown to bezel and from bracelet to the case.

Insider: Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Yellow Gold ref. 226658

For Watches & Wonders 2022, Rolex brings a third iteration —now in yellow gold—of the Yacht-Master with an Oysterflex. The first iteration of the Yacht-Master with Oysterflex bracelet was released at Baselworld 2015 sporting an Everose Gold case and in two different sizes that included a 37 mm —perfectly sized for ladies or for men with smaller wrists— and a 40 mm one. Then for at Baselworld 2019 Rolex presented a Yacht-Master in 18K white gold with a 42 mm case. The new Rolex Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226658 in 18K yellow gold marks a new step in the Oysterflex saga and the Yacht-Master.

Introducing: Hublot Big Bang Integral Ceramic

Hublot’s prowess in the field of ceramics is indisputable. Since the release of the Bing Bang in different colors of ceramic, we have witnessed that Hublot definitely knows what they are doing when it comes to this material. After the release of their Big Bang Integral with an integrated bracelet, Hublot decide to now add full ceramic watches —case and integrated bracelet— to the lineup.

From the Editor: Happy 50th AP Royal Oak. Up Close and Personal with Genta's Personal Watch.

Today April 15th, 2022 is the official birthday of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. There’s no better way to celebrate the most iconic sports watch —that changed the watch industry— than by posting some of the pictures I recently took of Gérald Genta’s very own Royal Oak. While I was in Geneva for Watches & Wonders 2022, I was lucky to run into Genta’s Royal Oak at a somewhat secluded and seemingly insignificant small exhibition that almost all other media outlets missed.

Introducing: Hublot Square Bang. Five New Watches Reminiscent of the Santos de Cartier.

The new Hublot Square Bang is the first square-shaped watch for the brand. Reminiscent of the Santos de Cartier —without calling it an absolute copycat— is it almost impossible not to think of the Santos 100 when looking at this new watch from Hublot. Five new watches compose the new Hublot Square Bang collection and all are equipped with the new Unico 2 calibre designed to equip smaller chronographs and also open the world of Hublot to new enthusiasts.

Posted on April 15, 2022 and filed under Hublot, Watches & Wonders.

Introducing: Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date. A True Diving Watch that Meets the ISO 6425 Norm.

When it came to imagining a new sports diving watch, Montblanc didn’t go to the world’s tropical waters for inspiration, but rather climbed up to the glacial lakes of the Mont Blanc Massif. Ascending via the Chamonix Valley to the Mer de Glace —Sea of Ice—, the Maison’s designers were captivated by the texture of the glacial ice with its interlocking network of crystals that have been frozen in time for millennia.

Introducing: Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Dazzling Star. A Shooting Star Graces its Dial Randomly or On Demand.

In 2022, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Dazzling Star recreates this enchanting celestial phenomenon on the wrist, thanks to an entirely new mechanism conceived and developed within the Manufacture. Activated by the movement of the wrist, the shooting star appears on the dial at random moments —usually four to six times per hour— its unpredictability makes it even more special.

Introducing: Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590. The Half a Million Dollar Sublime Objet d'Art.

A sublime objet d’art is the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590. In keeping with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s eternal quest for precision, the Manufacture’s engineers and watchmakers have created a new complication that reproduces the true cycles of the Earth, Sun, and Moon more closely than ever before, developing it specifically for the Atmos Hybris Mechanica Calibre 590.

Introducing: Grand Seiko 200m Diver SLGA015 'Black Stream'

The new Grand Seiko 200m Diver SLGA015 is inspired by the Black Stream —Kuroshio Current. The Kuroshio Current also known as the Black or Japan Current —Nihon Kairyū— flows northwards past Japan towards the North Pacific and is one of the largest ocean streams in the world. The dynamic and sometimes violent tides caused by the Black Stream inspire the deep black color and richly textured surface of the dial of this new 200m diver’s watch.

Insider: Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin. The Most Beautiful Complicated Watch for the Ladies.

In our opinion this is the most beautiful complicated watch for the ladies and a favorite from Vacheron Constantin’s releases this year. The Ladies Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin is available in 18K white gold and 18K 5N pink gold versions with a 36.5 mm case. This is the brand’s response to women wanting more complicated timepieces besides those that only tell time. It is inspired by Vacheron Constantin models from the first half of the last century.

Introducing: Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT Titanium SBGE285 and SBGE283

While the pedigree of the Grand Seiko Style is unmistakably evident in every watch, the refinements of the Evolution 9 Style are also clear to see. With its unique glide motion seconds hand, Spring Drive mirrors the continuous, silent and smooth passage of time. To watch the seconds hand move serenely and with no ‘tick’ across the dial is to be brought as close as is possible to the nature of time itself. The two new watches are the Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT Titanium SBGE285 and the Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT Titanium SBGE283.