Long gone are the days of the sturdy and historical legendary-looking Panerai watches that I originally fell in love with, but regardless, I still have much appreciation for the brand. I really hope that sooner rather than later, Panerai takes a slight turn and brings back more of the historical aurae of the legendary watches like the Bronzo PAM507 or the L’Egiziano PAM341.
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.
From the Editor: Here's Why I am Done Buying Any More Watches. Most Likely Forever.
It’s been a while since I started doing my own introspection about watch collecting and with the current state of the industry, I have finally reached a point where I get very little pleasure out of buying a new watch, whatever that ends up being. I’ve been collecting watches for the last 32 years and I’ve owned almost everything that I never even imagined I would own one day.
From the Editor: Celebrating Swiss National Day with a Philippe Dufour Simplicity
I can’t find a better way to celebrate Swiss National Day today August 1, 2022, than with one of the best watchmakers of our time and an independent watchmaker. The legend Philippe Dufour is a modern watchmaker that has been adhering to the most traditional and classic watchmaking codes since he founded his brand. A creator of some of the most coveted timepieces today, his watches feature clean, classic lines powered by the highest-end in-house movements with superb finishing and incredible hand polishing.
Introducing: Ulysse Nardin Diver Chrono Great White. Supporting Shark Conservation.
Ulysse Nardin raises its devotion to shark conservation around the world to the next level with the release of the new Diver Chrono Great White. Ulysse Nardin has always had sharks on its radar and proudly announces its increasing support of a new fleet of shark conservation initiatives and partners by donating 1% of annual sales of all “shark watches” to support non-profit organizations focused on sharks.
Introducing: Panerai Luminor Luna Rossa PAM1342
Produced in a special edition of 1,500 pieces, the new Panerai Luminor Luna Rossa PAM1342 exhibits a bracingly fresh character, offering a modern interpretation of nautical style; the unexpected palette of white, gray, and red is the foundation for the versatile and understated watch.
Experience: Macán Rothschild Vega Sicilia. An Understated Wine Like a Platinum Offshore.
Much like watches, some amazing wines are not necessarily those that everyone knows and only those that really know will recognize certain names, just like they’ll point out watch references or the metal composition of certain particular timepieces. When it comes to the AP Royal Oak Offshore 44 in platinum, only if you really know, you’ll be able to call out its platinum nature and the same happens with the Macán wine by Vega Sicilia.
Insider: Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Huracán Black DLC Titanium 45mm
Taking inspiration from the Lamborghini Huracan, the watchmakers at Roger Dubuis have developed a few incredible timepieces brimming with racing design codes from this partnership. The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Huracán Black DLC Titanium with a 45mm case and its calibre RD630 with its 12-degree inclined balance wheel features a strut-bar-designed bridge recalling the ones of the V10 engine of the Lamborghini Huracán supercar.
Experience: Cinco Jotas Iberico Ham & Alion. The Patek of Jamones and the Small Child from Vega Sicilia.
Just like Patek Philippe is at the pinnacle of watchmaking, the same goes for Iberico hams and Cinco Jotas —the five Js. With Joselito ham only a small notch above Cinco Jotas, when it comes to the pinnacle of Iberico hams from Spain, Cinco Jotas is the authority. Faithful to its origins, Cinco Jotas makes one of the finest acorn-fed hams in Spain and the company has maintained the purity of the 'Pata Negra' —black hoof— Iberian pigs they use, flawlessly.
Watch Goodies: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Wall Clock. The Ultimate Objet d'Art.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Wall Clock is the ultimate watch goody and one of the most coveted clocks out there. Released by AP as a super-sized version of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26574 in stainless steel with a silvered dial, this amazing clock features a stainless steel case measuring 16 inches —40 centimeters— in diameter and 3.5 inches —8.9 centimeters— in thickness. This clock also features a very complex quartz mechanism that controls all the perpetual calendar indications as well as a secondary mechanism that controls the time-keeping function.
Introducing: Laurent Ferrier Classic Traveller Meteorite. Limited to 15 Pieces.
Following on from the Square Micro-Rotor California and the Classic Traveller Magnetic Green, today, Laurent Ferrier is unveiling its latest model, the second limited edition exclusive to the North American continent, the Classic Traveller Meteorite. The Classic Traveller was launched in 2013 as a contemporary timepiece for globetrotters, it offers a new way to read the dual time zone.
From the Editor: Here's Why I Like the New Santos de Cartier with Blue PVD Bezel
The moment I saw the new Santos de Cartier with blue PVD bezel a few months ago, I fell in love with it. There is no doubt that the Santos de Cartier is one of the most iconic and legendary watches in the world, and I love that every time Cartier releases a new iteration of this watch, they do it with the utmost care. Honestly, you can’t tweak an icon unless you do it right and many brands have learned the lesson the hard way.
Budget Watches: H992. A New Swiss Watch Brand is Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
A new budget brand has been born today in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Named H992, its name comes from the letter ‘H’ in horology, hour and humanity; and the number ‘992’ is the altitude of its birth place —La Chaux-de-Fonds— which is 992 meters above the sea level. Featuring a very contemporary design that seems like a hybrid between a Zenith Defy and a Hublot Integral, the new H992 is presented in a limited edition of only 992 pieces and priced at CHF 992 Swiss Francs —approximately $1,000 USD.
Insider: Patek Philippe Annual Calendar ref. 5205R-011. When Green is the Color of Money.
Released earlier this year 2022, the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar ref. 5205R-011 quickly became one of the hottest watches this year and with good reason. Also available in 18K white gold with a blue dial, this annual calendar with moon phases was initially launched in 2010 in two white gold versions. The case distinguished by its concave bezel, its hollowed flanks and its skeletonized lugs, is fully Patek in shape and form.
Rare Bird: Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Mono-Pusher Split-Seconds Chronograph ref. 5372P-010. The Ultimate Grail.
Running into rare birds like the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Split-Seconds Chronograph ref. 5372P-010 is not an easy task. A rare bird in platinum that commands top dollar around the $650,000 USD mark. This grand complication from Patek Philippe represents the true pinnacle of watchmaking and it is a watch that is the ultimate grail for savvy watch collectors. For many, the ref. 5270P is the game-over piece, but once you’ve held a ref. 5372P, then you know that this is the true game-over piece.
From the Editor: The Rolex Daytona with 24 Hours at Daytona 'Winner' Engraving is Not a Myth
This morning, I was asked by one of our readers via email if a Rolex Daytona bearing a 24 Hours at Daytona ‘Winner’ engraving on its case back was necessarily a fake watch or not. Since I’ve covered this topic before, I decided to talk about it again today and clear up the air for those of you still wondering. While some of those watches bearing the ‘Winner’ engraving could be absolute garbage fakes, there are some of them out there, that are as real as it gets.
From the Editor: Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari Breaks the Record for Thinnest and Most Unalluring Wristwatch in the World. Enough of Ultra-Thin Watches?
I’ve been talking about Richard Mille since 2013 when I launched WCL and I have always been a big fan of the brand. Right before the watch market became unhinged, I was very close to pulling the trigger on my first Richard Mille. Having a soft spot for Mexican-inspired limited editions, I was on the verge of buying an RM 028 Mexico limited edition. Today, I regret not having done it as I truly loved the watch and even though it is a round-shaped Richard Mille, it’s still one of those RMs that screams RM all the way.
From the Editor: Here's Why I Dislike the New AP Royal Oak Offshore Music Edition Models
First let me say that you all know how much I love Audemars Piguet, the Royal Oak, the Royal Oak Offshore, and music, especially EDM. I’ve spent countless hours spotting watches on the wrists of famous DJs like Afrojack, Steve Angello, Avicci, Cedric Gervais, and Tiësto, and one thing they all had in common is their choice for an Audemars Piguet watch, mostly Royal Oak Offshores. However, I doubt that any of these DJs will be sporting the new Royal Oak Music Edition watches any time soon.
Introducing: Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf. The 'Horological Brothers' Finally Go Chrono.
Since 2008, Bart and Tim, ‘The Horological Brothers’, have produced a variety of unique mechanisms including a tourbillon minute repeater, a jumping seconds, a flying tourbillon with hacking seconds, and more. Known for their impressive movements where one could wear the watch on the movement side as they are extremely beautiful, they have finally decided to go chrono and present their first chronograph.
Introducing: Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture
Greubel Forsey continues their legacy of innovation with a timepiece that is groundbreaking in both mechanics and design. Explore their ‘city on the wrist’: the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture. A movement unlike any other that is suspended in an unexpected three-dimensional plane where 354 parts are arranged in an exclusive fusion of technicity and aesthetics.
