In-Depth - The Story of Gunter Blumlein, His Role at IWC, Jaeger & Lange
The watchmaking industry, before being a story of products, is first and foremost the story of women and men devoted to conceiving and producing some of the most delicate and yet unnecessary objects we can imagine. If all must be considered, some names resonate stronger, mostly for the impact they have had on this industry. You can, for example, think about A.L. Breguet and his influence on mechanical watchmaking. Or about Nicolas G. Hayek and how he’s been instrumental in staging the comeback of “Swiss-made” watchmaking. One of the names you can add to this list is, without a doubt, Gunter Blumlein, a man who has done tremendous work to bring mechanical watchmaking back to the forefront, to restore watchmaking to the town of Glashutte and to shape the industry as it is today. And since Mr Blumlein passed away exactly 20 years ago, on 1 October 2001, it is the perfect time to remember one of the industry’s giants.Remembering Mr BlumleinThe story of Gunter Blumle

Hands-On - The New Frederique Constant Highlife Ladies Automatic
Frederique Constant expands its Highlife luxury sports watch collection by introducing a new Highlife Ladies Automatic collection for women. Available in steel or rose gold-plated cases and with or without diamonds set in the bezel, the 34mm Highlife Ladies models all come with an integrated bracelet and the brand's hallmark interchangeable bracelet system for added versatility. Frederique Constant's take on the luxury sports watch genre, the new Highlife Ladies are modern and sporty with a hint of glamour to accompany you throughout the day and night.BackgroundAlthough most of us associate Frederique Constant with classic, somewhat conservative watches at affordable prices, the brand is full of surprises. Who would have expected the groundbreaking introduction of its Slimline Monolithic Manufacture model with a revolutionary flexure oscillator beating at 40Hz released in March 2021? Priced in steel at EUR 4,495, Frederique Constant is determined to stick to its policy of accessible lu

First Look: The New Hublot Big Bang Unico Saxem Green
In recent years, using coloured cases and transparency has become a prevalent trend in the luxury watch industry. However, Hublot stands out as the undisputed leader when creating an entire timepiece in vivid colours and transparent materials.?One striking example is the lemon-yellow Big Bang Tourbillon Neon Yellow, unveiled by Hublot in 2023. This exceptional timepiece was crafted using a material developed by Hublot’s R&D department, known as SAXEM – Sapphire Aluminium Oxide and Rare Earth Mineral – produced by blending aluminium oxide, the fundamental component of sapphire, with rare-earth elements such as thulium, holmium, and chromium. This material debuted in 2019 and the latest addition to the series is this Big Bang Unico Saxem Green.?The polished sapphire case of the Big Bang Unico Saxem Green has a 42mm diameter and a thickness of 14.5mm, featuring an exhibition caseback and bezel crafted from this innovative and durable material. Complementing the overa

Hands-on IWC Pilot's Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Ceratanium IW395505
IWC Schaffhausen's outstanding craft of creating functional, mechanical pilot's watches has translated into something far more than just a simple and legible timing device designed for pilots. It has transformed into a horological icon, sparking many iterations with additional, useful complications. One such offspring is the practical IWC Pilot's Watch Timezoner, a Super-GMT if you like. Following the Spitfire The Longest Flight and Le Petit Prince editions, the latest member of the family is the IWC Pilot's Watch Timezoner TOP GUN Ceratanium IW395505.IWC has been on a mission to update the emblematic IWC Big Pilot and Pilot's Watch collections this year and shows no signs of settling down. We've seen new chronographs, a downsized Big Pilot, a sleek pair of Mojave Desert watches and complex Perpetual Calendar and Tourbillon models. And let's not forget about the uber-impressive Shock Absorber XPL. The latest novelty, however, is the Timezoner TOP GUN Ceratanium. Ad - Scroll

Omega Constellation Co-Axial Master Chronometer 41mm
Although it doesn’t have the cachet of a Speedmaster with its legendary Moon landing or a Seamaster worn in an action-packed James Bond episode, the Omega Constellation is one of the brand’s oldest and most enduring collections that started life in 1952 as a precision chronometer wristwatch. Revisited over the years, the transformation that most influenced the contemporary look of the Constellation took place in 1982, the year the watch got its claws. Following the update to the 29mm Constellation Manhattan ladies’ model?in 2019, the gent’s 39mm and 41mm were also upgraded in 2020 and equipped with Master Chronometer calibre 8800. The time-and-date watch we are looking at today is the handsome 41mm steel version with a black dial and integrated strap. Although we have often referred to it as a luxury sports watch – given its shaped case, raised bezel and integrated bracelet – having handled the sleek black dial and bezel version, I am tempted to rela