Buying Guide - The Most Sought-After Royal Oak Models in Collection - And the Sad Reality of the Market
After we look at the most desirable models in and Patek Philippe catalogues, and the reality of the market – understand, the premium you’ll have to pay to get your hands on these watches, without waiting for years – it is time to go full circle and to give an end to the speculation story… And that means looking at THE watch that actually started it all, the watch that, back in 1972, created the trend for luxury sports watches, so-to-say today’s hottest watch category; the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, of course. So here are the most sought-after Audemars Piguet watches in collection – all being Royal Oak models – and the reality of what you’ll need to pay if you want one, right now.?The 15202ST might not suffer the same insane premium as a 5711 but that doesn’t mean it will be easy to get one (and not cheap either)You must know the deal… Back in 1972, a man named Gerald Genta went to see a certain watch manufacture, part of the

Collector's Series - Vancouverwatchguy and his Kari Voutilainen Vingt-8
Today we return with a new instalment of The Collector's Series, and with one of the most desirable dress watches you can imagine. A collector's dream, made by one of the most revered independent watchmakers. And it'll be courtesy of @vancouverwatchguy, who lives in you guessed it, Vancouver, Canada. This 63-years-old financial entrepreneur will be talking elaborately about his passion for his Kari Voutilainen Vingt-8. Yes, it's a stunning watch, which seems rather simple at first, but clearly isn't. And his unbridled enthusiasm?for this marvellous watch is catchy, so be aware!Frank Geelen, MONOCHROME – When did you first hear about Kari Voutilainen?Vancouverwatchguy – It was in 2015 that I started to do some research into independent watchmaking. I had already owned watches from a number of the mainstream brands, and I was a reasonably seasoned collector by this time. I?owned watches from Omega, Panerai, , JLC, Cartier and two pieces from Patek, including?a Patek Grand Co

First Look: The new Forest Green Chopard L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual
A Chopard L.U.C watch offering a perpetual calendar complication with a tourbillon regulator is not new to the series. In 2013, Chopard presented its L.U.C Perpetual T model, which was then followed by two extraordinary unique pieces in 2018, the “La Santa Muerte” decorated with the Mexican motifs and “Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac” in a homage to Chinese traditions, all powered by the hand-wound, COSC-certified L.U.C 02.15-L movement. In 2019, the manufacture revealed its first automatic flying tourbillon timepiece, the L.U.C Flying T Twin, which featured a micro-rotor for winding and two stacked barrels for a 65-hour power reserve. The new L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual can be seen as a culmination of Chopard’s expertise gained during the development of the abovementioned models – it is as much an elegant dress watch as the Flying T Twin as it is a highly complicated and accurate, top-of-the-series L.U.C Perpetual T. We gladly offer you our initial t

Bamford London Popeye GMT Limited Edition - Specs & Price
Bamford London has built a reputation by customizing watches from top brands like , Zenith and Patek Philippe, and all of the work is officially authorized. The company even collaborates with outside designers like Black Badger for wild creations like the Zenith El Primero Superconductor. Bamford also has its own line of GMT watches and had a little fun in 2019 with a Popeye-themed limited edition, celebrating the cartoon character's 90th anniversary. You can't keep Popeye down and he's back for 2021, forearms and all, to claim the dial of another limited edition GMT. Character watches were all the rage when I was a kid and this latest Popeye GMT brings a mature Swiss automatic to nostalgic adults.?A few things have changed since the 2019 version, but the cushion case dimensions remain the same. Coming in at 40mm in diameter and 11.2mm in height, it's right at home on most wrists. The stainless steel has a darker matte black finish this time, a theme seen throughout the watch, with th

Panerai Luna Rossa Challenger Submersible 47mm PAM01039 - SIHH 2019 (Specs & Price)
Panerai sticks to its nautical roots and Italian identity with another watch dedicated to high-adrenaline maritime pursuits. In this case, Panerai celebrates its new role as the official sponsor of the Luna Rossa, the Challenger of Record of the 36th Edition of the America’s Cup.? The partnership with the Italian team is the perfect occasion for Panerai to unveil a new collection of watches directly inspired by the materials and technologies used by the yachts competing in the America’s?Cup. Fitted out with a carbon fibre case, just like the new monohull of the AC75 Luna Rossa yacht, the 47mm Luna Rossa Challenger Submersible is shipshape and ready for action with?sailcloth on the dial and water-resistance of 300 metres.Carbotech caseHoused in an XXL 47mm case crafted from Carbotech, an innovative composite material based on carbon fibre, the Luna Rossa Challenger Submersible emulates the material of the hull of the AC75 and a picture of the yacht is engraved on the blacken