The Collector's Corner - The IWC Mark XII Pilot's Watch
Our last subject on The Collector's Corner was the Cartier Tank Americaine, and though we're sticking to the theme of the classic time-only watch for a little bit longer, this week we'll look at one with a very different flavour. The inaugural article in The Collector's Corner was about the IWC Doppelchronograph reference 3711. In 1993, one year after that reference was released, IWC followed up with a classic time-and-date-only pilot's watch that stuck to the utilitarian design of the military watch Mark XI, yet added some refinements to make it a more compelling product for the civilian population. That's right. We're talking about the Mark XII, the first in a long line of civilian pilot's watches in IWC's Mark collection. No other model line has stayed as true to its inspiration and is as instantly recognizable as an IWC as the classic Mark. And, it especially makes sense to talk about the Mark XII now, since IWC has released the latest generation of the collection, the Pilot's Watc

Throwback On The SIHH 2016 Highlights Before The Start Of SIHH 2017
In less than 2 days – Monday 16th January, 9am (Central Europe Time) to be exact – SIHH 2017, the annual High Mass for watches in Geneva, will officially open. While the team here has?already been fortunate enough to have a glimpse of what is about to come (don’t bother?asking, we won’t tell), on this day you’ll be able to discover for yourself just what?the 17 large brands and 12 independent watchmakers exhibiting?have prepared for their new collections. Now, we know?you watch aficionado and collectors?are an impatient lot so to distract you while you wait, here is a quick review of some of the best releases from?SIHH 2016.A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Tourbillon PerpetualThe Datograph Tourbillon?Perpetual?was without doubt one of the most remarkable introductions of SIHH 2016. The Saxon manufacture created?a pure horological marvel?with the addition of a perpetual calendar (that already existed, see here) and a tourbillon regulator to its iconic chronog

The Collector's Series - David Brailsford and his Peter Roberts Concentrique Grand Complication 5 - Monochrome-Watches
This week, on the Collector's Series, we discover what it's like to own a watch that, when released, was the first wristwatch to have all five hands all mounted on the same central axis. This unusual watch is called the Concentrique Grand Complication 5 and is the work of one of the greatest British watchmakers, Peter Roberts. Fitted with a superbly finished Valjoux 88?as a base, it boasts many complications, something that its owner, David from Garrick Watches, knows how to appreciate. And as usual, there is a story behind a watch, and here is David's.Peter Roberts is one of the great veterans of British Watchmaking. He has spent 45 years in the business having been the the first British student to attend the Swiss WOSTEP course (the Watches Of Switzerland Training and Education Program, which was founded in 1966 and is considered the basis for modern education in horology for professional watchmakers). ?He has worked at IWC, , and more recently, British watch brand Bremont. This wee

Review: Is The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce Annual Calendar 5261R Really A Women's Watch?
During Watches & Wonders 2023, Patek Philippe unveiled a 39.9mm rose gold Aquanaut Luce Ref. 5261R with its patented annual calendar mechanism. Marking the first Aquanaut fitted with an annual calendar complication, Patek’s press material was adamant in positioning the watch as an Aquanaut Luce, the ladies’ section of the Aquanaut collection. A far cry from some of the brand’s more feminine watches with petite dimensions, pastel colours and diamonds, today I’ll explain why I think this Aquanaut Luce 5261R is a particularly attractive watch for women with a taste for large sporty watches with horological content, but also why it would be a huge mistake to overlook its appeal to men.Patek’s womenPatek Philippe is generally regarded as Switzerland’s finest purveyor of men’s watches and a precursor in combining complications. But this sentence is not entirely accurate: Patek Philippe is Switzerland’s finest producer of men’s and wom

New brand - Vortic Watch Co. mixing antique American pocket-watch movements and 3D printed cases (live pics & price) - Monochrome Watches
Brands come and go, but history remains, we all know that. And that is exactly what Vortic Watch Co. embodies as a product. Instead of designing, engineering and building an innovative new product, Vortic Watch Co. feels that we had it right the first time and decided to go from there. The American Artisan Series by Vortic Watch Co. was born, roughly a hundred years ago - well at least for the movements, as the 3D printed cases are all except vintage ones.Vortic Watch Co. is headed by three Penn State University graduates, who played around with 3d printing in steel and eventually ended up launching a watch brand. Each and every watch built by Vortic Watch Co. has a 3d printed steel case in various different finishes and dimensions. 3d printing has seen a huge increase of possible applications over the past few years, whether it being plastics, steel or other type of material. We've also seen some of these applications wander over into the watch industry, like the 3d printed dials of A