Review of The New AP Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT
The Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT was just presented by Audemars Piguet in the pool of other new Royal Oaks, distinguished by an even more aggressive design than its Concept predecessors and an exceptional automatic rattrapante chronograph calibre 4407 with the date and 24-hour GMT functions. This watch is a rightful heir to the Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher and an important addition, not just to the Concept series. It is here to make history as it will lead the new generation of split-seconds chrono movements used outside the Grand Complications family. Let’s take a closer look.The Royal Oak Concept SeriesAudemars Piguet presented the first-ever watch in the Royal Oak Concept series in 2002 while celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Royal Oak. The high-tech looking 44mm watch in a cobalt-based super-alloy Alacrite 602 case housed the manually wound calibre 2896 with a one-minute tourbillon. Among other functions, it featured a dynamographe di

New Editions of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute
The Laureato luxury sports watch was introduced by Girard-Perregaux in 1975 and tentatively revived in 2016 as a limited edition before becoming a full-fledged collection in 2017. Within the Laureato family is the burlier, sportier Laureato Absolute sub-collection, the brand's playground for innovative materials and bolder 44mm cases. The two new models joining the Laureato Absolute line-up are housed in transparent metallised sapphire crystal cases to reveal their skeletonised in-house movements. One of the models is picked out in a red translucent case to mark the upcoming Chinese New Year (22 January 2023).LaureatoThe Laureato is Girard-Perregaux’s take on the luxury sports watch and made its first appearance in 1975, just three years after Audemars Piguet launched the groundbreaking Royal Oak. With its raised octagonal bezel, sleek lines, hobnail engraved dial and integrated bracelet, the only downside of the first Laureato was that it was powered by a slim, ultra-precise qua

Hands-on Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar (Live pics & price) - and why a QP is relevant in such a sports-watch - Monochrome Watches
The new Overseas collection by Vacheron Constantin, introduced this year at the SIHH, ticks all the right boxes. The watch’ design is pure, inspired, the finish is exquisite, and overall it’s desirable and luxurious… It is actually difficult to find flaws here. Whether we talk about the?normal 3-hander, the Chronograph or the Ultra-Thin edition; when we got to see these new models we are very impressed. There’s one?version that we didn’t show to you, yet, and this is the flagship one: the?Vacheron Constantin Overseas Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar. This watch does bring a question to the table: is such a refined movement with perpetual calendar complication useful and relevant in a sport-oriented watch? Is it similar to a 633 bhp twin-turbo W12 engine in a delicate Bentley Continental GT Speed? Let’s just enjoy the beauty of it, please!You’re probably already quite aware of the new Overseas collection by Vacheron Constantin, as it received a rat

Hands-On Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m GMT Master Chronometer
While the Speedmaster remains Omega’s most successful watch, specifically since the renewal of the collection recently, the other important pillar in the collection if, of course, the Seamaster. Past years have seen the brand focusing mostly on the Diver 300M. Yet, there’s another dive watch that deserves some attention, an even more powerful model with proper diving credentials, the Planet Ocean 600m. Recently, we got our hands on a model that we consider to be sort of a hidden gem in the collection… This is the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m GMT Master Chronometer and we give a closer look at it.?Neither the concept of an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m GMT nor this actual watch is new. In fact, the concept came on the market in 2013 and the watch we’ll be looking at today has been launched in 2016. Still, it is part of these watches that somehow didn’t get the recognition it truly deserves. This traveller’s PO 600M is a watch that has A LOT t

Introducing: The Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time 5524G is Back with an Ivory Lacquered Dial
Vintage pilot watches have soared in popularity with remakes of legitimate aviator watches by historical brands and look-alikes by countless others. However, when Patek Philippe introduced its Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524 during Baselworld 2015, it caught everybody off guard. Presented in white gold with a blue dial and pushers on the left, the Travel Time, as its name indicates, is fitted with a practical tool for pilots in the form of a sophisticated dual time complication. Discontinued earlier this year, Patek returns with another white gold version with identical specs but flaunting a new ivory lacquered dial, under the reference 5524G-010.The turbulence surrounding the release of Ref. 5524 in 2015 was partly because not many people were aware of Patek’s chapter in pilot watches. While the brand attributes some of the design features of the 5524 to its 1936 hour angle or siderometer watches, these historical models never led to a pilot’s watch collection per se