Just Because: The Battle for the World's Thinnest Watches (Incl. Video)
Some of the standout highlights of the 2024 Watch Week in Geneva undoubtedly revolved around ultra-thin watches. Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC now reigns as the world's thinnest mechanical wristwatch, boasting an astonishing 1.70mm profile. Meanwhile, Piaget clinched the record for the thinnest tourbillon ever with its Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon, measuring a mere 2mm! We are undoubtedly living in a golden age of the ultra-thin watch, with records for ultra-thin watches being beaten one after the other as timepieces materialise with a thinness that would have been literally unimaginable a few years ago. Let’s delve into some of the most notable advancements in this field.Piaget can rightly be considered the precursor and historical specialist of ultra-thin watches. From the 9P and 12P presented in the 1950s to the legendary 20P and 25P, these record-thin yet delicate movements were made with Jean Lassale in the mid-1970s. The 20P movement was a staggering 1.

Pre-SIHH 2019 - Introducing the Cartier Libre Jewelry Collection - Freedom of Shape and Colour
Cartier manages to fuse a unique touch of French sophistication with a very liberal attitude towards design. Cartier’s love affair with?fascinating shaped watches?has lasted for a century and you'd be hard pressed to find a straightforward round watch chez la Maison. Unusual shapes, like the square Santos, the rectangular Tank, the barrel-shaped Tortue, or even the weird and wild 1967 Crash watch inspired by a Baignoire Allongee model that was purportedly mangled and melted in a car crash, have been and still are very much an identity trait of the brand. Last year signalled the return of the Santos, and in 2019 the mood for nostalgia is still in full swing as we have witnessed with the pre-SIHH release of the Cartier Prive Tonneau watch for men inspired by a 1906 model with an elongated tonneau case. Women are also in for a treat with the pre-SIHH 2019 release of the Baignoire Allongee, a model that literally takes a dip in a sea of precious stones. Presented in white or yellow g

The auction Hammer - F.P. Journe Vagabondage I - Monochrome Watches
An unusual watch with an unusual time display made by an unusual watchmaker in a, for him, unusual case is coming up for auction?at Christie's upcoming New York auction on June 15th. This is the F.P.Journe Vagabondage I.With the stunning F.P. Journe Vagabondage II you would almost forget that there also was a Vagabondage I. This model was introduced in 2004 for the 30th birthday of auction house Antiquorum. Journe produced 3 Piece Unique's, in white, yellow?and rose gold,?and all with a brass (!) movement, that Antiquorum auctioned in favor of ICM, a Paris based research facility specializes in the fight against brain and spinal cord diseases. Ad - Scroll to continue with article After these three watches Journe created 2 Limited Editions that where made between 2005 and 2006. A 10 piece limited edition created from platinum and set with baguette diamonds, and a

Buying Guide - Some of Our Favourite Skeleton Watches
There are endless styles of watches, ranging from plain-and-simple to over-the-top, from time-only models to grande complications. While we often categorize watches on certain features or complications (tourbillon watches, sports watches, dive watches, etc…) there are styling choices that are free from restraints and can be found in any category. Today we go through no less than eight skeletonized watches that extend this delicate craft beyond the conventional boundaries.?While we already touched upon the subject of skeletonized watches a little over a year ago in a buying guide article, we felt it was time to once more pay homage to the art of cutting away all that isn't needed. We are once again taking a look at some of the most extraordinary open-worked watches but from a different perspective. As skeletonized watches range in style from chic to sporty and everything in between, we tried to select those that transcend a certain style and become more than just the sum of their

Introducing: The White-and-Red TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1
Since TAG Heuer announced its return as the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1 earlier this year, we’ve already seen an updated Formula 1 Chronograph collection. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph – powered by the cutting-edge TH81-00 movement introduced last year – joined the F1-inspired lineup. What remained a mystery, however, was how the fierce competitive spirit of Formula 1 would influence its design. As the brand unveils this latest iteration, one thing is clear: the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1 is as bold, dynamic, and performance-driven as the high-speed machines that define the sport.While last year’s Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph was encased in titanium with black PVD coating, for the F1 edition, TAG Heuer makes white ceramic the material of choice. The 41mm square case in white ceramic features a sandblasted, fine-brushed and polished finish, while the crown, the shaped chronograph pushbuttons