Watches NEWS
In-Depth: "Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication" For Giulio Papi, the Master of Complications at APRP
Aficionados regard watch brands as the stars of the show, all the more so when they present complicated or very complicated pieces. Upstream, there are other stars, the minds that conceive, design, and rethink watchmaking micromechanics in depth. Giulio Papi is one of those, and the mere mention of his name instantly sparks excitement among collectors. We interview the designer-inventor – how can we best describe him? – a modest man with a legendary reputation.Papi is now the Technical Director of Audemars Piguet, Le Locle. The remarkable architecture of the manufacture, located on a promontory overlooking the city and mirroring the topography of Le Brassus (hotel included), is a contemporary sentinel of the brand’s history and home to 200 employees. Before arriving here, Papi’s path was marked by several stages, all characterised by a reflection process and, in truth, by simplicity. “Renaud Papi was not born to become a legend, but to work on complication
Hands-On - Frederique Constant Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Manufacture (Specs & Price)
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Frederique Constant wowed the crowds in Paris with its double complication at an unbelievable price. Once again, Frederique Constant sticks to its slogan of accessible luxury' and proves that acquiring a quality, manufacture watch with complications does not mean having to mortgage your house. Frederique's Constant QP Tourbillon Manufacture snubs the tradition of hyper-expensive complications and offers its very own, in-house take on this classic complication for an exorbitantly contained price. As the culmination and showcase of all the technology FC has amassed over the years, the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon is equipped with the new automatic FC-975 in-house movement. Presented in three different metals and with an openworked or closed dial, the one everybody will be zoning in on is the stainless steel contender with an unbeatable price tag of EUR 19,495.Price BustersPeter and Aletta Stas founded FC in 1988 and to date have 27 calibres under their
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon Sunburst Tapisserie Dial (SIHH 2018)
Audemars Piguet will bring a fresh burst of colour to SIHH 2018, with the unveiling of three new Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon models. We're profiling two of them here for you today, one in classic steel and the other in 18ct pink gold. All changes are purely aesthetic and as far as we're aware, neither will be limited editions, although we imagine production quantities will be relatively low to maintain the exclusivity of these pieces.The Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon made its debut back in 2012 as part of the Royal Oak 40th anniversary celebrations. The idea was to take the original concept of the Royal Oak from 1972 and elevate it to a whole new plain of consciousness (my words, not theirs). Suffice to say, they succeeded and since then Audemars Piguet has introduced several variations, including an all platinum version in 2016 and a titanium/platinum hybrid in 2017. Ad - Scroll to continue with article
Hands-on - The new EBEL 1911 Marine (Specs & Price)
Originally launched in 1986 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the brand, the EBEL 1911 has long been a flagship model of the brand. After re-launching its Sports Classic collection in 2017 (with its signature wave-shaped bracelet), the brand now brings back the emblematic 1911, with several quartz-powered ladies' and gents' watches and an aquatic take on the model featuring a mechanical movement. Here’s our first experience with the new EBEL 1911 Marine.EBEL was founded in 1911 in La Chaux-de-Fonds - the company was named after the initials of the founder and his wife, Eugene Blum Et Alice Levy. The brand was remarkably successful in the 1970s and 1980s, in particular under the management of the charismatic Pierre Alain Blum. With its chic quartz watches, the company was thriving while the industry was hit by the quartz crisis. These could be spotted on the wrists of celebrities such as Boris Becker, Andre Agassi, Claudia Schiffer or Don Johnson in Miami Vice. EBEL was also ma
Hands-On Grand Seiko Heritage Shunbun Spring Drive Pink Dial SBGA413
The highlight of 2021 for Grand Seiko has been, without a doubt, the White Birch Hi-Beat SLGH005, a watch that came on the market with a stunning silvery-white textured dial, a relatively new case design (sharper and slimmer) and an impressive movement with multiple mechanical innovations, including the Dual Impulse escapement. For a couple of years now, Grand Seiko is definitely hot and its watches are becoming highly sought-after. Now that the year 2021 has ended, it seems that another watch is slowly taking the White Birch’s place on the throne, a watch that isn’t new as it came on the market in June 2019… But for the US only. We’re talking about the Grand Seiko “Shunbun” SBGA413 and its surprising pink dial. And since it will soon be available worldwide, alongside 3 other Season editions, it might well be on its way to becoming the new hottest GS on the market.?The trend for coloured dials…For long, luxury watches have mostly been available
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