Watches NEWS
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Openworked 16204ST Review
1972-2022. Yes, Audemars Piguet‘s most emblematic watch, and one of the most iconic watches of the entire industry, the Royal Oak, is celebrating its 50th anniversary – even though, looking at the watch, it doesn’t reveal its age. As you’ve come to expect, the brand will be using this jubilee as the occasion to revamp some of the models, introduce new in-house movements, launch special editions, etc. Well, we’re talking about an entire 50-year collection. Following the replacement of the Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin, with the new 16202ST we presented here, the brand has also announced a new Extra-Thin Openworked. Following the tradition established for the 40th anniversary of this watch, it’s time to discover the new steel?Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Openworked, a.k.a the 16204ST.?Openworked & Royal OakThe whole idea of an openworked movement on the Royal Oak is far from new. In fact, the Royal Oak collection has included more than 5
In-Depth - A Look at Shaped Watches by Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe through History - Monochrome Watches
When thinking about the archetype of the round Swiss watch, the first names that come to mind might very well be Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin. As the custodians of Geneva's watchmaking tradition, influenced by the sober protestant spirit, both brands stand for subtle, understated elegance. However, beyond the design conventions dictated by the round wristwatch, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin have in common a long, rich legacy of shaped watches. After Cartier, Monochrome brings together a (non-exhaustive) selection of shaped watches from Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin.Hands turn in a circle. The semantic notion of what a clock should look like is round. The circle is the direct consequence of the mechanics to display the time and it is the most versatile shape in many respects. The first wristwatches were mostly pocket watches, modified later to be strapped on the wrist. However, designing shaped watches gave watchmakers an?opportunity to express their creativit
First Look: The Omega Seamaster Regatta, Ready for the 37th Americas Cup
Omega‘s involvement in sailing and regattas, whether as official timekeeper or provider of dedicated timepieces, isn’t to be demonstrated anymore. The brand backs entire crews, such as Emirates Team New Zealand, and times historic events such as the America's Cup – for which it has recently announced the renewal of its role as the Official Timekeeper. As the 37th America's Cup, one of the world's most intense sailing races and the oldest trophy in international sport, is in full swing, the brand unveiled its latest sailing instrument, a proper tool watch based on the X33 family, the new Omega Seamaster Regatta.Omega and regattaOmega began its partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand and legendary sailor Sir Peter Blake in 1995 and continues to be a strong provider of regatta-themed watches. As such, the Swiss watchmaker has been the official timekeeper of the famous America’s Cup in 2000, 2003 and 2021, and now for the 37th edition of the race in 2024, it rene
Hands-On Patek Philippe 5270P-014 Perpetual Chronograph Green Dial
If you think of an ultra-classic, almost conservative but also emblematic watch of Patek Philippe (and don’t mention the Nautilus… today we’re talking high-end watchmaking), it would certainly take the shape of a Perpetual Calendar Chronograph. Born in 1941 with the reference 1518, this combination of complications is clearly a hallmark of the brand and the current version of this watch, the 5270, is one of the most traditional models made by Patek… Well, it was, until this year. Because now, with the new 5270P-014, gone are the days of the restrained silver or dark blue dials. Now, it’s time for the 4th generation of Patek’s perpetual calendar chronograph and it’s not the conservative watch you’ve come to expect anymore. It’s bold, it’s colourful, it has a new dial layout, and in fact, it’s almost as if this new deep green gradient and lacquered dial was part of an entirely new watch.?The first generation of 5270, launc
Pre-Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Chronograph Quantieme Annuel (hands-on review with live pics, specs & price) - Monochrome Watches
It has to be said: the celerity at which Montblanc has enlarged and developed?the Heritage Chronometrie collection is impressive. In less than 2 years, we’ve seen a Dual Time, a Quantieme Complet, an Ultra-Slim, a Quantieme Annuel and even an affordable (relatively speaking) Tourbillon Chronograph. And what has to be kept in mind is that, even if Montblanc uses third-parties base movements, the complication modules are all done in-house. Now you’ll probably ask yourself when they going to stop? Not this year, as here is the new?Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Chronograph Quantieme Annuel, to be introduced at the SIHH 2016.The?Heritage Chronometrie is the core collection of Montblanc, with classically shaped watches and a goal to have complicated displays, but for accessible prices. The goal here isn’t to be ultra-high-end – this goes to the Villeret Collection, with watches like the Montblanc Tourbillon Cylindrique Geospheres?– neither to be quite original