SIHH 2018 - Vanessa Monestel of Laurent Ferrier, On The New Collection - Monochrome Watches
We are already well over half-way through SIHH 2018 and there's still much, much more to come in our comprehensive coverage of the Fair. If you've been following along, you would have already seen our video interviews with the likes of Wilhelm Schmid of A. Lange & Sohne and Christian Selmoni of Vacheron Constantin. Now, we are speaking to Vanessa Monestel, CEO of Laurent Ferrier, about the brand's sleeper hit of the fair, the exceptional Galet Annual Calendar Montre Ecole.With a focus on clean design, legibility and ease of use, this new Annual Calendar watch is sure to quickly find favour with Laurent Ferrier's legion of dedicated collectors. It also happens to house the independent manufacturer's fifth in-house movement, an exceptionally impressive achievement for any brand, made all the more so by the fact that it includes a particularly practical complication. As you would expect, the watch displays the day of the week, the date and months with 30 and 31 days - meaning that onl

Auction Report - 10 Highlights of the Upcoming 97th Dr Crott Auctioneers (Part 2)
Yesterday, in our first selection of highlights of the upcoming 97th Dr Crott auction of this Saturday, 12 May?we focused on the hidden gems, and not so much on the usual suspects. Today we’ll focus on those! Here’s our selection of the highlights, stunning pieces that will certainly attract a lot of attention at the auction that will be held in?Frankfurt, Germany. Don’t forget that you can also bid online!The auction catalogue is packed with hidden gems like we showed you yesterday, and there are plenty more. For instance a lovely old Thomas Mercer table clock (lot?545), or a pre-Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clock (lot?602). But now let’s move on to the usual suspects, the watches that attract the most attention and that will probably fetch some spectacular prices.Heuer Autavia Ref. 2446C for Abercombie & Fitch from 1969Heuer’s Autavias of this reference are gaining in value, especially after TAG Heuer re-introduced the Autavia last year. Vintage Heuers mad

Hands-on: The New Salmon Dial Chopard Alpine Eagle XPS
Chopard introduced the Alpine Eagle collection in 2019 to compete in the growing segment of luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets. A modern interpretation of Chopard’s St. Moritz line from the 1980s, the Alpine Eagle, viewed by many as an attempt to create a genuine alternative to Royal Oak and Nautilus, became an essential part of Chopard’s offer as the collection has grown and is now an array of references in different sizes, materials and includes a flyback chronograph, a flying tourbillon, and a watch with a high-frequency (57,600vph/8Hz) movement, not to mention time-only, time and date, and references richly decorated with precious stones. This year the brand presents an ultra-thin Alpine Eagle model in a 41mm case with a thickness of just 8mm.The case of the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS has a familiar shape, distinguishing flanks and a bezel with eight proper screws and an engraved crown. For balanced proportions in line with the slim profile, the sides of the bezel

Hands-On IWC Big Pilots Watch 43 TOP GUN Ceramic IW329801
The Big Pilot is, without a doubt, one of the most emblematic watches of the entire history of IWC. An oversized watch, almost provocative in its proportions and design, it made an incredible impact on the industry and watch community when first released in 2002. For almost 20 years, it was meant to be BIG, until 2021 and the introduction of a smaller BP, the Big Pilot’s Watch 43. A slightly less striking and even more focused take on the concept, it has since been released in Spitfire models. And for 2022, it’s time for it to go modern and technical, with the new IWC Big Pilot's Watch 43 TOP GUN IW329801 in Black Ceramic.When released in 2021, the Big Pilot's Watch 43 somehow generated quite some comments. While a wider audience certainly appreciated its more restrained looks, its more compact case (thus far more easy to wear), its simpler movement making it more accessible, its ultra-focused display and clever strap/bracelet quick-change system, there were mixed feelings

Introducing The Roger Dubuis Excalibur Monobalancier Titanium
Roger Dubuis' Excalibur line takes inspiration from the Arthurian legend and, since 2005, has been a flagship collection for the Geneva-based brand. Appearing with a recreation of King Arthur's Round Table, complete with miniature sculpted knights, the Excalibur has always felt comfortable about stripping off and showing off its avant-garde skeletonised mechanics. The latest Excalibur Monobalancier, fitted in full titanium armour, delivers a powerful visual punch yet remains physically light on the wrist. The dramatic skeletonisation of the improved in-house automatic movement, with its star-shaped bridge and endless vistas, is signature Roger Dubuis and bears the Poin?on de Geneve hallmark.Full metalMarking the first all-titanium version of its Excalibur Monobalancier, the 100m water-resistant case has a diameter of 42mm and the bracelet, notched bezel, crown and caseback of the Excalibur MC are crafted in grade 5 titanium with a matte metallic sheen. With its brightly polished bevels