Watches NEWS
Introducing Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel 15212NB
Wandering hours are one of the most fascinating displays of the watch industry. And if it’s often associated with modern indie watchmakers like Urwerk or with Audemars Piguet, it is actually a very old concept dating back to the 17th century. Yet, if the paternity of the system is far older than many would think, Audemars Piguet is often seen as the resurrector of the concept, with a famous watch born in 1991, the Starwheel. And this emblematic display, which has long been out of the collection, is now back in a bolder, more modern attire. Meet the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel.The wandering hour of the past, and StarwheelThe wandering hour system can be traced back to the 17th century (most likely in 1655) following a special request from Pope Alexander VII. Suffering from insomnia that was aggravated by the ticking of a clock, he ordered a night clock from the Campani brothers, with the request for?a clock that would be silent and easy to read in the dark. The result
2020 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore "Bucherer BLUE"
When talking about the Royal Oak, blue dials are a natural fit. After all, the first Royal Oak featured a blue Tapisserie dial in 1972 and the colour has become somewhat of an Audemars Piguet trademark. The Royal Oak Offshore debuted in 1993 and has been a successful, highly masculine sequel to the original series. Although many sported blue dials in the past, the Bucherer BLUE Royal Oak Offshore models have features unique to the collaboration. They're also the first special editions of the 42mm variant since its 2014 launch. Both Audemars Piguet and Bucherer have rich histories going back over a century and these latest models continue a successful partnership since 2016.?Founded in 1888 by entrepreneur Carl-Friedrich Bucherer in Lucerne, Switzerland, Bucherer went from a single watch and jewellery store to the largest retailer of its kind in Europe with 36 locations. A wide selection of the most prestigious watch brands is offered, including one of the most extensive ranges of mod
Industry Richemont's 2020/2021 Yearly Results Show Resilience
There’s no denying that the year 2020 has been difficult for all industries, including luxury goods. Due to closures of points of sales, logistics centres and manufacturing sites, as well as the halt in international tourism resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, luxury powerhouses have seen sales contracting drastically. Yet, the end of 2020 and the first months of 2021 are clearly showing strong signs of recovery. Following announcements by LVMH and Swatch Group, it is now time for the other major player in the field of luxury watchmaking and jewellery to announce its yearly results. And indeed, while the situation has been difficult for Richemont, the end of the financial year is on the rise, surpassing sales of the prior year.?Keeping in mind that Richemont’s financial year starts on April 1st and ends in March 2021, the results for the first half of the financial year 2020/2021 directly reflect the impact of the closure of shops and manufacturing centres. Sales contract
IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Edition Chinese New Year
The Portugieser collection is a pillar of IWC Schaffhausen, and for a good reason. The collection dates back to the 1930s when two gentlemen dealers from Portugal commissioned a watch for the local market. The result, reference 325, gave the name and paved the way for many beautiful timepieces with all sorts of complications. Two years ago, IWC offered a new take on the classic hours, minutes, and small seconds watch in the Portugieser collection, a compact Portugieser Automatic 40, in harmony with the universal trend of smaller case diameters, with several case materials and dial colour options. The new reference IW358315, also known as the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Edition Chinese New Year, complements this line with a new colour dial and a new – and fun – shape for the rotor.Watch editions dedicated to the Chinese New Year are widespread across the industry. Big and small brands rush to satisfy the critical market, offering themed animations in limited editions. IWC i
Rado True Square Automatic Collection 2020 (Specs & Price)
Rado launched the iconic square Ceramica in 1990, an all-ceramic watch with an integrated bracelet that ushered in the brand's extensive use of the material. In 1993, the Sintra introduced cermet, a stronger and more advanced titanium-based ceramic. High-tech ceramics have become a mainstay for Rado and really differentiate the brand, while square cases are a signature design element introduced a half-century ago with watches like the scratchproof DiaStar, although it wasn't fully embraced until the 1986 ceramic Integral. The latest Rado True Square Automatic Collection combines this square aesthetic with the brand’s new high-tech ceramic injected-monobloc technology, an industry first.?The True Square collection has 15 new references and comes in a few flavours, including the Open Heart skeletonised series and more conventional standard models, and case/bracelet colours in black, white and plasma (silvery grey). Men's cases are a somewhat reserved 38mm in width and 9.7mm (Open H