Introducing: A Trilogy of Audemars Piguet Models in a new Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 Ceramic
Audemars Piguet recreates a colour intimately associated with its first Royal Oak model of 1972. Although the colour described as “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” has appeared on many dials, it has never been replicated in high-tech ceramic. Inspired by the clear night skies of the Vallee de Joux, this darker tone of blue ceramic is used on the three models – two Royal Oak Offshore Chronographs and a Royal Oak Openworked Double Balance.Audemars Piguet's blue ceramic pays homage to the famous “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” tapisserie dial selected by Gerald Genta for the dial of the first Royal Oak in 1972 (reference 5402ST). Made by Geneva dial maker Stern, the dark blue “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” colour was obtained by adding black pigment no.50 to the protective varnish. The nuage or cloud effect was a chemical reaction produced by the small amount of black pigment poured into the liquid lacquer. Today, the distinctive in-house colour used on dials is obtained using

A Technical Perspective - New Devices to Optimize Minute Repeaters
Repeater clocks were invented well before electric lighting, in order to be able to consult the time in the dead of night. By activating a trigger or a pusher, a repeater chimes the time on demand and is often regarded, and rightfully so, as one of the pinnacles of mechanical watchmaking. Dozens of components, manufactured to exact tolerances, must be combined to orchestrate these extremely complex mechanisms. The quality of a minute repeater is also judged by the sound that it produces. Watchmakers pay utmost attention to their acoustic quality, patiently adjusting various parameters to reach the loudest, clearest and richest sound possible. The pace of the chime or the eventual background noise (the buzzing noise produced by the regulator) are also particularly important. In their quest to produce the ultimate minute repeater, watchmakers conduct sound research programs to optimise the chime of their watches.In a minute repeater, sound is most of the time produced by small hammers st

Timeless Hires Renowned Watchmakers Pierre Favre and Dominique Renaud - Monochrome Watches
If watch brands are proudly trumpeting their watchmaking expertise and manufacturing capabilities, suppliers don't always get the credit they deserve. Today we are taking a look at Timeless, a movement manufacturer that just hired two well-known industry veterans, Pierre Favre and Dominique Renaud. A good reason to make us think that we'll be hearing more about Timeless in the future!Created in 2008, Timeless is an upmarket movement manufacturer that is part of the Groupe Regence. Headquartered in Satigny, in the outskirts of Geneva, Regence was founded some 20 ago by Georges Leger. It is active in the production of watch components with a surprising level of vertical integration, manufacturing most of the key parts.The Signature Mysterieuse Tourbillon by Charles Girardier, Ladies’ complication watch prize at the 2020 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve, powered by a Timeless movementWith Timeless, the idea is not to compete with companies specialised in the industrial production o

The Accessible Delma Cayman Bronze Field Watch Automatic
Delma‘s Cayman dive watches were introduced in 2019 as a reflection of the brand's 1970s skin divers. They're stylish and more compact than professional counterparts, although a bit larger than the usual skin diver at 42mm (traditional skin divers are under 40mm in diameter). The collection finds a nice balance between pro and recreational wrist companions, although, with an impressive depth rating, the watches can moonlight as saturation divers. The field-focused Cayman Bronze introduced a bronze case and a handful of dial colours a few months ago, bringing a warmer vibe and popular trend to Delma’s timeless collection.?Bronze Is BetterIt'd be great if we could all afford solid gold watches. The warmth and prestige of gold really elevate the character of a watch, unless it's a Royal Oak (but I digress). Bronze is a worthy substitute, however, providing a comparable warmth and very different vibe than steel. Unlike gold, it'll form a patina over time that adds even more cha

Tockr Limited C-47 Skeleton Watches (Specs & Price)
Tockr is a relatively new watchmaker that launched its first models, the C-47 Radial Engine Collection, in 2017. The watches paid homage to the WWII era C-47 aircraft with a radial engine motif, a plane that founder Austin Ivey's grandfather flew during the war. Both Austin and his father became pilots as well, and all of the brand's watches have a pilot theme. There are many design innovations within Tockr's portfolio, such as the Air-Defender Lume series that feature luminescent hydro-dipped cases (an industry first). Tockr is now launching its first skeletonized C-47 variants in a very limited run of eight, making them both exclusive and visually complex.?Skeletonized watches are nothing new, of course, but Tockr has maintained its signature aviation look while tastefully flaunting a Swiss automatic on both sides. The cushion-shaped case is 316L stainless steel and a reasonable 42mm in diameter. The angled knurling on the crown gives it an almost turbine appearance and water-resista