Buying Guide - 5 Watches That Break The Silence, On Demand!
With a complication originally born out of necessity yet now regarded as one of the ultimate expressions of mechanical watchmaking, the watches in today’s Buying Guide do more than just tell time. Each and every one of them is a wrist-worn mechanical masterpiece in some form, from the very refined to the boldly extravagant. The connection between the five? Besides ultra-complex movements, exotic materials and monumental price tags, they are united by their ability to produce sound! That’s right, today’s selection of watches all have a chiming mechanism of some sort on board!A. Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Minute RepeaterWhen A. Lange & Sohne introduced the Richard Lange Minute Repeater during Watches & Wonders 2022, it instantly struck a chord with us. It is a very fitting expression of refinement on one hand and Lange’s mechanical prowess on the other. At first glance, the 39mm wide and 9.7mm thin watch looks like a very classical dress watch, but th

Hands-On - Claude Meylan Legende 69 (with vintage Valjoux 69 movement) with Vintage Chronograph Movement (Specs & Price)
A visit to Les Ateliers (editor's note, the place where most independent watchmakers exhibit) at Baselworld 2018 can sometimes bring very nice surprises - especially if you have a love for old-school chronograph watches. The Claude Meylan Legende 69 is a clean, simple, elegant stopwatch. As its name suggests, it is powered by a vintage Valjoux 69 chronograph movement, entirely refurbished and redecorated by Claude Meylan, an independent watchmaker based in the Vallee de Joux, specialised in crafting skeletonised watches. The hand-wound column wheel chronograph found in this elegant and clean watch is a refinished old-stock Valjoux 69 calibre, a movement introduced in the late 1930s (more precisely, we talk about new movements created with old-stock parts). The origins of the legendary chronograph maker Valjoux go as far back as the late 19th century when the Reymond brothers set up their movement manufacture in the Vallee de Joux. Reymond Freres SA would b

Introducing The Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Chronograph 5924G
Following the turbulence generated by Patek Philippe's Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524 of 2015 with its vintage pilot's watch flair, the model has settled down as a stable member of the Calatrava family. For 2023, Patek Philippe is introducing another version of its Calatrava Pilot Travel Time, combining its dual time functionality with a flyback chronograph. Two references in white gold with contemporary coloured dials and enhanced functionality wing their way into the more vintage section of the Calatrava collection.In just eight years, the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time has gone from being a misunderstood and controversial watch to becoming a highly desirable collectable. Relying on Patek's signature Travel Time indication, the first models featured a second time zone or GMT indication with two hour hands, a practical day/night indicator and a date on a sub-dial at 6 o'clock. Appearing in a smaller 37.5mm for women in 2018, the Travel Time took on board an alarm mechanism coupled

Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire Tourbillon - Monochrome-Watches
In 2012 Richard Mille introduced the RM 056 Sapphire Tourbillon Split Seconds Chronograph, which was the first wrist watch with a case that was manufactured in pure sapphire. Last year they surpassed this with the RM 56-01, which has not only a sapphire case, but movement bridges and baseplate as well. An unparalleled achievement, which also reflected in its price tag of more than 1,5 million Euros. Later this year, during the Watches & Wonders fair in Hong Kong, Richard Mille will introduce the RM 56-02 Sapphire Tourbillon.The new Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire Tourbillon takes design cues from the mechanical architecture of the RM 27-01 Rafael Nadal and its cable suspended movement. By incorporating this cabled movement design within a world of transparent sapphire, an ultimate expression of weightlessness and transparency is evoked within the world of extreme horology. The case itself, entirely made of sapphire crystal, takes 40 days (24/7) of continuous machining to be produce

We list some of the coolest non-Swiss independent watchmakers.
It's easy to immediately think of Switzerland when it comes to fine watches, but kind of unfair. In some ways, watchmaking and Switzerland?are synonymous, like chocolate, or cheese fondue. Yet, despite being the industry's epicentre, it's far from the only place on earth where watches are made. There are countless brands and individuals doing some really inventive stuff, especially in the independent watchmaking scene. Chatting amongst the team regarding this very topic, we decided it was again time to go through some of the most interesting indies outside of Switzerland. And some come from quite unexpected countries!J.N. Shapiro Watches – USAWe start things off with an independent watchmaker that should definitely be on your radar, for a number of reasons; J.N. Shapiro. First off, he is doing some really interesting things in his workshop in California. Secondly, he tries to do as much as possible by himself or on US soil at least. Thirdly, he just launched a watch with the firs