Buying Guide: Six Watches That Double Down On The Balance Wheel
Each and every we serve up a selection of watches based on a common feature in our Buying Guide, and this week is no different. But instead of looking at elements such as colour, size, material or even type of watch (dress, sports, pilot, diver, etc.), we take a more technical approach for this instalment. Harnessing the pioneering spirit and groundbreaking work of historic watchmakers such as Abraham Louis Breguet, Ferdinand Berthoud and Antide Janvier, or even the principle of resonance first discovered by Christiaan Huygens, each of these six watches double-down on the balance wheel. Instead of settling for just one regulating organ, they feature two of them which work together to improve accuracy and stability.?Czapek Place Vend?me CompliciteFor the Geneva Watch Days 2023, Czapek revealed its next watchmaking chapter, the brilliant Place Vend?me Complicite. Developed in collaboration with Bernhard Lederer, the Complicite uses two regulators coupled with a miniature differential. Th

Review of the Fortis Cockpit One - Value Proposition
When you're on the hunt for your perfect watch, or even just a compulsory purchase, there is a lot out there to lust after. For example, when it comes to dive watches we've seen that there are a lot more than just Submariners, Seamasters or Panerais to choose from, which is great especially if you are shopping with somewhat of a limited budget. Case in point, this newly introduced Fortis Cockpit One, an automatic Swiss watch with some very nice features, in the 1000-1500 Euro/USD/CHF price bracket. Today we're taking a long, hard look at what you get for that money in one of our familiar extensive reviews!Fortis is a brand that probably isn't on everyone's radar but I don't know if that's necessarily fair. They definitely deserve some attention for some of their earlier collections as well as what's available in today's market. The most well-known pieces from the brand are perhaps the B42 or Cosmonaut's collections, which are mostly vintage inspired, automatic chronographs and space-bo

Patek Philippe Alarm Travel Time 5520P (Live Pics, Specs & Price)
In 2015, Patek Philippe stunned the luxury watch community with the unveiling of the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524. Polarising in its design, it was easily one of the most talked about watches of the Fair. Four years later and the Geneva powerhouse is at it again, pushing the boundaries even further with its latest Grand Complication, the Ref. 5520P Alarm Travel Time. We were fortunate enough to spend some hands-on time with this impressive new timepiece. Here are our initial thoughts.Editor’s note: to understand more about the complex 5520P, please check the video on top of this article.If you're new to the world of luxury watches, you may have missed all the controversy surrounding the introduction of the Ref. 5524 in 2015. In fact, now you might even find it hard to believe there was any controversy at all, as the model has since become a core part of the Calatrava collection. So much so that a second version - the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 7234R Lady - debuted

Hands-On Bell & Ross BR-X1 Black Titanium Chronograph (Specs & Price)
Bell & Ross has been knocking them out of the park lately, with several vintage-inspired watches that really hit the spot, like the new Vintage Collection and some derivatives, such as the Vintage V2-92 & V2-94 Garde-Cotes and the commemorative BR126 Renault Sport 40th Anniversary. Today, however, we're shifting gears and getting hands on with one of the brand's more futuristic-looking models; the BR-X1 Black Titanium Chronograph, a softer and more “monochrome” version of the bold?chronograph we already tested here.Part of the French brand's extensive Instrument collection, the BR-X1 series made its debut three years ago with the intention of bringing the fight to the likes of the Hublot King Power and the Audermars Piguet Royal Oak. Given the series now boasts 17 different models – including the exceptional BR-X1 Chronograph Tourbillon Monopusher – I think it's safe to assume that it has performed this mission quite well. it is bold, it is very technica

Introducing: Grand Seiko 44GS "Kirazuri" SBGA507 and SBGA509
Grand Seiko's Heritage collection is often synonymous with wonderfully textured and subtly coloured dials, including Monochrome's all-time favourites, the Snowflake and the Shunbun. Reflecting the Japanese reverence for nature, many GS dials capture the colours and textures of natural landmarks and seasonal changes using time-honoured artisanal techniques. Created exclusively for the US market, Grand Seiko releases two Heritage models with dials evoking the sunrise and early evening sky over Lake Suwa. Powered by Grand Seiko's innovative and unique Spring Drive technology, the two 44GS limited editions combine accuracy and beauty in equal measure.When the Grand Seiko Corporation of America was established in 2018, Grand Seiko released a series of limited edition watches with sparkling dials inspired by the art of kirazuri or sparkling painting, where mica powder was added to traditional ukiyo-e woodblock prints to give them a discreet shimmer. Still inspired by kirazuri, Grand Seiko pr