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Watches – News, Reviews, Brands and Releases
Yesterday, A. Lange Sohne celebrated the 20th anniversary of their Lange 1 watch. What better way to come up with a stunning version of their classic Lange 1, with a one-minute tourbillon, a beautiful black enamelled dial (and silver applied sub dial for the seconds) in a classic 38.5mm platinum case?Lange 1 Tourbillon HandwerkskunstUnder laud applause Langes Anthony de Haas presented the Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst to the crowd (who went wild). Due to the poor light conditions of the otherwise beautiful place in Dresden, it was almost impossible to take a proper photo of the new Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst without using any specific equipment.Only 20 pieces are being produced [...]
On the 24th and 25th of May, I was invited by A. Lange S?hne to join the prestigious Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste 2014. This prestigious event finds its roots in 1929 and with some pauses since the 1950s, the Concorso was revived again since 1995. The event at the Grand Hotel Villa dEste was only for participants, media and invited guests while the Concours of Historic Cars is open to the public on Sunday (25th of May) in the park of the Villa Erba.Over 50 beautiful classic cars were present, from the 1920s to the early 1980s. Furthermore, around a dozen of concept cars and prototypes were present during these days. Sponsored by BMW, A. Lange S?hne and some other partners, it had all the [...]
Ever since I started to develop a serious interest in watches, Ive been exposed to the advertisements of A. Lange Sohne in (mostly) German watch magazines. This must have been around 1997 or 1998, just a few years after the A. Lange Sohne manufacture got re-invented. Since then, Ive always had a weak spot for their Lange 1 timepiece, especially in white gold but never was lucky enough to be able to pull the trigger on one.Big was the joy and smile on my face when A. Lange Sohne in Glashutte sent me one of their timepieces to perform a review and photo-shoot on. The A. Lange Sohne Lange 1 Time Zone in platinum is one of my favorite watches, as I love the Lange 1 model and I also love tr [...]
Every month my company Chronolytics sends out a newsletter to the watch industry, watch enthusiasts and press with some facts figures on watch consumers and their behavior. Todays newsletter is about the awareness of German watch brands by consumers from the USA. Based on IP-address and cookies, Chronolytics is able to track the on-line behavior of millions of watch enthusiasts on the largest watch market platform in the world. I thought it would be interesting to show how German watch brands are doing in the USA, as some of them are clearly trying (and with quite some positive results) to get a piece of the US market for (luxury) watches.This article is an excerpt of the original newslette [...]
Goldene Unruh 2013Every year, readers of the German Uhren Magazine and Focus magazine (a Munich based news magazine) can select a winning watch from a number of brands, in different price categories. This year, the selection process was even easier for voters using the Focus internet platform.Anyway, in total 25.246 people participated and voted for their most favorite watches amongst the 426 candidates. Voting took place between 15th of December 2012 and the 31st of January 2013. The categories of watches are as follows:Category A up to 2500 EuroCategory B up to 5000 EuroCategory C up to 10.000 EuroCategory D up to 25.000 EuroCategory E over 25.000 Euroand then there was the Gold-Medal [...]
This years presentation of the new A. Lange Sohne timepieces in Geneva was very interesting. Seven new timepieces have been introduced, including an A. Lange Sohne Grande Complication. However, one of the watches that surprised me most is this Grand Lange 1 Lumen or reference 117.035.My initial thought was: this is not a Lange. Yes, it has the typical Lange 1 case and dial lay-out, but the use of luminous material (hence the name Lumen) for the Roman numerals, hour markers, hands and the power reserve indicator (Auf Ab) set me on the wrong path at first.Normally, I associate these heavily lumed timepieces to sports watches. Effective use of luminous material on a diving watch or a chronog [...]
TimeZones 2011 Watch of the Year competition has started and there are six candidates you can choose from when voting. Go to the TimeZone website and leave your vote for your favorite watch manufacturer. Make sure you are a registered user of TimeZone and read the voting policy before doing so.The candidates of the 2011 edition of TimeZones Watch of the Year are:A. Lange Sohnes?Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le M rite. Limited to 100 pieces only in platinum (model shown here in 18 carat red gold) and the fourth piece from this Glashuette manufacture with the Pour le M rite distinction. The tourbillon with a patented stop-seconds mechanism and the fus e-and-chain transmission have been develo [...]
The 1815 was my first high-end piece, acquired back in 2003. I still remember the sleepless nights and moments of indecision during the course of the decision process. Several other pieces were also in contention: the JLC Master Geographic; the Chopard 1.98; one of the Patek Calatravas; the AP Jules Audemars Automatic.All images in this article can be clicked on for larger versionsSo why did I go with the 1815 in the end? Quite a number of reasons, actually. First impressions, the case had a heft that belied its size and none of the others quite managed to convey the same impression of density. Then there was the dial color; a sublime dark blue that under some lights was electric, and unde [...]
The SIHH 2011, or Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie started last Sunday and all 19 exhibitors are flooding press, social media networks and watch forums with information about their new watches.Below, youll see an overview of what I think are the most interesting watches presented during the SIHH 2011 (till now). For your convenience, I categorized them per brand in alphabetical order.A. Lange SoehneThe other brand from Glashuette that wants to and perhaps can ? measure themselves with the top of the bill haute horlogerie brands from Switzerland. Besides a few impressive new Saxonia timepieces and the Lange Zeitwerk Striking Time timepiece, A.Lange Soehne introduces the RICHARD L [...]
Collaborations within the world of horology are a pretty common sight these days. But whenever the name Alain Silberstein pops up, Im all ears. The legendary French watch designer has a design signature that always stands out. He is able to surprise me constantly and brings a smile to my face every time. His style of design has that power. And my anticipation grew even bigger when I read that Silberstein teamed up with Beno?t Mintiens from the Ressence. The end result is the brilliant Ressence a Alain Silberstein Carpe Diem' that is presented by the new platform Grail Watch.?Generally, I do not live with a lot of regrets when it comes to buying watches. However, I have mentioned before that [...]
Do you want something exceptional? That's not me asking, it's Alain Silberstein in an advertisement back in 2002. The Architecte Horloger with the mustache is promoting his new Krono Bauhaus, a limited edition of 250 pieces in many colors and one exceptional thing in common; a case clad in exclusive alligator leather. I spotted the reptilian chic Alain Silberstein Krono Bauhaus Alligator on Zeitauktion. And now I'm asking you: do you want something exceptional?Do you know what triggered me when looking at the reptilian chic Alain Silberstein Krono Bauhaus Alligator on Zeitauktion? Two things: firstly, the very recent trio of Louis Erard Alain Silberstein watches that popped up at HQ. And s [...]
Inspired by a posting in one of Facebooks many wrist watch related groups, this week Ill wear an Alain Silberstein Krono Bauhaus 2.Alain Silberstein Forerunner of avant garde watch makingIn the nineties of the last century, Alain Silberstein (1950, Paris) was THE forerunner of avant garde' watch making. And he still is an influential watchmaker in terms of original designs. Many of todays unconventional watch designers, like for instance Max B1sser, love the inspiration?by Alain Silberstein. MBF even presented collaborations with him, the first one being the LM1 Silberstein in 2009.Primary colours and geometric shapesSilbersteins watches can easily be determined by the use of three bright p [...]
The watch everyone came to admire at their booth this year was the Baume Mercier Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar. It is a beautiful watch, easily the most photographed one in their booth at SIHH 2019.However, let's not forget the fact that their Clifton Baumatic collection received an extension with 5 new other models (6 all together, including the perpetual calendar). The basis of these new models is two features: the introduction of a red gold case and a gradated blue dial. So far, the Baume Mercier Clifton Baumatic models only came in a steel or two-tone case. The dial options were white or black. With the new releases from Baume Mercier in 2019, this is about to change for the bet [...]
Baume Mercier is adding some new interesting Baumatic powered watches to their Clifton collection, and we will cover them all. However, wed like to start with the boldest of them first (although theres also a red gold three-hander): the red gold?Baume Mercier Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar. It is one of the most interesting complications to us, besides a chronograph (we dont care much about tourbillons, to be honest, Baume Mercier actually did one in 2014 for their Clifton collection).Clifton Baumatic Perpetual CalendarWe dont have to explain what a perpetual calendar is to you I am sure, but for those who are new to the world of mechanical watches; it is a complication that will kee [...]
True Story. On an evening at the beginning of 2018, I was sitting on the couch at home after a full day of being a watch journalist. The doorbell rang and my wife opened the door for one of my best friends. He entered our living room and the first thing he noticed was the watch I was wearing. The conversation went a little like this:-HeyHey-What is that on your wrist? (my wife starts to sigh at this point)Cool eh? It just came in today, it is the first Omega Constellation Manhattan' from 1982 in bi-colour. I have been looking for one like this for ages, and now I found one complete with box and papers. (my wife leaves the living room)For a moment, he just stared at me and I thought he was ju [...]
Baume Mercier excited us recently with an invitation to Geneva, where we got to see their novelty for the SIHH. Not exactly a new watch, but a new movement. Meet the Baume Mercier caliber Baumatic BM12-1975A. An in-house movement, developed with the help of ValFleurier and the Richemont Groups innovation hub. A certified chronometer movement with 120 hours of power reserve and ensuring anti-magnetism up to 1500 gauss. Lets have a closer look at the Baume Mercier Clifton Baumatic.Clifton BaumaticYou are probably already familiar with the Baume Mercier Clifton watch. If not, we reviewed it some of the Clifton collection?here?and here. When this watch was introduced 6 years ago, we were qui [...]
I have always been drawn to double brand names on a dial. Baume Mercier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek Philippe and so on. Not because of the importance of a brand or about recognition, but I just like a long written double name. The typography is of importance here of course, as well is the positioning of the name. Unfortunately, as names did became more important, brands tend to print (or apply) them in a larger or even more bold font than they did before. A good example is Audemars Piguet, or even Patek Philippe. I think Baume Mercier also increased the font size a tad bit over the years. In my opinion it isnt necessary, but who am I. I assume the marketing gents and ladies gave it a good t [...]
When the Clifton was introduced by Baume Merciers CEO Alain Zimmermann in Geneva, he introduced it as a watch in the category of affordable luxury. Back then, the Clifton series started below 3000 Euro for the most basic version. Later on, complications (including a tourbillon) were added. Today, we take a look at the Baume Mercier Clifton Chronograph Complete Calendar. A watch that does not exactly belong to the affordable luxury category, but does offer a neat and useful complication.Clifton Chronograph Complete CalendarLast year, we reviewed the Clifton Complete Calendar, a watch offering day, date, month and moon phase indicators. This Baume Mercier Clifton Chronograph Complete Calend [...]
This watch was already shown as a pre-SIHH 2015 release a while back, but nothing beats to see a watch in the flesh. I suspect that this watch was chosen to be a shown to the public as a pre-SIHH release for a few reasons, one of them is that it is commemorating the 185th anniversary of the Baume Mercier manufacture in 2015 and that it is a limited piece. So orders could be given in time. Another reason might be that Baume Merciers SIHH 2015 presentation had a strong focus on the Classima collection. We will get back to the Classima collection soon, but first well have a look at this Baume Mercier Clifton 8-Day Power Reserve 185th Limited Edition watch.Baume Mercier Clifton 8-Day Power R [...]
Our friends at Chronos24, the Polish watch portal and blog, just published a very nice review on the Baume Mercier Capeland Chronograph Flyback. As you know, Baume Mercier was one of the nicest surprises for us during the SIHH 2013. Although theyve sent us pre-SIHH press releases, you have to see watches in the flesh before you (we) should judge.Anyway, check-out this thorough Baume Mercier Capeland reference 10068 review written by ?ukasz Doskocz. Yes, it is in English. Photographs are done by Micha? Grygalewicz. Photos can be clicked for larger images. [...]
