The Wristwatch Guide

The Victorinox Airboss Automatic Titanium Limited Editions (Hands-On)

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:02:15 -0500

These are the new Victorinox Airboss Automatic Titanium Limited Editions.

One is a three hand model, the other is a chronograph. They were shown at Baselworld but will not be available until November 2013, so details are scarce. We do know that they both come in sandblasted matte titanium cases that measure 42 mm in diameter and are powered by ETA movements. Military time is imprinted in red on the inside of the sapphire crystal, above the dial. The three-hand model has a horizontal panoramic date at 6 o’clock, while the chronograph has a vertical panoramic date at 3 o’clock. Both models feature large sword-shaped luminescent hour and minute hands. Matte black applied luminescent Arabic numerals and markers indicate the hours. The dial is diamond cut and has a smooth sandblasted finish. The crowns (and pushers for the chronograph) are in titanium. They come on brown suede straps with titanium folding buckles, and are inspired by pilot jackets from the 1930s.

The Harry Winston Opus XIII

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:47:35 -0500

In the thirteenth year the Opus Series, Harry Winston’s Opus design team collaborated with independent watchmaker Ludovic Ballouard to create a complicated timepiece, like nothing you’ve ever seen. Opus XIII, is one of the more wearable of the Opus Series timepieces, and its jewel-like dial is perfectly fitting for Harry Winston, who is known more for their jewelry than their watches.

Video: Harry Winston Opus XIII

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:40:57 -0500

This is the Harry Winston Opus XIII. Watch the video. Read the article and see the images HERE.

Zenith Pilot Montre d'Aéronef Type 20 40 mm

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:11:05 -0500

As a tribute to Zenith’s aviation history, this year at Baselworld they launched four Pilot watches. Three of the watches comes in a 48 mm case, one in a 40 mm case, which is pictured. Considering that 48 mm is gigantic on most people’w wrist, the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 40 mm is the most wearable of the new Pilot watches.

The Triple Crown - Longines the Official Timekeeper of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes & Belmont Stakes

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:57:23 -0500

After watching Orb win the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, as guests of Longines, we were invited again this past weekend to watch the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. With 3-5 odds going into the race, Kentucky Derby winner, Orb, was the clear favorite. However, it was the underdog, Oxbow, who placed sixth at the Kentucky Derby, and was a 15-1 longshot to win the Preakness, who stole the show. On Saturday, at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, ridden by 50-year old veteran Gary Stevens, Oxbow dashed Orb’s Triple Crown hopes with a first place finish. According to Stevens, Oxbow “didn’t get a lot of respect after the Derby,” but that didn’t matter as he led the entire race and proved Odds makers wrong. Needless to say, with such a dominating win, Oxbow will surely be one of the favorites going into the third and final leg of the Triple Crown — the Belmont Stakes, which takes place in three weeks. While nobody will be winning the Triple Crown this year, an achievement that hasn’t happened since 1978 when Affirmed won it, the chances of a rematch between Orb and Oxbow is likely.

Hublot MP-05 LaFerrari Ferrari Watch (Hands-On)

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:10:18 -0500

At Baselworld, Hublot unveiled a watch with a massive power reserve of 50-days, a world record for a hand-wound tourbillon wristwatch. The MP-05 LaFerrari Ferrari is a special series created as a homage to Ferrari’s new LaFerrari supercar. In fact, it was developed “in technical and design terms - entirely in parallel with the car, alongside the Ferrari teams.” They even share a number of common elements.

The MP-05 utilizes 637 components, 108 of which are jewels. And to achieve the record breaking power-reserve, the watch utilizes 11 series-coupled power barrels. All 11 barrels, which are arranged like a spinal column and interconnected so they do not discharge in turn but support each other, are visible in the center of the dial.

One-of-a-kind Patek Philippe 5004 Titanium to be Auctioned for Only Watch 2013

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:43:46 -0500

Every two years, Only Watch collaborates with high-end watchmakers to raise money to research Duchenne muscular dystrophy. “Recognized as the world’s first charity watch auction, Only Watch will take place on September 28th in Monaco and will be conducted by the watch auctioneers, Antiquorum. 38 of the world’s leading watch manufactures will each donate a unique timepiece specially created for the occasion.”

Patek Philippe, arguably the world’s premiere watch manufacturer, has just released a preview of the watch they will be auctioning for Only Watch 2013. It is a Patek Philippe Reference 5004 in a solid titanium case. Needless to say, this will be one of the hottest pieces at the auction.

The Breitling Transocean Chronograph GMT

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:18:04 -0500

Breitling has just announced a very nice addition to their vintage inspired Transocean collection, the Chronograph GMT. We have been big fans of the Transocean line because while not paying homage to any specific vintage piece, the styling of these watches are a perfect nod to Breitlings of the past and have authentic vintage styling cues.

The guilloche dial is available in either silver or black and although this watch is displaying a lot of information with the main time, chronograph, GMT function, and date, the dial layout is very clean and legible. Small luminescent hour markers and hands ensure night visibility as well. The 18K gold Breitling “B” logo on the dial and signed crown are inspired by Breitlings from the past and fit the vintage theme perfectly.

Video of Hamilton's New Jazzmaster Skeleton Watch

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:14:52 -0500

This is a short video of the new Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic Skeleton watch that we covered HERE the other day.

Introducing the Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmaster Skeleton

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:50:56 -0500

Last month at Baselworld, Hamilton introduced a sleek new skeleton watch, the Jazzmaster Viewmaster Skeleton. It is presented in a 40 mm stainless steel case with an open case back and powered by the H-20S caliber automatic movement. At 12 o’clock, just below the “Hamilton” logo on the silver and anthracite colored chapter ring, you can see the balance wheel, hairspring and escapement as they oscillate. Indexes are applied to the chapter ring and include luminous paint. On the men’s model Hamilton designers left off the 12 and 6 o’clock hour markers, however, the 36 mm lady’s model (shown below) does have all twelve hour markers.

Tissot T-Race Nicky Hayden Limited Edition 2013 + Inaugural MotoGP US Grand Prix Race at the Circuit of the Americas (16 photos)

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:59:50 -0500

To highlight the recently launched Tissot T-Race Nicky Hayden Limited Edition 2013 watch, Tissot invited us to the brand new Austin, Texas Circuit of the Americas race track to watch the first annual MotoGP US Grand Prix motorcycle race. During our stay, we met with Tissot brand ambassador — 2006 MotoGP World Champion and Ducati team rider — Nicky Hayden. We asked Hayden about his input into the new version of his watch and he said, “I had some input into the strap for the 2012 model, specifically I asked for the Ducati racing stripe to be included on the strap, which is a design element carried forward to the 2013 model.” Please hit “Read More” to learn more about the Nicky Hayden T-Race watch and to see some shots from the 2013 Austin MotoGP race which took place April 21, 2013.

Rolex Ref. 6263/6239 "Lemon" Dial Daytona

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:51:11 -0500

According to Antiquorum, the Rolex Ref. 6263/6239 Lemon Dial Daytona was “almost unknown to the collectors community until recently, this example of a very early reference 6263 could almost be considered a prototype.” This model has white graphics in the sub-dials which are usually golden in color. But most importantly, it has a dial which is yellow, as opposed to the cream color dial typically seen on this reference, hence the name “Lemon” dial. This is one of the rarest and most valuable Daytona ever sold. On May 12, at Antiquorum - Lot 512 went for 841,300 CHF.

Introducing The Vulcain Nautical Seventies Dive Watch (Hands-On)

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:23:37 -0500

At Baselworld, Vulcain introduced a replica of the 1970 Vulcain Nautical model. The Vulcain Nautical Seventies watch is water-resistant to 300 meters, can indicate successive decompression stops and has an alarm that is audible underwater. While this Vulcain diver is aesthetically based on the 1970s watch, that timepiece was based on a 1961 Vulcain diver, which was the first wristwatch capable of descending to 300 meters and audibly warning its wearer when to surface, all while indicating the various decompression stops.

Monaco HEUER Calibre 12 Chronograph Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) Black Edition

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:30:48 -0500

Last month at Baselworld, TAG Heuer introduced the Monaco HEUER Calibre 12 Chronograph Automobile Club de Monaco Black Edition. According to Calibre 11, it is based on an older 1970s Black Monaco (pictured below), which is said to be one of the rarest Heuer watches primarily because is not 100% clear if it ever officially existed.

Baselworld: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:59:09 -0500

Blancpain’s big introduction at Baselworld this year was the new vintage inspired Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe. It is presented in a 43 mm x 13.4 mm case and comes in your choice of brushed satin steel for $10,500 or ceramized titanium for $12,000. Functions include hours, minutes, seconds and date. The dial comes in meteor grey or black. The unidirectional ceramic dive bezel is marked from 0-60, with a luminous dot at 60. Round hour markers are applied and feature luminescent paint. The hour, minute and second hands are treated with lume as well. The Bathyscaphe comes on either a specially develop Nato strap with matching hardware or a textile strap and buckle. Inside is an in-house caliber 1315 automatic movement with 227 components, 35 of which are jewels and a 120-hour power reserve.