In-Depth – Singer Reimagined Track 1 Geneva Edition

When you think about it, there aren’t many differences between one racing chronograph and the next. Of course, designs can be different but the basics are there: 2 pushers, 3 registers, a fixed bezel with tachymeter scale, black or silver dials with coloured accents! All of these features feel so familiar that it quickly became the norm… but not for everyone! Some thought that a racing chronograph could be reinvented, reimagined and reshaped to offer something new, different and, in the end, highly desirable. This has a name: the Singer Reimagined Track 1, and today we take a closer look at the Geneva Edition and its superb pale yellow gold case.

8 years ago

Introducing – Leica Camera Enters The Watch Game with the L1 & L2 Models

While cars and watches are known to be highly related worlds, photography and watches apparently don’t share many links. Yet, several already existing examples showed this connection – think Ming watches by photographer Ming Thein or shutter-inspired Valbray watches. Today, the story is different, as it’s one of the most prominent camera manufacturers that is entering the watch game, you name it: Leica. With “Made in Germany” in mind and quite an impressive mechanical package, meet the Leica L1 & L2 watches.

8 years ago

Event – Cars & Watches with Breguet and Glashütte Original At London City Concours 2018

Well-heeled motoring enthusiasts made what is fast becoming an annual pilgrimage to Central London last week to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the second annual City Concours. Bringing together some of the world’s finest cars in the intimate setting of the gardens of the Honourable Artillery Company, along with a host of partner brands and excellent hospitality, it definitely made for a fun couple of days in the sun. And with Breguet and Glashütte Original also back as official timepiece sponsors, we knew we couldn’t resist a quick visit.

8 years ago

NEWS: A Looney Patek and a million dollar Sub go under the hammer in New York

Watches belonging to Melvin (Mel) Blanc, the American voice actor famous for bringing to life nearly 400 characters in the Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera cartoons, went under the hammer at Christie’s New York in their “An evening of exceptional watches” auction. Mel Blanc brought delight to generations of children and adults alike as the voice of classic childhood favourites such as Bugs Bunny, Sylvester the Cat, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn and Barney Rubble, among many, many others. Less well known, but no less delightful, was Mel’s collection of more than 500 watches and clocks, which he proudly displayed in his Californian home up until his death in 1989. Sold at the auction were his rare 1982 Patek Philippe 18K Gold perpetual calendar chronograph with moonphase (Ref 2499/100), which went for US$552,500, as well as a 1940s Zenith 18K pink-gold chronograph, once owned by Mario Lanza, Blanc’s neighbour and family friend, which achieved US$20,000. While Blanc was a keen watch enthusiast, it was his wife Estelle who first noticed his fascination with watches, and in 1946 bought Mel a birthday gift — his first Patek Philippe, a minute repeating pocket watch, for $375. Shocked by how much his wife had spent…

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8 years ago

VIDEO: The stripped-back Santos – Cartier’s Santos de Cartier Skeleton

Last week we had a look at the ‘regular’ version of Cartier’s updated Santos, and today the less-is-more Skeleton is under our lens. To be specific, we’re talking about the large steel model (though there’s a pink gold version as well), which comes on the QuickSwitch and SmartLink equipped steel bracelet, replete with those prominent screws — you also get an additional alligator strap, allowing you to change your look should the fancy take you. So far, so standard for the new Santos. But what’s special here is the dial, or lack thereof, as you would expect. The manually wound 9611MC movement has been designed from the ground up as a skeleton movement, a process that means the architecture has been designed for maximum visual impact — the bridges have taken the form of Cartier’s iconic exploding Roman numerals; a pleasing blend of negative space and mechanics. And while the stripped-back style of the skeletonised Santos might not be to all tastes, it’s an important skill in Cartier’s history, and there’s no faulting the execution here.  

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8 years ago

Hands-on – Anonimo Militare Chronograph WRC Special Edition

When you think about the Italian brand Anonimo, it’s more than likely that military-inspired chronographs (the Militare collection) and dive watches (the Nautilo line), both with cushion-shaped cases, spring to mind. However, things are changing at Anonimo as the brand evolves in new directions and enlarges its scope, for example with the Epurato collection – a […]

8 years ago