The Big Crown 1917 was made not because Oris felt like what its catalog was missing was an old-school pilot’s watch, but rather because it was discovered that it’s precisely this type of wristwatch that the company made all the way back in 1917, before it even had a collection per se.
Greubel Forsey is best known for its spectacular tourbillon wristwatches. They are also, however, well known for the almost unbelievably high degree of hand-finishing lavished on each one of their watches (and, as a consequence, their very small annual production). The new Balancier is a non-tourbillon wristwatch that acts as a showcase for the art of the hand-finished watch at Greubel Forsey, and which also follows some of the firm’s most recognizable design cues.
Bulgari has just announced its newest ultra-thin watch, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatique. The Octo Finissimo Automatique’s caliber BVL 138 Finissimo is a micro-rotor, self-winding movement only 2.23mm thick, at 36.60mm in diameter. The Octo Finissimo Automatique is the third world record for ultra-thin watchmaking to be seized by Bulgari, following on the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon from 2014, which has a movement only 1.95mm thick, and the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater from last year, whose caliber BVL 362 is 3.12 mm thick.
Believe us or not, but this watch is a massive development for Frederique Constant. Indeed, creating a chronograph movement is far from being a simple move. It is even one of the most feared development for a watchmaker, as the chronograph can be seen as one of the most complex types of complication, even if it’s a widely used one. Today, as Baselworld 2017 opens its doors, we take a close look at the new Frederique Constant Flyback Chronograph Manufacture, the first in-house chronograph of the brand, explained in video by Pim Koeslag (Head of Watchmaking) and with live photos.
Here it is… The big one for Rolex this year, the one that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the model, the new Sea-Dweller Single Red. More than expected to be launched, Rolex actually surprises us with a watch featuring a vintage reference. Unusual… But in fact, besides this red line, there is much more to be seen in this new Rolex Sea-Dweller Single Red Ref. 126600.
While it is now common in the automotive industry to customize your future car, choosing colors and options, and to do it in front of a screen, by using an online configurator, the high-end watches buying experience remains relatively austere. You look at display windows, you enter a cosy boutique and you choose among the available watches. A very 1990s experience, you’ll admit. However, consumer behaviors are drastically evolving, and the future will be ruled two concepts: online and customization… And this is exactly what you’ll get with the new Armin Strom Watch Configurator, a unique and innovative way to create your own, tailor-made, high-end watch.
The Sea-Dweller was launched 60 years ago as a professional diver, waterproof to a depth of 610 meters – more than triple what the Submariner guaranteed at the time. The feat was achieved thanks to a bulkier case and the introduction of a helium escape valve that helped regulate the pressure accumulated in the case. It was the best diving watch you could get, and for the 50th anniversary, Rolex has introduced a new Sea-Dweller – this one’s a bit different than any seen before.
Hublot is no stranger to creating very big, very serious watches. Whether it’s something like the LaFerrari or “just” a titanium minute repeater, the manufacture can flex its muscles when it wants to. The new MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis is the latest instance of such a move. It’s the first multi-axis tourbillon from Hublot, and it’s in-house no less.
The Yacht-Master has been a consistent part of the Oyster Perpetual collection since its debut in 1992. We have seen several iterations of this sporty watch in various sizes, such as 40mm, 37mm, and 35mm, along with the Yacht-Master II, but this is the first time we have seen the Yacht-Master 40 set with Rolex’s famous gemstones. And boy is this one set with gemstones.
Tudor has just shared with us information sure to be of interest to not only Tudor fans, but also, intriguingly enough, Breitling fans as well: the new column-wheel chronograph caliber MT5813, featured in the new Black Bay Chronograph, is the result of a collaboration with Breitling, and is based on the Breitling B01 chronograph movement.