When Lamborghini and Roger Dubuis recently announced their new partnership, our eyes were of course fully focused on the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Aventador S. But that was not all the news coming out of Lamborghini’s hometown of Sant’Agata Bolognese, as the Italian supercar manufacturer also introduced the new Huracán Super Trofeo EVO.
Based on the most popular releases of 2017, it is possible that the almighty tourbillon may about to be usurped by something new and rather old at the same time: the chronograph. In this installment of Joshua Munchow’s “Here’s Why” series, he explores why the chronograph is the new tourbillon.
On the weekend of November 11, 2017, it was once again time for Only Watch, the charity auction to fund muscular dystrophy research conducted under the sponsorship of His Serene Highness Albert II of Monaco. And, as in 2015, I was fortunate to be invited to join the Stern family and Patek Philippe team for the events of the weekend.
There was much to enjoy at Dubai Watch Week 2017’s day 2, but the best part wasn’t written on the formal schedule: it was the many moments throughout the day when little knots of people gathered here and there to chat about watches – and not just any people, but the who’s who of watchmaking from all over the world with “ordinary” watch fans welcomed to join in. For that alone, Dubai Watch Week is unlike any other horological event in the world.
Dubai Watch Week kicked off today. While the discussion panels and Creative Hub talks and presentations begin on Friday, opening day kept visitors busy with two brand exhibition spaces, an exhibition showcasing all of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) winners and another with many of the GPHG pre-selected watches, watchmaking and engraving master classes, and more. Enjoy!
A discussion with fellow collectors that is bound to elicit interesting responses is two-tone watches. People tend to either love them or hate them. The lovers consider them the perfect mix between a sporty looking watch and a dress watch. People who don’t care for them may think of them as a weak compromise at best. What do you think?
Let’s be honest: nobody needs a high-end mechanical watch. That we want one is based on the different levels of how a particular watch appeals to our emotions. And in the heat of passion, we sometimes tend to forget that, as in any normal industry, companies sometimes cease to exist for a panoply of reasons. What should you consider if you own, or would still like to own, a watch made by a now-defunct brand?
The trend toward blue has been in evidence for the last couple of years, adorning many haute horlogerie timepieces. Powerful royal and midnight blues and touches of turquoise add cool flairs to delicate sky- and ocean-colored hues. Blue has stood the test of time because it comes in such a remarkable variety of shades and nuances – from mysterious and dazzling to elegant and classic. Here are five blue-dialed watches freshly introduced in 2017.
When presented with the Manufacture Royale ADN I didn’t know at first that it was supposed to be an evolution of and return to the brand’s DNA – or in this case, ADN. I quickly figured out that was the intent as the piece was being described, but it took actually being told that ADN was the French variant of DNA to finally get the whole picture. Oh, the struggles of being a monoglot! Luckily this very interesting timepiece doesn’t struggle with anything, mastering dual time zones and gravity all at once.
If there is one complicated element that has been in a whirlwind (pun intended) of developments, it has been the tourbillon. And while tourbillons are still fairly expensive, you don’t have to spend $100,000 anymore, as many brands now have great offerings for even a third of that amount.