Jewelry & Watches

MB&FGeneva Watch Days is now a prominent event in the horological calendar. Originally the show was launched in 2020 by six Founding Members – Breitling, Bvlgari, De Bethune, Girard-Perregaux, H. Moser & Cie. and MB&F. However, the exhibition has now expanded to 52 different brands showcasing over a hundred exquisite timepieces. Here I noticed a very unusual offering from Konstantin Chaykin called ‘ThinKing’ which is now the world’s slimmest watch. Although still at the prototype stage, the timepiece has a depth of only 1.65mm and requires a special winding tool. I really admire the technical wizardry involved in accomplishing this…

Images and text courtesy of Schiffer BooksApproximately 4 years ago in 2020, I began developing a concept for a special book about modern dress watches for Schiffer Publishing. This is the 7th book I have produced for them so they were receptive to hearing more about my idea. Generally, I prefer huge oversized industrial watches with diameters over 50mm. I feel these styles of timepieces make a very bold statement and present a larger canvas for Avant Garde watchmakers to work with. Theoretically, this works fine with casual attire but has serious drawbacks with formal wear. I discovered this first-hand…

Images: Martin PauliMost people are only familiar with the names Patek Philippe, Rolex and brands within the corporate groups (LVMH, Richemont and Swatch). It’s not really surprising because these companies have astronomical budgets and therefore can afford to pay millions on sponsorship deals. In the last decade brand ambassadors have become big business. Celebrities from the film, music and sports sectors receive huge endorsements to be photographed wearing the latest timepieces. Commercially it makes great sense because ultimately these organizations are in the business of making money. For that reason, it is very challenging for small independents to get any…

From JustLuxe content partner iW Magazine In the spring of 2024, Konstantin Chaykin announced the release of a new watch from the Wristmons collection — the “Joker Classic” with a 40 mm case. The main difference from the classic 42 mm “Joker” is the case diameter and the narrower bezel, which still features engravings of card suit symbols and the letter J. The dial has also become smaller, but the size of the “eyes” — the hour and minute indicators of the joker indication — has not changed. The “eyed” wristmon looks more expressive. The mechanism can be observed through…

From JustLuxe content partner iW Magazine As the official timer for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 this summer, Omega launches a celebratory watch, the Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024. It has a vintage 1940s ‘snail’ dial design that displays a tachymeter scale, a pulsometer scale, and a telemeter scale. The new Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope Paris 2024With its white opaline dial and black, grey, and gold accents, the watch oozes retro appeal while hosting a full slate of modern technical updates within its contemporary 43mm case. The watch is also available with a Moonshine Gold case and bracelet and a ceramic bezel.The…

From JustLuxe content partner iW Magazine Louis Vuitton dresses its already impressive in-house flying tourbillon with stunning ‘stained glass’ artisanal enamel to create the new 41mm platinum and white gold Voyager Flying Tourbillon “Poinçon de Genève“ Plique-à-jour.  The new 41mm platinum and white gold Louis Vuitton Voyager Flying Tourbillon “Poinçon de Genève“ Plique-à-jour.By pairing a modern flying tourbillon movement developed within the La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton workshop with a traditional enameling technique, Louis Vuitton draws attention to its wide-ranging mastery of artistic craftsmanship, which for this model focuses on plique-à-jour, a method pioneered by Byzantine artisans in the 4th and 5th centuries. Essentially, the…

From JustLuxe content partner iW Magazine Approximately twelve years ago, I walked into The Hourglass, a specialist watch boutique in Sydney, and it changed my perception of horology.  At this time, there was a new wave of high contemporary brands like De Bethune, MB&F, and Urwerk. These amazing labels were pushing the boundaries of watchmaking with radical designs and unusual materials. Some of their pieces were exceptionally futuristic in appearance, with extraordinarily complicated mechanical movements.  Unfortunately, the issue for the consumer was these watches (due to price point) are inaccessible to most. This is where the Swiss/Singapore brand Azimuth found…

From JustLuxe content partner iW Magazine Chronoswiss twists its regulator display from vertical to horizontal with the all-new Strike Two Series, a limited edition collection with two dial-side bridges and a stunning hand-guilloched seconds dial. The new Chronoswiss Strike Two H2O.Echoing existing Chronoswiss regulator-dial watches with a vertical layout, such as its Open Gear series, the new Strike Two offers a familiar, contemporary Chronoswiss look but with a slimmer, smaller case that places its hour subdial at the 3 o’clock position instead of at the top of the dial. The Chronoswiss Strike Two Golden GearsSimilarly, Chronoswiss has also rotated the seconds dial,…

From JustLuxe content partner iW Magazine Louis Vuitton presents three highly artisanal Louis Vuitton Escale watches, each combining engraving, enameling, sculpture, and even marquetry in timepieces that explore themes inspired by nature and fantasy. One of three debuts announcing the Louis Vuitton Escale series of artisans watches. The watch is called Louis Vuitton Escale Cabinet of Wonders Koi’s Garden.The new Escale series follows Louis Vuitton’s equally ambitious update to its Tambour collection and represents a new, high-end approach to the watchmaker’s artisanal watches.  Escale watches will all feature a round case and hand-polished case horns meant to recall the metal brackets of Louis…

Franck Muller’s Vanguard Vegas Racing celebrates the Formula 1 debut in Sin City.   Designed in collaboration with Neiman Marcus, the Vanguard Vegas Racing combines the heart pounding exhilaration of F1 single-seaters screaming down the strip at 215 MPH, with the excitement of a high-stakes night out at the casino. The monocoque coachwork of the new Vanguard is crafted in forged carbon fiber - the same material used to build F1 cars. Each case is precisely sculpted by a series of CNC machines then polished by hand, transforming the solid block of forged carbon into the signature Vanguard style. During…