Best Super NEWS Watches
The McGonigle Brothers Explain The McGonigle Tuscar: Irish Haute Horology In High-Def
Haute Horology can come from anywhere, even Ireland.? The McGonigle Brothers released info on their very first completely in-house created caliber, the Tuscar, just before Basel.? We showed you the watch here.? Seeing studio shots of this subscription series of independent watches is one thing, but seeing it in high-definition video explained by one of the two creators is something else.? Here, you'll see the Brothers McGonigle explain the Tuscar as they did to us at Basel World of this year, and at the very end of the video hear that this caliber will be used as a base for more complications to come.? Enjoy!For more information on the McGonigle Tuscar, click here....
A Vacheron Constantin For Apollo 14 C Wait, A Vacheron Moon Watch?
This is the story of a horological curiosity that simply blew us away.?Two months ago, when we visited the Vacheron Constantin factory in Geneva, we were shown the image of a timepiece dating to the early 70s.?On the dial of that timepiece was the crest of Apollo 14, the third NASA mission to take man to the moon, dating to January 1971.The thing is, nobody at Vacheron knows anything about this watch, and there is only one photograph of it (which you see above).?On top of that, Alex at the Hour Lounge tells us that there is no other trace of it in the archives, so we don't know the caliber used, case number, or anything else about it.?Our guess? It was made for a retailer or large client as ...
Urwerk for Only Watch 2011: The Very Last UR-103, Ever
In 2003 Urwerk released the UR-103. Its alien looks and innovative approach to the representation of time made it one of the definitional pieces of haute horology.? Collector and industry insider Stephen Hallock even declared it a piece of modern history.? Since 2003 the UR-103 has been produced in a range of styles and permutations. ?This all changed in 2010 when Urwerk announced that they would cease producing this iconic watch. There is now no way you can buy this piece of modern horological history new.Except for the 103 you see above.?Only Watch 2011 will see the 103 return, albeit briefly and fleetingly, like a phoenix. Now, to ensure that the unique nature of what is most likely the...
First Live Shots of Bremont P-51 Mustang Limited Edition Chronograph
The boys over at the ALT1TUDE Forum have some of the first wristshots of Bremont's new limited edition P-51 Mustang watch.? Click on over for more lives pics, including one of that killer propellor rotor....
Dottling Custom Vintage Watch Safes: For When You Really Have THAT Much Money and THAT Many Watches
There is a point in the life of any watch collection, often something to do with numbers (be that of watches or of dollars invested) where a definite maturation occurs. At this point the bedside table or desk drawer ceases to be an appropriate home. ?When this point is reached youve got two options; a safety deposit box or a home safe. Both these options have pros and cons. A bank offers excellent security, whereas the home safe allows 24/7 accesses.?The problem with most security products, like any functional design, is that they tend to be, well, unremarkable at best and ugly at worst. If the aesthetics of your home security solutions are a concern to you, rest easy. The company wed like...
Vacheron Constantin's entry into the Only Watch 2011 charity auction is really something special. Inspired by an MC Escher drawing, the Dove watch shows an expertly created scene of red and white doves interlocking like jigsaw puzzle parts.? The watch was created by Vacheron's in-house Mtiers dArt, and features guillochage, engraving, enamelling and gem setting. The dial work here is stunning (if you're interested in more fantastic dial work, check out that done by Van Cleef & Arpels).? One bird is, in fact, set with 40 unique diamonds for a total of .08 carat.? The case is 18k white gold and sized at a perfect 40mm.? Inside this piece unique is a Vacheron Constantin caliber 2460 SC, s...
Book Review & Giveaway: Patek Philippe in America Reference Guide: Volume I Mens Wristwatches
When it comes to the history of Patek Philippe in the written word, nothing compares to Patek Philippe in America: Marketing the Worlds Foremost Watch by John Reardon, a contributor to HODINKEE and Senior Vice President of Sothebys New York. Ben Clymer reviewed it here (and we hear that nearly all 1500 copies are sold). In the process of writing the history of Patek Philippes marketing efforts in the US, John realized that there was a tangible need for a pictorial reference guide to Patek Philippe watches.John created the Patek Philippe in America Reference Guide: Volume I Men's Wristwatches,?which covers the mens wristwatch references made between the 1930s and 1990s. The book also incl...
PHOTO GALLERY: Hands-On With The New Tudor Fastrider Chronograph For Ducati
We were the first to show you the new Tudor Fastrider chronograph made specifically for Ducati last week, and you guys loved it.? Now, we have some of the first live photographs of this 3300CHF chronograph in the world.? We took them while enjoying some Ducati hospitality at the legendary Autodromo del Mugello outside of Florence, Italy and we have say the thing looks damn good.?Click through for live photos of Tudor's new Fastrider chronograph.? For more details on the Tudor Fastrider, click here....
On Racing Legend Jo Siffert's Birthday, We Present You His Watch (PS - McQueen Wore One Too)
There has never been a truer connection between real auto racing and a Swiss Made watch company than that of Heuer in the 1970s. Long before the era of sponsorship deals, there was one watch that was the de facto choice of all F1 racers - the Heuer chronograph. Today, on the birthday of legendary Porsche driver Jo Siffert, we show you his watch, the Heuer Autavia reference 1163T. The "Siffert" Autavia (shown above) differs from all other Autavias with a crisp white dial and bright blue seconds hand and markers. The Siffert Autavia is one of the most desirable vintage Heuers in the world (hell, even Jerry Seinfeld wears one). Siffert was a close friend of Steve McQueen's and is often credi...
A Week On The Wrist: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver
The Royal Oak Offshore Diver from Audemars Piguet was one of the hottest announcements at SIHH 2010. Clients waited for months to get their hands on this watch, the first diver from AP to be ISO certified and one that many deemed to be the second coming of the original Royal Oak, a watch that would define a category. Most viewed the Diver as a luxury sport watch, and it is, but we wanted to test the Diver in the conditions that it was engineered for. So, we gave this $17,100 luxury timepiece to our resident dive watch expert and set him free in the waters of Bonaire. He took it 100 feet into the ocean, into a shipwrecked drug boat, and back out for one week's time. Here are his findings. Oh,...
Presenting the Harry Winston Midnight GMT Tourbillon For Only Watch 2011
This is one seriously mean looking Harry Winston.? Part of the brand's classical Midnight collection, this unique piece is made entirely of platinum and has a few subtle and very interesting traits.? For example, the GMT city display features Monaco, an obvious nod to the home of the Only Watch auction.? Also, the bezel features the three distinctive arches of Harry Winstons New York Salon.? The dial is made of ruthenium and the automatic movement has an impressive 110-hour power reserve, made even more impressive when you consider this watch features not only a GMT display with day/night indicator, but also a tourbillon.This one-of-a-kind Harry Winston will be auctioned off with the rest o...
GIVEAWAY: A $499 F3 Carbon Fiber Watch Winder From Rapport London
A couple of weeks ago, we did a hands-on review of the F3 watch winder from Rapport London. Well, we've had our fun with it and now it's time to pass it on to one lucky reader. That's right, HODINKEE is giving away the F3 winder we reviewed. So if you're tired of hand-winding and setting your platinum Langematik Perpetual every Monday morning, here's your big chance!Entering to win this $500 luxury winder is easy, all you have to do is leave a comment below with your name and a working email address and you're all set! Extra points will be given to those of you who watched the video review of the F3 winder and can name who made a quick cameo (color and species, please).?Two weeks from today,...
Found: The Legend & The Legacy, The Platinum Royal Oak Jumbo
Did you know that when Audemars Piguet turned 125 back in the year 2000, they wanted to make some special watches to celebrate? One was the millenary star-wheel, and another was to be a very special version of the Royal Oak Jumbo where they would replace the trademark steel case and tapisserie dial with two things never before used on the brand's most important model - a platinum case and a dial made of stone.The idea was to make 125 of these special platinum Jumbos with the historic 2120 movement featuring an engraved rotor.? AP showed the piece with an ordinary, unengraved rotor, at trade shows and floated the idea with jewelers.? The cost of these watches was immense, almost as much as th...
A 1950s Universal Geneve Polerouter Date
Gerald Genta has a horogloical legacy wider than any other designer in history, but it was the Polerouter for Universal Geneve that put him on the map at the ripe age of 23 years old. The UG Polerouter we've photographed for you is a wonderful early 50s example with asymetric date window, a trait that is often prefererred to the date-less examples. Inside this watch is the famous UG micro-roter movement. Other famous uses of a micro-rotor movements include Hamilton's Thin-O-Matic and most importantly, the Heuer/Buren Caliber 11 chronograph. Related Posts: For a detailed history of the UG Polerouter, click here. To take a look at a NOS Polerouter we found last y...
Hublot to Follow Lego Guy and Make Modern Day Antikythera
The Antikythera Mechanism is the oldest known scientific computer, dating back to 100 BC.? Designed by the Greeks, all knowledge of the device was lost for 2000 years until it was rediscovered in 1901 on a shipwreck off the Greek Island of Antikythera.? Over a century later, we find out that the Mechanism is really one of the first mechanical devices designed to predict celestial events and eclipses.? In other words, it's a clock. ?If you think you've read this before somewhere else, you have.? We wrote those exact words when a dude replicated the Antikythera mechanism out of LEGO.? Now, Hublot is apparently trying to do the same (though we suspect not out of LEGO, unfortunately).? The...
EXCLUSIVE: Introducing The Tudor Fastrider Chronograph For Ducati
At Ducati headquarters in Bologna, Italy, the first partnership between the legendary sport bike manufacturer and a Swiss watch company was announced today, June 30th. Tudor, also known as the brand who set the world on fire with the Heritage Chronograph last year at Basel, will from this day forward be known as the "official timing partner" of Ducati.To celebrate this partnership, the CEO's of both companies presented a special edition Tudor Fastrider chronograph you see above, complete with Ducati's trademark black and red colors. ?The watch is 42mm in diameter, features an automatic chronograph with 46 hour power reserve, and has a cool quick-set date button at 9 o'clock coated in PVD.?Th...
The Ultimate Perpetual Calendar: The 10,000 Year Clock
A prototype of the Clock's chime mechanism (via Long Now's Flickr)Mostly, HODINKEE focuses on the smaller side of horology, you know - wristwatches. Today though weve got something a little larger.? In fact, were pretty comfortable saying that the clock were talking about today will be, when complete, the largest mechanical time telling mechanism in the world.? How big? Well, heres a clue C the builders have bought a chunk of a mountain in Texas to house it in.This clock, even apart from being several hundred feet tall, is no ordinary clock. Its called the 10,000 Year Clock, being constructed by The Long Now Foundation. And you can be pretty sure that the Clock will be completed as the ...
Introducing the JLC Grande Reverso Email in Blue: A Colorful Nod To The Reversos Of Yesteryear
Last night in Paris, JLC threw the official 80th birthday party for its most famous model, the Reverso.? We've shown you several of the new releases in this line for 2011 already (think TT 1931, TT 1931 US Edition, Italian LE), and now we can add one more.The Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Email is a limited edition of only 50 pieces, and will come with a bright blue enamel dial.? While no mention is made of it, we think this is a direct nod to the brightly colored enamel dial Reversos of the 1930s, one of which recently sold for over $35,000.No word on price for this LE, but it will house the JLC caliber 822 movement and feature a blank caseback for engraving.? Look for it soon.For more in...
Interview: A Conversation with Eric Ripert & Benjamin Clymer
Back in April, Vacheron Constantin celebrated Madison Avenue Watch Week by hosting three breakfasts for clients and friends of the brand. ?The first of the three was a personal look into the idea of collecting watches hosted by the great Jack Forster of Revolution Magazine along with noted collector Andrew Jacoobs. ?The second was a look at vintage watches with Forbes' Richard Nalley and our own John Reardon (who happens to moonlight as a VP at Sotheby's).?The final breakfast was slightly different. Instead of talking to someone whose life, personal or professional, revolves around timepieces, we spoke to a man whose life revolves around something else entirely, cooking. ?Chef Eric Ripert is...
An Omega Speedmaster Reference 105.003 "Ed White" Circa 1965
There are Speedmasters and then there are Speedmasters. An automatic Speedmaster is pretty solid. A manually wound Speedmaster Professional is solid. A manually wound Speedmaster Professional with a 321 Caliber in it is really solid. A manually wound Speedmaster PRE-Professional with 321 caliber, straight lugs and no crown guards dating to 1965 is borderline epic. This 1965 Omega Speedmaster Reference 105.003 is dubbed the "Ed White" reference because it was indeed the watch he wore during his historic space walk, becoming the first American ever to do so. This reference was made for a short period of time before the 145.012 reference that was chosen by NASA to accompany White's colleagues...