Alexander Stilcken

Montblanc is a brand with a great tradition. So is its Minerva manufacture, the maker of historic and once extremely sought-after monopusher chronographs. Ever since Minerva became part of Montblanc, new monopusher watches have become amongst the most stylistic, defining, and successful models of the house. The latest reference is also very much in line…

They love timepieces and make no secret of it: get to know our horology enthusiasts Philippe and Alexander in conversation.  Watches & Wonders Edition Philippe: So, are you also feeling relieved after Watches & Wonders? Alexander: Why? Philippe: Well, if Rolex had brought out a new "normal" GMT Master II, I probably would have fallen for…

To any fan of watchmaking, a trade show like Watches & Wonders is the same as what a visit to the toy store is to a child: way too much of everything the heart desires, and touches our very soul. For the vast majority of visitors, the novelties from Patek Philippe are always what is…

They love timepieces and make no secret of it: get to know our horology enthusiasts Philippe and Alexander in conversation. Alexander: Zenith has unveiled the Defy Skyline, a pretty great version of a three-hand watch with a metal bracelet, and Hublot has unveiled the 40 mm Big Bang Integral, a new version of a three-hand…

To understand the legend that is Porsche, it is worth looking at the world through a child's eyes. For example, the three-year-old son of a couple who are friends of mine, who cheers "Porsche!” every single time he sees a 911 in traffic. This reminds me of my own behaviour many, many years ago. But…

They love timepieces and make no secret of it: get to know our horology enthusiasts Philippe and Alexander in conversation. The elephant in the room Philippe: You can't talk about Patek Philippe's new Advanced Research Minute Repeater without first talking about what happened last Saturday. Alexander: The Phillips auction in New York? Philippe: Exactly. I…

A function on its own is never everything. This is not exclusive to watchmaking, but it is particularly true here. Take a watch, for example, with which you can dive thousands of meters deep (at least if you wanted to, and your body could get that far down). Or take the function that helps you…

Incredible watches are characterised by the fact that they display much more than just the current time. In the best cases, they also say something about the zeitgeist in the world. It would not an exaggeration to say that the Richard Mille RM 029 Le Mans Classic is one such model.  As a limited edition of 150…

The world of hypercars is characterised by superlatives disguised as numbers. The McLaren Speedtail is no exception: from 1,050 over 403 and 1,430 to 2.37. In other words, from 1,050 horsepower over 403 km/h top speed and 1,430 kilograms weight to a unit price of 2.37 million euros – plus extras. In this world, as…

Salmon are impressive fish, facing a substantial amount of danger throughout their lives. This "danger" applies primarily to the fact that they are on the menu for a broad variety of animals along the food chain. After all, salmon aren't just nutritional (not to mention delicious) for humans alone. Whether salmon qualifies as a delicacy…

The incredible hype surrounding the Nautilus and the recently introduced olive-green Reference 5711/1A-014 is what it is. Likewise, excitement for Patek's "Grandes Complications" is very much understandable. However, it is the Calatrava collection, with its classical appeal and versatile wearability, that stands for far more than the (price) entry into the world of Patek Philippe.…

If, in these demanding times, you are searching for beauty, good in the world, and proof of humanity's constant striving for improvement, look no further. The new Reference 5236P marks the return of a pure perpetual calendar into the Patek Philippe collection. For the first time, we have a wristwatch displaying the day, date and…