Editorial

Audemars Piguet dropped some crazy new Royal Oaks this month, and whilst they did take the spotlight, there were other releases too. Seven new watches were added to the Code 11.59 collection, which this year celebrates its fifth anniversary.  Over the last five years, AP has been slowly refining the Code 11.59 collection by playing with a number of different variables,…

The time we spend the rest of the year waiting for is nearly here – Watches and Wonders. Audemars Piguet, however, does things according to its own set of rules. On Thursday at the new AP House in Milan, CEO Ilaria Resta hosted the unveiling of over ten new models to the catalogue. The highlights…

The Dragon is the fifth of the 12-year cycle of animals appearing in the Chinese calendar’s zodiac. It’s an important one, too. The Year of the Dragon is largely seen as one of the most powerful, lucky years in the Chinese zodiac, symbolising strength, fortune and success. From Shanghai to London’s Chinatown, people around the world recently…

For quite some time, Dior watches have predominantly been considered ‘fashion watches’ by the majority of the watch community. Recently however, the brand launched five new watches to add to its Chiffre Rouge range, a line-up which was first unveiled back in 2004 under heavy influence from Hedi Slimane, the then designer for Dior Homme. Introduced in…

In the middle of last year, Jean Arnaud, who is responsible for Louis Vuitton's watch division, announced a new era for the maison's iconic Tambour model. The drum-shaped case has been given a contemporary facelift, and the positioning of the model will focus upon the high-priced luxury watch segment in future. The range has therefore…

Collecting is certainly more of a journey than a destination as tastes, among other things, change over time. One thing which changes significantly, yet is scarcely talked about, is the underlying motive for making a purchase. At the beginning, starting out with little knowledge, you tend to make a purchase based on one sole factor:…

The fifth LVMH Watch Week, which took place in Miami from January 28 to February 1, was proof of LVMH's ambition to become ever more influential in the watch sector, in which it is now the fourth largest power after Rolex, Richemont and the Swatch Group. To this end, the family-owned business is gearing up…

Geneva is the city of watchmaking, and many of the largest and best-known watch manufactures in the region have long opted to confine their points of sale to the city centre. F.P. Journe, however, is different. Located in a historic building on Rue de L'Arquebuse dating from 1892, very close to the flagship boutiques around…

When we published our extensive story on the Piaget Polo almost exactly a year ago, we wondered what the future might hold for this classic watch. Would the horology house ever return to the original design, which differs so very significantly from the modern Polo? https://youtu.be/z-VoHHneJWA?si=LHeCaqr6zRcI1SD_ The article was published under the title 'The Evolution…

With 35 international branches and around 800 employees, luxury watch and jewellery retailer Wempe is one of the largest of its kind. Given its size, it’s no surprise that the retailer also sells its own creations in order to save on margins, so to speak. But without a coherent story, business for Wempe would probably…

It's been 16 years since Victoria Beckham launched her eponymous clothing line. Now, in 2024, the Victoria Beckham brand is a key fixture at Fashion Week, offering playful blends of masculine and feminine tailoring alongside unfailingly sophisticated designs. What better partner, then, than horology house Breitling, which continues to be recognised as one of the…

To those relatively new to watches, the term ‘independent’ can often appear to be thrown around like a cheap joke on Christmas Day, making them wonder what on earth the term actually means? Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet are privately owned watchmaking firms and so, at least in a business sense, ought to be considered…