Novelties

In a retrograde date display, the hand does not make a complete revolution of the dial, but passes through the measuring segment to then jump back to the starting point and begin again. Retrograde displays first appeared at Vacheron Constantin in the 1920s in pocket watches. It was not until 1940 that the manufacture produced…

For over a century, the watchmaker Panerai, founded in Florence by Giovanni Panerai, has been dedicated to the production of precision instruments developed primarily for the Italian navy and military. As early as 1916, Panerai, in collaboration with a lieutenant in the Italian navy, succeeded in developing a substance based on radium that glowed in…

In addition to the new Tank Normale introduced into Cartier's Privé series for collectors, the maison is also offering a number of new mechanical Tank watches for the general public. This includes the introduction of two Américaine models, alongside four Louis Cartier timepieces with distinctive and colourful dials. Tank Américaine Drawing inspiration from the original…

Every year at Cartier, a rare new model joins the Privé collection – a line dedicated to the brand's watch collectors. Always special in terms of aesthetics and highly limited in its production numbers, the Privé watches are inevitably much-anticipated pieces. This year, the seventh special series is the Tank Normale. In a nod to…

This year at Watches & Wonders, we are seeing a flurry of Santos-related action from Cartier. The maison is introducing no less than four new mechanical Santos de Cartier models and six new mechanical Santos Dumont models. One of these Santos de Cartier wristwatches is a stunning diamond-set skeletonised edition, while three of the Santos…

Three new timepieces have arrived, and they’re braced for an inevitably passionate exchange of opinions amongst collectors. The Calatrava collection is, on the one hand, deeply rooted in the history of Patek Philippe. Describing it as an ‘entry-level line’ is actually out of the question, because everything that distinguishes the manufacture and makes it so…

A leopard and a scene from a historic car race. Ultimately, these two timepieces from the house of Patek Philippe, for which the description ‘novelties’ somehow sounds far too trite, show much more. As part of the ‘Rare Handcrafts’ 2023 collection, they stand for the pursuit of perfection, for the preservation of watchmaking and jewellery…

The Top Time Classic Cars Capsule collection, launched in 2021, is now enjoying an update with the introduction of a new and improved "engine", the manufacture calibre 01. In addition, thanks to a renewed collaboration, Breitling is introducing a brand-new version of a chronograph in collaboration with Breitling and Ford, the Thunderbird edition. The Top…

With the new Tambour Opera Automata, Louis Vuitton plays on the theme of art imitating life and life imitating art. Drawing upon elements of Chinese culture and mythology, the watch presents the wearer with a Bian Lian performance. As part of Sichuan opera, Bian Lian is the art of face-changing, having been around for more…

Nestled away amongst deep red hearts, gold thorns and shiny green leaves, Louis Vuitton reveals its latest innovative timepiece for women: the amorous Tambour Fiery Heart Automata. With its sparkling diamond-set crown and spinning tourbillon, the automaton timepiece certainly shows Louis Vuitton's La Fabrique du Temps artisanal and watchmaking abilities at their absolute finest. An…

The Geneva Seal: the most coveted certification in the Swiss watch industry. A symbol of authenticity and prestige, the few watches in the world that bear the Geneva Seal (or Poinçon de Genève in French) display remarkable levels of finishing and traditionally crafted decorations, from Côtes de Genève (Genevan stripes) to spiral 'snailing'. Credit ©  Ulysse Frechelin…

Back in the 1920s, Swiss watch manufacture Longines created its first pilot's watch with a rotating bezel. Then, in the early 1930s, the watchmaker went on to develop a wristwatch with a rotating bezel featuring a luminous index at 12 o’clock. Among other things, pilots principally used this design to calculate flight time. Five years…