Patek Philippe is most well known for its horological competencies, as we saw them at work in the 5450 Advanced Research and the 5207 instantaneous perpetual calendar with minute repeater and tourbillon.   Still Patek Philippe is also a long time, very long time producer of some more artistic watches, among them the most looked after enamelled world time models brought back this year by the new 5131. But there are other options.   Patek Philippe 5180/1 W Here is the full...

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Baselworld 2008 was a rich show for Patek Philippe. We certainly had enough new offerings to please all Patek Philippe lovers. The simple watch amateurs got the marvellous 5124 Gondolo as a subject of admiration, the white gold version being a very appealing homage to the 5101 tourbillon. The serious collectors have to choose (if necessary) between the blue 5070P, the yellow 5970J or the pink dialed 5450P! Did we talk about the highly complicated pieces aficionados? Not yet! Oh sorry! Here it ...

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Back in 2005 Patek Philippe presented a new watch of a new kind for this venerable brand !   The Patek Philippe Advanced Research reference 5250 was based on a 5146 annual calendar, with a little plus. A little something that that only you die-hard fans and only if you were high tech aficionados could spot and appreciate.   The reference 5250 was the first Patek Philippe watch to incorporate the first step towards the Patek Philippe watch of the future: an escape wheel made of S...

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We proudly present the official PuristSPro SIHH/Geneva 2008 write-up. Welcome to the the SIHH/Geneva report provided by the PuristSPro team around the world.  In-depth reviews, views and commentary.  In addition, these reports are packed with photographs from the show; and at the bottom of this note, you will find a link to all the reports. In addtion to the SIHH brands, we also covered FP Journe, Urwerk and other non-SIHH brands like MB&F. We would like to give Anthony Tsai, le...

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SIHH 2008 Report: Audemars Piguet Text & Photos:  Anthony Tsai   AP Royal Oak Carbon Concept Watch - chrono and tourbillonThis is AP's new Concept Watch and is not a limited edition piece. However, it is limited production and around 30 pieces will be made this year. The new Concept watch is part of the Royal Oak collection.Case: forged carbon with black ceramic bezel, crown and pushersBracelet: large scale croc strap with titanium AP deployantExpected delivery is 2nd half of 2008, and due to i...

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SIHH 2008 Report: Jaeger-LeCoultre Text & Photos by:  Jerome Berder & Nicolas Fondaneche   Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon 2 click here   Jaeger-LeCoultre "1833 Collection" click here     Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin range click here   Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clocks: the 80th birthday treats!click here   Jaeger-LeCoultre Squadra "Polo Fields" click here ===For a quick summary of all the Jaeger-LeCoultre 2008 SIHH Novelties, please click here ....

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Geneva 2008 Report: F.P. Journe Text & Pictures:  Brad Schwartz    This year's FPJ Annual Exhibition was indeed a treat and certainly worth the trip from Hong Kong. As all of you know already, this year Francois Paul introduced his ultra slim minute repeater which features two mainspring barrels in parrallel, linear escapement with 15 tooth escape wheel, a balance wheel with 4x variable inertia weights and an anachron free-sprung flat balance spring. The movement height is only 4mm with a dia...

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Geneva 2008 Report: Maîtres du Temps Text & Pictures:  Don Corson The new brand Maîtres du Temps has been initiated by Mr. Steven Holtzmann, its first watch is the Chapter One, a creation with the collaboration of Mr. Roger Dubuis, Mr. Peter Speake-Marin and Mr. Christophe Claret. The Chapter One is a manual wind one-minute tourbillon with mono-pusher chronograph with retrograde date, retrograde GMT, with day of week and moon phase indicated on rollers. The idea of Maîtres du ...

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Geneva 2008 Report: Max Büsser & Friends Text & Pictures:  Don Corson Max is resolutely refusing to introduce new models in the middle of the noise of the Basel and Geneva events.But showing the evolution of his work at this time is part of the game.HM1 Titanium & Rose GoldNote the new dial allowing deeper looks at the movement on the titanium.  The new titanium model is also surprisingly light and with the new wider strap more comfortable and under control on the wrist.  You can see ...

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Geneva 2008 Report: UrwerkText & Pictures:  Don Corson Urwerk is showing their watches outside the fairs in a suite at the Hotel Les Bergues.This is what I saw:The new 202 with automatic winding, Steel case coated with AlTiN.The AlTiN coating is used on machine tools to give them exceptional hardness and longivity.  Next to the watch you can see such a milling bit with AlTiN coating. The automatic winding mechanism being between the movement and the case back doesn't allow including a co...

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SIHH 2008 Report: Girard-Perregaux Text:  Nicolas Fondaneche, Su JiaXian, Jerome BerderPhotos:  Anthony Tsai, Nicolas Fondaneche, Jerome Berder     Amanico:  I was always in love with GP, as it was one of the very first brands I discovered and introduced me to the real world of Horology.  So, since maybe something like 10 years, I'm looking each year on their catalogue, the presentation of their new watches.  Since, let's say 2004, I was a bit disappointed, while...

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SIHH 2008 Report: Parmigiani Text:  Nicolas FondanechePhotos:  Nicolas Fondaneche & Anthony Tsai   This year I went to the Parmigiani Stand, at the SIHH...Without confirmed appointment, without anything...We, Jerome and I, were perfectly and warmly welcomed by the Parmigiani Team, specifically Liliane FRETTE, and Jacques REY, the French Team.So they took the time to present us some new pieces, and some very nice recent ones.  For those who don't know, 50% of Parmigiani's ...

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SIHH 2008 Report: IWCText & Photos:  Anthony Tsai   IWC Ingenieur "Climate Action" - limited edition of 1000 pieces.  Case is stainless steel with a black ceramic bezel, and the strap is a textured nylon strap.  IWC produced this piece as a "carbon neutral" watch and part of the proceeds will go to The Climate Group which is an independent nonprofit organization created in 2004 to help spread the word of establishing a low-carbon economy.  Black ceramic bezel of the 44mm Ingenieu...

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SIHH 2008 Report: Officine Panerai Text:  Anthony TsaiPhotos:  Anthony Tsai & Nicolas Fondaneche   It's been a little over a week since I got back from SIHH so I've had some time to reflect on Panerai's new offerings for SIHH 2008.  This year's collection is smaller than last year's, and I'm glad it is because it is getting extremely difficult remembering all the different PAM reference numbers each year. The main focus this year was the further expansion of the Radiomir line and the...

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We proudly present the official PuristSPro Baselworld 2008 write-up. Welcome to the the full Baselworld report provided by the PuristSPro team around the world.  In-depth reviews, views and commentary.  In addition, these reports are packed with photographs from the show; and at the bottom of this note, you will find a link to all the reports.   We would like to give Dr. Marcus Hanke, lead coordinator of Basel coverage this year, an extra special thanks. Enjoy! Best ...

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In 2007, Lot 211 sold for SFr 64,900 (commission included) at the Omegamania Auction. It was listed as "ALASKA PROJECT " prototype:Omega, "Speedmaster Professional", No. 29116425, Ref. ST. 145.0022-69. One of a small number of prototypes made between 1971 and 1973. Exceptionally rare and fine, asymmetric, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman`s wristwatch with round button chronograph, 12-hour and 30-minute registers, black bezel with tachometer, "Apollo" hands for the 12-hour and 3...

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Basel 2008 Report: Gerald Genta Text: Dr. Bernard Cheong, pictures and captions: Don Corson Well, risking the wrath of the good people who like their watches to be "chronometers", " fine instruments of traditional craft" and etc etc.. Genta is all about creating a new horizon, whether the Horological collectors who like the traditional Patek/Omega/Breguet/Lange are ready for it or not. I know Roden is not about HooHah, and not about fashion..but he understands art. Certainly the Genta are not for the m...

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Basel 2008 Report: Daniel Roth Text and pictures: Don Corson & Su JiaXian   Athys II with black dial Daniel Roth presents the Athys II with striking black dial.   In White Gold   And Rose Gold The movement in the Athys is a rarity - a large form movement. It's a Frederic Piguet cal. 151 pocket watch movement designed in the 1950s and provided exclusively to Daniel Roth.   Papillon Chronograph   The famous Papillon is now presented as a chronogr...

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Once upon a time, a young boy looked at an advertisement on the back cover of Time and Newsweek magazines every week. He was initrigued by the full colour spreads in the Readers' Digest extolling the virtues of the iconic Rolex Day Date fluted bezel on President bracelet. Later, it came to past that everyone that the, now grown, young man saw with one of those watches was not an ideal role model.......The excesses of the 1980s, YUPpies and DINKies made the newly qualified doctor vow never to ...

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Basel 2008 Report: Eterna and Porsche Design Eterna presented several highly interesting movement novelties, and Porsche Design some nice new variants. Please click here to read the full article. ...

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Basel 2008 Report: Concord After its success with the C 1 chronograph last year, Concord now presents a bold and unusual watch: the Tourbillon Gravity Please click here to read the full article on Concord's new watches. ...

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Basel 2008 Report: Ulysse Nardin This year, Ulysse Nardin presented the first series-built watch that contains not only one part made from silicium, but with practically a whole silicium escapement: Please click here to read the full article on Ulysse Nardin's new watches. ...

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Basel 2008 Report: AHCI and Independents, Part II Text and pictures of individual articles: Don Corson Rainer Nienaber Please click here to access Don's article. Peter Speake-Marin This year, Peter did not come to the Basel fair. However, Don visited his workshop to see the new beauties Peter had created: Please click here to access Don's article. Vianney Halter Please click here to access Don's article. Habring² Please click here to access Don's article. Greubel Forsey Please ...

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Basel 2008 Report: AHCI and Independents, Part I Text and pictures of individual articles: Don Corson BLU - Bernhard Lederer Universe Please click here to access Don's article. Andreas Strehler Please click here to access Don's article. Aaron Becsei Please click here to access Don's article. Marco Lang Please click here to access Don's article. Kari Voutilainen Please click here to access Don's article. Svend Andersen Please click here to access Don's article. Marc Brogsitter ...

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Basel 2008 Report: Patek Philippe Text and pictures of individual reports: Jerome Berder Patek Philippe 5139: Please click here to access Jerome's article 5970 in yellow gold: Please click here to access Jerome's article. Gondolo 5124: Please click here to access Jerome's article. 5070 platinum: Please click here to access Jerome's article. Jewelled Nautilus: Please click here to access Jerome's article. Aquanaut 5167/1: Please click here to access Jerome's article. 5146 pink g...

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