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The New York-based space offers an incredible look at the history of watchmaking.  In describing his brand's signature aesthetic, Larry Pettinelli, U.S. President of Patek Philippe says simply, "We're an understated watch. You don't buy it to be showy or for conspicuous consumption." However, starting this week, the otherwise discrete brand is presenting itself quite publicly in a new pop-up museum in Manhattan. "The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition," to be held at New York's Cipriani 42nd Street location from July 13-23, is a throwback to the days of World's Fairs that introduced new advancements in technology and ground-breaking products—except this time, it's for fans of fine watchmaking. It's the equivalent of Willy Wonka opening the gates to his illustrious chocolate factory, and it's free to the public. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/a56273/patek-philippe-new-york-museum-history/ The Ref.5522A brings a contemporary American sensibility to the traditional pilots' watch: The original 56mm case has been reduced to a more wrist-friendly 42mm and paired with a rugged brown strap, arabic numerals and baton-style hands also recall the original models, and a new navy blue dial matches the color of fighter planes from the same period.  Here's your first look—plus some handy travel advice from Geller himself.  Robert Geller has been to Japan 40 times over the last decade. It makes sense, considering the NYC-based designer's namesake clothing line is produced there. And it's why, when it came time for him to create the very first G-Steel collaboration with Casio, he looked to the land of the rising sun for inspiration for his limited-edition G-Shock x Robert Geller timepiece. Based on multiple trips to Tokyo to work on his men's fashion collections, Geller's input adds his contemporary sense of style to "the toughest watch of all time." Tokyo's magic hour—the time just before sunrise—plays a very significant role in his G-Steel collaboration, Geller explains. "My favorite time in Tokyo is walking through the city in the middle of the night when its impossible to sleep because of the jet-lag. This idea of walking late at night when it starts to quiet down a little bit: You still have the smells from the Japanese barbecue and the trees and the neon lights are still on, but it's got this magical, almost serene feeling." http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/a56165/g-shock-robert-gellar-g-steel/  It's a collaboration between Bremont and Norton Motorcycles, and it's totally badass. On a small charming island off the coast of England, tourists and townsfolk gather in the early summer—not for a relaxing seaside getaway, but to witness a yearly motorcycle competition known as the world's deadliest race. Each year since 1907, The International Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (also known as "TT") takes place: It's a traditional time trial race in which speeding motorcycles careen down a 37-mile course made of narrow, winding country lanes. The bragging rights of participating in the race, never mind winning, surely pale in comparison to merely surviving.  On the heels of the Jackie Kennedy Cartier Tank watch auction announcement comes a second blockbuster iconic watch reveal, Paul Newman's actual "Paul Newman" Rolex Daytona. Watch historian and writer Michael Clerizo got all the scoop on the iconic watch and its recent whereabouts and reported it all in this morning's WSJ Magazine. A charming story of an encounter with Paul Newman as a child, and a second chance meeting with a woman going by the name Nell Potts at college in Maine some years later, is how current watch owner James Cox finds himself entwined in this story. Nell was actually Nell Newman, daughter of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. James spent time vacationing with her family in Connecticut, and Paul gave him the watch as a gift for repairing a beloved treehouse on the property. It is well known that Joanne Woodward had purchased the watch for her husband at Tiffany. A Rolex Chronograph perfect for timing laps was, after all, the perfect timepiece to complement her husband's love of auto racing. Adding to the Rolex's astounding appeal, the watch's caseback comes engraved with the phrase "Drive Carefully Me," as any worried wife might lovingly and thoughtfully add.  It is said that in August of 1851, upon watching the schooner "America" win the Royal Yacht Squadron 100 Pound Cup at the America's Cup, Queen Victoria inquired as to which boat came in second place—to which the reply was simply, "Your Majesty, there is no second." And so the demand for excellence began, inspiring tycoons, corporations, luxury goods companies, and world-class athletes to compete for top honors—and the oldest and most prestigious trophy in international sports   Introducing the Ressence Type 1H limited edition for Hodinkee.  few months back, we suggested keeping your credit line free and clear for a potential surprise launch of a heart-stopping limited edition timepiece requiring your immediate financial attention. Horological catnip to watch fans and collectors, these panic-inducing online flash sales create a buy-it-now frenzy that produces amazing results in remarkably short amounts of time. Well, fire up that Black Card, the next day of reckoning has arrived. Online watch magazine Hodinkee has done it again, this time with an unexpected collaboration with the avant-garde Belgian watchmaker Ressence, known for creating innovative watches that completely reinvent how you read the time—the hour, minutes, and seconds become a series of concentric circles each turning independently inside one another. The 20-piece Type 1H limited edition for Hodinkee accentuates this orbital system even further by skeletonizing—cutting away—sections of the discs, making the fascinating inner workings entirely visible through the German silver dial.   There's something of a revolution happening in the watch world. With a whole generation of potential customers who can't even wrap their heads around the idea wearing a high-end mechanical timepiece, something has to give. And at this year's most important industry event, important clues to its survival started to emerge.
Unlike the fashion industry—which can reflect the changing times by turning on a dime—the careful watch world works at a slightly slower pace. At Baselworld 2017, it became clear that the industry now has a greater understanding of consumers' shifting priorities and a willingness to look thoughtfully and respond their desires. This year's winning timepieces showcase the distinguished history of watchmaking while incorporating ingenious modern updates as well as wild advances in materials, manufacturing, and technology. They're also achingly beautiful. From the "holy grail" pieces featuring major complications that each serve a unique purpose to affordable knock-around weekend watches, here's a roundup of the most memorable timepieces, straight from the fair. Each offers vital proof that while your phone may do a perfectly serviceable job of telling you the time, watches still matter. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/g3288/baselworld-watches-2017/ Introducing the Fossil Q x Cory Richards smartwatch.  Checking the hour after his recent SXSW keynote speech, Cory Richards looks over his jam-packed schedule and realizes the day is slipping by faster than he imagined. Living life on the edge provides Cory with unprecedented clarity, a unique perspective much wiser than his youthful 35 years might suggest. After inspiring a massive crowds at the Austin Convention Center, the extreme mountain climber and Nat-Geo photojournalist is quickly able to settle down and explain his ongoing relationship with the passage of time, the watch brand Fossil, and his very first Fossil Q smartwatch collaboration. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/a53873/cory-richards-fossil-smartwatch/  Plus, a look at some of his previous on-screen timepieces.  In a world where "look at me" red carpet style reigns, you might think a grand gesture would create the biggest impact. But as it turns out, the smallest details make the man—especially when it comes to being the best dressed. And even though La La Land didn't actually win best picture last night (resulting in one of the most memorable Oscar moments we've ever seen), Ryan Gosling has proven himself to be a solid menswear style-setter time and time again.  One remarkably effective tool in his arsenal: a fantastic wristwatch. This tiny detail, seemingly small and insignificant, is an area where Gosling ultimately excels. Throughout his career, some pretty fabulous watches have appeared in both Ryan's films and real life—intelligent choices revealing an important facet of his character's personality or quietly respecting the dignity of a formal occasion. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/a53451/ryan-gosling-la-la-land-watch/   Introducing The Vacheron Constantin Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 Limited Edition for Hodinkee.
An immediate product drop following a surprise social media attack has become common practice for an overstimulated fashion industry desperate to stir up excitement (and some much-needed sales). With instant-gratification, snooze-you-lose tactics used by everyone from Supreme to H&M, the surprise announcement has proven to be this season's more-successful pop-up store. And in what might be considered the most surprising flash sale yet, online watch magazine Hodinkee teamed up with venerable Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin to launch a limited edition stainless steel watch on a Thursday morning at 11:30 am—right in the middle of winter storm Niko, no less. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/a53061/vacheron-constantin-hodinkee-cornes-de-vache/ The timepiece trade show did not disappoint. The past year hasn't been terribly kind to the luxury watch market. Business news sources continue to report a grim future, but a recent trip to Geneva's Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) painted a very different picture. The invitation-only trade show, presented by luxury goods company Richemont, not only showcased the latest creations from top watch brands but also presented innovative collections from courageous, independent watchmakers. For admirers of exquisitely beautiful timepieces, this was a banner year.  Say hello to the #SpeedyTuesday Speedmaster. Just how important is social media to the wristwatch industry? You might want to ask Swiss timekeeper Omega. Back in 2012, Fratello Watches founder Robert-Jan Broer tagged an Omega Instagram photo #speedytuesday. Like most viral sensations, there wasn't much in the way of forethought or design—he was simply posting the Omega Speedmaster image on a Tuesday.  
Time waits for no man, not even for a leading man of stage and screen. The current star of Broadway's Les Liaisons Dangereuses and TV's Ray Donovan--not to mention the cover of Esquire—actor Liev Schrieber performs a bit of Shakespeare in a short clip as a conceptual ode to the New York minute and his stainless steel Tiffany CT60. The watch—a self-winding, three-hand, 40mm mechanical model—ticks away the seconds as he contemplates the passage of time, nature, and youth within the lyrical iambic pentameter of Shakespeare's Sonnet 12, which just so happens to be the perfect length for Instagram's brief, 60-second video limit.
Watches with a little history don't have to look like boring antiques. That's why we've rounded up 16 timepieces with serious staying power. The DNA is drawn from the past, but the features and looks are entirely contemporary. http://www.esquire.com/style/news/g3150/classic-watch-gift-guide/  For Chinese artist Sun Xun, the existential questions explored in his artwork are the same existential questions he asks of himself. What is time? What is forever? What is history? What is the future? What is now? http://www.esquire.com/style/news/a51263/audemars-piguet-sun-xun-art-basel-miami-beach/  At the invitation of luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, a site-specific artwork called "Reconstruction of the Universe" was unveiled for the second Audemars Piguet Art Commission at Art Basel in Miami this past weekend. It may not immediately seem like a natural pairing, but these compelling time-related concepts are shared by AP—a reflection upon the rapidly changing future of complicated fine watches. What seems to be a highly conceptual connection slowly reveals an important similarity between the artist and watchmaker. Great design knows no boundaries. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the post-World War II golden age of Italian automotive design—from the 1940s through the 1970s—has influenced the world of watch design as well as the world of cars. Automakers like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia, and Maserati immediately conjure up visions of sleek, aerodynamic lines that feel as appropriate on a sports car as a timepiece. Watches and driving are, after all, intimately linked, with accurately measuring speed an all-important aspect of auto racing.   When it comes to buying an exceptional watch, Rolex is virtually synonymous with achieving success. Like buying a bespoke suit, purchasing a Rolex watch represents one of life's great accomplishments, one that goes far beyond just owning a beautiful timepiece—and no other brand conjures up quite this type of personal connection or emotional reaction.   For collectors of fine timepieces, scarcity, condition, and original details are of utmost importance. Over the weekend in Geneva, one of Patek Philippe's rarest and most-admired wristwatches was offered by the auction house Phillips, shattering records to become the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction. http://www.esquire.com/style/news/a50653/patek-philippe-most-expensive-auction/  Jaeger-LeCoultre just added an updated Memovox to its roster. http://www.esquire.com/style/news/a50419/jaeger-lecoultre-master-memovox-boutique/  And the co-founders of Worn & Wound are throwing a three-day watch fair in NYC this weekend to celebrate them. http://www.esquire.com/style/news/a49673/worn-and-wound-fair/  |
AuthorStephen Watson is a freelance stylist and watch editor. Archives
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