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When Richard Mille (richardmille.com) and Ferrari first joined forces in 2021, the watch world anticipated fireworks—and they delivered—their first collaboration, the wafer-thin RM UP-01, stunned with its 1.75mm profile. Now, the partnership shifts gears with the release of the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari: a radical reinterpretation of one of Richard Mille’s most complex complications.  Richard Mille continues to stun with the RM 43-01 in Carbon TPT and Titanium versions. The RM 43-01 is a symphony of power, precision, and purpose. Developed over three years, its movement combines horology’s most demanding mechanisms—the tourbillon and the split-second chronograph—crafted on an ultra-lightweight grade 5 titanium baseplate with bridges in titanium and Carbon TPT®. The result?  Ferrari's own Lewis Hamilton 70 hours of power reserve, torque, and function indicators, and an active seconds display—all in a chassis worthy of the Prancing Horse.  The RM 43-01 titanium case for the 'gentleman driver." ‘We have two cases to express two distinct personalities: a ‘gentleman driver’ ethos for the titanium case and a more high-octane attitude in the carbon version,’ says Julien Boillat, Richard Mille’s casing technical director.  The high octane RM 43-01 Carbon TPT Ferrari’s Centro Stile shaped the aesthetics, from the case profiles to the Purosangue-inspired strap pattern and crown details. The watch is offered in two sharply contrasting 75-piece editions: one in grade 5 titanium with a Carbon TPT® caseband and another entirely in Carbon TPT®, each echoing different facets of Ferrari’s design language—refined power versus track-honed intensity.  The RM 43-01 Carbon on the wrist. Inside, nods to Ferrari’s engineering universe abound. The metallic baseplate evokes sand-cast engine blocks; X-braced architecture, hex screws, and angular lines mirror the design codes of Ferrari powertrains. The 30-minute totalizer, floating at the dial’s center, is a skeletonized marvel—think tachometer meets watchmaking.
The RM 43-01 proves that point in spades—an ultramodern timekeeping engine where every detail is tuned for performance, every angle is born of collaboration, and every second counts. According to Ferrari design chief Flavio Manzoni, “In terms of performance, anything that has a technical purpose can also be beautiful.”
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If the M.A.D.1 from MB&F (mbandf.com) disrupted expectations, the M.A.D.2 rewrites the playbook. Conceived by visionary designer Eric Giroud, this timepiece is a tribute to the electrifying pulse of 1990s club culture. Picture hypnotic basslines, vinyl spinning under neon lights, and Lausanne's legendary MAD club (Moulin à Danses) and Dolce Vita clubs as the Swiss epicenter of the night. Can you imagine? .  As the next chapter in the M.A.D.Editions story, the M.A.D.2 is sleek, daring, and infused with a rebellious energy  M.A.D.Editions were born from a simple but pressing dilemma: MB&F's own circle—its friends, family, and longtime supporters—couldn't afford their watches. In response, the M.A.D.1 launched in 2021 as a limited run of 500 pieces, quietly offered to those who had helped shape the brand's journey. But when images surfaced online, the reaction was immediate: "A watch from MB&F that I can finally afford—and I can't get one?" The demand was overwhelming. By 2022, Maximilian Büsser answered the call with a public release, using a raffle system to ensure fairness. The M.A.D.1 RED even earned the 2022 GPHG Challenge Prize, proving high design and accessibility could go hand in hand.  Eric Giroud (l.) with Maximilian Busser (r.) Enter the M.A.D.2, a timepiece that channels Giroud's deep connection to music and design. Its raised subdials echo the tactile feel of DJ mixing decks, while the textured central dial mirrors the grooves of a vinyl record. The surrounding luminous stroboscopic ring is inspired by the iconic Technics SL-1200 turntable, making every movement a nod to the music of the past.  Available in two editions—Orange for the Tribe and Friends, Green for raffle winners—both at CHF 2,900 + VAT, the M.A.D.2 is a kinetic celebration of sound, style, and movement.  Cool Stuff: Massena LAB and UNIMATIC Launch the Limited-Edition U1-SPG for NASA’s Artemis Missions3/12/2025 Massena LAB (massenalab.com) is an independent watch brand and design studio founded by industry veteran William Massena. Known for its collaborations with respected watchmakers and limited-edition timepieces, Massena LAB blends vintage inspiration with modern craftsmanship, appealing to collectors who appreciate thoughtful design and horological storytelling. Massena LAB and UNIMATIC introduce the Modello Uno U1-SPG, a NASA-signed, limited-edition GMT watch celebrating the Artemis missions.  Inspired by NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the U1-SPG features a 40mm stainless steel case coated in burnt orange Cerakote™, with a deep charcoal Cerakote™ bezel and crown. Its matte black dial, signed “NASA,” boasts luminous hands, a 24-hour track, and a rotating bezel for optimal legibility. A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating ensures clarity. The U1-SPG is powered by the automatic Seiko NH34A movement and offers a 42-hour power reserve. The engraved case back features NASA’s Artemis emblem, symbolizing humanity’s return to the Moon. A tribute to 1960s retrofuturism and "2001: A Space Odyssey", each watch comes in a rugged UNIMATIC x Massena LAB case with extra straps, a NASA patch, and a unique ID seal. Operating at the intersection of connoisseurship and creativity, Massena LAB offers timepieces that are both collectible and wearable—designed for those who value history, innovation, and the art of watchmaking. A limited edition of only 99 pieces to be released on March 12th.
Before Louis Vuitton (us.louisvuitton.com) officially entered the world of haute horlogerie with the Tambour in 2002, the brand took an early and unconventional step into watchmaking with the Monterey. The watch was first released in 1988, a groundbreaking collaboration between Louis Vuitton, the Swiss watch brand IWC, and the renowned Italian architect Gae Aulenti. Known for her visionary work in design—including the transformation of Paris's Gare d'Orsay into the Musée d'Orsay (my all-time favorite museums)—Aulenti brought an avant-garde sensibility to the world of watchmaking, making the Monterey one of the very few watches designed by a woman.  The striking green ceramic bezel of The Monterey by Louis Vuitton, circa 1988. For Louis Vuitton, which originated as a luggage maker, travel themes are omnipresent, never so much as in the recent fall-winter fashion collection shown in Paris on March 10, 2025. Presented at L'etoile du Nord, the location was a former HQ of a train company located near the Gare du Nord station. One of Aulenti's most famous projects, an art museum in a former train station, provided an additional link to the multi-layered train travel themes embedded in the show. Rumor has it that Vuitton plans to rerelease the Monterey in precious metal with an automatic movement in a very limited edition.  Scan of an original Louis Vuitton advertisement from fetch-the-paper.com What truly sets the quartz-powered Monterey apart is its striking design. The ceramic case, a rarity at the time, houses an unusual dial configuration: Arabic numerals for the hours are placed at the center, surrounded by a railroad track for minutes. In contrast, bold red date numerals line the outer edge. But its most distinctive feature is the crown, which protrudes from the top of the case, earning the watch its fitting nickname: "The Unicorn." One of the more fascinating design features is that Aulenti also eliminated traditional lugs. Instead, a single-piece strap threads through the case back, ensuring a sleek, seamless integration of strap and watch.  Gaetana "Gae" Emilia Aulenti. Courtesy Creative Commons Today, the Monterey remains a cult classic, a hidden treasure in the world of luxury watches. It has even found a fan in Jean Arnauld, Louis Vuitton's Director of Watchmaking, who has been spotted wearing one. As Louis Vuitton deepens its commitment to fine watchmaking, with ventures like the revival of Daniel Roth, the Monterey stands as a testament to the brand's early—and quietly revolutionary—steps into horology.  The Monterey by Louis Vuitton on the runway of the fall/winter 2025 collection by Nicolas Ghesquière shown in Paris, France, March 10, 2025.  This less complicated version of the Louis Vuitton watch, the Monterey II, is currently available at The Keystone.
Blancpain’s (blancpain.com) Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV is more than a dive watch—it’s a commitment to ocean conservation. Limited to just 100 pieces, this latest release in the Ocean Commitment series helps fund the new Blancpain x Sulubaaï marine research center in the Philippines, with €1,000 from each sale supporting marine research and protection.  Continuing its legacy since creating the first modern dive watch in 1953, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms merges technical excellence with environmental stewardship to create one of the finest dive watches in the market. The 45mm grade 23 titanium case ensures durability while maintaining an ultra-lightweight feel. It features a helium escape valve, a unidirectional ceramic bezel, and an ultra-legible dial with luminescent appliques for optimal underwater readability.  Powering the watch is the caliber 1315A, an automatic movement with a five-day power reserve and an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring for exceptional precision. The sapphire case back reveals an 18k gold oscillating weight engraved with the blue BOC logo. Beyond its technical prowess, the BOC IV supports marine conservation through the Sea Academy program, establishing protected areas around Pangatalan Island and Shark Fin Bay. Each watch comes in a Pelicase™ box with a donation certificate and an exclusive numbered photograph by award-winning underwater photographer Laurent Ballesta. 
Owners of this timepiece also join the Blancpain Ocean Commitment Circle, a community dedicated to preserving the seas. With only 100 available, this watch represents a rare chance to own a piece of Blancpain’s legacy while contributing to ocean conservation. |
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