Jason Pitsch

Hard to confirm whether smartwatches are actually dominating the watch landscape, but what is impossible to deny, at least for this writer (who is based in New York City), is that the Apple Watch is the single most predominant time telling device I see on people’s wrists in the city nowadays. And the progress and momentum of smartwatches only seem to be growing. Then there are rumors that the next Apple Watch will have LTE, although considering that one of the sources is KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, I would say it is inevitable that we will be seeing LTE in the Series 3 Apple Watch, and as early as next month. Steineck CL wrist camera at the Musée des Arts et Métiers There is also a new smartwatch with a built-in camera, called the Arrow 360. While the wrist

At Baselworld, Omega introduced a watch that is unlike most others in their collection. The Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer Master Chronometer Limited Edition is unique for a number of reasons. It has a “grand feu” fire-baked enamel dial, platinum case, a worldtimer movement, and is limited to only 87 pieces, the latter of which is maybe the most interesting as Omega typically makes their limited editions in the thousands. Like the case, which is 43 mm in diameter (21 mm interlug width), the dial is also crafted from solid platinum the has a sandblasted surface and that is contrasted by 18K yellow gold hands and indexes. The main dial chapter ring features 24 reference cities transfers and is fixed in place. In the center, is a 24-hour rotating center disc that indicates the home time (or a second time zone

Breitling made a lot of news this year at Baselworld when it was simultaneously announced that they used Tudor’s movement inside their Super Ocean Heritage II dive watch and that conversely, Tudor used their in-house chronograph caliber inside the new Black Bay Chronograph. Another interesting debut at Breitling, also relating to manufacture watch movements, was the new Navitimer Rattrapante, powered by Breitling’s new caliber B03 split-second chronograph. Breitling has a strong background in the field of chronographs, such as being accredited with the invention of the first independent pushpiece at 2 o’clock (1915), the second independent pushpiece (1934), and they were also part of the team that developed one of the earliest automatic chronographs in (1969). This split-seconds chronograph has two special (patented) innovations worth highlighting. The first is a system that isolates the movement by disconnecting the split-seconds hand

Romain Gauthier is a Vallée de Joux based watch company, run by its namesake founder, that produces ultra limited edition timepieces with unmistakable designs and extraordinary finishes. The Insight Micro-Rotor with off-center hour, minute, and small second indications is a perfect example of the impeccable level of thought and detail that goes into each Romain Gauthier watch. You can view its micro-rotor at 9 o’clock on the dial side, along with the hour and minute dial at 12 o’clock, with the small seconds overlapping the bottom of that dial at 6 o’clock. Just below that is the regulator with a free-sprung balance wheel suspended in place by a traversing balance bridge in the signature style of Romain Gauthier. The edges are perfectly hand chamfered and polished, as are the screws, which are exclusive to the brand. Driven by a front

One of the more interesting watches to come from Rolex this year was the Rolex Datejust 41 in steel with a Dark Rhodium dial and Jubilee five-piece link bracelet. With a larger case size (41 mm in diameter), a smooth (not fluted) bezel, and 18K white gold indexes on top of a real rhodium plated dial, Rolex has made a watch that is aesthetically much more pleasing to my eye. The Datejust, quite frankly, has never appealed to me, until now. Rolex Datejust 41 in steel with white gold fluted bezel (Ref. 126334) Surely, many will disagree as the Datejust is one of Rolex’s many icons, with a huge following. Nevertheless, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this new, modern, Datejust, ticks many of the boxes for me personally. The dark rhodium dial, in particular, or even

Yesterday, ahead of the 2017 Major League Soccer All-Star Game, which takes place tonight at Soldier Field in Chicago, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer announced, Tim Howard, goalkeeper for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team and the Colorado Rapids, as a brand ambassador. Kilian Muller, President of TAG Heuer North America, says, “We are thrilled to have Tim Howard as a representative of TAG Heuer. It requires a special fearlessness to be a goalkeeper in professional soccer and Tim is one of the most daring. He performs his best when under pressure and in doing so embodies the #Don’tCrackUnderPressure spirit of TAG Heuer.” Howard adds, “I’m proud to be a brand ambassador for TAG Heuer, one of the most iconic luxury sports brands in the world. We share the same dedication to precision and commitment to excellence under pressure, which makes

This year at Baselworld, Rolex introduced a new model within the Cellini collection, the Cellini Moonphase. The watch is presented in a 39 mm polished 18K Everose gold case and features what Rolex refers to as a double bezel, that’s domed and fluted. Rose gold applied indexes, and a printed minutes/seconds scale, along with lance-shaped rose gold hour and minute hands, and a rose gold baton shaped central seconds hand, indicate the time. A blue centrally mounted hand, with an aptly shaped crescent moon tip, points to the date around the printed out chapter ring. A blue enameled disc at 6 o’clock, which has a unique meteorite applique, indicates the current moonphase, via a, rose gold arrow at 12 o’clock on the lunar subdial. Each day, the moonphase disc follows the lunar cycle, as shown on Rolex’s website. “As each

Taken on location at the Hublot booth during Baselworld 2017, this gallery features the Hublot MP-05 LaFerrari Aperta watch, an actual LaFerrari Aperta Ferrari, and the new Hublot Ferrari Techframe Tourbillon Chronograph. The latter of which comes in a unique minimalist frame – designed by Ferrari – along with an awesome single pusher chronograph, and available in titanium, king gold, or carbon. Learn more about the Techframe, the Hublot LaFerrari Aperta, or the LaFerrari Aperta.

This past March, at Baselworld 2017, the Swiss watchmaker, Jaquet Droz, introduced the Grande Second Moon, which comes in stainless steel with a silvery dial, stainless steel with an onyx dial, and red gold with an ivory enamel dial. The watch measures 43 mm in diameter and is powered by in-house Jaquet Droz caliber 2660QL3, which is a 30 jewel automatic movement with a 68-hour power reserve. It is equipped with a silicon balance spring and pallet horns, double barrel, and a skeletonized oscillating weight. As is the signature of jacket Droz, the dial features off-center indications. Hour and minutes are displayed in the smaller subdial at 12 o’clock with printed Roman numeral hour markers (except on the onyx version). The larger subdial below has a running second display on the peripheral ring, with a date by hand just inside

At the time when many Swiss watchmakers are struggling to maintain relevance and profitability, blue chip companies such as Patek Philippe, continue to operate business as usual. Like Rolex, Patek Philippe is one of the most coveted watch brands in existence. And so, The Art of Watches Grand Exhibition New York 2017 while unprecedented in size and scale, for any watch manufacturer, is really not that much of a surprise. The Grand Exhibition, which cost the company a small fortune, was free to the public. No invite-only requirements, no $50 door fee, all you had to do was wait in a line and go through security. This is great for the watch industry as a whole, which is in serious peril right now. Patek Philippe truly stands above all others when it comes to resale values of their timepieces, and