Watch of the Week: Bulgari Octa Roma Grande Sonnerie

While Bulgari has made quite a name for itself in recent years with record-breaking, ultra-thin watches, there are also other areas in which they excel. With the purchase of the esteemed independent brands Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta in 2000, Bulgari amassed even more knowledge about creating high-end complications and has done so ever since. The Octa Roma Grande Sonnerie is an excellent example of this, dedicated to bringing the most beautiful sound, both visual as well as audible.

By Adrienne Faurote

Patek Philippe Ref.5750 Advanced Research Minute Repeater; let’s Get Loud

While Patek Philippe is a manufacture rooted in history and tradition, it didn't become one of the most renowned brands by lack of innovation. Instead, the brand offers innovation on its own terms, focusing on advancing traditional watchmaking with better and more stable performance. The new Ref.5750 Advanced Research Minute Repeater is a watch that has exactly those qualities. It was developed by Patek Philippe's Advanced Research department, which was established in 2005 with the aim of finding and applying new materials, concepts, and technologies to further perfect Patek Philippe's offerings.

The Extraordinairy Tourbillons Of Louis Vuitton

In the world of Louis Vuitton, watches hold a special place. The brand is known for its innovative designs, rooted in its rich heritage. Their creativity seems to have no bounds, but it is not on looks alone on which they have built their success. What powers their watches is equally essential, and Louis Vuitton has a profound preference for complicated movements, especially the tourbillon, as the following three watches prove.

Chopard Celebrates The 25th Anniversary Of Its Manufacture With Two Limited Editions

While Chopard has been one of the leading luxury brands for decades, writing history with their jewelry and watches, its manufacture is surprisingly young. Only a quarter of a century ago, they fully began with developing and producing their own movements. Since then, these activities have rapidly increased and made Chopard one of the most respected and leading Haute Horlogerie brands when it comes to complicated movements. To mark this occasion, the brand is launching two limited editions, underscoring its achievements in those 25 years.

Throwback Thursday: Patek Philippe Reference 3974

Patek Philippe's history is a constant stream of highlights, particularly when looking at their more complicated pieces. The brand invented the annual calendar, but not before making its mark on one of the most coveted complications available, the perpetual calendar. The reference 3974 holds a special place in this, as it was the very first perpetual calendar with a minute repeater, powered by an automatic movement.

History Repeating With The New Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater

The Reverso by Jaeger-LeCoultre is an icon in its own right. However, while a superb part of horological history in its original, time-only configuration, it is also a magnificent canvas for the brand to show its considerable technical prowess. That is precisely what they have done with the new Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater. Jaeger-LeCoultre has significant experience with this type of complication, as since its founding, they have developed and built over 200 different chiming calibers. In 1994 they launched the Reverso Répétition Minutes, for which they miniaturized a minute repeater to fit a Reverso, making the world’s first rectangular minute repeater movement in the process.

Throwback Thursday: Ulysse Nardin Minute Repeater

Ulysse Nardin is a brand that has not only a rich heritage but also a very diverse one. The brand was founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland, and quickly made a name for itself with its high precision chronometers. While Ulysse Nardin has always thrived in mechanical excellence, they have presented their watches in a wide variety of different styles. Whether it is restrained or progressive, the brand's most outstanding achievement is most likely that they have all made it their own. Their DNA is undeniably present in all creations, including this exceptional minute repeater from 1950.

Haute Complication: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185

For decades Jaeger-LeCoultre has been known as the watchmakers' watchmaker. The reason behind this is that its movements, and they have made over 1200 different calibers to date, are so good that they also supplied them to some of the greatest names in the watchworld, such as Cartier, Audemars Piguet, and Van Cleef & Arpels. One field in which they excel in particular is that of grande complications. In this, Jaeger-LeCoultre likes to challenge itself, as they did this year with the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185.

Bulgari Shows That They Are A Complex Brand With New Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon

As a fully integrated manufacture, Bulgari is not only capable of making record-breaking ultra-slim watches but also other impressive complications. With the new Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon, they show once more that they are also a brand that can harmonically combine great aesthetics with a technically very advanced movement. They do this by applying focus because everything about this watch is dedicated to creating the best and loudest sound.

Patek Philippe Ref. 6301P Grande Sonnerie; The Chime Is Right

Perfection often looks simple, but it rarely is. This is also the case with the new Patek Philippe Ref. 6301P Grande Sonnerie. The watch is generously sized, measuring 44.8 mm in diameter, yet rather restraint in its design. Close observation will learn that it is rich in detail, as the platinum case has a subtle concave bezel and stunning countersunk flanks. The black dial is also a thing of beauty, as it is made from Grand Feu enamel, fitted with gold Breguet numerals. Interesting is that the traditional gold leaf-shaped hands feature a luminescent coating. It is a subtle detail, but it gives this classic watch a slight contemporary edge while making it more practical as well.

Louis Vuitton Tambour; Highlights Of An Imposing History, Part II

In the previous article, it already became clear that the Tambour was off to a brilliant start. It quickly turned into a design icon within the collections of Louis Vuitton and showed its versatility. This became even more evident in the years to follow, as the watch was fitted with impressive complications and innovative technology.

The New Hermès Arceau Lift Tourbillon Répétition Minutes; A Very Rare Delight

While Hermès is already very exclusive, is the new Arceau Lift Tourbillon Répétition Minutes even rarer. The brand will only make two examples of this watch, one in pink gold and one in white gold. That is also the biggest disappointment of this watch, as it impresses on all other fronts.

Patek Philippe Launches Not One, But Three New Grand Complications

With the cancelation of Baselworld, it could have very well been a year in which Patek Philippe wouldn't launch a single new watch. However, that is fortunately not the case, as they introduce not one, but three new grand complications. While some are varieties on already existing watches, they all bring something new to the table that makes them very desirable.

Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication Split-Seconds Chronograph “Tempo”: When Things Get Really Complicated

As one of the most esteemed names in watchmaking has Vacheron Constantin the ability to create some of the most complicated mechanical watches in the world. Fortunately for us, that is also what they like to do. With the Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication Split-Seconds Chronograph “Tempo” they present us with a watch from which the list of complications reads as the menu, as there are so many. Next to a tourbillon and a minute repeater, does this Vacheron Constantin also feature a split-second chronograph, perpetual calendar, retrograde moon phase, second timezone, power reserve indicator, equation of time, as well as the sunrise and sunset times. It even tells the duration of the day and night.

Watch of the Week: Bulgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater Sandblasted Rose Gold

Bulgari has spoiled us over the last few years with ultra-thin delicacies that they presented within the Octo Finissimo collection. One of the highlights in this line-up is, without a doubt, the minute repeater. It has a natural attraction to watch connoisseurs because of its complex mechanism, but also due to the sound it makes. Many brands have invested significant resources in improving the vibrance and tone when the hammers hit the gongs, but Bulgari also focussed on the movement itself. Through clever engineering, they succeeded in making it only 3.12mm thick, which is as astonishing as it is record-breaking.

4 Watches That Make A Big Impression

While the tides of the current trends are flowing more into the direction of smaller sized watches, does this not mean that larger watches have become unavailable. Since the trend towards more substantial timepieces started, they have proven that they are here to stay. The following four watches show that size matters, especially when you want to make a big impression.

Into The Complex World Of The Bulgari Octo Grande Sonnerie

Ultra-thin is not the only name of the game at Bulgari, as they also master that of ultra-complex watches. The Octo Grande Sonnerie Perpetual Calendar is a perfect example of this. Housed in their signature Octo case, they equipped an automatic movement with a tourbillon, which is also fitted with grande and petite sonnerie, as well as a minute repeater.