IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic: View from the rear

On the dial side, IWC’s 43.5mm Portofino Hand-Wound Pure Classic Ref. IW511101 looks like a simple two-hand watch. However, its looks are deceiving; flip the watch over and there will be collectors who will recognise this movement: the Manufacture Calibre 59060 manual-winding movement with eight days or 192 hours of power reserve once fully wound. The first question collectors might … More

Panerai Luminor 1950 Sealand 3 Days Automatic Acciaio 44mm PAM00848: The Year of the Goat

At the September 2014 Watches&Wonders exhibition held in Hong Kong, Panerai’s PAM00848 Luminor Sealand 3 Days Automatic Acciciao 44mm was on display at its booth. Panerai’s Sealand timepieces are characterised by hinged covers that protect the dials and the artistic engravings. The year 2015 is the Year of the Goat and this explains the cover of the PAM00848 Sealand depicting … More

Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity: Gravitated towards Gravity

One of the biggest and most pleasant surprises at the 2014 BaselWorld watch fair for us was Maurice Lacroix’s Masterpiece Gravity. With one glance, the Masterpiece Gravity comes across as a sophisticated, highly technical and complicated timepiece. The balance wheel is shown on the dial side with the hypnotic beating escapement animation and the horological displays on the Masterpiece Gravity … More

Seiko Presage SARX019: Simplicity at its best

For a three-hand mechanical wristwatch, Seiko’s Presage SARX019 in steel ranks high on our list. What is noteworthy about this model is that it features an enamel dial. Like the SARX011 100th Anniversary model (also with an enamel dial) that celebrates the introduction of the first Seiko wristwatch in 1913 (that had the “Laurel” branding on its dial), the SARX019 … More

WAC and the NATO end piece

What is a NATO end piece or NEP? One example is that designed by the Watch Advisory Consultant or WAC, an independent and privately-owned design firm founded by Ken Phuah in 2013. The NATO End Piece is a watch accessory that is made of 316L stainless steel and this component that is fitted in between the lugs. Phuah, who came … More