New IWC Releases, Breitling Shifting Online & Patek Philippe

Christian is joined by Anthony from London Jewelers to discuss the newest releases from IWC, Breitling shifting their launches online, and Patek Philippe.

May 12, 2020

IWC’s 2020 releases have been incredibly exciting, especially with regard to value. First, we have the 40mm Portugieser. It’s a classic, simple, incredibly clean watch. They also released a 42mm perpetual calendar, value packed and impressive in every conceivable way but typically shown in a larger case, such as in the Big Pilot. They’re also introducing it in steel for the first time, which is downright exciting.

Onto Breitling – they released a new collection in one of the most interesting ways for a modern watch brand. They held an online “summit,” something necessitated by COVID-19 but certainly only achieved through the brand’s determination to make it work and make it something exciting. And it was. The whole watch world seemed to be fixated on Breitling for a couple of days, something the brand arguably hasn’t seen in a good little while, and it goes to show just how invaluable a strong online presence can be.

Finally, we move into the world of Patek Philippe. The brand isn’t releasing any new pieces in 2020, which serves as a reminder that, in fact, you DON’T need new releases every year to satisfy the masses, so instead, we’re going to look back at some of the watches from the past that maybe haven’t gotten enough love. First up is the Patek 5396G, a white gold annual calendar based on the 3448, the first self-winding Patek perpetual calendar. Then we have the 5524R, the rose gold Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time. It’s a watch that, while perhaps not traditional Patek Philippe in the way we might think of it, is historically rooted and beautifully designed in a way only the brand can be. Last up, we have the Annual Calendar Chronograph 5905P, a platinum watch with a flyback chronograph and a ton of personality, with one of Patek’s most interesting movements to date.