Audemars Piguet continues to raise the bar as it toasts an illustrious milestone, and while its lineup is plenty eye-catching on its own, the inner specifications of a new Audemars Piguet watch consistently raise the bar, as is the case with its newest Royal Oak timepiece.

Audemars Piguet watches tend to set the pace in the luxury world, at least as far as an impressive blend of bold looks and precise craftsmanship is concerned (there’s a reason Jay-Z, among others, is a fan of the company’s wrist candy). The company notes that with its latest release, “simple is complicated,” and so while its textured dial and visually appealing case might strike the same chord as other Audemars Piguet watches, the end result offers more than meets the eye.

To be more specific: The new Jumbo Extra-Thin Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph RD #5 150th Anniversary does the nearly impossible by taking the Royal Oak silhouette and then retooling it with an inner movement that manages to blend both a flyback chronograph and flying tourbillon construction in an impossibly small package.

Accordingly, just 150 units worldwide are available when it comes to the suitably rare timepiece, which Audemars Piguet says “marks a new era of complications, offering a balance of lightness, durability, and brilliance.” The company notably toasted its 150th anniversary with a new green ceramic Royal Oak Offshore this spring, among a suite of other covetable and ultra-exclusive releases. Of this new edition, Bulk Metallic Glass makes up the caseback and bezel, while the sleek 39mm titanium case delivers imperceptible thinness and utterly chic style.

The trademark cushioned geometric AP Royal Oak case is offset by a striking blue “Petite Tapisserie” dial in equally recognizable Audemars Piguet fashion. Its hour markers and its 18-carat white gold luminescent bathtub hands also stand out in handsome and elegant fashion alongside a refined AP script logo. An integrated titanium bracelet finishes off the remarkably rare timepiece in streamlined style, and is another sort of Audemars Piguet signature.

That the watch manages to look and feel as thin on the wrist seems to be a testament to Audemars Piguet ingenuity, while its dual functionality is also exceptionally difficult to pull off at a such a small scale in terms of thickness (the dial is just 8.1mm thick). The all-new Calibre 1800 achieves a degree of precision that’s not to be overlooked.

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As the watchmaker says, the new Jumbo Extra-Thin Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 150th Anniversary succeeds at “combining technical sophistication, performance and iconic design with a new standard of ergonomic refinement.” As one might expect, pricing information is available upon request for the stunning new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak achievement.

Known for everything from military-approved field watches (like the Tudor Ranger) and the ultra-elegant Tudor Royal, plus the lightweight and impossibly sleek Tudor Pelagos FXD, the watchmaker hadn’t yet entered the world of moonphase watches. But the timing proved especially apt, with the Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival set to spring to life in Eastern tradition on October 6th, as the watchmaker notes the moon itself “symbolizes togetherness and the unity of family.”

To toast the occasion, the company tapped multi-hyphenate and Tudor Ambassador Jay Chou, who’s dabbled in music, acting and directing across the decades. The result is a trio of elegant 39mm, 316L stainless steel timepieces with crisp, dressy looks to spare in spades. The Tudor 1926 Luna features three dial options (black, blue and champagne-hued), each with a contrasting moonphase indicator at 6-o’clock.

While the dial design is utterly beautiful, Tudor fashioned each timepiece with its chronometer-grade Swiss self-winding mechanical Calibre T607-9 movement within, bolstered by an indicator that tracks the moon. The seven-row satin-brushed steel bracelet finishes off each watch in illustrious fashion, complete with “some magic from Jay Chou,” the watchmaker noted.

On the precise and handsome dial, even-numbered Arabic hour markers contrast with arrow-shaped hour indicators, while its sword-shaped hands are part of an overall, vintage-inspired look that “creates a striking and intricate play of light,” while the dome-shaped crystal is another throwback-inspired touch.

That magic refers to the collection’s use of the Chou-approved champagne dial color, a particularly striking effect that just might make it the most eye-catching and covetable piece in the collection. As Tudor notes, “The moon phase indicator for each dial is distinct, and Jay’s vision for the champagne-color dial model has come to life in a truly fantastical way, with the phantom moonlight gold disc representing the moon hidden behind an inky black cutout that slowly disappears as the moon waxes and wanes.”

The watch also nods to the year Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf registered “The Tudor” name (1926, of course), with a bracelet design made to follow the curvature of one’s wrist. Each luxurious Tudor 1926 Luna watch is priced in rather agreeable fashion considering its tailored appeal: Find the newest watch from Tudor online now and at Tudor boutiques for about $2,650.

The idea that one can snap your fingers and be transported to a different locale entirely is an intoxicating prospect, but the new Shinola Hotel City to Shore Travel Experience is about as close as one can get to an instantaneous change of pace.

Arriving just in time for peak fall leaf-peeping, the exclusive travel package brings together the lovely tranquility of Northern Michigan’s recently opened Otis Harbor Springs alongside the mix of Motor City grit and modern refinement that is the Shinola Hotel, as Maxim found out during an exclusive visit to both properties earlier this season.

Both share a curious, highly stylish throughline in terms of handsome design DNA: Former Shinola Creative Director Daniel Caudill was at the helm of the Otis Harbor Springs, as well as the impeccable Shinola Hotel, which brings the illustrious Detroit watch brand’s vision to life in stunning clarity. Complete with a Shinola boutique in the hotel and access within minutes to the company’s Cass Corridor HQ and production facility, you could very well say that the Shinola Hotel is the most stylish property in Detroit. Now, it has a northern Michigan partner to match in the Otis Harbor Springs.

Available now for $2,400 plus taxes and fees across select fall dates, the Shinola Hotel City to Shore Travel Experience sees lucky travelers start their journey across the lovely autumnal scenes of Pure Michigan with two nights in Detroit at the hip boutique hotel. To kick off a prime fall weekend, guests then embark on a self-guided journey north to Harbor Springs for a two-night stay at the revamped, luxe Otis Harbor Springs. At the Otis, custom furnishings, Flamingo Estate grooming products and a chic outlook on Mid-Century Modern design speak to Caudill’s vision for a fashionable and yet heritage-minded update to a long-running motor lodge.

The experience kicks off in elevated fashion, bringing visitors into an elegant Shinola Hotel Cass King room. Each property is offering $100 in dining credits, plus breakfast for up to two guests. It’s as if each property thought of every carefully considered detail, then improved upon even that high bar for hospitality.

In addition to prime access to buzzing Motor City culture (and the hotel’s excellent San Morello restaurant), the Shinola Hotel watch lending program is an astoundingly cool draw for guests who stay in suites on the property. The VIP personalized concierge visit gives you the chance to select your choice of a luxury Shinola timepiece during your stay. To say that Shinola watches add some wrist game flair alongside an Old Fashioned is an understatement. There are even rarities like Shinola’s Petoskey stone dial watch available through the program: Putting a covetable Shinola watch on one’s wrist only heightens the entire experience.

Guests at the Shinola Hotel are also encouraged to visit the property’s speakeasy-esque Evening Bar, where cocktails like the Spirited Away (a rich and sumptuous blend of rye and cognac, plus a smoky hint Scotch and a dash of honey) are especially delectable.

San Morello’s rich, elevated Italian-American cuisine also serves as hearty sustenance ahead of an evening exploring Detroit’s many delights on foot. The property’s culinary offering includes more casual fare, like tantalizing fried chicken at Penny Red’s or refreshing steins of beer at The Brakeman.

The same meticulous attention to detail can be found further north after one’s journey to the bucolic, revamped motor lodge at the Otis Harbor Springs. Set across 10 acres and boasting a “long-spanning legacy of Mid-Century Modern design,” the Fireplace Lounge is an utterly cozy, luxe-meets-rustic place for a round of cocktails.

Complete with its original stone fireplace and sturdy wooden beams, the Fireplace Lounge boasts a visitor-favorite Otis Fashioned (a buttery blend of maple, rye spice and walnut bitters), while the About Last Night delivers the spice of mezcal and habanero with a cutting touch of floral blanco. Seasonal cocktails and small plates deliver suitably premium, utterly delicious variety for a weekend visit, and the bar’s mixology team says the destination is even popular among locals.

The property blends rich and warm tones with a considered take on Mid-Century Modern design, with one story of 31 exclusive rooms set around an inner courtyard complete with lawn games and prime access to a series of lovely rolling meadows. In nearby Harbor Springs, perfectly classic autumnal Michigan pursuits await, from blazing lakeside sunsets to vibrant dining at NOMAD Harbor Springs (don’t miss out on its spritz menu, boasting Fernet, CYNAR and more).

For those who crave the modern style of the Shinola Hotel (and the chance to try a Shinola watch on for size), the new Shinola Hotel City to Shore Travel Experience is a prime introduction to the famed brand. And just in time for gorgeous fall foliage, the program’s offerings at Otis Harbor Springs couldn’t be more perfectly suited. Book your Pure Michigan getaway now, and be on the lookout for future partnerships between the two premium properties.

The truly one-of-one timepiece builds off the white gold Rolex Daytona base model ref. 116509, which has been “creatively modified” by the craftsmen at the company’s Geneva headquarters for a mysterious solo client. Of course, the timepiece received an astounding valuation, given its rarity and its use of 36 “pigeon blood” natural, loupe-clean rubies: It’s worth an eye-popping $555,000.

The Ruby Rolex Daytona x Artisans de Geneve already makes use of the world-famous Daytona watch design before ramping up the luster significantly, as a whopping 52 diamonds dot the case and a red sapphire dial adorns the elegant timepiece (a first-of-its-kind dial design by Artisans de Geneve). The hands and rotor are machined from refined solid white gold, while the oscillating weight gets a red enamel motif in a nod to the color symbolizing eternity.

To say every detail is carefully considered in exquisite fashion is no doubt an understatement, and one can’t help but wonder (with great curiosity) the Artisans de Geneve client who commissioned such a striking timepiece (although the company notes he’s a man with “highly demanding tastes”). In a release shared through Artisans de Geneve, the buyer noted “I wanted a watch that reflected my passion for my favorite color,” adding that “I asked for the best, from stones and settings to the most complex techniques, without compromising on understated elegance.”

The “truly remarkable” experience  reflected “meticulous attention to every detail,” the fortunate client said of working with Artisans de Geneve, which doesn’t represent one particular brand but works on a variety of customization programs and truly masterful timepieces.

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The independent watch workshop and customization company says there were inherent challenges in working with rubies on the bezel, all the while delivering its first-ever red sapphire dial. The atelier says it “embodies the fusion between people and watchmaking,” a sentiment on full display with this jaw-dropping watch (or is it a work of art?).

In this instance, the Rolex Daytona is souped up in other ways, boasting a hand-crafted, skeletonized Caliber 4139 movement. Watch enthusiasts will note that the Daytona normally isn’t delivered in skeletonized fashion, among other ways this custom ruby red Rolex Daytona stands apart in the horological world. While only one lucky client will add this otherworldly watch to their collection, it’s a fine example of the difference the right horologists can lend to a legendary silhouette like the Rolex Daytona.

The latest volume on the legendary watchmaker’s most striking creations joins Oyster Perpetual Submariner – The Watch That Unlocked The Deep, released last fall to great fanfare as the first-ever authorized Rolex book. An icon in measures of status, performance and luxury, the Datejust timepiece has proven nearly without compare since its 1945 debut. In proper fashion, the story of the groundbreaking Oyster Perpetual Datejust goes to great lengths to illustrate its origins and its enduring status in a luxurious, coffee table-approved package.

The Oyster Perpetual Datejust arrived as a self-winding, waterproof chronometer with an impossibly elegant and sleek design to match, befitting the times. It’s now available with a fitting companion tome billed by design publisher Wallpaper* as a “lavishly produced book” that now serves as the “definitive history of the Oyster Perpetual Datejust.” Naturally, it boasts official Rolex historical imagery and text from horology expert Nicholas Foulkes across 224 pages in hardcover format.

The tome celebrates the refinement and yet approachability of the timepiece for both men and women, noting its illustrious placement on the wrists of artists, athletes and icons. The timepiece even helped solidify the signature Rolex 3-o’clock date window as part of what the publisher calls its “sophisticated design and unassailable capability.”

The horology expert and historian Foulkes also penned the release of the silk-bound Submariner edition from Wallpaper* last fall. The ultra-premium new volume nods to the Rolex legacy in fitting fashion, said Wallpaper* Editor-In-Chief Bill Prince. The publisher notes “the Datejust became not only a symbol of worldly success, but a partner in life for all those committed to achieving their goals.” For those interested in a companion volume to pair with a legendary watch, pre-orders are available online now for about $136 via Wallpaper* until September 29th.

When you have access to a slew of horological icons, it would seem a wise bet to update those legendary silhouettes when the occasion calls for it: 150 years of watchmaking excellence comes to a head with a new array of Audemars Piguet classics.

The Code 11.59 lineup and the legendary Royal Oak silhouette all get an array of timeless and engaging updates. Chief among them are a duo of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar offerings in refined 38mm builds that dial things down from the normally (slightly) more beefy Royal Oak silhouette. “Elegance meets innovation” as the watchmaker says these timepieces, with their smaller dimensions, “blend ergonomic design with imaginative dials, pushing the boundaries of watchmaking to new heights.”

Earlier this year, the luxury Swiss watchmaker also updated the Royal Oak Offshore in a limited-edition build, while the famed Royal Oak was also the perfect canvas for contemporary artist KAWS to offer up his own take last fall. Now, the latest Royal Oak arrives in both a stainless steel build with a Grande Tapisserie dial in light blue, while an elegant beige Grande Tapisserie dial graces the 18-karat pink gold edition.

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The Perpetual Calendar functionality aims for approachability rather than an overly complicated approach, the watchmaker said, noting that “this new generation of intuitive, easy-to-adjust perpetual calendars opens fresh possibilities for traditional complications.”

Just as impressive and undoubtedly intricate is the Code 11.59 38mm Perpetual Calendar,. Eye-catching for any number of reasons, the watchmaker teamed with Yann von Kaenel on a refined soft green guilloché dial nicely complemented on its interior by a new Calibre 7138 movement. Equally intriguing is the use of one crown to adjust each of its many complications, including leap year and moonphase functionality.

Rounding out the intricate offering are a series of curious and lovely looking Code 11.59 Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon watches, with three watches featuring natural stone dials. Green machalite, red ruby root and blue sodalite adorn the impossibly precise trio, and each watch relies on the innovative Calibre 2968 movement for the utterly cool flying tourbillon performance (and visual effect). In fitting fashion as the company celebrates such an illustrious moment, pricing is available upon request and by appointment.

The two Swiss firms boast well over 300 years of experience in their respective fields, with USM delivering iconic furniture including the USM Haller Chair, part of USM’s 1960s design innovation that led to modular furniture seen around the globe. Now, the Zenith x USM Defy Chronographadds to “a legacy of innovation” carried forward by the two game-changing companies, as different as their respective pursuits might be.

The Zenith Defy now takes on chronograph functionality with four vibrant dials that lend flair to its already sporty, versatile stainless steel design. The 1960s were also a pivotal time for Zenith, what with the brand’s 1969 introduction of its El Primero movement, a highly accurate movement that also finds a home in four new editions of this ultra-rare watch (only 60 units of each are available, and all four can even be purchased as a set that includes modular USM Haller Chest for proper watch storage).

USM’s instantly eye-catching furniture colors, including distinct shades of blue, green, yellow and orange, deliver special character to each timepiece, as does the unique octagonal case design. The collection delves into what might have been if both brands collided in the 1960s, Zenith said. noting that the “collaboration between the two brands celebrates Swiss excellence with this exclusive capsule collection.”

Each watch can be purchased in store (simply use Zenith’s storefinder online), while every carefully considered detail celebrates the partnership. The watch collaboration was announced in suitably colorful fashion at Geneva Watch Days earlier this month, complete with accents delivered in partnership with USM.

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The spirit of partnership is reflected via co-branding on the movement itself, which just so happens to be an updated spin on the El Primero, this time featuring 31 jewels inside the compact 37.3mm dial. All four colors are distinctive and striking in their own right, with contrasting sub-dials delivering the perfect blend of form and functionality. Pricing starts at $11,800 per individual watch, with further details on a limited set of all four timepieces available online at Zenith.

Jacob & Co. is no stranger to dragons. For the past decade, the fantastical watchmaker has been crafting dragon-themed timepieces alongside a multitude of other ostentatious creations for well-heeled collectors. For 2025, Jacob & Co. is breathing new fire into its dragon collection with the introduction of the Astronomia Solar Dragon in two limited-edition models: black DLC titanium and rose gold. The watches are just the latest eye-popping releases from the New York ultra-luxury brand, which recently unveiled a custom edition designed with Tom Brady and previously dropped watches inspired by fine cigars, Bugatti hypercars, working oil derricks and the movie Scarface.

The Astronomia Solar Dragon is an evolution of the brand’s original Astronomia Dragon collection. While the previous models were a hulking 50mm, these new timepieces slim down to a more approachable 44mm, without sacrificing the brand’s signature showmanship. The centerpiece of each watch is a meticulously crafted rose gold dragon, coiled around the three-dimensional Astronomia Solar movement. The design is visible from all angles, thanks to the double-curved, anti-reflective sapphire crystal and caseband—a hallmark of the Astronomia line. Each of the watch’s dragon sculptures are cast from three pieces of solid rose gold. The engraving and polishing of the scales, claws, and other fine details are done by hand, a process that takes two weeks.

Following this, each dragon is hand-painted over the course of an additional week. The rose gold versions of the watch feature four color types applied across a limited run of four pieces, while the black DLC titanium versions showcase a shiny black dragon on 36 pieces. At the heart of the dragon watch lies the JCAM42 caliber. This hand-wound movement, comprised of 296 components—many of which are titanium—is designed to remain static, providing a stable platform for the coiled dragon. Its vertical arrangement creates a space for the dragon to occupy, with some parts of the mythical beast’s body coming within half a millimeter of the watch’s components.

The movement also features a flying tourbillon, a skeletonized hours and minutes dial, and a rotating Earth globe. A twinkling Jacob-cut gemstone with 288 facets sits at the center, its color complementing each watch, with red for the black version and yellow for the rose gold.

The rose gold model has a blue titanium back dial with a sky chart printed in gold lettering and is paired with a blue alligator leather strap and an 18K rose gold pin buckle. The black DLC titanium model also features a blue titanium back dial with a sky chart and comes with a black alligator leather strap and a black DLC titanium pin buckle.

The Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar Dragon is priced at $420,000 and limited to 36 pieces for the black DLC titanium version and just four pieces for the rose gold edition.

Previously on the market earlier this year via private sale through Monaco Legends Auctions, luxury auction house Phillips is once again putting the insanely rare timepiece on the market, this time in partnership with Bacs & Russo. Phillips previously sold the same watch in 2016 for about $13.6 million at the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction: FOUR, and as the auction house says, it carries considerable weight: “To this day, it is still the most expensive vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch ever sold at auction.”

One of just four ever produced on a stainless steel bracelet and dating back to 1943, the watch could now fetch anywhere from $9.9 to $19.9 million at auction, and those figures hardly seem to do it justice. Of the astounding timepiece, which was once part of the collection of watch and Ferrari enthusiast Ernst Schuster, Phillips said its importance is second to none.

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“It redefined the market and ushered in a new era in watch collecting,” Aurel Bacs, a senior consultant at Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, said. “For seasoned collectors and newcomers alike, its return to auction marks a moment of rare opportunity.”

The 35mm perpetual calendar chronograph also sold at auction in Geneva in October 1995, and had appeared at auction dating back to 1989. When the watch went up for private sale earlier this year, Monaco Legend Auctions noted the show-stopping timepiece carried “a remarkable state of preservation and a clean, well-documented provenance.” Indeed, the combination of a perpetual calendar and a chronograph, plus its introduction at the peak of World War II, make it an almost impossibly historic and rare timepiece, and only 281 total (including the only four produced in stainless steel) were ever made, Phillips notes.

Phillips trumpets the return of the watch to the auction block, an occurrence that might not happen again for some time. November’s Geneva summit then, is suitably historic, the auction house said.

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Philipps called the Patek Philippe reference 1518 one of the “unicorns of the collecting world: Watches so elusive that most collectors will never encounter one in person.” The company adds that “the steel 1518 offered this season by Phillips is arguably the best known of them all – not only for its wonderful condition, but because it’s the very watch that transformed the reference from an insider’s prize into a market-shaping icon.” Call it lofty praise, but consider the fact that this timepiece is nearly one-of-a-kind. Stay tuned for November auction results to see where the illustrious final price tag lands.

H. Moser & Cie. has never been a brand to shy away from bold design. Back in 2023, the stylish indie watchmaker introduced a touch of irreverence to its most daring collection, the Streamliner Centre Seconds, with a “smoked salmon” dial that quickly became a fan favorite. Now, that same brunch-ready color is making an anticipated return, this time in the refined Endeavour Perpetual Calendar.

This new model brings together three of H. Moser & Cie.’s icons: the rich smoked salmon dial, the elegant Endeavour case, and the intuitive Perpetual Calendar. The dial itself features a vertical griffé finish that creates a vibrant, almost mineral-like texture. This finish, combined with the brand’s signature fumé effect, makes the color shimmer with subtle reflections ranging from soft copper to warm brown. This tasty smoked salmon hue is a nod to timeless vintage elegance in a modern timepiece.

At the heart of the watch is the HMC 800 hand-wound movement, celebrated for its smart design and ease of use. A small central hand indicates the months, while a large date window at 3 o’clock features the “Flash Calendar” function for an instant date change at midnight. The power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock displays the movement’s seven days of autonomy. Setting the time and date is a simple process, and can be done at any time of day without the risk of damaging the movement. Furthering the brand’s minimalist philosophy, the logo is applied to the dial in a transparent lacquer, serving as a subtle, secret signature.

The watch is housed in a 42mm 18-carat white gold case paired with a dark brown alligator leather strap. With a height of 13.1mm, it has a measured, yet authoritative, wrist presence. The curved sapphire crystal on both the front and back of the case provides a clear view of the dial and the beautifully finished HMC 800 movement, which operates at 18,000 vibrations per hour and has 32 jewels.

The movement also features a double barrel for the seven-day power reserve, hacking seconds, and an interchangeable Moser escapement with an original double hairspring. The pallet fork and escapement wheel are made from gold, and the movement and all of its components are hand-finished and decorated. The Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Smoked Salmon is a collector’s-worthy watch that’s available now for $68,000.