It’s a nickname that needs little explanation. Pandas are black and white, with the eyes and nose black against a white background. Such is the sobriquet given, therefore, to chronographs with the same configuration, in other words black counters (whether there be two or three) against a lighter background. For the majority, these backgrounds are either white or silver, although Montblanc has just launched a nice shade of cappuccino.

I could scarcely believe my eyes when the BBC chose to run it as one of its top stories, but the return to Israel of a watch worn by Eli Cohen, a spy who had infiltrated the Syrian regime, was treated as big news in the country. But it has been a while since the story broke and I was surprised that no other watch media seem to have run it.

Since 1974, mountain-loving athletes have been pushing themselves to the limit, running from Sierre to Zinal via Beauregard, Ponchette, Chandolin, Tignousa, the Hôtel Weisshorn, Nava and Barneuza. The demanding 31 km circuit in the heart of the Swiss Alps features 2200 metres of elevation gain, and 1100 metres of descent. The race is also known as the “Race of the five 4000s” because of the five peaks that can be admired by the participants along the route: the Weisshorn (4506 m), the Zinalrothorn (4221 m), the Ober Gabelhorn (4073 m), the Matterhorn (4478 m) and the Dent Blanche (4357 m).

Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface: it’s all there in the name. But for those not familiar with the range, let’s just quickly go over the distinctive features of the Reverso. Jaeger-LeCoultre released the first Reverso watch in 1931. It was designed with a unique pivoting case intended to protect the watch crystal shocks by turning it to face the skin. The Duoface concept, launched in 1994, makes the most of the Reverso’s reversibility by offering a second dial rather than a caseback; the two dials on the front and back of the watch can thus display different functions, driven by a single movement. As well as the Classic and One ranges, there are the Tribute models which are directly inspired by the original watches. The Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface, a 185th anniversary model recently unveiled by the Le Sentier watchmaker, will be produced in a limited edition of 50. This Reverso, with two dials and a tourbillon, pays tribute to the timepieces of the 1930s. 

Breitling’s Navitimer 8 Unitime awakens memories of a watch line which made its debut in 1951 and caused quite a stir even then. The new universal wristwatch for 2018 caters once more to globetrotters, cosmopolitans and, of course, business people who need global time-related information. And as you would expect, the manufacturer has considerably expanded the functional spectrum compared to its 67-year-old forerunner. 

The Concours of Elegance brings together collectors and aficionados of rare cars. Against the spectacular backdrop of Hampton Court Palace in the United Kingdom, some 60 exquisite masterpieces of automotive construction will be showcased from 31 August to 2 September 2018. The selected models on display in the spacious parks and gardens surrounding the Palace will bear testament to craftsmanship, design and timeless luxury. The event will chart a historic journey from the pioneers of motor sport in the late 19th century through to the very latest sports cars. 

I like big and bulky watches but I have a small wrist, which often causes problems when I come to try on such timepieces. The first hurdle to overcome is often putting the watch on my wrist. Those with metal bracelets need to be pre-adjusted for me, otherwise there is no point, those with folding clasps can be finicky and only straps with a simple buckle are guaranteed to fit. Then there is the problem of the case design and lugs, which may or may not fall elegantly around the contours of my relatively petite wrist.

Omega’s new Seamaster Limited Edition timepieces are firmly rooted in World War II history. 

On August 21, 2018 in Hong Kong, DFS Group, the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, and Italy’s luxury jewelry house Bulgari, announced a new edition of Lucea Tubogas, available exclusively at DFS and T Galleria by DFS stores from August 1, 2018 until January 31, 2019. 

Nelly was introduced to the world of alpine skiing at the age of 3, by her father, a ski instructor. Since her very first races in 2000, her parents have been very supportive throughout her career. She quickly grew a passion for snowboarding and swapped her skis for a snowboard. In research of new sensations, snowboard cross became her official discipline. Nelly practices her sport rigorously within the French National Team, in an atmosphere she calls “funformance”, in her words, a happy medium between fun and performance. It’s not surprising once you get to know her outgoing personality. She is part of today’s top world female elite of snowboard cross.

In 1846, Ulysse Nardin took up the challenge of designing, drawing, and producing the absolute best of time-measuring instruments. The Manufacture has carried on that vision for 172 years, creating watches with the same unbroken passion and garnering more than 4,500 prizes and 18 gold medals in timekeeping—accolades which earned the Manufacture a place amongst the world’s top watch-makers. At Ulysse Nardin, tourbillon chronometers are derived from an art that traces back to the end of the 19th century. The tourbillon contributed to the quest for ultimate precision with its primary function being to compensate for errors due to the effects of Earth's gravity on a movement in vertical position.

From the 17th to the 20th August 2018, Gstaad and the surrounding fields of its airport were transformed into Argentinian-style pampas. 6000 spectators felt the ground shake as 16 of the top Polo players on the circuit took to the fields creating a blur of hooves and mallets, all sporting the colours of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup. For the 9th consecutive year, Hublot's hosts were taken on an immersive journey through the legendary world of its collaboration with the prancing horse brand, which this year celebrates its 70th anniversary...