| thehour.ch | Issue XIV · Spring 2026
Executive Editor: Fouad Ghanma
The Hour — Issue XIV

watches

The Royal Oak at Fifty-Four: Audemars Piguet's Best Idea Continues to Outrun Its Imitators
watches
The Royal Oak at Fifty-Four: Audemars Piguet's Best Idea Continues to Outrun Its Imitators
Gerald Genta's 1972 sketch has generated more derivative work than any other design in watchmaking. None of the derivatives have come close.
FP Journe's Chronomètre Souverain: Why the Simplest Watch in the Collection Is the Most Radical
watches
FP Journe's Chronomètre Souverain: Why the Simplest Watch in the Collection Is the Most Radical
In an industry that equates complexity with value, François-Paul Journe built his reputation on a three-hand watch with a constant-force mechanism. This remains, in 2026, an act of considerable conviction.
The Submariner Has Not Changed. That Is Precisely the Problem.
watches
The Submariner Has Not Changed. That Is Precisely the Problem.
Rolex's most iconic sports watch is a masterclass in incremental refinement. But refinement is not the same as courage.
Secondary Market
Rolex Sub 124060
CHF 12,200
↓ 0.8%
AP Royal Oak 15500ST
CHF 29,800
↑ 1.4%
Patek 5726A
CHF 38,400
↑ 2.1%
Lange Datograph
CHF 88,000
↑ 3.2%
FP Journe CS Pt
CHF 110,000
↑ 5.6%
Dufour Simplicity
CHF 340,000
↑ 8.1%
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