Monthly Archives: August 2014

Malte

If you think of a barrel shape, you automatically think of Vacheron Constantin who adopted the rounded rectangle in 1912 to break up the monotony of round watches. This is especially evident in its Malte collection whose cases have featured this unusual shape for 14 years. Like a white gold treasure chest, the case (measuring 36.7×47.6mm) houses a manual-wind mechanical movement with a power reserve lasting almost 65 hours. The 4400 AS calibre made in Geneva by Vacheron Constantin brings to life the time functions on the silver-tone sand-blasted dial: hours (12 baton indices and 2 applied Roman numerals in white gold) and minutes (engraved in black) in the middle and the small seconds at 6 o’ clock. This minimalist mechanical marvel approved by the Geneva Seal features a black alligator leather strap with large scales and a white gold buckle adorned by half a Maltese cross. Price: 26,200 CHF

Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller 4’000

Rolex has reigned over the deep seas since 1967 when the brand launched the mermaid model which can dive down to 610m: the Sea-Dweller. In the same year, the brand designed the famous helium valve which allows gas to escape and stops high pressure affecting the watch. Naturally, the valve features in the 2014 version of the Sea-Dweller which has the same design as its big brother with modern technical innovations and incredible water resistance up to 1220m (4000 feet). Its 40mm steel alloy case houses a COSC-certified self-winding 3135 calibre which brings to life the time, date and stop seconds for accurate time setting. The layout of the indices (most of which are coated in Chromalight®) on the shiny black dial is as follows: hours, minutes and seconds in the middle and the date display at 3 o’ clock. Price: 9,900 CHF

MONTBLANC – TimeWalker Extreme Chronograph DLC

Ten years since it first launched in 2004, the TimeWalker is a classic in Montblanc’s watch collections. Its design is a clever blend of sporty and classic which men and women love as the 43mm case is also suitable for ladies’ wrists. The 2014 version of the TimeWalker chronograph is draped in midnight black. The case, notched crown and pushers are made of steel coated in DLC Black 4. As for the black dial, the white time and date (date at 4.30) markers lie on a circular striated background. The large Arabic hour numerals, dual indices and two large central hands have a luminescent coating. The chronograph’s second track runs along the rim as a red-tipped second hand glides above. The watch is fitted with a self-winding MB 4810/507 calibre with a power reserve of over 42 hours. Price: 5,800 CHF

HERMÈS – Dressage L’Heure Masquée

Time has become a luxury nowadays and the watch sometimes steals our freedom as we soon become a slave to the dial with our eyes glued to the hour and minute hands ticking by. That isn’t true of the Dressage L’Heure Masquée model which provides an imaginative and striking way to experience time. At first glance, you can only see the hour numerals, GMT display at 6 o’ clock and the minute hand on the silver-tone dial as if it were a regulator.  But at the touch of the button inside the crown, the hour hand and the 2nd time zone appear as if by magic. This ingenious mechanism is part of the self-winding H1925 movement which also brings to life the hour and minute hands in the middle and the GMT; the calibre made by Hermès provides a 45-hour power reserve and nestles inside the cushion-shape case (40.5×38.4mm) in rose gold or steel depending on which you choose. Price: 19,000 CHF (steel) – 40,000 (pink gold)

Luminor 1950 Left-Handed 3 Days

Luminor is the name of the luminescent substance which replaced the radium-based material (radioactive alkaline earth metal) in 1949 which was used up to then in the Panerai watches and inspired the watchmaker to create a new collection of the same name. The cushion-shaped Luminor 1950 case and its crown guard began to appear on people’s wrists, mainly Italian soldiers, from 1950. It returned in 2014 in a special version for left-handed people or those who like to wear their watch on the right-hand side. Fitted with a manual P.3000 calibre inside the 47mm steel case, the Luminor’s hour and minute functions lie in the centre of the black dial. Its dial is faithful to Panerai’s design and functional values with large Arabic numerals (3, 6, 9 and 12) intercalated with long indices which all glow in the dark with the Super LumiNova sandwiched between the dial and metal plaque. Price 9,300 CHF

Emergency II Night Mission

If we told you that a watch could save a life, what would you think? Would you be intrigued or maybe think we were crazy? Well, it’s true. Since launching in 1995, the Emergency by Breitling has helped to find and rescue people in danger using its integrated micro transmitter. The 2013 version of the watch now has a dual frequency beacon connected to an alarm system by Cospas-Sarsat satellites. Its 51mm black titanium case has a unidirectional bezel engraved with a wind rose. The case houses a COSC-certified SuperQuartzTM movement which brings a multitude of functions to life: 12/24 hour analogue and digital display, chronograph accurate to 1/100th of a second, timer, 2nd time zone, alarm, date, battery indicator and more. The black dial showcases large Arabic numerals, hour and minute hands with a luminescent coating as well as two electronic screens. Price: 17,490 CHF (rubber strap)

Octa Sport

Despite popular (and usually incorrect) belief, you can combine intense sport and luxury watches. F.P. Journe is proving its point by bringing watch-enthusiast athletes a new model in its lineSport collection: the Octa Sport in grade 5 titanium. This lightweight and resistant piece in matt grey anthracite has a 42mm case and link bracelet. The dial and movement are both made of an aluminium alloy. The self-winding 1300.3 calibre inside the case provides a power reserve of approximately 120 hours (displayed at 10.30 on the dial) and brings to life the time (hours and minutes in the centre, small seconds at 6 o’ clock) and date functions (large date at 1 o’ clock) as well as the day/night indicator (display at 9 o’ clock). Luminescent hands and large Arabic numerals appear on the dial’s carbon surface. Price: 31,860 CHF (titanium bracelet) – 26,460 CHF (rubber strap)

PIAGET – Polo

This year the iconic Piaget Polo celebrates its 35th birthday. This is the ideal opportunity to get to know the legendary 1979 piece better in its modern rose gold finish. The curvy 43mm case plays on the bezel by alternating between satin-brushed and polished metal bars. Like a jewellery box, it contains the ultra-slim 880P self-winding mechanical calibre which provides a 50-hour power reserve. The in-house movement brings to life the time functions (hours and minutes in the centre of the dial and small seconds at 6 o’ clock), flyback chronograph (central seconds and 30 minute counter at 3 o’ clock), date (3 day display at 12 o’ clock) and second time zone (24 hour counter at 12 o’ clock). The baton indices, hands and sub-dial surrounds on the silver-tone dial are also in rose gold. This model is also available with a bezel paved with 42 brilliant-cut diamonds (1 carat). Price: 37,200 CHF – 47,800 CHF (diamond-set version)