Monthly Archives: September 2014

Répétition Minutes Millenary

122 years ago, in 1892 to be precise, Audemars Piguet designed its first wristwatch with minute repeater in its Le Brassus factory in the Vallée de Joux. This complication was very popular at the time because it told the time in the dark when electricity was in its infancy. The 2014 version showcases a three-dimensional openwork dial displaying Roman hour and minute numerals and Arabic seconds on white enamel discs rimmed with gold which seem to float. The oversize (47x42mm) oval case is in rose gold. It has a sliding trigger on the left side (at 9 o’ clock) and houses an in-house manual wind 2928 calibre which not only provides the time and minute repeater functions but also the 165-hour power reserve. Price: 476,300 CHF

Meisterstück Heritage Perpetual Calendar

The famous fountain pen called Meisterstück launched in 1924 and has inspired a watch collection of the same name with 4 timepieces with a perpetual calendar. The silver white dial has 4 circular counters. The months and leap years are at 12 o’ clock, day of the week at 9 and date at 3 o’ clock.  The moon phase lies at 6 o’ clock with a scale to calculate the lunar cycle. The counters all have small blue steel hands which contrast with the dial and showcase the two large gilded dauphine hands which track the hours and minutes in the form of 11 applied indices and a large 12 in Roman numerals. The understated minute track skims the edge of the dial. The 39mm case comes in rose gold or steel and houses the in-house MB 29.15 calibre with a 42-hour power reserve. Price: 11,700 CHF (steel) – 19,800 CHF (rose gold)

BR03 B-Rocket

The conceptual custom motorbike designed in association with Shaw Harley Davidson caused quite a stir at the Bell&Ross stand in Basel this year. The aerodynamic racer inspired the BR-03 B-Rocket, a self-winding mechanical watch limited to 500 pieces and synonymous with innovation, performance, precision and design. Its polished 42mm steel case is strapped to a quilted black leather bracelet with red details reminiscent of motorcyclist gear. Its matt black dial is surrounded by a chapter ring adorned with the seconds and a red triangle (at 12 o’ clock); the hour indices and minutes lie on two silver and black semi-circles beneath hands coated in Super LumiNova®. The large date display (whose discs are partially visible) in a metallic frame is at 12 o’ clock whilst the power reserve indicator inspired by the fuel gauge on motorbikes takes up the lower half of the dial at 6 o’ clock. Price: 5,300 CHF

Rotonde Earth and Moon

Artistic talent and watchmaking creativity knows no bounds as the Parisian brand has once again proved to us with a wonderfully poetic and complex take on the Rotonde. A cut-out white gold grid has lies over the lapis lazuli disc which forms the dial to showcase a globe and elongated Roman numerals. The Earth has a 24 hour second time zone plus hours and minutes with two sword-shaped blue steel hands. The tourbillon acts as the Moon and takes pride of place in the lower half. Press the pusher at 4 o’ clock for a little blue disc to appear and sit on top of the tourbillon cage to partly cover it and present the current moon phase. This mechanical and lyrical magic is conjured up by the manual wind 9440 MC calibre with a 3-day power reserve. Price on request

1815

Ferdinand Adolf Lange (1815-1875) founded the factory which was to bear his name in the Saxony village of Glashütte in 1845. The watch company was “re-founded” 145 years later. Then, in 1995, it designed a timepiece simply called “1815” in tribute to the year Ferdinand A. Lange was born. Almost 20 years later, the 1815 model has shrunk slightly (38.5mm) and put on an impeccably finished white, rose or yellow gold clock. Its solid silver dial has a small seconds at 6 o’ clock and two blue steel hands which burst from the centre. Arabic numerals mark the hours and the tips of the hands skim over the black minute track. The hours, minutes and seconds are brought to life by the manual wind L051.1 calibre. The in-house movement also provides a 55-hour power reserve. Price: 24,600 CHF

TAG HEUER – Carrera Calibre 5 Day-Date

The Carrera Panamericana is a prestigious car racing event founded in the 50s which inspired racing enthusiast Jack Heuer to design this watch in 1964. Over time it became an icon in a selection of guises from chronograph to a simple three-handed watch with date. The Carrera has now been unveiled in a steel and rose gold blend showcasing the day and date. The time (hours, minutes and seconds in the centre of the dial) and date functions (double display at 3 o’ clock) are brought to life by the self-winding 5 calibre with a 38-hour power reserve housed in the 41mm steel case. The rose gold indices, hour, minute and central seconds hands and display frames add the finishing touch to the Carrera’s design. The minute track runs around the chapter ring to keep space free on the silver-tone opal dial. Price: 3150 CHF

BREGUET – Classique Tourbillon Automatique Extra-Plat 5377

Nothing’s been left to chance on this exceptional piece which epitomises Breguet’s modern soul. The classic and timeless design is unmistakable. The round 42mm platinum case is 7mm thick and features the grooves so dear to the brand. The 18 carat white gold dial has four different guilloché designs: clou de Paris on the hour and minute track, barleycorn on the surround, straight chevrons on the power reserve and cross-hatching around each item. Everything you need to showcase the impressive tourbillon off-centre at 5 o’ clock and the power reserve at 9 o’ clock. The entire ultra-thin calibre is ahead of its time. Let’s take a closer look: titanium tourbillon cage, silicon spring, anti-magnetic silicon escapement, bidirectional platinum oscillating weight on the edge of the movement and high energy cylinder to provide the watch with a 90-hour power reserve. Spectacular. Price: 160,000 CHF

Classic Fusion Power Reserve 8 Days

Almost 25 years ago, in 1980 to be exact, Hublot appeared on the watch scene with a timepiece called “Fusion” which aesthetically fused precious metal (gold) to a more ordinary material (rubber). Some called it curious, others called it heresy. But it doesn’t matter since it was and is still a success as proved by the 2014 version of the Fusion. Its 45mm titanium case topped by the famous 6 screw brushed bezel houses a manual wind movement made by Hublot which brings to life the 8-hour power reserve and several functions. The satin-finish black dial and its delicate sunray design lie beneath hour and minute hands which burst from the centre and polished rhodium-plated baton indices. The small seconds is at 6 o’ clock, the date display at 3 o’ clock and the power reserve indicator is at 10 o’ clock. Price: 14,300 CHF

Portuguese Chronograph “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation”

“Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” is a charity whose goal is to support sports projects to help the world’s most destitute. IWC is one of its most passionate supporters so it’s only natural that the watch brand is again devoting a special version of one of its star models: the Portuguese, limited to 1000 pieces. This piece showcases a bright blue sunburst dial with 12 applied indices, 10 of which feature large Arabic numerals. The small seconds stands at 6 o’ clock whilst at 12 o’ clock there’s the chronograph’s counter with the hours (in the centre with a red 12) and minutes (with a red 60). There’s a date display at 3 o’ clock. The self-winding in-house movement is housed in a 42mm steel case and brings to life the time functions and 68-hour power reserve. Price: 13,500 CHF

Endeavour Dual Time Special Edition

The Endeavour collection pays tribute to the tenacity and drive which Heinrich Moser (1805-1874) demonstrated throughout his life. The Schaffhausen-born (northern Switzerland) watchmaker had to endure long journeys in terrible conditions to present his mechanical pieces. This very perseverance has gone into the DLC-coated titanium case topped with circular sapphire crystal. The watch houses a self-winding mechanical movement made by H. Moser et Cie. The movement has a 3-day power reserve and brings the functions to life (hours, minutes, GMT and small seconds). On the matt grey carbon dial, two leaf-shaped hands point to the hours (in the form of 11 applied indices) and minutes whilst a red hand points to the second time zone. The seconds appear in a counter at 6 o’ clock. Limited edition of 20 pieces. Price upon request