Monthly Archives: February 2015

Meister Telemeter

Junghans

Junghans has reigned over the little German town of Schramberg in the Black Forest for almost 154 years. The brand started out making clocks and gradually moved towards wristwatches, such as the famous 1951 chronograph which inspired this self-winding Meister Telemeter. Its slightly domed matt silver dial is rimmed by a tachymeter scale (black) and telemeter scale (red) which enable you to measure speed and distance paired with the chronograph function. The luminescent hour indices are tracked by the luminescent hour, minute and central seconds hands bursting from the centre. The minute counter and small seconds are displayed in sunken counters at 9 and 3 o’ clock respectively. All the functions and 42-hour power reserve are brought to life by the J880.3 calibre nestled inside the 41mm steel case. Price: 2,090 CHF

1966 Or rose

Girard-Perregaux

A pair of self-winding watches has just joined the classic Girard-Perregaux 1966 collection. The delicately sculpted rose gold case comes in two diameters: 39mm for men and women alike or 30mm for finer wrists. The dial on both pieces glitters with opalescent silver wrapped in a sloped bezel. The centre of the case glows like the sun or a flower. The almost hypnotic effect comes from the circular translucent enamel guilloché (flinqué technique) forming a pattern of 12 petals. Each petal is marked out by a baton-shaped applied or painted indice. The larger model displays the hours, minutes and seconds in the centre with leaf-shape hands and the date appears at 3 o’ clock. The smaller model only displays the hours and minutes within the bezel paved with 60 diamonds. Price: 16,100 CHF (38mm model) – 18,350 CHF (30mm diamond model)

Classico Goat

Ulysse Nardin

Chinese astrology became popular in the West during the 20th century and is traditionally based on 12-year cycles represented by 12 animals. Among these, in 8th place of the zodiac, is the goat which began ‘its’ year on 19 February, just past. 2015 is therefore set to be rather artistic as this little mammal symbolises creativity, imagination and therefore, by extension, fantasy. Ulysse Nardin rightly puts its creativity to work on the dial of its Classico, here, which is chiselled and filled with enamel. A white goat with its kids is peacefully positioned on a blue-tinged decor lightly nuanced by a golden shrub. At the heart of this miniature painting three watch hands display hours, minutes and seconds. These features are powered by a UN-815 COSC-certified automatic calibre which has a 42-hour power reserve and is housed in a pink gold 40mm diameter case. Price: 39,800 CHF

PanoMaticLunar

Glashutte Original

Balanced, understated design and innovative, accurate technology come to mind when you think of German watchmaking. Most timepieces made in Saxony have instantly recognisable signature features: slim bezels, minimalist dials and classic cases. Glashütte Original is the worthy icon of German craftsmanship namely with the Pano collection and these two new products. The 40mm PanoMaticLunar comes in matt black and rose gold or deep blue and steel for 2015. The way the information is displayed on the dial makes it easy to read. The azure hour rim features gold or silver indices and hands off-centre at 9 o’ clock whilst the small seconds counter unfurls at 7 o’ clock. The famous panorama dual date display lies on the opposite side at 4 o’ clock whilst the moon phase stands at 2 o’ clock. The functions are brought to life by a self-winding calibre. Price upon request

Ventura80 Elvis

Hamilton

Some artists achieve immortality and live on in the memories of their fans. Among them is Elvis Presley, the King with a blues voice and swinging hips. The rock ‘n’ roll pioneer was also an actor who wore a Hamilton Ventura when he starred in Blue Hawaii (1961). January 8th 2015 would have been Elvis’ 80th birthday so to celebrate, the watch brand has unveiled a modern version of its classic timepiece. The triangular steel case is coated in black PVD (42.5×44.6mm) and houses a self-winding calibre which brings to life the time and date functions and the 80-hour power reserve. The minute track on the black dial is orange from 12 to 3 o’ clock then grey. Triangular luminescent hour and minute hands glide above with the orange central seconds. A date display with a white background lies at 3 o’ clock. Price: 1,425 CHF (self-winding)

JAQUET DROZ – Grande Seconde Sunstone

Jaquet Droz

After whisking us away to a dream world of starry night skies on its poetic timepieces, the La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaker is taking us back to the heavens to bask in the sunshine. In an ode to the fiery orb, the aventurine glass nicknamed “Sunstone” takes on a bright hue to bathe the three models’ dials in copper light. The trio includes the iconic Grande Seconde covered in gilded crystals with a twin mother-of-pearl display rimmed with rose gold to form Jaquet Droz’s signature figure of 8. Black Roman hour numerals appear off-centre at 12 o’ clock (not including the 5, 6 and 7) whilst the seconds tick down beneath a slim seconds hand. The time functions are brought to life by the self-winding JD 2663 calibre inside the 39mm rose gold case. Price: 24,100 CHF

Métiers d’Art Mécaniques Gravées

Vacheron Constantin

The acanthus is a symbol of eternity and victory whose large leaves have adorned some Vacheron Constantin timepieces since 1755. The Geneva-based luxury watch brand is celebrating its 260th anniversary this year and has gone back to its roots by engraving the Mediterranean plant on two pieces in its Métiers d’Art collection. In a display of artisan talent, the contrast created by the glossy silver leaves and its matt anthracite background is protected by sapphire crystal. The hour and minute hands burst from the centre of the lush pattern. One of the two watches has a tourbillon spinning at 6 o’ clock beneath an openwork Maltese cross rimmed by a frosted and graduated ring whilst an understated power reserve indicator (14 days) stands at 12 o’ clock all brought to life by the manual wind 2260 calibre in the 41mm platinum case. The 4400 calibre is housed in a 39mm case. Price: 93’500 CHF – 374’000 CHF (tourbillon)

TAG HEUER – Carrera Calibre 6

Tag Heuer

The Carrera chronograph was designed in 1963, made in 1964 and is now the stuff of legend. It has always made its mark whether it be with watchmaking aficionados, car racing lovers or design devotees. The La Chaux-de-Fonds brand has produced countless versions of its star piece over time which gave rise to an exciting collection. TAG Heuer has gone back to its roots and unveiled an understated 70s-style model for 2015. The silver-tone dial is rimmed by a blue ring bearing the minute track and red small seconds hand in a blue counter. A white date display lies beneath the seconds at 6 o’ clock. The time (hours and minutes in the centre, seconds at 6) and date functions are brought to life by the self-winding COSC-certified calibre 6 housed in the 39mm steel case. Price: 3,200 CHF

CHRISTOPHE CLARET expands into Malaysia and exhibition in Qatar

Christophe Claret

Early 2015 was marked by intense activity at Christophe Claret. In January in Geneva the brand presented Aventicum, its latest creation. In early February, Mr. Claret, accompanied by Wolfgang Sickenberg, the brand’s CEO, visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to attend a dinner for collectors as a prelude to the opening of the brand’s first retail presence in the country. Finally, from February 23 – 28, the Le Locle brand will exhibit in Doha, Qatar, at the 12th Salon of Watches and Jewellery.

Mr. Claret was invited by Sincere Group – the Christophe Claret distribution partner in Singapore – to fly to Malaysia in early February to meet watch collectors and share a convivial dinner. Mr. Claret was accompanied on the trip by Wolfgang Sickenberg, and they found that the technical knowledge of the Malaysian collectors more than matched that of Swiss specialists. In addition, at the Master Craftsmen & Bespoke Art event in the heart of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, Christophe Claret presented three of his most recent creations: Margot, Maestoso and Soprano, which were much appreciated. During the evening’s festivities, Mr. Claret gave a talk on chiming watches, complications that are close to his heart and a domain in which he has over 25 years of experience.

“For both our brand and myself, these meetings are important as direct contact with our clients is full of sentiment. Our clients are demanding, and rightly so. They enjoy talking directly to the person who conceived their watch and the owner of the brand. For my part, I enjoy taking this opportunity to present the way we work and how we constantly push the boundaries of haute horlogerie because ultimately, these collectors become our best brand ambassadors”, explains Christophe Claret.

This visit to Malaysia also included exploring possibilities of promoting the brand in this burgeoning market. To this end, negotiations have been successful and the opening of Christophe Claret’s first retailer is expected to be announced shortly.

Late February also heralds an important journey for the brand, this time to Qatar. From 23 to 28 February 2015, Christophe Claret will participate in the 12th edition of the Salon of Watches and Jewellery in Doha. The event will be held in the beautiful setting of the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).

PIAGET – Altiplano Gold Bracelet

Piaget

A little over 15 years ago, in 1998 to be exact, the watch world was peopled with wide and thick men’s watches. A (future) classic was born: the Altiplano. The elegant and svelte ambassador with its slightly pearlescent white dial, single and double baton indices and slim slate grey hands seduced us with its understated sophistication. The Altiplano collection grew in 2015 with 6 dazzling new models. Why dazzling? The timepieces have a rose or white gold coat and some are adorned with diamonds (68 – 78 brilliant-cut diamonds). The delicate case is available in two sizes (34mm and 38mm) with a gold wide link strap. It has a self-winding 534P mechanical movement made by Piaget to provide the hour and minute functions (in the centre of the dial) and 42-hour power reserve. Price from 29,000 CHF (34mm white gold) to 41,100 CHF (38mm rose gold and diamonds)