Monthly Archives: May 2015

TISSOT – Chemin des Tourelles

Tissot

The brand founded by Charles-Emile Tissot in 1853 moved to its Le Locle headquarters 14 years later in 1907. Tissot has been so deeply rooted in Le Locle that it’s named a watch collection after its address, Chemin des Tourelles. As a high volume brand, Tissot isn’t satisfied with presenting just a few models but instead has unveiled an extensive collection with different dial patterns and colours (silver or gold, sunburst or Clou de Paris), coatings (steel, rose or yellow gold PVD) and case sizes (32, 42 or 44mm). Its wide range of male and female clients will find something they like and that will keep their wallets happy. Chemin des Tourelles comes in a three-hand version with the date at 6 o’ clock brought to life by the famous Powermatic 80 calibre (self-winding movement which provides an 80-hour power reserve) or an automatic chronograph model (small seconds at 9, minute and hours counters at 6 and 12 and date at 3 o’ clock). Price 725 – 1,125 CHF

JAQUET DROZ – Lady 8 Flower

Jaquet Droz

Fluttering with butterflies and blooming with flowers: Jaquet Droz has, as usual, brightened up 2015 with his signature sophisticated poetry. The expertise that the Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaker has been famous for since the 18th century has gone into the wonderfully feminine Lady 8. The piece is bursting with lyricism and symbolism, craftsmanship and automata. The rose gold case is paved with 114 brilliant-cut diamonds and unfolds to form a figure of 8, the brand’s lucky number. Its ladylike 35mm case houses the self-winding JD615 calibre which not only brings to life the time functions but also the flower automaton. A pink-enamelled gold lotus trapped in a sapphire bubble opens and closes its petals when you press the pusher at 2 o’ clock. Time ticks by as two gold hands glide over the main guilloché rose gold dial adorned by an engraved, painted and enamelled butterfly. Price upon request

MONTBLANC – Heritage Chronométrie Quantième Complet Vasco da Gama

Montblanc

Over 500 years since the Portuguese explorer set out on his fantastic adventure, the Hamburg-based brand Montblanc has taken inspiration from Vasco de Gama to join him on the quest for precision which drove him in 1498. How has this voyage ended? A silver sunburst dial featuring both time and date functions. The sword-shape hands in the centre glide above the hour indices and numerals. The date display rims the chapter ring and is tracked by a red-tipped blue hand. The day and month lie in two separate windows at 12 o’ clock. A stunning blue lacquer disc illuminated by the South Cross constellation showcases the moon at 6 o’ clock. The 40mm steel case houses a self-winding MB29.16 which provides a 42-hour power reserve on top of all the functions it brings to life. Price: 4,350 €

Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Squelette 1270S

Piaget

The watch brand founded in La Côte-aux-Fées in the Swiss Jura has been the king of ultra-thin since the 1950s. Its self-winding and manual wind calibres alike are of such incredible finesse that they can fit into the thinnest watches. You don’t need us to tell you that minimum thickness means maximum elegance. You can see it for yourself in the Emperador collection’s 8.85mm thick cushion-shape case housing a self-winding tourbillon 1270S calibre. You can see the entire openwork movement (which is barely 5.05mm thick) through the sapphire glass as there’s no dial. The tourbillon and micro-rotor spin at 1 and 9 o’ clock respectively whilst the hours and minutes lie at 4 o’ clock with two dauphine-shape hands. The skeleton Emperador’s 46.5mm case is available in white or rose gold. Price upon request