Monthly Archives: January 2016

CORUM – Bubbliamonds

The round and hypnotic Bubble by Corum first appeared in 2000. It had a second wind in 2015 with the launch of three models including a dial-free watch which unveiled its inner workings. This year, the Chaux-de-Fonds brand is bringing us a gem-set trio for ladies. This mini-collection of unique pieces is called Bubbliamonds and they dazzle with baguette-cut jewels: pink rubies, blue and black sapphires make the 173 diamonds shine even brighter (131 on the dial and 42 on the bezel). These twelve colourful facetted rectangles act as time markers tracked by two curvy openwork leaf-shape hands slightly off-centre at 3 o’ clock. The time functions are brought to life by the CO 055 calibre which provides a 40-hour power reserve. The manual wind movement is engraved with acanthus leaves. Price from 156,600 CHF to 165,300 CHF.  Sharmila Bertin
corum.ch

H. MOSER CIE – Swiss Alp Watch

With the smartwatch invasion upon us, there are those who have hidden their heads in the sand, those who have hopped on the technological bandwagon to design hybrid models at breakneck speed to turn an easy profit, and there are those who have rolled up their sleeves, stayed true to their roots and taken a stand for traditional mechanical watchmaking. Turning the trend on its head, Edouard Meylan, CEO of H. Moser & Cie, has unveiled a timepiece whose design is inspired by a smartwatch but its 100% Swiss core has a mechanical heart: Swiss Alp Watch. The special edition (50 available) has a white gold case (38.2x44mm) enclosing a manual wind HMC324 calibre which provides a 4-day power reserve (96 hours). The movement brings to life key time functions: the hours and minutes adorn the centre of the signature smoky dial as leaf-shape hands glide over the applied indices and the seconds appear in a counter at 6. Price: 24,900 CHF. Sharmila Bertin

HARRY WINSTON – Premier Moon Phase 36mm

In dazzling white reminiscent of winter’s softer side, the latest rose gold watch by Harry Winston from The Premier CollectionTM glitters with 105 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 2.58 carats. The Premier Moon Phase’s 36mm case has a closed back housing the HW5201 calibre, a quartz movement that brings to life the hours, minutes, date display and moon phase. The slightly openwork moon phase lies in the heart of the shimmering translucent dial and its blue mother-of-pearl disc is elevated by a golden moon and 18 diamonds. Two spear-shape hour and minute hands burst from the heart of the opalescent dial and glide around 12 diamond hour markers and minute track gleaming with gold beads. A bevelled rose gold display at the bottom of the dial showcases the black-on-white date at 6. Price upon request. Sharmila Bertin
harrywinston.com

TAG HEUER – Monaco Chronographe Calibre 11

Heuer unveiled a chronograph with an unusual square watertight case in 1969 named Monaco in tribute to the Grand Prix. The iconic Monaco chronograph has since become a signature in TAG Heuer’s product range, comes in a variety of designs (mainly in terms of functions and dial colour), and is back to end the year on a high with a new twist on the original model. Its 39x39mm steel case houses the 11 calibre, a self-winding movement providing a 40-hour power reserve, time, date and chronograph functions. The petrol blue dial features the signature edgy luminescent hands whilst the minute track glows red and white. The vibrant hue appears on both hands and the central seconds hand whilst the small seconds (at 3), chronograph minutes counter (at 9) and date display (at 6) are adorned in black and white. Price: 5,200 CHF. Sharmila Bertin
tagheuer.com

IWC – Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch

Over 75 years ago in 1940, IWC unveiled its large 52 T.S.C calibre observer’s watch (Tirette Seconde Centrale) designed for the military. The design and sheer size of the piece inspired the Schaffhausen brand to produce two versions of the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch. The pair come in a 55 or 48mm sandblasted titanium case fuelled by a manual wind movement: the XXL model has a 98300 calibre and the supercharged 59215 calibre provides a 192-hour power reserve on the “small” version. The black dial on this limited edition (1000 available) features markers (minute track, Arabic hour numerals, triangular marker at 12) in beige Super-LumiNova®. Unlike its big brother, it also features the date and power reserve indicator in addition to the hours and minutes in the centre tracked by blue propeller-shaped hands and the small seconds at 6. Price upon request. Sharmila Bertin

BREITLING – Exospace B55

We’re not being ironic but the Exospace B55 is a Swiss army knife for airborne adventurers. Breitling has put all its technical and technological skills into an avant-garde watch for aviators. It is connected to the owner’s smartphone and shares data by getting alerts when messages or phone calls come in and saving stopwatch times. This multi-function electronic chronograph has an analogical (blue luminescent hour and minute hands and a red-tipped grey central seconds hand in the centre) and digital display (backlit LCD screens positioned horizontally on the black dial) fuelled by the COSC-certified SuperQuartzTM B55 movement with a rechargeable battery. Its 46mm black titanium case is topped by a rotating ratchet bezel which controls the watch’s functions. Price: 8,490 CHF. Sharmila Bertin

TIFFANY Co. – East WestTM

A little purse watch sold by Tiffany & Co. in the 1940s, with a rectangular case and box, inspired the creation of the East WestTM collection. The geometry of the steel case, which measures 42 x 25mm and is slightly curved, copies the architecture of New York skyscrapers. This new family of watches creates surprise with the position of its dial, which, unlike traditional watches, is horizontal and not vertical. At first glance it is a little troubling to read the time, but you soon get used to it! Nonetheless, its display remains classic: Arabic numerals with silver or golden powdery finish, white or black thin minute minder and two luminescent sword-shaped hands in steel or blue steel. The collection comes in four different dial colours: intense black, classic white, royal blue and – my favourite – Tiffany blue. Price: CHF 3,750 CHF. Sharmila Bertin

HERMÈS – Faubourg Joaillerie

The building at 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré in Paris has been home to Hermès since 1879. Founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès (1801-1878), the saddlery brand was moved here by his son, Charles-Emile (1831-1876). The iconic address, affectionately abbreviated to “Faubourg”, has quite literally become synonymous with the Parisian brand. But Faubourg is also the name of a collection of miniature timepieces which this diamond watch comes from. The fascinating and hypnotic Faubourg Joaillerie has a total of 652 diamonds which shine like stars. Its little white gold 16.3mm case is covered in 152 jewels. The strap gleams with 388 diamonds whilst 122 dazzle in concentric circles on the dial. Two facetted rhodium-plated little hands in the centre track the hours and minutes fuelled by a quartz movement. Price: 75’000 CHF. Sharmila Bertin
hermès.com