Monthly Archives: August 2019

tag heuer anniversary 90 closeup

MONACO 1989 – 1999 LIMITED EDITION

BEAUTY OF AN ERA

The 50th anniversary celebrations of the Monaco continue with the third limited edition. This transports us back to the decade which saw the birth of the now iconic model.

After the 1970s and 1980s represented by a khaki green dial and a deep red dial respectively, TAG Heuer has launched its limited edition dedicated to the next decade. The Monaco 1989 – 1999 Limited Edition has the same qualities as the chronograph launched in 1969. The 39mm square steel case is equipped with a crown at 9 o’clock opposite the push buttons. It has a grained rhodium-plated gray dial. The choice of shades for this edition are reminiscent of the models produced towards the end of the 1990s with the multiple CS series. This era saw the relaunch of the watch following a long period of absence.

tag heuer anniversary 90 closeupThe 169 watches of this edition come with a blue calf leather strap finished with a folding buckle. The back of the watch bears the inscription “1989-1999 Special Edition” and “One of 169”.

Price: 6,400 CHF www.tagheuer.com

By Dan Diaconu

breitling superocean automatic-44 ironman limited edition 2 closeup

SUPEROCEAN AUTOMATIC 44 IRONMAN

READY FOR ANY CHALLENGE

Push yourself to the limit. With you through any test, on land or sea, that’s Breitling’s promise, with this athletic limited series.

breitling superocean automatic-44 ironman limited edition 2 closeupThe “One of 300” engraving and the Ironman logo on the back of the case are reminders that this is a limited edition. Each piece is worn on a Diver Pro III red rubber strap finished with a pin buckle.

Price: 3,630 EUR

By Dan Diaconu

hublot classic fusion chrono mykonos

CLASSIC FUSION CHRONOGRAPH MYKONOS

HUBLOT SETS SAIL

After Ibiza, the Nyon-based watchmaker chose Mykonos as its next destination. Inspired by the azure blue waters of the Aegean Sea, it has created a limited edition dedicated to the most famous island of the Cyclades with both a party atmosphere and a peaceful side to it too.

For the eighth consecutive time since 2012, Hublot is setting sail for Mykonos. Following its summer voyage which recently led it to Ibiza, the watchmaker has now chosen to embark on the famous Cycladic island. Although it is known for its nightlife, this Greek enclave, situated less than 120 miles from Piraeus, the principal port of Athens, still has a uniquely gentle way of life. Surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea and symbolized by the profile of its windmills, Mykonos is brimming with beautiful beaches that gleam in the sunlight. It is this peaceful spirit that the watch brand wanted to reproduce at the heart of a new limited-edition Classic Fusion Chronograph Mykonos.

hublot classic fusion chrono mykonosThe reverse is numbered and engraved with the words “Mykonos edition”, while the front reveals all the secret cogs which power the watch. The ruthenium or gold plating of the index markers, central hour and minute hands and chronograph seconds as well as the contour of the minute counter at 9 o’clock makes them seem as though they are hovering in midair. The small seconds dial at 3 o’clock is decorated with the blue-lacquered silhouette of the sails of the famous windmills.

A black rubber strap with a wide turquoise blue alligator stripe and a folding buckle make this Classic Fusion Chronograph Mykonos extremely comfortable to wear.

Price: 16,800 CHF (titanium) – 31,800 CHF (King Gold) www.hublot.com

By Sharmila Bertin

panerai radiomir green 2019 2 straps

RADIOMIR GREEN DIAL

A HISTORIC ARMADA

The Italian brand is launching four great classic Radiomir pieces in khaki green, this season’s color which is inspired by the military past of the manufacture.

Before distributing its timepieces to the general public from 1993, Panerai fulfilled orders for the Royal Italian Navy from the 1930s. The objective at that time was to supply accurate and durable divers’ watches. Over the decades, the conception and design of its cases have continued to be enhanced. The famous cushion-shaped case and integrated lugs of today’s Radiomir combine all these developments and represent the quintessential visual codes of the Officine Panerai manufacture. The brand wanted to celebrate this past with four editions all sharing one thing in common: a military green dial. Three of them – the Radiomir (PAM00995), the GMT (PAM00998) and the GMT Power Reserve (PAM00999) – are assembled in a 45 mm steel case topped with a domed sapphire crystal. They are powered by a self-winding movement.

panerai radiomir green 2019 2 strapsThe cases, which are water resistant up to a depth of 100 m, come with leather straps in various shades. A spare beige fabric strap is also included in the green satin-finished cherrywood box of these new Radiomir editions.

Price: 10,900 EUR (PAM00995) – 11,700 EUR (PAM00998) – 11,900 EUR (PAM00999) – 12,900 EUR (PAM00997)

By Dan Diaconu

bulgari octo roma tourbillon saphir side

OCTO ROMA TOURBILLON SAPPHIRE

TRANSPARENCY IS AN ART

Launched in 2018 with a black DLC-treated titanium case, this series returns this year with prized qualities which make it even more attractive.

While Bvlgari never ceases to amaze us with the extra-thin models of the Finissimo collection, there are other pieces which also deserve our attention, such as the Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire launched at the latest edition of Baselworld. This timepiece offers a journey into a purely mechanical universe with an open setting over a tourbillon movement. As a result, the architecture of the caliber contributes to the style of the timepiece. Within its star-shaped, deep blue skeletonized structure, the hour and minute hands pass over and point to the slimline rose gold index markers on the bridges. At 6 o’clock, the flying tourbillon placed on top of this framework regulates its hypnotic rhythm by performing one full rotation every 60 seconds. This composition comes to life within a 44-mm sandblasted rose gold case. The octagonal middle case is also made of sapphire crystal to allow more light to penetrate this exceptional mechanism.

bulgari octo roma tourbillon saphir sideThe combination of azure blue and this precious material accentuates the refined personality of this edition.

The Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire limited to 50 pieces comes with a stylish blue leather strap finished with a folding buckle.

Price on request

By Dan Diaconu

omega seamaster planet ocean 600 master chronometer closeup

SEAMASTER PLANET OCEAN 600M CO-AXIAL MASTER CHRONOMETER

A DIVER’S WATCH IN ORANGE

The Planet Ocean collection which encompasses the Seamaster family welcomes two new recruits – an automatic three-hand and a chronograph – which each reinterpret the orange shade which decorated the first pieces produced in 2005

At Baselworld in 2005, a new piece by Omega drew onlookers to its stand: a watch named Seamaster Planet Ocean with a bezel, Arabic numerals for the hours and strap all colored bright orange and a water resistance up to a depth of 600 m.

14 years later, Omega has drawn inspiration from this color for two new models, a three-hand and a chronograph, both automatic with a date. However, the shade of this Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Master Chronometer is more subtle and more reddish.

omega seamaster planet ocean 600 master chronometer closeupThe 45.5 mm case of the chronograph is also made of steel. Its ceramized titanium dial is punctuated with two counters: the small seconds dial at 9 o’clock and the hour and minute counter at 3 o’clock. The date is located at 6 o’clock. These functions are regulated by the Omega 9900 caliber which offers the same power reserve as the model above. The same goes for the straps with one change to the colors of the NATO strap which combines four gray and orange stripes and one white stripe.

Price: 8,300 CHF (chronograph on steel) – 8,000 CHF (chronograph on NATO) – 6,450 CHF (three hands on steel) – 6,150 CHF (three hands on NATO). omegawatches.com

By Sharmila Bertin

tissot seastar 1000 2019 with casback

SEASTAR 1000 CHRONOGRAPH

SPORTY AND URBAN

In practical terms, diver’s watches ensure the safety of underwater adventures. In terms of style, they are an essential accessory when back on dry land. The new chronograph by Tissot has both these qualities.

It seduced us with its automatic three-hand date version. The Seastar 1000 by Tissot returns this year in a chronograph-based variation. As with the original model, the dial is available in several shades, including a particularly attractive version consisting of a graduated midnight blue merging into black reminiscent of the seabed. As with the other variations, the counters and the small seconds dial have pride of place. This composition is surrounded by large-size index markers which indicate the hours. These, together with the wide hour and minute hands, are covered with luminescent material and provide a very easy-to-read layout of the time information even when the light goes. The 45.5 mm steel case is topped with a unidirectional aluminum bezel, engraved with a very practical scale to measure the remaining immersion time during a dive.

tissot seastar 1000 2019 with casbackThe Seastar 1000 Chronograph comes with two straps. The first one, made of steel, has a folding buckle and is accompanied by a diving extension system. The second one is made of rubber, a material prized for its durability and elasticity.

Price: from 490 EUR to 590 EUR www.tissotwatches.com

By Dan Diaconu

montblanc timewalker goodwood 2019 closeup

TIMEWALKER MANUFACTURE CHRONOGRAPH LIMITED EDITION 1500

TASTEFUL PERFORMANCE

The silhouette is well known, however the colors chosen by the German brand to decorate this limited edition add an extra touch of charm.

As the official timekeeper of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which took place in England on July 4-7 this year, Montblanc launched a new limited edition to mark the occasion. Last year, this took the shape of a chronograph decorated with beige and chocolate brown shades for a statement vintage style. This year, the TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph Limited Edition 1500 dons a more understated color scheme to consolidate its contemporary identity: The anthracite gray counters are contained within a charcoal dial and this monochrome setting provides the background for the black luminescent rhodium-plated hour and minute hands. The hands used for the stopwatch and the small seconds are colored red. This contrast transforms the composition, as does the fixed black ceramic bezel equipped with a tachymeter scale. The sporty style of the timepiece is also accentuated by the finish of the 43 mm case. The distressed steel contributes to its remarkable personality.

montblanc timewalker goodwood 2019 closeupThe time information and short time measurement are regulated with precision by the MB 25.10 caliber (46-hour power reserve). Some of the components of this self-winding movement can be seen through the sapphire case back.

The 1500 pieces of the TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph come with a completely new and stylish strap in perforated black leather for an impeccable look.

Price: 5,500 EUR

By Dan Diaconu

hublot classic fusion ibiza closeup

CLASSIC FUSION CHRONOGRAPH IBIZA

SUMMER FUSION

The extremely creative Nyon-based watchmaker strikes again! And this time it is conquering the hippy-chic island for a summer decked out in blue and white, the colors that grace the new special limited edition from the Classic Fusion Chronograph Ibiza collection.

Like Mykonos, Ibiza (or Eivissa, in Catalan) is well known for its party nightlife ranging from bohemian to glamorous which the jet-set are so fond of. However, having survived the mass tourism boom, this Balearic island located approximately 100 miles off the coast of Valencia, in Spain, and popularized by the hippy community in the 1960s, is brimming with natural marvels such as the inlets accessible only by boat, the pine-tree covered hills and its traditional whitewashed cubic houses, all under an intense blue sky. On 17 July, with the summer season in full swing, Hublot opened a pop-up boutique located in Port Esportiu Eivissa Nova, opposite Dalt Vila, Ibiza’s fortified old town. To mark the opening of this store, a 50-piece limited edition was created, the Classic Fusion Chronograph Ibiza.

hublot classic fusion ibiza closeupAt the heart of this Classic Fusion Chronograph Ibiza beats the HUB1143 caliber, a self-winding movement providing 42 hours of power reserve.

Price: 13,800 CHF www.hublot.com

By Sharmila Bertin

chopard luc chrono one flyback

L.U.C CHRONO ONE FLYBACK

THE MAGIC OF COLOR

Launched at Baselworld, these men’s chronographs, earlier versions of which date back to 2007, emphasize their natural distinction with suitable color schemes.

A masterpiece of Chopard’s sports watch collections, the L.U.C Chrono One Flyback returns this year in two limited editions of the reworked design. The first edition limited to 250 pieces sports an understated and stylish gray vertical satin-finished dial. This is protected by a steel case. It comes with a slate-gray alligator strap accentuating the stylish look. The second variation limited to 100 pieces combines a military-style green case back with a case made of Titalyt®, a high-tech material used in the aerospace and medical industry. The understated shade highlights the color chosen for the face of the chronograph. A brown calf leather strap accentuates its unique style.

chopard luc chrono one flybackThe hour and minute hands, the small seconds dial located at 6 o’clock, and the date are all powered by the L.U.C 03.03-L caliber, and its chronometer precision is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). This self-winding movement regulates the measurement of short and long periods of time, which can be measured using the central second hand, the minute counter at 3 o’clock and the hour counter at 9 o’clock. The flyback function makes it possible to swiftly reset the stopwatch at the touch of a button. This cutting-edge mechanism also offers a generous power reserve of around 60 hours.

Price on request chopard.com

By Dan Diaconu