Monthly Archives: September 2019

omega seamaster diver 300 james bond closeup

SEAMASTER DIVER 300M JAMES BOND LIMITED EDITION

A COMPANION FOR JAMES BOND

Strong ties have linked the Bienne brand with our favorite spy for more than twenty years, ties that today have given birth to a new limited series which contains references to the most famous of cinematographic series.

omega seamaster diver 300 james bond closeupThe black ceramic dial is covered with a PVD coating, also black, decorated with a spiral motif inspired by the gun barrel we find in the title sequence of every James Bond adventure. The open sword hour and minute hands are in yellow gold and coated with Super-LumiNova®, as are the central second hand, finished with a dash of red, and the indexes. In addition, the time marker at 12 o’clock is a reinterpretation of the spy’s family coat of arms. At 6 o’clock the number 7 on the date disc is in the 007 font.

Price: 6,450 CHF omegawatches.com

By Sharmila Bertin

bvlgari serpenti seduttori closeup profile

SERPENTI SEDUTTORI

KISS FROM A SNAKE

A sacred reptile in the watch collections of the Roman brand since the 1940s, the snake is shedding its skin this year to become a new pet entwining its flexible body around a woman’s wrist anytime day or night.

bvlgari serpenti seduttori closeup profileA veritable masterpiece, the strap of this new Bvlgari is as soft and supple as the body of the reptile which inspired it. Formed of scales created from gold or steel hexagonal links, it is discrete against the skin yet illuminates the wrist.

Price: 4,650 CHF (steel) – 22,800 CHF (rose gold) – 27,100 CHF (rose or yellow gold with set bezel) – 29,100 CHF (white gold with set bezel)

By Sharmila Bertin

jaeger lecoultre polaris date front view

POLARIS DATE

MORE THAN AN EYEFUL OF BLUE

To paraphrase Yves Saint-Laurent, there isn’t just one blue but several blues. This stunning edition by the Grande Maison is proposing a wide range of them. Mesmerizing!

For the jubilee of Memovox in 2018, Jaeger-LeCoultre launched a collection of Polaris models combining the spirit of the original editions with contemporary mechanics. One dial in black and another named ocean blue offered two attractive options. This year, with an 800-piece limited edition of the Polaris Date, the manufacture is proposing a model that is just as captivating, equipped with an exquisite azure blue face in two layers and hand-lacquered, enhanced by three distinct finishes, sunray, grained and opalescent. The different shades obtained immerse us in the marine universe varying between the light and the deep. Within this marine composition, the beige luminescent hands point to large trapezoidal-shaped index markers and extended Arabic numerals which make it easy to read even in the dark. As a genuine divers’ watch, it has a unidirectional bezel. Incorporated into the inner bezel, it can be easily adjusted using the dedicated crown.

jaeger lecoultre polaris date front viewThe rubber strap with a Clou de Paris pattern means the Polaris Date is very comfortable to wear.

Price: 8,300 EUR

By Dan Diaconu

richard mille rm 50 04 kimi raikkonen profile

RM 50-04 KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN

ALWAYS IN POLE POSITION

The passions of Richard Mille, automotive and aeronautical technology, take on a new form with this timepiece dedicated to the gifted Formula 1 racing driver from Finland.

richard mille rm 50 04 kimi raikkonen profileThe RM 50-04 Kimi Raïkkönen is limited to 30 pieces and comes with a red strap just like the champion’s car.

Price: on request richardmille.com

By Dan Diaconu

hublot big bang one click rainbow closeup

BIG BANG UNICO RAINBOW KING GOLD

SEE LIFE IN COLOR

Gray not your cup of tea? Then, why not opt for all the colors of the rainbow on your wrist with this edition decorated with a colorful setting of precious stones.

Isaac Newton subjectively defined the rainbow into 7 different colors. Hublot is repeating this exercise with the Big Bang Unico Rainbow King Gold. In this regard, bright red, fuchsia pink, ultraviolet, dark blue, turquoise, chlorophyll green, lemon yellow and bright orange are combined on the bezel and 45 mm case to create an extravagant and in no way ordinary timepiece. To achieve this result, no less than 436 stones have been selected. Eight dazzling gemstones – rubies, pink sapphires, amethysts, blue sapphires, blue topazes, tsavorites, yellow sapphires and orange sapphires – are used in this daring chromatic creation.

hublot big bang one click rainbow closeupThe Big Bang Unico Rainbow King Gold comes with a multicolor strap, which combines natural rubber and alligator to offer a comfortable flexible fit. It has the Hublot patented One Click system which allows it to be easily switched.

Price: 90,300 EUR www.hublot.com

By Dan Diaconu

vacheron constantin historiques cornes de vache 2019 closeup gold

HISTORIQUE CORNES DE VACHE 1955

ENDEARING PAST

Vacheron Constantin is developing its catalog with a new contemporary series: a piece that is memorable for its strong personality both in terms of technology and aesthetics.

Behind the 6087 series, created in the mid 1950s, hides the first chronograph water resistant to 30 m by Vacheron Constantin. Originally powered by a manual-winding mechanical movement, it was equipped with an automatic mechanism in 1969. In 2015, the manufacture brought this series back to life in two refined creations, one in platinum and the other in rose gold. This year, the timepiece now named Historique Cornes de Vache 1955 returns with a 38.5 mm steel case and a thickness of 10.90 mm. On the gray opalescent dial surrounded by a minute track and tachymeter scale, there is a small seconds dial and a 30-minute counter arranged in a bicompax format, passed over by the white gold hour and minute hands.

vacheron constantin historiques cornes de vache 2019 closeup goldThe Historique Cornes de Vache 1955 comes with a patinaed brown calf leather strap finished with a pin buckle. Its creation has been entrusted to luxury Milanese leather merchant, Seraplan. It sits on the unique stylish lugs which lend their name to this series. This model is stamped with the famous gage of quality, the Geneva Seal.

Price: 41,600 EUR vacheron-constantin.com

By Dan Diaconu

mido ocean star diver 600 lifestyle

OCEAN STAR DIVER 600

MYSTERIOUS BLACK STARFISH

With its robust all-black shell, capable of withstanding dives up to 600 m, the new divers’ watch from the Le Locle-based watchmaker, with chronometer and ISO 6425 certification, dominates the oceans beautifully.

2019 marks the 75th anniversary of a watch designed for the ocean’s depths: the Ocean Star. This piece created in the Mido studios stood out from 1944 by the single-shell architecture of its case which, together with the Aquadura system created in 1930 based on a cork-crown seal, guaranteed considerable water resistance at that time. Today, the star of the oceans produced by the watchmaker established in Le Locle has become an essential tool for sea-lovers. Certified in accordance with the demanding ISO 6425 standard for diving watches, the new Ocean Star Diver 600 model, a COSC-certified chronometer, withstands dives up to 600 m.

mido ocean star diver 600 lifestyleOn the black lacquered dial, the hours and minutes are indicated by two large hands highlighted with white Super-LumiNova® passing over a series of geometric index markers which are also phosphorescent. The seconds are marked by a bright orange lacquered second hand which energizes the piece. To finish, the date is displayed in white on a black background at 3 o’clock.

This new Mido watch comes with a rubber strap matching the case and fastens with a pin buckle.

Price: 1,590 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

a lange sohne petite lange 1 moonphase 25 th anniversary caseback closeup

LITTLE LANGE 1 MOON PHASE “25TH ANNIVERSARY”

VISUAL ATTRACTION

It may be small in size, but this timepiece still has all the qualities of a larger watch. This model stands out from the original launched in 2017 by the presence of a white gold engraved lunar disc.

To celebrate 25 years since the launch of the Lange 1, synonymous with the revival of the German manufacturer, 10 limited editions launched this year are offering a retrospective of the creations produced during this period. One of them is the Little Lange 1 Moon Phase “25th Anniversary”, which showcases the expertise of A. Lange & Söhne as a fine watchmaker, housed in a modest white gold case, with a diameter of just 36.8 mm. All the time information is still easy to read on the solid silver dial. The blue hour and minute hands point to an hour circle made up of Roman numerals and index markers, all in an off-center disc. At 2 o’clock, the oversize date asserts its numerals while at 5 o’clock, a small seconds dial passes over the Earth’s satellite, which reveals its various faces during one lunar month in a starry sky. On the outer edge at 3 o’clock, the power reserve indicator completes the creation.

a lange sohne petite lange 1 moonphase 25 th anniversary caseback closeupThe 25 pieces of this limited edition engraved from 1/25 to 25/25 come with an alligator strap finished with a pin buckle.

Price: 42,300 EUR

By Dan Diaconu

longines master collection White dial closeup

MASTER COLLECTION

THE WINGED HOURGLASS AND THE MOON

Renowned for its timeless nature, the classic collection exclusively driven by the mechanical movements of the Saint-Imier brand offers a series of watches displaying a moon phase at the bottom of their dial.

It was in 2005, almost 15 years ago, that the LonginesMaster Collection was born, a range of watches with timeless style and exclusively driven by mechanical movements. This year, the Saint-Imier brand wanted to complete this already well-developed family with 6 new models, all displaying a moon phase at the bottom of their dial. 6 models because one of the strengths of the company is that they always offer a broad range of products – the other being the realistic price – which allows something for everyone.

longines master collection White dial closeupIn terms of the dial, the choice is interesting because the Master Collection offers a black or white “barleycorn” pattern and a chapter ring composed of painted Roman numerals or sunray blue with silvered polished hands for both 40 and 42mm diameter versions. Two more ‘dressy’ models presented in 40mm complete this set: black lacquered, white barleycorn or sunray blue dials, all set with thirteen brilliant-cut diamonds.

Last but not least the watches are attached to either stainless steel or black, brown or blue leather bracelets.

Price: CHF 2,210 (40mm) – CHF 2,280 (42mm) – CHF 2,560 (40mm with diamonds)

By Sharmila Bertin

omega seamaster aquaterra ultra light caseback

SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA ULTRA LIGHT

LIGHT AS AIR

With its shell made of innovative ultra-lightweight materials and its unique crown, this new sports watch developed by the Biel/Bienne-based watchmaker focuses on comfort and ergonomic design.

Wearing a watch during sporting activities often poses a handicap rather than a pleasure. The weight hinders movement and the crown affects joints and ligaments in the wrist. Now, thanks to innovations developed by Omega with the help and advice of its ambassador, Northern Irish golf champion Rory McIlroy, sport and watchmaking have become one with the creation of a new model: the Seamaster Aqua Terra Ultra Light.

omega seamaster aquaterra ultra light casebackThe Seamaster Aqua Terra Ultra Light is worn with a strap made of textured rubber with color stitching on the edges or fabric, both in black.

Price: 48,500 CHF omegawatches.com

By Sharmila Bertin