Monthly Archives: October 2019

a lange sohne odysseus dial

ODYSSEUS

BLUE PERSPECTIVE

The family is growing, as the Saxon brand is now counting on a new member. Boasting a bracelet crafted in stainless steel, the latest addition features a fine blue face that displays all the essentials for everyday life.

With its new automatic model Odysseus, German A. Lange & Söhne marks a new chapter in its watchmaking chronicle. In fact, nearly 175 years since its founding and 29 years since its relaunch, the Saxon brand has created a 6th family of watches which, like the Lange 1 (celebrating its 25th anniversary this year), 1815, Saxonia, Richard Lange and Zeitwerk, are already among its most prestigious collections. Odysseus is the translation of Ulysse, the legendary hero in Greek mythology, renowned for his intelligence and cunning. The name says it all!

a lange sohne odysseus dialThe dial is swathed in blue, showcasing an azure hour chapter and seconds display, a brushed case ring and small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. In the center, two white gold lancine-style hands rotating above the appliqued indicators and timer on the silver bezel highlight the luminous hour and minute markers. On both sides of the dial, at 9 and 3 o’clock, a double aperture displays the abbreviated day name in English and date.

Completing the ensemble, the integrated, ergonomic bracelet of stainless steel links closes with a safety deployant buckle boasting a generous length adjustment.

Price: 28,000 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

blancpain fifty fathoms barracuda closeup

FIFTY FATHOMS BARAKUDA

DIVING INTO THE PAST

Launched in 1953, the dive watch was adopted by diving enthusiasts worldwide. This limited edition commemorates the version distributed in Germany in the 1960s.

Adopted by professional divers as soon as it was introduced, the technical advantages of the Fifty Fathoms were also adopted by oceanographic exploration specialists as well as by the military forces of various countries. For example, the Blancpain dive watch outfitted the wrists of the German navy in the 1960s. It is still supplied by Barakuda, a renowned diving equipment specialist. It is also the company that made a civilian model available in the German market, recognizable through a few esthetic details. On the dial are two-tone rectangular hour-markers and fluorescent hands painted in white. The date is displayed at 3 o’clock. The 2019 Fifty Fathoms Barakuda edition features these details as well. Large red and white hour-markers covered with cream-colored Super-LumiNova® “old radium” are pointed by white-lacquered pencil-shaped hands. The date is displayed in a prominent window. Everything is surrounded by a unidirectional bezel.

blancpain fifty fathoms barracuda closeupLike the original timepiece, the 500 pieces in the Fifty Fathoms Barakuda series are presented on a tropic-style rubber strap.

Price: 13,180 EUR

By Dan Diaconu

patek philippe 5172 G closeup

5172G

THE SHAPE OF SUCCESS

Increasing readability and personality, this is the option chosen by the Genevan manufacturer for redesigning the details of this watch, as sporty as it is elegant. Mastered!

In 2010, Patek Philippe presented the reference 5170 as a classic chronograph. This year, the Genevan manufacturer is offering a subtle evolution with the 5172G, which nevertheless changes its personality. To accentuate its distinguished appearance from the previous model, a varnished blue dial serves as the backdrop for the time information. On top are luminescent, appliqué Arabic numerals, encircled by a tachymeter scale. The measurement of short times is carried out using two round, engine-turned pushers. They are read by the central second hand and the 30-minute totalizer located at 3 o’clock. A small second hand at 9 o’clock visually balances the composition. The whole is now protected by a 41mm diameter and 11.45mm thick white gold case.

patek philippe 5172 G closeupThe triple gadroon fasteners that extend the box contribute to the vintage style of the piece. A calfskin leather strap and its folding clasp are added to complete the timeless elegance of the timepiece.

Price: 66,870 EUR

By Dan Diaconu

breguet type 21 titane closeup

TYPE XXI TITANIUM

ART AND MATTER

This sturdy chronograph, which takes its inspiration from aviator watches, has become lighter in this series providing unrivaled comfort for any occasion. Its cutting-edge mechanism is still a point of reference.

Launched by Breguet in 2011, the Type XXI Titanium is part of the Type XX collection created in the middle of the 20th century for the French naval air army. Although the qualities of this series are clear to see, this chronograph stands out for its minute counter measured using a central hand. With the ability to measure short and long periods of time, it does so using the second hand and 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock. For speed while using the stopwatch, the watch has a flyback function. Simply pressing the pusher at 4 o’clock instantly resets the counters to zero. Without this device, three steps would be necessary to operate the reset. In addition to the time information, luminescent hands and index markers, this model has a day/night indicator at 3 o’clock, a small seconds dial at 9 o’clock and a date located in a window at 6 o’clock. This easy-to-read layout, positioned on a black dial, is crowned with a black bidirectional rotating lacquered titanium bezel decorated with raised numerals.

breguet type 21 titane closeupWithin the 42 mm titanium case, water resistant to 100m, is the 584 Q caliber. This self-winding movement provides a power reserve of around 45 hours.

The Type XXI Titanium comes with a stylish calf leather strap. The manufacture is also offering a strap made from the same material as the case to reinforce the sporty look of this edition.

Price: 12,500 EUR breguet.com

By Dan Diaconu

jaeger lecoultre master grande tradition gyrotourbillon 3 closeup

MASTER GRANDE TRADITION GYROTOURBILLON 3 METEORITE

PRECIOUS AND COMPLEX

Fine watchmaking and craftsmanship come together in this ultra-limited edition. Each piece is embellished with the abstract patterns of a rock that has fallen from the sky.

To celebrate 180 years of Jaeger-LeCoultre, the manufacture has launched an exceptional piece which focuses its many skills. In addition to the time display in an off-center disk, the Master Grande Tradition GyroTourbillon 3 combines an impressive chronograph. What makes it so special? It indicates short time lapses using an instant jumping digital counter for the minutes and a hand for the seconds in a dedicated dial which is also offset. A day/night indicator completes the time information. There is also a gyrotourbillon, a gyroscopic regulator which serves to optimize the chronometric precision of the watch. This only varies between -1 and +1 seconds per day.

jaeger lecoultre master grande tradition gyrotourbillon 3 closeupTurning the case of the Master Grande Tradition GyroTourbillon 3 over reveals the bridges and the plate of the 176 caliber adorned with the extraterrestrial rock. The irregular geometric patterns of the meteorite give each watch its own unique personality. Once wound, the manual-winding movement offers a power reserve of 45 hours.

Price: on request

By Dan Diaconu

hublot big bang mp 11 saxem closeup

BIG BANG MP-11 SAXEM

VERDANT TRANSPARENCY

Made from a new translucent green material and with an extraordinary power reserve, the new model from the Nyon-based watchmaker is offered in an exclusive series of 20 pieces.

hublot big bang mp 11 saxem closeupWith a diameter of 45 mm and a thickness of 14.40 mm, and resembling a large structured emerald, the case is spectacular and reveals the gleaming mechanism of the HUB9011 caliber, and the seven barrels connected in series that it houses. Thanks to the energy produced by these barrels which is transmitted by a helical gear wheel, this manual-winding movement can offer an impressive power reserve of 14 days. This is indicated on the matte black openwork dial at 8 o’clock. In addition, the undulating curve of the bezel decorated with six H-shaped black titanium screws accentuates the lower part of the face of this Big Bang MP-11 SAXEM. The hours and minutes are displayed at 12 o’clock and are highlighted with a luminescent green material.

Price: 120,000 CHF www.hublot.com

By Sharmila Bertin

audemars piguet royal oak offshore camo green and blue versions

ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE CAMOUFLAGE

STILL ON TREND

Three Royal Oak Offshore pieces are sporting a camouflage design with blue, green, and brown ceramic bezels that casually adapt to any terrain.

Military fabrics make it possible to be practically invisible in any combat zone, on land or at sea. The desired effect when putting on the new Royal Oak Offshore launched during SIHH 2019 is however very different. The muscular chronographs by Audemars Piguet do not go unnoticed on the wrist. Although they feature the collection’s characteristic aesthetic codes, such as the “Mega tapisserie” pattern on the dial, the vertical positioning of the counters and the small seconds dial, and of course the octagonal bezel inspired by the Royal Oak designed by Gérald Genta, other decorative elements set them apart.

audemars piguet royal oak offshore camo green and blue versionsAll the Royal Oak Offshore Camouflage pieces are powered by a self-winding movement with a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. Once wound, the caliber guarantees a power reserve of around 50 hours, the perfect amount of time to adapt to any occasion in our urban lives.

Price: on request

By Dan Diaconu

chopard mille miglia 2019 race edition caseback

MILLE MIGLIA 2019 RACE EDITION

RACING SPIRIT

Partner of the legendary eponymous Italian classic car rally, the manufacture has launched the 2019 vintage limited edition of its chronograph to mark the occasion.

Last year, Chopard took us on a journey along the winding roads between Brescia and Rome with a Mille Miglia equipped with a classic time display. For this new version, the 2019 limited edition launched by the manufacture sports a very different design on its dial. The chronograph counters in black are vertically aligned at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock. The date window with a lens for magnification completes the symmetry with the small seconds dial located at 9 o’clock. Plain gray ruthenium replaces the beading of the 2018 edition. The piece is protected by a steel case which has gained 2 mm and now comes in a diameter of 44 mm providing a spacious layout of all the information. The rose gold pushers and bezel add a touch of refinement to this sporty piece for men.

chopard mille miglia 2019 race edition casebackThe 1,000 pieces come with a brown calf leather strap with black rubber lining inspired by Dunlop tires from the 1960s and finished with a folding buckle. The sealed case back is stamped with the event’s logo and a checkered flag darkened using a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) treatment.

Price: 7,000 EUR chopard.com

By Dan Diaconu

hublot big bang unico sorai closeup

BIG BANG UNICO SORAI

LONG LIVE THE RHINOCEROS!

Well accustomed to sometimes surprising collaborations, the Nyon-based watchmaker has this time chosen to support the conservation of the rhinoceros, a magnificent wild animal facing the threat of extinction, by joining forces with SORAI to create a new limited-edition piece.

hublot big bang unico sorai closeupPart of the proceeds of this exclusive Hublot will be donated to saving this magnificent mammal.

Price: 22,900 CHF www.hublot.com

By Sharmila Bertin

tag heuer monaco anniversary 2000 closeup

MONACO 1999-2009 LIMITED EDITION

DIFFERENT PERIOD, SAME VALUE

At an event in Tokyo, TAG Heuer has just unveiled the fourth work in the “Monaco Through Time” collection which is celebrating 50 years of its iconic chronograph.

After the 1970s, 1980s, and the 1990s, TAG Heuer is launching the fourth anniversary model of the Monaco symbolizing the production of the CW2XXX series at the start of the 21st century. After the monochrome, green, red, and gray dials, this limited edition sports a two-tone presentation in black and white, firmly rooted in the period. This style gives pride of place to square design and softened lines. The time information is very easy to read, as is the short time measurement thanks to the red accents on the central second hand, the railroad index markers and the tips of the hour and minute hands. In addition, this edition also has the original layout of the date at 6 o’clock, the crown at 9 o’clock and the chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock.

tag heuer monaco anniversary 2000 closeupOnly 169 pieces have been produced to mark the occasion. They all come with a case back engraved with the “Monaco Heuer” logo, the inscription “1999-2009 Special Edition”, and “1 of 169”. A perforated black calf leather strap finished with a folding buckle enhances the sporty charm of the piece. Each timepiece comes in a box matching the colors of the decade.

Price: 5,950 EUR www.tagheuer.com

By Dan Diaconu