Dazzling horological masterpieces at the 26th SIHH
A LANGE & SOHNE
The Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon (EUR295,000) this year cleverly positions the tourbillon behind the dial, to simplify matters upfront. Its chronograph is accurate to one-fifth of a second. Meanwhile, its perpetual calendar complication offers instantaneously-jumping indications – including the moon phase – which crisply clicks into the new position. Intense engineering yields a ‘patented interlocking system’, translated into a simple pusher. A single push easily advances indications on the calendar without jamming the 729-part movement that also happens to integrate Lange’s patented stop-seconds mechanism. Made in a limited edition of 100 pieces of 41.5mm platinum.
AUDEMARS PIGUET
A sense of watchmaking wizardry pervades the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked. Skeletonisation on the dial allows a full appreciation of the swinging balance wheel, in its eternal ballad with the balance spring. When viewed through both the glare-proofed sapphire crystal and case-back, the maison’s newly patented ‘dualbalance’ geometry is clearly evident. A second balance wheel and balance spring assembly on the same axis generates increased precision and stability, a key imperative of watchmakers since the 17th century. Hand-finished filing and decoration completes this breath-taking vision, with a choice of stainless steel and pink gold as options, to encase the self-winding calibre 3132.
BAUME & MERCIER
This year, fine timekeeping mechanics are evident in the Clifton Chronograph Complete Calendar; replete with chronograph, complete calendar, moon phase and 24-hour indicator subdial. This personable timepiece summarises the technical and aesthetic history of this centuries-old watchmaking brand, with traditional decorative codes apparent in snailed and Geneva striping finishes, as well as circular-grained bridges, plate and blued screws. Housed within its 43mm case – available in three distinct options – is the highly proven and hand-finished automatic Caliber Valjoux 7751.
CARTIER
Horological ingenuity enables Cartier to advance the concept behind its much venerated mystery clocks this year. The spellbinding Rotonde de Cartier Astromysterieux visually relieves the barrel, balance-wheel, escapement wheel and gear train of its physical anchors. This ethereal architecture results in a quartet of timekeeping components hovering within the ether of the sapphire discs, making an enigmatic rotation every minute. Naturally, three patents are pending for this 9432 MC calibre which challenges the notions of time-setting, barrel-winding and even reading time. Available in a 43.5mm case of palladium, this timepiece is limited to 100 numbered pieces with extra satisfaction in the form of baguette-cut gem-set versions.
Cartier
GREUBEL FORSEY
In their nearly two-decade long obsession for chronometric accuracy, Greubel Forsey’s painstaking research has yielded the Double Balancier for 2016. Two inclined balance wheels provide the requisite stability in performance, augmented by a fantastical-sounding Differential Spherique Constant which confers a steadier amplitude. The inevitable result is a chronometric performance which outstrips most others in the field of high horology. This achievement, plus the brand’s extreme attentions to polishing, engraving and all manner of finishing, are available in just 33 white gold pieces.
IWC
Steeped with a heritage of pilot watches, IWC decided to reanimate its historic observer timepieces, the very same watches which were omnipresent on the wrists of fighter pilots during the Second World War. This year, the novel hand-wound Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 offers an unmissable historical perspective with the largest wristwatch ever made by IWC Schaffhausen. Limited to only 100 pieces, it dethrones the previous champion, 1940’s 52-calibre. For this year’s iteration, titanium was chosen as case material to bring its weight down to 150 grammes versus the historical model which weighed 183 grammes in stainless steel. The same visual cues drawn from cockpit instruments persevere on a matte black dial with Superluminova for nocturnal legibility.
JAEGER-LECOULTRE
On the occasion of the Reverso’s 85th year, Jaeger-LeCoultre – who pioneered this inventive timepiece – decided to merge its technical proficiency that is the Gyrotourbillon, with a platinum Reverso model. Issued in a limited series of 75 pieces, this manual-wound timepiece offers a view of the imperious Gyrotoubillon; one which has been slimmed by 30 per cent to perfectly fit the Reverso’s elegant architecture. Other technical flourishes abound, from an open-worked display to the Gyrolab balance-wheel, crafted to reduce air drag and improve timekeeping accuracy.
MONTBLANC
A fateful transatlantic trip in 1906, undertaken by Montblanc’s three founders, resulted in the company’s subsequent birth and purpose. To celebrate its 110th anniversary in 2016, Montblanc honours the golden age of travel with a 60mm Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique 110 Years Edition pocket watch; in polished white gold. This year’s commemorative piece harks back to marine chronometers of old, and displays the traditional artisanal aesthetics of hand-engraving, micro-painting and Grand Feu enamelling. Backed by the considerable innovations of Montblanc’s Villeret manufacture, this timepiece also integrates the cylindrical hairspring, triple time zones and a 24-hour world-time indication around two halves of the globe.
PANERAI
The Lo Scienziato – a tribute piece to Galileo Galilei – is remade for the first time with bridges and barrels in titanium, as well as a 47mm case of brushed titanium. This year’s Lo Scienziato Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanio boldly flashes its P.2005/T mechanical calibre via skeletonisation. Using a direct metal laser sintering technique, the weight of the case is lessened by 30 per cent through the creation of complex geometrical cavities. Six days of power reserve are provided by three spring barrels, with the brand’s iconic hands easily recognisable in white gold and superluminova coating. The tourbillon cage completes a full rotation in 30 seconds versus the customary minute. Only 150 pieces will be sold at Panerai boutiques.
PARMIGIANI
Two decades has passed since Michel Parmigiani set forth to found his eponymous watchmaking brand. To commemorate this milestone, the restorer and master watchmaker decided on the Tonda Chronor Anniversaire. Parmigiani flashes his chops with a gold split-seconds chronograph movement, conceived on the entirety of a single main plate. This design was necessary to adhere to the maison’s purist approach, versus the convention of adding modules atop existing movements. Hence, the PF361 emerges as a sterling example of a chronograph, boasting a vertical clutch and vibrating at 36,000 oscillations (five hertz) per hour, superior to the industry level of either three or four hertz. A limited issue of 25 pieces each are made available in 42.1mm white or rose gold cases, matched with Hermes alligator straps.
PIAGET
In a revolutionary move, Piaget unveils its 700P movement featuring a generator system to convert mechanical to electrical energy. This movement is a tribute to Piaget’s first in-house quartz movement – the 7P calibre of ’76. More importantly, it is a clarion call of Swiss watchmaking’s arrival in the era of ultra-precision. A high-frequency oscillating motor providing electronic regulation of this self-winding calibre – at a precise speed of 5.33 turns on the generator per second. This generator duly regulates the movement’s cadence, offering a quartz-like precision to the automatic movement of +/-2 seconds per day. Its relatively svelte size enables this movement to be snugly embedded in the Emperador Coussin XL 18k white gold case of 46.5mm, with a black ADLC coated bezel. Limited to 118.
RICHARD MILLE
The maverick watchmaker’s collaboration with Airbus Corporate Jets reinterprets modern aircraft design as a Richard Mille timepiece. The RM50-02 – limited to 30 titanium-aluminium pieces – is co-designed between Richard Mille himself and Sylvain Mariat, Airbus Corporate Jets’ Head of its Creative Design Studio. The duo utilised design cues from the aviation partner such as; the portal-shaped window, torque screws, livery colours and a special application of aeronautical coating used to protect jet engine and chassis parts from corrosion and environmental conditions. This airy, skeletonised movement bears the superlative durability of a Richard Mille – by also possessing a split-seconds chronograph crafted from titanium components which reduces internal friction and energy consumption.
ROGER DUBUIS
Selecting its ladies’ Velvet collection to showcase its vocation as a ‘jeweller of rare artistic masterpieces’, Roger Dubuis unleashes five exuberant references to thrill the senses. In this collection, a series of watchmaking crafts were harnessed. These crafts range from sculpted floral marquetry to a creative collaboration with Massaro – a leading name in haute couture – manifested by a pleated leather strap. Sparkling brightest, undoubtedly, is the Velvet Ribbon, with over 53 carats of diamonds adorning this 38.5mm platinum piece and bracelet. The proximity of these stones to each other amplify its ineffable sparkle, with its technical credentials burnished by the Geneva Hallmark certification on this self-winding ode to haute joallerie.
VACHERON CONSTANTIN
When Vacheron Constantin first debuted its first Overseas collection in 1996, the watchmaker had kitted it out for an active lifestyle. The maison imbued this collection with anti-magnetic and water-resistance properties, as well as making it hardier with a solid caseback. Fast forward twenty years, and one finds the redoubtable Hallmark of Geneva on the latest iteration of the Overseas. The jet-setting crowd will find this collection offering options of leather and rubber straps, as well as metal bracelets which may be easily fitted into a case of seamless curves. At the top of the line, the Overseas Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar encases the self-winding 1120 QP calibre in 41.5mm white gold. This reference is thoughtfully delivered with a watch winder, as well as bracelet/strap options of white gold, dark grey alligator with nubuck lining and a black rubber strap.
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
Drawing from its origins in stories, poetry and dreams, the maison offers its Midnight Nuit Lumineuse watch, a men’s piece illuminated by mechanical power through the use of piezo-ceramic blades. The generation of eight volts of electrical energy through the purposeful friction of these blades – upon a push of a button – illuminate six electroluminescent diodes for sustained period of four seconds. These six diamond-like lights form the basis of the ‘Monoceros’ – commonly known as the Unicorn – constellation on the diamond-accented, miniature painted aventurine glass dial. All of this poetic astronomy theme is encased in 42mm white gold with the electricity generation mechanism subject to patent application.
