The Baselworld exhibition is a platform to showcase new trends and innovations in watches. Whilst the fair is sure to be a magnet for watch innovations and it deserves a special issue dedicated to it, a few snippets have trickled their way into our pages. We highlight some pieces that you will see at the fair…pointing in the direction of things to come!
Breguet
Over the moon
It is always nice to see a new moon-phase, the most romantic of all complications! The Classique Phase de Lune Dame 9088 is the new feminine creation, a model from the Classique collection. This discreet yet remarkable 33 mm white gold watch has a finely fluted caseband that frames a Grand Feu enamel dial. It takes but a look to understand the significant mastery of traditional techniques that has made this watch possible.
Feminine splendour may well describe the face of the timepiece. This dainty face is enhanced by ‘Breguet numerals’ in reference to the founder of the House, who designed them in 1783. The minutes track, made up of tiny stars, as well as the the use of stylised fleurs-de-lis for the five-minute fractions are another tribute to the Breguet watchmaking tradition. Bezel and lugs are set with 66 brilliant-cut diamonds which adds to the preciousness of the piece. The chapter ring with Arabic numerals and Breguet-style open-tipped blued steel hands add to the charm.
The pure lines of this Classique Phase de Lune Dame 9088 faithfully reproduce the hallmarks that have ensured the success of the House for over 240 years. The mechanical automatic movement, Calibre 537L has been used within. The functions include hours, minutes, small seconds, age and phase of the moon.
Other versions include a non-set 18K white gold, gem-set or non-set 18K pink gold, 18K white or pink gold gem-set or non-set versions with a delicately guilloché natural mother-of-pearl dial. The watch is paired with a blue alligator strap, making a stellar combination!
TAG Heuer
Exceptional tourbillon
The new generation of Carrera incorporates a chrono plus a flying tourbillon.
The Carrera Heuer-02T Black Phantom Tourbillon case is made in 12 separate modular parts and fashioned in black titanium, with a black titanium bezel, and a steel crown over moulded with rubber.
The dial is skeletonized, with black bridges, and a carbon and titanium tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock. A dual register chronograph layout displays chrono hours at 9 o’clock and chrono minutes at 3 o’clock. Large baton-shaped hour and minute hands display the time along with polished and satin-finished baton indexes. Hands and indexes are treated with a luminous material.
It houses the very latest TAG Heuer calibre, the Heuer-02T. This chronograph movement is directly inspired by the CH-80 and is COSC-certified. Here, it combines with a tourbillon regulator that stands out for its black and grey design, its lightness thanks to the use of titanium and carbon, and its flying construction.
Paired with a matte black alligator leather strap the 45 mm watch brings accessibility to the tourbillion complication at the forefront. The Carrera Heuer-02T Black Phantom is a 250-piece edition.
Carl F. Bucherer
The new black
Patravi TravelTec combines three time zones in an exquisite and distinctive material in deep matt black created due to a unique carbon blend. The DLC finish elaborately applied in a multi-stage process fully embraces the durability and lightness of carbon. The robust DLC coating transforms the GMT chronograph into a grand statement on the wrist, designed not to blend in but to impress.
The DLC finish elaborately applied in a multi-stage process fully embraces the durability and lightness of carbon. The wafer-thin, diamond-like crystalline carbon structure ensures the watch is particularly scratch-resistant and highly shock absorbent. The compelling deep matt black colour of this timepiece is created by the unique blend of carbon material. The striking design is rounded off with a black dial offering a clear display of contrasting light, coloured totalizators, indices, and scales.
The intelligent interplay between the case and movement makes the Patravi TravelTec a superb travel companion able to display three time zones simultaneously. Two time zones are visible on the dial thanks to the sophisticated functions of the own chronometer-certified CFB 1901.1 calibre. The third time zone is displayed via a red 24 hour-hand on a rotating bezel. The patented mono-pusher enables the wearer to quickly and easily set the third time zone to an eastern or western direction of travel.
Comfortable functionality, excellent readability, and technological sophistication make the GMT chronograph the ideal model for frequent travellers.
Hublot
Timeless grey
Grey is becoming a very popular colour. It is trendy and blends in easily with most outfits. It is elegant as well. The CLASSIC FUSION collection takes on this trend and boasts a total “Racing Grey” look. Less harsh than black, more timeless even than blue, this grey, inherently neutral and universal, reinforces the model’s versatile elegance. An androgynous hue with many different facets, the brand increases the appeal of the colour with classic new watches.
The case is available in a choice of 4 dimensions and with three movements, to suit any wrist: 33, 38 and 42 mm – with 3 hands and date at 3 o’clock. The 38 and 42 mm models are driven by a HUB1110 self-winding mechanical movement with a 42-hour power reserve. The 33 mm case boasts a HUB2912 quartz movement. The 45 mm version, with 3 hands and date, or chronograph with the date at 6 o’clock, house the HUB1112 and HUB1143 automatic movements respectively.
With its beauty enhanced by the “metallic” flecks of the titanium or the vibrant bronze of King Gold, the “Racing Grey” is undoubtedly a piece with timeless elegance.
Easy to wear, it suits any style and is as masculine as it is feminine. It is upto the wearer then, to chose the grey that best suits his or her personality!
Chopard
Revival of an icon
Since 1976, Happy Diamonds, the famous moving diamonds have been a part of many joyful collections of watches and jewellery. To mark their 40th birthday, Chopard is revisiting the iconic model in which they were first introduced.
The first Happy Diamonds model was a men’s watch, a large cushion-shaped timepiece with an 18-carat white gold case and bracelet framing a black dial magnificently highlighting the first moving diamonds. This iconic creation, which won the prestigious Golden Rose of Baden-Baden in 1976, inspired a model celebrating the 40th anniversary of the invention of moving diamonds. The initial cushion shape remains the same. But, there is a big difference. This time round, the watch has been designed for women!
The new Happy Diamonds watch is a precious jewellery model exuding a charm that is both vintage and contemporary. The prong-set diamonds encircling the dial emphasise its gentle curves, while new mobile diamonds whirl freely across a textured white mother-of-pearl background. There are more of them than ever and they are also larger as well as in different sizes, thereby accentuating their whirling dance and the sense of diamond-studded profusion. Inside this playground, a mini subdial, also ringed with diamonds, bears the watch hands.
It is said that diamonds stay forever and when they adorn a classic piece such as this, it indeed translates into ever-lasting beauty!
Bulgari
Reimagining a classic
Shaped like a snake around the wrist, the Bulgari’s signature ladies’ wristwatch has been given a subtle twist with the Serpenti Incantati. It is well-known that the snake is a charming part of the brand. The slithering reptile traditionally belongs to the bestiary of Ancient Rome and has long since been successfully tamed by the Roman jeweller! In finding its way into the watch collections of the Italian Maison, it has become a watch by concealing a secret dial and a high-precision Swiss movement inside the serpent’s head.
The snake now appears in a new guise by taking on the shape of a round watch case. This watch entirely renews this theme through a modern design and a radiant Haute Joaillerie interpretation.
This enchanted snake transforms the serpentine form into something subtler, shrinking it to go around the face of the watch. For the very first time, the reptile coils around the watch dial. Each part of the head and body of the snake has been entirely rethought and redesigned with extremely contemporary lines.
This smaller serpenti is immediately recognizable. The case is 30 mm in diameter and is set with diamonds or rubellites. While the bracelet version of the watch is an extension of the snake around the dial, with its body forming the bracelet, the simpler version of the watch is fitted to a satin strap. Enchanting indeed!
The primary source of inspiration for this jewellery watch was a vintage brooch crafted in the 1930s Bulgari Haute Joaillerie ateliers. In revisiting this jewellery creation, the Roman Maison testifies to the strength for the future represented by its incredibly rich heritage.
The watch has been expressed in four variations. The Serpenti Incantati watch comes in a rubellite or diamond version, each expressed through two different interpretations.
