SINGAPORE (Jan 14): These rare and fascinating horological creations are being showcased at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève, to be held from Jan 14 to 17.
Spitfire chronograph
The backbone of IWC Schaffhausen’s new Spitfire line is the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire. It is the first Pilot’s Chronograph with a movement from IWC’s 69000 calibre family, namely the 69380, and has a reduced case diameter of just 41mm. Its bronze case develops a special patina over time to give it a unique character, as does its olive-green dial and brown calf-leather strap. On the dial, stopped hours and minutes are displayed on two subdials at nine o’clock and 12 o’clock. The pawl-winding system winds up on both sides. The watch has a power reserve of 46 hours.
Classic brilliance
The Piaget 36mm Altiplano High Jewellery model will make its official debut at SIHH 2019, showcasing the maison’s exceptional gem-setting expertise. Limited to an edition of 88 pieces, the timepiece comes set with baguette diamonds on both the bezel and sunray- brushed dial, framing the watch and marking out the dial quarters to allow the Piaget Blue of the dial to truly shine. Completing the watch’s aesthetics is a blue alligator strap with an 18K white-gold pin buckle.
Giddy up
Featuring a round case in mirror-polished stainless steel, and topped by a bead-blasted bezel in matt brushed stainless steel, Arceau 78 (image courtesy of Calitho) is the newest model to join the most classic line of Hermès timepieces. In its latest rendition, the 40mm diameter watch comes with a grained anthracite dial, cream-coloured numerals, as well as a natural Barenia calf leather strap. Its distinctive equestrian-inspired asymmetrical lugs remain true to the Arceau DNA, as does the sloping font that evokes a horse’s gallop.
New moon rising
Girard-Perregaux’s latest Cat’s Eye Celestial charms with its sophisticated moon phase, which features hand-polished mother-of-pearl set against a glittering aventurine glass dial. A total of 95 brilliant-cut diamonds set on both the bezel and the dial, as well as the case’s unique horizontal oval shape, lend a radiant expression to the watch. This crown-adjustable horological complication is powered by a proprietary movement that makes it so accurate it requires only one correction every 360 years.
In homage
A. Lange & Söhne celebrates the life of Walter Lange, who brought precision watchmaking back to Glashütte in 1990, with the one-off release of the 1815 Homage to Walter Lange. The timepiece has a black enamel dial and a 40.5mm steel case. Its traditional railway-track minute scale and polished hands are inspired by the design of historic pocket watches. The timepiece is powered by the newly developed movement with a special designation, L1924, in reference to the late Lange’s birth year.
Big on thin
The limited edition Master Ultra Thin Moon Enamel combines two of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s specialities — the art of guillochage and enamelling. It has a round shape, pure lines and an extremely thin 10.04mm white-gold case. Connoisseurs will appreciate the new design of the hour markers, which are now longer and split into two at 12, three, six and nine o’clock. The counter, which houses a redesigned, polished moon phase, has been engraved in an aperture at six o’clock to bring out the numerals depicting the date.
Seeing double
Cartier has achieved new levels of aesthetic and technical quality with its Tonneau Skeleton Dual Time Zone watch (also pictured in main image), which pays tribute to the Tonneau XL dual time zone model in the CPCP (Collection Privée Cartier Paris) collection. While the latter timepiece had two separate mechanisms for the home time and second time zones, the 2019 model has incorporated a dual time zone in a curved case. Skeletonising the movement brings “lightness and nobility to a traditional complication”, Cartier says, and demonstrates a perfect balance of form and function, case and movement.
Making a splash
The new Panerai Submersible Chrono combines performance, strength and reliability in a titanium case that integrates perfectly with a blue ceramic disc applied to the bezel as well as blue hands and rubber strap. This submersible chronograph is inspired by French freediving champion Guillaume Néry, and is water-resistant to a depth of about 300m. The luminous white markers are set against a shark-grey background, making the dial clearly legible under all lighting conditions, and even in complete darkness. Engraved on the screw backs are Néry’s signature and “126 metres” — his final awe-inspiring record.
This article appeared in Issue 864 (Jan 14) of The Edge Singapore.
