Alpina
After the launch of the Startimer Pilot Automatic, Alpina follows through with the Startimer Pilot Quartz for those of us who prefer our watches ticking even though they have been neglected for a number of days. As with all other aviation-inspired watches, legibility is key. Hence the Arabic numerals are in a generous size. The deep black-coloured indices prove perfect companions for the white dial for a simple yet highly effective time-telling instrument. For extra practicality, a handy date window is located at three o’clock in place of the numeral itself. Other models in the 42mm collection offer more personality in terms of looks, ranging from black dial and orange markers to stainless steel bracelet and nylon strap.
Bell & Ross
With a comfortably sized 41mm polished steel case, the the BR V2-92 Aéronavale features a rotating steel bezel with anodised blue aluminium ring and 60-minute scale. The bezel surrounds a blue sunray-finished dial. Gilt applied indices and Arabic numeral markers line the round edges protected by a layer of ultra-curved sapphire crystal. The crystal sapphire also shields the caseback while providing transparency to the inner workings. A small date window is located in between four and five o’clock. The watchmaker offers a choice of satin-polished steel bracelet and ice blue calfskin leather strap for the watch powered by an automatic BR-CAL.302 calibre with a 38-hour power reserve. For fans of chronographs, there is the BR V2-94 Aéronavale with a 30-minute timer and a small-second sub-dial.
Hublot
Ibiza brings to mind lively party scene, throbbing neon lights, and skies and waters in rich blue hues. Hence it is no surprise that Hublot’s Classic Fusion AeroFusion Chronograph Special Edition Ibiza is crafted in such a soothing blue tone on its 45mm ceramic case and matching alligator leather stitched on a rubber strap. Underneath its sapphire crystal beats a Hublot HUB1155 automatic movement that has a power reserve of 42 hours. At three o’clock, a peace symbol replaces a small second sub-dial, signifying the hippies who came en masse to Ibiza in the 1960s. The skeleton watch is limited to 50 numbered pieces, while the caseback is engraved with a “Hublot Loves Ibiza” logo for a symbolic touch.
IWC Schaffhausen
The Schaffhausen-based watchmaker brings a new lease of life to the long-running Portofino by introducing a tourbillon—the first in the Portofino family—with the balance, pallet and escape wheel mounted in a cage that rotates around its own axis once every minute. IWC has also revised the geometry of the pallet and the escape wheel, plus it has manufactured the components using diamond-coated silicon, thus reducing friction. This contributes substantially to the power reserve of eight days achieved with the IWC hand-wound 59900 calibre housed in a 45mm red gold case. Accompanying the flying tourbillon on the dial are a retrograde date display and a power reserve indicator.
Longines
Longines elects to reissue its legendary diving watch from the ‘60s. The new Longines Legend Diver Watch from the watchmaker’s Heritage line catches the eyes with its Milanese mesh bracelet juxtaposing with the primarily black lacquered dial. The lines of the original watch are repeated here, including the domed crystal, reminiscent of the technical limitations of the time. However, it is also brought up to date with a sapphire crystal, a screwed crown and back, 300m water resistance and internal bi-directional rotating disc for divers, activated and locked by one of the crowns, thus making it possible to determine the remaining bottom time. The 42mm stainless steel case houses an L633 automatic mechanical movement that generates 38 hours of power reserve.
Named the Avigation BigEye, the watch is inspired by a chronograph whose aesthetics is typical of the great age of aviation. True to the spirit of pilot’s watches, this model displays a very readable dial with a focus on the minute counter and impressive push-buttons that enable the wearer to handle them while wearing gloves. The 41mm diameter case houses a L688 column wheel chronograph movement. Its semi-glossy black dial is decorated with Arabic numerals and displays a small second hand at nine o’clock as well as a 12-hour counter at six o’clock. The oversized 30-minute counter at three o’clock adds a touch of aesthetic originality to this timepiece. A domed crystal and a brown leather watch strap add vintage elegance to the piece.
Maurice Lacroix
The Bronze Aikon is housed in a 44mm case made of bronze and paired with a smoke-effect dial adorned with horizontal lines spanning its surface. The aged appearance of the dial complements the patination found on the case. The hour and minute hands are 4N gold plated. Furthermore, with the passage of time, the case colour of the Aikon Bronze will evolve due to oxidation. Fitted with a quartz movement, no winding is required for the operation. A central sweep second hand and a date display at three o’clock complete the inventory of functions. On top of that, the watch is limited to 388 pieces. The Aikon Bronze is supplied with a vintage calf leather strap, featuring the brand’s legendary integrated M logo, and a bronze pin buckle.
Moritz Grossmann
The enamelled dial of the Atum Enamel is a further homage to artisanship in the days of old. Although traces of the art of enamelling can be found across millennia of art history, only few masters of the discipline are capable—today as in the past—of creating immaculate enamelwork. Manually crafted, lance-shaped hands add quintessential class to the watch’s overall personality. Despite its understated looks, it epitomises traditional craftsmanship and latest-generation engineering prowess. On the enamelled dial are handcrafted steel hands annealed to a brown hue and a small second sub-dial. Encircling the dial is a case made of rose gold, while the 41mm case is paired with a blue alligator leather strap. The watch runs on a manually wound manufacture calibre 100.1 with 42 hours of power reserve.
Oris
A diver’s watch in partnership with the Florida-based Coral Restoration Foundation, the Oris Staghorn Restoration Limited Edition is dedicated to preserving the world’s coral reefs. With an issuance of 2,000 pieces, the watch houses an Oris Cal 735 automatic movement, in addition to a date window located at six o’clock. As with any diver’s watch, the thick bezel is rotatable in a uni-direction. The grip is enhanced by a polished black ceramic insert. The screwed stainless steel caseback is embossed with a Staghorn coral and a limited-edition number. Paired with a black rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet, the watch is water resistant to 300m. Additionally, the watch comes in a presentation box with an insignia on the inside featuring the Staghorn coral made from regenerative algae.
Parmigiani Fleurier
With its two time zones, the Toric Hémisphères Rétrograde allows any two locations to be paired, and correct to the nearest minute. It even allows those locations with a half-hour or quarter-hour difference to be paired with full-hour times set from the Greenwich meridian. To help power this complication, a calibre PF317 has been fitted in its 42.8mm rose gold case with a grained white dial. The self-winding movement has a double series-mounted barrel for improved isochronism and rate regularity, with a power reserve of 50 hours. Apart from that, the watch also features an instant retrograde calendar, indicated by the third central hand.
TAG Heuer
We previously covered the most basic three-hand model of the Formula 1 Senna series of watches. This time, we feature the most advanced—the Carrera Heuer-01 Ayrton Senna. With an imposing 45mm case made of brushed steel with black PVD coating, the skeleton watch contains a black ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale surrounding an opaline black skeleton dial with a black flange with a 60-second scale. The predominantly black and grey colour scheme is broken up by bits of white on the hands and the Arabic numerals, as well as an occasional red lacquer found on selected hands and markers. The 30-minute sub-dial is located at 12 o’clock, while the 60-second sub-dial is marked by an S logo. The date window sits at 3.30 south of the Tag Heuer logo.
Tissot
As the official timekeeper for Moto GP, Tissot presents the T-Race MotoGP collection, composed of two limited-edition watches—one is an automatic piece limited to 2,017 pieces, while the other is powered by a quartz movement, produced in a series of 5,000 pieces. The automatic watch is housed in a rose gold PVD case. On the other hand, the quartz version portrays a darker look through a dark grey PVD and stylish electric blue detailing. Both watches are pretty substantial with cases measuring over 45mm in length and width while weighing close to 120g. The watches come in a helmet box as a homage to its motorcycle origins.
