The palpable excitement felt every year prior to the BaselWorld fair is one that’s indescribable. Thousands of journalists, retailers and brand personnel flock to Basel, Switzerland to learn about the upcoming timepieces (and jewellery) that brands will exhibit. Ask any watch enthusiast for their two cents worth and be assured they’d talk your ears off on their predictions for brands; the usual questions are bound to be heard – “What’s Rolex doing this year?”, “Have you heard the rumours about what Patek‘s doing?” After Day 0, we’ve separated the rumours from facts and bring you our top picks from today. (Don’t miss our day 1, day 2 and day 3 coverage!)
Tudor North Flag
The information for Tudor‘s latest watch came out weeks ago and believe us, keeping it from people was a nightmare. While the brand has been known as Rolex’s younger sibling for the longest time, 2015 may be a complete shift for Tudor. The biggest news comes from Tudor’s own in-house movements. Having a self-reliant movement seals the brand as a leader in its own price range and a worthy competitor to many other respected brands such as Zenith. The self-winding calibre MT5621 that powers the new Tudor North Flag (seen above) is no pushover for a first movement (if you’re not counting the ones the brand did 90-odd years ago). Boasting a power reserve of 70 hours as well as an inidicator to prove it, the movement is a great start to Tudor’s own lines. Like any Rolex subsidiary, the calibre MT5621 is also COSC-certified. On the outside, the Tudor North Flag is a simple yet stylish watch that will blend in with the rest of the brand’s tool watch philosophy.
Omega Globemaster
Omega‘s movements have also been given the update this year. Earlier on in the year, the brand announced its collaboration with METAS for a new level of chronometer certification. In addition to the daily timekeeping regulations that a chronometer must have, the new Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 8900 (or 8901 depending on the finishing you’re going for) is resistant to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. The Omega Globemaster will be the brand’s first watch to show off this new movement, and will come in two different colour combinations – one in a silver dial and Sedna gold case and the other in a blue dial with a steel case. Omega fans will recognise the fluted bezel, made popular by the brand with its Constellation range.
Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumiere
It’s been a grand 30-odd years since watch brand Angelus has produced a watch. Known for its chronographs and alarm timepieces in the past, the newly revived Angelus is looking to pay tribute but not follow in the same paths. The brand was recently bought over by movement makers La Joux-Perret and its showing this year is anything but vintage. The Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumiere is a rather oversized rectangular watch that takes the tourbillon-voyeurs one step closer into an all round display. The time is displayed on the left while a chamber on the right boasts a flying tourbillon as well as a power reserve indicator on the side of the case.
Eterna Super KonTiki Black Edition
Limited to just 888 pieces worldwide, this is our top pick of the day if you’re looking to put behind your days of desk-diving. The Eterna Super KonTiki Black Edition doesn’t just look rugged, it’s bound to match up to the hell you intend to put it through. With a PVD-coated stainless steel case, the piece is water resistant up to 200m. We’d hate to admit that aesthetics play that big a role but the fact that the watch comes with three different straps (a Milanese bracelet, a leather strap as well as a NATO one pictured above) played quite the role in our attraction to the piece.
Stay tuned as we bring more of our favourite pieces from this year’s BaselWorld.