If the Salon de International Haute Horlogerie this year didn’t impress you, count yourself as one of the minority. Year after year, we’ve seen some brands fall into a rut, producing the same timepieces in different materials. This year however, SIHH 2016 (read our thoughts here) felt like the industry knew it was time for a shake-up.
Whether it was the economic downturn that China brought or the introduction of independent watchmakers at the fair, the Richemont brands brought their collective A-game and proved that innovation is still very much alive in the industry.
The next few days will see us at Baselworld 2016, the biggest affair in the watch industry’s calendar and a hectic one at that. Will the fair see as much fanfare as last year’s (no thanks to smartwatches) or as much as SIHH 2016?
Follow us on our Instagram (@augustman) and keep an eye out on this space for daily updates during the fair.
In the meantime, here are our top four pre-Baselworld 2016 picks for you to lust for.
Glashütte Original‘s Senator Chronometer in blue has us green with envy. Inspired by marine chronometers of the past, there’s nothing more we love in a timepiece than a throwback to classic dress watches. Couple that with a lacquered deep blue dial that goes oh-so-well with the white gold and we’re sold.
On a more rugged note, Oris will be presenting its new Divers Sixty-Five Carl Brashear Limited Edition, an homage to the American Navy’s first African American Master Diver, portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr in Men of Honor. If you’re looking for a watch that goes above and beyond the call of duty while standing out, bronze is definitely the right market for that.
Hublot will be showing off its Big Bang Unico Sapphire, the brand’s first watch to be fully transparent. Quite notable will be the clear strap too, an interesting choice. Love it or hate it, we’re surprised this was Hublot’s pre-Baselworld announcement, leading us to question what could be more mind-blowing than a sapphire timepiece? Time will tell.
We’re going to go out on a limb and say that TAG Heuer’s Carrera Heuer-02T Tourbillon Watch will remain as one of the most talked about timepieces at this year’s Baselworld. A tourbillon at sub $25,000? We’re going to start saving up right now.
Stay tuned for more timepieces coming right up.