In Baden-Baden, Germany, the Harry Winston Opus 14 was introduced at a celebrity-studded event headlined by pop star Robin Thicke.
The real star of the event for watch enthusiasts in attendance, of course, was the watch itself: the new Opus 14 with a second hidden time zone designed by Franck Orny and Johnny Girardin, the same movement designers behind the Montblanc Metamorphosis.
At the after-party following the event, Swatch Group executive Marc Hayek took the time to show this exciting complication to the avid collectors attending the event.
Let’s watch Hayek demonstrating the Opus 14’s big trick: revealing and hiding the second time zone and displaying a “Route 66” style American star.
Marc Hayek showing the Harry Winston Opus 14 to fellow collectors at the private after-launch party
The second time zone indication on the Harry Winston Opus 14 shown at lower left
On its way: the second time zone of the Harry Winston Opus 14 partially retracted
The star logo on the Harry Winston Opus 14, partially deployed
The star logo of the Harry Winston Opus 14 fully deployed and second time zone fully hidden
Hayek was quite animated as he proudly showed the new watch to the small group of collectors in attendance; he was full of praise for movement designers Orny and Girardin.
“As you can imagine, the designers faced many challenges in delivering this complication in a practical way,” said Hayek. “I was very proud of how they viewed each challenge not as a barrier, but as an opportunity to create a solution. They worked hand-in-hand over the past two and a half years with colleagues at Blancpain to identify possible solutions and realize them. This search for ways to deliver new ideas is at the heart of the Opus series.”
Harry Winston Opus 14
I asked Hayek whether this meant that the Opus series would continue, and he said, “Absolutely! The next watch is already well underway. As shown with this launch, we have freed ourselves from the constraint of launching exactly at the time of Baselworld each year. While I would of course be delighted if we could launch a new member of the series each year or even every six months, the expectation should be that we will bring new Opus watches to market when they are fully ready.”
The Opus 14 will begin delivery immediately.
We will publish more photos and information on the Opus 14 very soon, so please stay tuned.
If you would like to learn more about the history of the Opus series and see the rest of the collection, please see The Harry Winston Opus Series: A Complete Overview From Opus 1 Through Opus 13.
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Dear all,
compliments for the post, very well done!
I’m just wondering why do they choose Baden-Baden to unveil this Opus? Is there any reason?
Thank you and compliment again!
Best,
Giancarlo
Thanks very much for your kind remarks, Giancarlo! To be honest I’m not quite sure why Baden-Baden was the choice, but if I can find out will report to you. Certainly Harry Winston was looking for surroundings that communicated real elegance, and Baden-Baden was 100 percent suitable for that!
I was told that a West Coast US/Los Angeles location was considered but in the end we had the chance to experience this lovely spa town, and that was just great as far as I was concerned.
Best regards,
Gary
Perhaps that location was chosen because the watch looks like the result of two angry roulette tables that had a physical altercation, and Baden-Baden has a casino of some historical significance, if memory serves.