Since visiting the Bovet manufacture in Fleurier last year, I’ve developed a newfound love for the brand. And, yet, if you had asked me which one timepiece stood out and made me fall head over heels, I would have had a hard time giving you an immediate, concrete answer. That is, until I discovered the Récital 18 Shooting Star, an unusually elaborate and decorative world time watch.
Romain Jerome and Warner Brothers’ DC Entertainment have joined forces once again to pay tribute to the comic world’s Dark Knight, just in time for the release of ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ hitting theaters this weekend. Like something out of Batman’s own arsenal, the black 46 mm PVD-coated stainless steel case includes an asymmetrically faceted bezel finished with alternating rough-brushed and polished surfaces. And don’t forget the lume! Cape not included, though.
With its latest skeleton watch Nebula, Arnold & Son looks to the stars and the earth in equal measure. Nebula features a brand new movement conceived from the ground up with a specific design and sense of purpose. The beautiful symmetry of the result clearly shows as much, and first thing that grabs you about this timepiece is its visual balance. The next thing that will grab you is its price.
While at first sight it appears far less “outlandish” than the U10, there is little about the Angelus U20 Ultra-Skeleton Tourbillon that is actually conventional or trendy, beside the fact that it has a round case.
Conceptually, at least, one could say that the U20 picks up right where the previous release called the U10 left off, experimenting with transparency and spotlighting skeletonization.
And what else?
In 2013, Louis Moinet took the watch world by surprise when the brand revealed that its historical namesake was in fact the inventor of the chronograph.
The Compteur de Tierces pocket watch by Louis Moinet dating back to 1816 was proof positive.
And now in 2016, Louis Moinet commemorates the bicentennial of the first chronograph with a series of commemorative pieces: this Memoris 200th Anniversary “chronograph-watch” edition is the first, and it displays a large number of really interesting details.
When you hear the name François-Paul Journe spoken out loud, the vision of a men’s quartz watch is probably not what immediately springs to mind. Essentially, the Élégante 48mm is an upsized addition to F.P. Journe’s Élégante collection, which made its debut two years ago as a ladies’ watch. As far as high-end analog quartz watches go, this one is pretty darn neat. It’s also quite polarizing.
Ten years after the launch of H. Moser & Cie’s emblematic Endeavour Perpetual Calendar, the boutique brand finds itself providing commentary on the state of the Swiss watch industry simply by the types of watches it is releasing. As H. Moser & Cie makes its debut at the SIHH in 2016, it chooses to introduce a unique wristwatch that pays homage to the brand’s illustrious past as well as the traditional values and crafts of the Swiss watchmaking industry: the Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Heritage limited edition.
I was invited by H. Moser & Cie to attend a most atypical press conference in Zürich. The occasion was the first parabolic flight in Switzerland, during which Moser, along with its escapement-making sister company Precision Engineering, tested movements and components in zero gravity. H. Moser & Cie also launched the new Pioneer collection, its most contemporary yet.
Every once in a while an independent watchmaker or boutique brand comes along with something of truly unprecedented ingenuity. Once such piece is Cabestan’s Triple Axis Tourbillon, which was first presented at Baselworld 2015. Boasting a triple-axis tourbillon escapement as well as an unorthodox design and technical construction, the Cabestan Triple Axis Tourbillon is one for the books.
It’s an extraordinary feat when some of the most established names in watchmaking and up-and-coming independents come together for a worthy cause.
The 2015 edition of Only Watch is to be held on November 7, and this sixth edition of the biennial charity auction sees the highest number of donated pieces ever: 44 in total.
Read on for a complete listing and photos, including estimates, of the all unique piece watches in the 2015 Only Watch auction.