Diver’s watches were to be found all over Baselworld 2018, and Sabine shares her favorite newcomers in this technical field. These five debutants delight with their unique styles and convincing technical features. No wonder, for each one of them was made by an expert in the category.
In 2018, Jaeger-LeCoultre pays homage to one of Switzerland’s most significant artists of the nineteenth century, Ferdinand Hodler (1853–1918), with a Reverso Tribute Enamel available in three versions limited to eight pieces each: ‘Lake Geneva with Mont Blanc in Morning Light’; ‘Lake Thun, Symmetric Reflections’; and ‘Lake Thun with Symmetric Reflections Before Sunrise’ (Sabine’s favorite).
While blue is still on top in the world of watches, we have witnessed the introduction of a great amount of magnificent green dials lately. Here are five vibrantly green newcomers using expressive color to create horological excitement.
Neither round nor square, the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse introduced a bold and sensationally slender watch with unmistakable style 50 years ago. And it just got even better with the anniversary edition featuring a surprising dial color.
Grand Seiko makes some of the finest movements in the world, so it seems only natural that the Japanese brand pull out all the stops for Baselworld 2018: limited editions with the latest technology that also conserve original aesthetics – a task that the Japanese watch giant fulfills with much aplomb.
I feel that the Chanel Boy.Friend perfectly embodies the spirit of the great Coco Chanel, who had a penchant for masculine fabrics and cut and believed “simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance” and “fashion fades, only style remains.” The new Skeleton version powered by Chanel Caliber 3 is an exquisite version of this.
My favorite green Baselworld 2018 debutantes are the Glashütte Original Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date. They feature intriguing and sublimely textured faces that are crafted in the company’s own dial manufacture in Pforzheim, Germany using original tools and methods.
Here are Sabine Zwettler’s favorite five “three hands plus date” from the fantastic watches on display at SIHH 2018. What they all have in common is their meticulous attention to detail, including numerals, hands, case sizes, and materials as well as color schemes and top-notch straps and bracelets, which result in the classiest of looks.
While we usually try to avoid complication in our daily lives, complications are the icing on the proverbial cake in the world of high-end timepieces. And one of the most exquisite complications is the retrograde date, in particular when it’s done by the perfectionist Kari Voutilainen.
One of the big surprises for me at the 2018 SIHH was Panerai’s new releases of some – I guess I would call them – small watches. I’m not talking about delicate models under 35 millimeters in diameter when I say small, but a respectable 38 millimeters for the smallest model. Yes, you read that correctly.