Gentlemen, here are the top 10 timepieces from the biggest watch show in the world organised each spring in Basel, Switzerland.
Chopard’s L.U.C All-in-One: Made as a 10-piece limited series, this watch squeezes in 14 indications on two faces, including a perpetual calendar, tourbillon and astronomical indications. Best of all? It comes with a power reserve of an entire week.
Price: Rs 2,74,23,327
Patek Philippe’s Reference 5531R: This takes horology into new territory by chiming the time in any of 24 time zones when selected as the local time. Coming in a rose-gold case, it includes a hand-painted cloisonné enamel dial depicting the Lavaux vineyard terraces that rise above the shores of Lake Geneva.
Price: Rs 3,93,58,979
TAG Heuer’s Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Chronometer: After its partnership with Gulf Oil, TAG Heuer has launched a new watch featuring a dial decorated with blue and orange stripes, and a left-hand winding crown—just like the 1969 original Monaco. Only 155 pieces are being released to celebrate 55 years since the Heuer Carrera was first created.
Price not revealed.
Bell & Ross’ Horo: The ultimate in professional aviation watches, this year the brand presented two new pieces—the BR03-94 Horolum and the BR03-92 Horoblack. Their name comes from ‘Horo’, which is a reference to B&R’s concept using matt micro blasted steel on the boxes and dials for an optimal readability.The Horoblack is limited to 999 pieces, while Horolum is limited to just 500 pieces.
Price: Rs 4,00,130
Slim d’Hermes GMTH: This suave travel watch comes with a smoked-grey dial, off-set second time-zone with eccentrically positioned numerals and a day/night display. The case is made from palladium, an extremely rare metal in the world of watchmaking. Inside is Hermes’ ultra-slim manufacture movement, the automatic H1950m, with its distinctive micro-rotor.
Price: Rs 9,88,480
Omega’ Dark Side of the Moon: This is a new version of its celebrated chronograph—the Nasa-sported Speedmaster. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 mission, the Dark Side of the Moon ceramic-cased Speedies has a skeletonised dial, revealing movement bridges decorated via a process of laser ablation to resemble the moon’s surface itself.
Price: Rs 6,58,803
Breitling’s Navitimer 8 B35 Automatic Unitime 43: Designed keeping the international traveller in mind, the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B35 has the COSC-certified chronometer. This can tell the time in multiple timezones thanks to an independent hour hand. The stunning dial is available in black or silver.
Price not revealed.
Breguet’s Classique Tourbillon: This new edition focuses on the off-centre tourbillon, thanks to a muted white dial in Grand Feu enamel. The technique involves repeated dustings of silica enamel powder fired in an oven at super-hot temperatures, to build up a perfectly smooth surface. Price: Rs 1,12,21,895
Rolex’s GMT Master II: Made in steel with the classic red and blue ‘Pepsi’ bezel, the new GMT-Master II watches are equipped with the new calibre 3285, a next-generation movement with big improvements in precision, power reserve, resistance to shocks and magnetic fields, convenience and reliability.
Price: Rs 21,61,333
Carl F. Bucherer’s Manero Peripheral: The COSC-certified chronometer is now joined by new versions, whose rose gold and stainless steel cases have grown to a diameter of 43 mm. The peripheral rotor that powers the watch revolves around the movement. This provides an unhindered view of the high-quality movement, which is not concealed by a conventional winding rotor. Price not revealed.
Next week: The Beauties of Basel—the best ladies’ watches unveiled at Baselworld.