Straight from the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation, we bring to you some of the timepieces that stood out for us. The magnificent collection of exquisite watches at the exhibition this year has left us in awe at the intricacy and detailing of these pieces. Here are some of our top picks so far:
Excalibur Blacklight Spin-Stone™ Monoblancier
Since the beginning, Roger Dubuis has produced distinctive, exquisite watches with the motto “Never be afraid to shine” ingrained in their watchmaking DNA. An innovator that knows how to push the boundaries of craftsmanship and design to create some of the most stunning watches ever made in the watch industry. We can clearly see this with their latest release, the Excalibur Blacklight Spin-Stone™ Monoblancier, which is just something else entirely.
The smooth amalgamation of hues on the spinal arrangement range from red to blue, with aqua blue on the bottom, then flowing to navy blue and pink, and finally red coming in at the 12 o’clock position. This colour grading is carried out throughout the dial, from the bezel and flange to the inner workings of the eye-catching calibre’s framework, which is compromised of its own 3D spinels. The hour indicators also glow in the dark!
A white calf leather strap with the brand’s adaptable, quick strap release system is attached to the intricate-looking dial, giving the wearer a touch of personal style.
Specification:
Case: 42mm diameter
Case Material: Eon-GoldTM Case with Eon-GoldTM bezel
Dial: Pink gold plated double surface flange set with curved synthetic spinels SPIN-STONE TM with gradient hues
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with Anti-Reflective Coating
Water resistance: 10 Bar (100m)
Movement: RD720SQ Calibre
Power reserve: 72 Hours
Bracelet/Strap: Embossed white calf leather strap.
Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin – Obsidian
For the first time since its refurbishment in 2016, Piaget has introduced a manual perpetual calendar into its Polo line. With this new creation, Piaget puts on display some of the most mind-boggling complexities in Watchmaking, enhanced by the moon phase indicator.
Three subdials at 9, 3, and 12 o’clock on the Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin display the date, the month, and the day of the week. This is in addition to the deep emerald-green dial with a contemporary design and the moon phase indication at 6 o’clock. Also, the timepiece features a large 42 mm case that is 8.65 mm thick and nevertheless fashionable and thin. Also, in keeping with Piaget’s tradition, the subdials have Super-Luminova indices and a range of finishes that, when lit by light, increase visual depth.
Specification:
Metal: White gold
Strap type: Alligator
Strap color: Blue
Strap buckle: Folding clasp
Case shape: Cushion
Case diameter: 42 mm
Dial material: Obsidian
Dial color: Blue
Index: Batons
Waterproofness: 03 ATM
Specificities: Sapphire crystal case back
Movement: Automatic mechanical
Precious stones: Sapphire
Pilot Automatic Ceramic
Modern. New. Updated, Zenith has served this with its “new and improved” Pilot Automatic Ceramic watch. The 2012 collection was relaunched with a more modern and up-to-date style, in line with their prior collections. The new case design, with a flat-top bezel on top of a rounded case, is paired perfectly with the Arabic numerals and sword-shaped hands that are filled with white lume.
Two replaceable straps are included with the Zenith Pilot automatic: a black and khaki Cordura strap for the ceramic version and a black Cordura and brown calfskin leather strap for the steel version. Without using a tool, the convenient quick-release mechanism enables you to quickly change your watch’s strap and personality.
Specification:
Diameter: 40mm
Case Material: Steel and ceramic options
Dial Color: Black with horizontal grooves
Indexes: Applied Arabic numerals
Lume: Super-Luminova (SLN C1) on numerals and hands
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap/Bracelet: Black “cordura effect” and brown calfskin leather straps (on steel); Black and khaki cordura effect rubber straps (on ceramic)
Cartier Baignoire
Since its creation in 1912, the Baignoire watch has seen numerous iterations. Cartier uncovers the watch’s oval face, which is its defining characteristic, and transposes it onto a bangle that may be slipped as snugly around the wrist as feasible. The watch is able to transform into a fine piece of jewellery and watch, thus checking both boxes of a timepiece and jewellery. Appealing to your feminine side, this is one classic and vintage piece, that suits all wrists.
The dial’s distinctive Roman numerals are capped with a richer gold ribbon in a new arrangement of proportions.
FREAK 2001
Ulysse Nardin’s technical mastery, with a mechanism deconstructed to express time autonomously, led a revolution that altered the face of watchmaking forever by rewriting its rules of design, mechanicals, and materials. The name Freak pays homage to Rolf W. Schnyder and Ludwig Oechslin, both of which were true geniuses and “freaks” in their own ways.
The name definitely does justice to this creation. The Freak has a huge hollow in place of a dial that is nearly as deep as the watch, giving the impression that the watch is practically formless despite possessing a not absurdly thick 12mm case. And the watch just has a mechanism with a set of hands. Yes, the hands of the watch are also its movement, unlike the usual watch hand movements. The hour hand is attached to a disk that completely revolves behind the movement, making it slightly more conventional but still atypical.
