Manufacture Zenith pays tribute to legendary explorer
Christopher Columbus with a fascinating watch creation, the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage II. The complex mechanism is complemented by an exceptional exterior design and finishing. Entirely hand-finished, the impressive timepiece is limited to 10-piece edition, reflecting the adventures of the Italian seaman. In 2013, the brand presented the first Grand Voyage version featuring a unique, splendid decor. This year, the new creation enlarges its horizon on the technical level with three major breakthroughs in watchmaking history: a patented Gravity Control system, a fusée-chain transmission and an exceptional frequency of 36,000 vibrations/hour. The watch relies on Zenith’s famous El Primero automatic movement, the world’s most precise series-produced chronograph, and comes in a prestigious mahogany box inlayed with ox bone and adorned with a screen-printed motif on papyrus reproducing the first world map mentioning the name “America”. The box can also serve as a humidor.
Glashütte enlarges its Pano collection with 
new models of the PanoMaticLunar and PanoReserve. A closer look at the red gold PanoReserve version reveals a matt black dial, gold hands and applied hour indexes, a black on white Panorama Date and a gold-handed power reserve indicator. In a less dark tone, the dial of the stainless steel version is a galvanised blue with white gold hands, while the applied hour indexes are white on blue. In the interest of improved legibility in the dark, all versions feature luminous highlights on the hour and minute hands. A manual winding Calibre 65-01 with 42 hour power reserve and 48 jewels operates the watches. The characteristic Glashütte Original duplex swan-neck fine adjustment can be seen through a sapphire crystal case back.
After presenting its first batch of 2015 novelties at 
Geneva Days in January, Hublot gives us a taste of what is to come at Baselworld by unveiling two new Big Bang Ferrari watches. Dubbed as “exceptional sports watches in honour of exceptional racing cars” the 2015 editions are part of the Big Bang line’s 10th anniversary celebration. The first model, Big Bang Ferrari Black Ceramic, sports Ferrari’s legendary red colour on the dial and strap, while the Big Bang Ferrari Grey Ceramic is inspired by the historic North America Racing Team livery. Clearly identifying with the automotive world through colours and details such as the distinctive Ferrari grille which is represented by a blackened criss-cross mesh over the UNICO manufacture movement, the new Big Bang Ferrari watches are limited to 250 pieces each. Both models have a 72-hour power reserve.
Jaquet Droz‘s homage to the 18th century 
Independent Seconds is a revised version of its iconic model: the “Deadbeat” Seconds, a masterpiece of watchmaking precision equipped with a new caliber. During the Age of Enlightenment, Pierre Jaquet-Droz was presenting his timepieces to the intellectually-hungry European royal courts. The very rare Independent Seconds complication was created at that time, allowing the direct-drive seconds hand to make a small jump every second instead of advancing in a linear manner, thus giving extremely accurate measurements and paving the way for the chronograph. Jaquet Droz has reapplied the technique to its Grande Seconde and has also ensured exceptionally accurate timekeeping by using a silicon balance-spring which remains unaffected by magnetic fields or changes in temperature and pressure. 
With such a diverse preview of 2015 novelties, this year’s Baselworld promises to bring interesting and exciting new timepieces ranging from sporty watches to grand complications.
