Watches & Wonders is back for a second round and this time not only digitally but live at the West Bund Art Center in Shanghai. To celebrate this occasion, we put together a selection of our favorites releases.
A. Lange & Söhne
The Watchmaker presents the TOURBOGRAPH PERPETUAL HONEYGOLD, a timepiece that embodies its desire to always take precision watchmaking to new heights. Limited to 50 pieces this horological marvel is the most complex anniversary edition the brand has ever created.
This timepiece is the perfect combination of complications and it orchestrates perfectly the interactions between chronograph, rattrapante and perpetual calendar, which is usually a major watchmaking challenge. For the dial arrangement, A. Lange & Söhne took a completely new approach: it is made of black-rhodiumed honey gold with raised numerals and scales that stand out from the dark background. Perfection in a watch case.
Panerai
The Florentine watchmaker is presenting in Shanghai a new take on one of its iconic model and material. The PANERAI SUBMERSIBLE GOLDTECHTM OROCARBO – 44MM is a combination of innovation and tradition defies convention.
The new reference makes its distinctive character apparent through a balance between disciplined elegance and bold athleticism. Its personality is enhanced by a case made from Panerai GoldtechTM, a gold alloy with an intense and stable color made possible by its significant copper content and enrichment with platinum. To break with the ordinary and accentuate the attitude of the model, a material was chosen to give shape and substance to functional components such as the bezel, crown and crown bridge lever.
Vacheron Constantin
An invitation to travel, the 41mm Overseas self-winding watch blends a pink gold case and bracelet with a blue Overseas dial. It comes with three interchangeable straps in pink gold, blue alligator leather and blue rubber,
The Overseas self-winding watch relies on the Manufacture 5100 calibre and its comfortable 60-hour power reserve. In addition to its accuracy and reliability, it is graced with refined decorations revealed through the sapphire crystal case-back. A 22K gold oscillating weight adorned with a wind rose rotates on the baseplate graced with a Côtes de Genève motif.
Roger Dubuis
The Excalibur Superbia is a lavish timepiece but behind the bling lies the craftsmanship. It takes each gemsetter an average of 30 minutes to do a single groove, corresponding to 900 hours for this operation alone on all three sides of the 600 diamonds, plus 420 hours to set the case and bezel of this 45 mm piece. The Excalibur Superbia is crafted in palladium-enriched white gold and set with exactly 600 precious white diamonds and blue sapphires.
It features a brand-new DOUBLE FLYING TOURBILLON movement, the RD108SQ, inspired by its legendary version launched in 2005, the first double-regulator calibre connected with a differential, built up in volume and adorned with a diamond-set star. Simple, straight and utterly frank , the lines of this exceptional piece of artistry are strongly reminiscent of the spatial art forms favoured by interior design artist KAZ SHIRANE with whom the brand that dares to be different shares a number of characteristics – not least from a visual perspective.
On the sidelines other industry players also released some interesting pieces.
Audemars Piguet
The brand from Le Brassus is expanding its Code 11.59 with a new Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph. Limited to 50 pieces this release combines the classicism and prestige of the flying tourbillon with the modernity of the flyback chronograph. This horological masterpiece has an 18-carat white gold case with double glareproofed sapphire crystal, with a water-resistant to 30 m.
Frederique Constant
This is not a high profile release but it might be one of the most exciting in its category. For 2020, the brand has updated the ingenious concept and reinvigorated the collection by adding three new models: the Highlife Perpetual Calendar Manufacture. Two years of development were needed to give birth to these models.
The Highlife Perpetual Calendar Manufacture is a 41mm watch with several complications, as mentioned in its name, and Convex sapphire crystal with anti-glare coating on both sides. It is water resistant up to 5 ATM and comes with 3 different straps.
Omega
The latest James Bond movie might have been postponed but OMEGA has now delivered a brand new Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond Numbered Edition, offering plenty of high-tech details for 007 fans to enjoy. This 42 mm Platinum Gold watch is part of a numbered release offering 007 fans the opportunity to own a bit of the legend.
