Tag Archives: timepiece

Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon pushes aviation-inspired horology to the next level

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Bell & Ross in its DNA is about aviation horology, fusing functionality with aesthetics. Their aviation instrument-inspired watches have had many takers, especially the BR-03 series debuted in 2005. Now the collection is getting another intriguing timepiece to the flight instrument series.

The BR-03 Horizon brings a new way of reading time with the aircraft navigation instrument look and feel that watch lovers will want to add to their collection. Limited to just 999 pieces, the watch pays homage to the vital instruments that keep pilots and the aircraft safe in uncharted territory. Those four screws on the dial stamp the signature brand identity for an impressive aesthetic.

Designer: Bell & Ross

The 100-meter water-resistant BR-03 Horizon is signified by the distinct blue (representing the sky) and black (representing the earth) color scheme which mimics the horizon dial found on aircrafts. This is complemented by the horizontal orange decal (along the 3 to 9 o-clock line) representing the current orientation in the air, indicated by the pitch (tilt forward and back) and bank (side-to-side tilt). Of course, this is just a representation for visual excitement.

The square-shaped 41mm micro-blasted black ceramic case of the timepiece is highly durable against any elements and also looks striking. To top it off the sapphire crystal maintains clear visibility of the dial in any lighting conditions. Keeping track of time is simple with the black and white-striped hand tracking the seconds and the white hand indicating the minutes. The watch is powered by the updated automatic BR-CAL.327 calibre having a 54-hour power reserve.

BR-03 Horizon’s striking dial is matched with the orange synthetic fabric strap. This has a Velcro closure and a black rubber strap, closed with a matte black PVD micro-blasted finish steel pin buckle to keep things contemporary. The timepiece is priced at £3,999 (approximately $5,250) and will surely be sold out in no time, so you better get one if you love Bell & Ross watches.

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Konstantin Chaykin’s ThinKing is ultra-thin mechanical wristwatch that shatters slimness record by 5mm

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Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC – measuring only 1.7mm thick – was the thinnest watch we’d known. Now, ThinKing has skimmed the stakes further down to 1.65mm, and a new thinnest watch is born. Before you start searching for retail stores, the ThinKing by Independent Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin is only a prototype and is waiting to break the production mold.

Richard Mille, Piaget, Bulgari, have all been in the race to build the thinnest mechanical watch. All these watchmakers, and now Konstantin Chaykin included, are radically reducing the thickness of watches and delivering the thinnest watches, one after the other. Aptly called ThinKing being the latest wonder, which is build after the fascination with the ultra-thin Bagnolet pocket watch.

Designer: Konstantin Chaykin

Taking cues from the old pocket watch and integrating an impressive, contemporary design with modern technology, the ThinKing borrows its aesthetics from Konstantine Chaykin’s signature Wristmons mechanical wristwatch. Currently in pre-production, there isn’t much known about the watch, but from how it appears, in pictures, we will try and decipher the obvious about this stainless steel case watch.

More details about the pricing and availability of this new thinnest watch in the world will be known after its first outing at the ongoing Geneva Watch Days exhibition. Until then from the obvious, the watch has a thickness of only 1.65mm and has a dial reminiscent of the Wristmons collection’s Joker series, where the apparent two eyes (on the top half) display hours and minutes, while the bottom half is occupied by the brand logo, which replaces the joker’s smile in the original Wristmons.

If you thought the dial was intriguing, don’t miss the caseback. The back displays the built-in K.23-0 movement (with 32 hours of power reserve) without letting out too much, while the major part here is opaque and engraved with “Prototype of the world’s thinnest watch by K. Chaykin — 30.08.2024,” which would ideally translate into an exclusivity number when the watch is ready for retail.

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The Valuchi Moonphase Expedition Watch brings back a timeless design in a world saturated with tech

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Think of it as a gorgeous restomod amongst a wave of EVs.

The Valuchi Expedition Watch is an attempt at regaining control of a dialog that has been lost to the tech world. With almost every new company releasing smartwatches (some of them being rather substandard), the watch conversation has skewed away from timeless craftsmanship and timekeeping excellence. With the Expedition Watch, Valuchi brings our attention back to classic watchmaking at its finest. The Valuchi Expedition Watch comes with a gorgeous Tonneau shape, a screw-down case, luminous hands, an accurate moonphase tracker, and a Japanese Miyota movement powering it all. The design balances classy with sporty, thanks to rubber straps and a 5ATM waterproof case design, giving you a watch that’s truly made for every moment.

Designer: Valuchi

Click Here to Buy Now: $189 $289 (35% off). Hurry, only 48/100 left!

The watch sports a barrel-shaped Tonneau case, deviating from the square and circle cases seen on every single tech watch today. The case comes with a screw-down bezel made from premium 316 stainless steel, forming a boundary around the watch’s radial-brushed face. The face also features an accurate 30-day moonphase tracker at the 6 o’clock position, accurately displaying the 4 phases of the moon: new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter. Luminous markings on the dial as well as the hour and minute hand allow you to see the time in the dark, and a gorgeous lightning-shaped seconds hand glimmers in daylight, adding dynamism to your timekeeping.

On the inside, the Valuchi Expedition Watch draws power from a Japanese Miyota 6P24 movement that accurately displays the time while also tracking the moon’s phases with immaculate precision. A 3-year battery keeps the watch running comfortably, encased within a water-resistant case that protects the watch when submerged up to 50 meters or 5 ATM. Meanwhile, a hardened mineral crystal on top guards the watch from accidental scratches or bumps (as does the broad 316 stainless steel bezel).

The Valuchi Expedition Watch was designed for a certain mindset – that of someone who wants a watch as versatile and accepting of life’s twists and turns as they are. The watch sports 5 gorgeous color variants, ranging from vibrant to classic, with rubber straps to match. Perfect for wearing to work, black-tie events, the golf course, the tarmac, or even on the beach, the Valuchi Expedition Watch’s everyday, every time appeal makes it your loyal wrist-borne companion. The watch ships globally, packaged inside a gorgeous green box with embossed gold lettering. Along with your watch, the box also includes the watch’s papers and a certificate of authenticity, affirming the quality of your timepiece.

Click Here to Buy Now: $189 $289 (35% off). Hurry, only 48/100 left!

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Limited Edition Urwerk EMC SR-71 watch has parts of the legendary Blackbird spy aircraft

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Urwerk is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EMC series this year with the release of 10 limited edition pieces that are made out of fuselage pieces of the Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” aircraft. Hence, the naming convention “EMC SR-71” which pays homage to the mechanical precision of the famous timepiece that allows the wearer to adjust the mechanical precision offset by the small environment irregularities over time.

The exclusive masterpiece is made in collaboration with aerospace and lifestyle brand Dreamland. This timepiece has been on the idea sheet for as long as four years – back when watch designer Jason Sarkoyan and aeronautical engineer Dr. Roman Sperl inaugurated the Dreamland brand.

Designer: Urwerk and Dreamland

The idea of the Urwerk EMC SR-71 materialized when Dreamland got hold of the SR-71 fuselage’s titanium alloy parts. For this limited edition run, the composite of aluminum, vanadium, silicon, iron, and molybdenum metals is melted to create the folding crank handle of the built-in generator of the watch. The timepiece embraces the angular style of EMC watches to replicate the look of reconnaissance aircraft cockpit instrument panels. Urwerk uses the trusted in-house Caliber UR-EMC manual-wind movement (at 28,800vph frequency) that is a traditional Swiss lever escapement combined with an integrated timing machine. Thus, the watch has a power reserve of 80 hours before needing another cranking. The raw feel of the SR-71 is apparent from the four screws securing the case back.

The matte finish SR-71 has a dial measuring 47.55mm wide by 17.58mm thick, with a profile of 49.57mm in the lug-to-lug direction. The dials indicate the hours, minutes and seconds counter in the bottom right corner. The top left corner dial shows the amount of deviation in movement that can be actuated over a period of time. The power reserve of the watch is indicated by a small arc-shaped register on the left-hand side. Adjacent is a larger arc showing the δ performance indicator.

Olive green Velcro-style straps of the timepiece are mounted to the articulated lugs, unlike other conventional watches. The upper frame and the directional arrow for the generator crank are finished in bright yellow to go with the instrument panel theme. Since the 30-meter water-resistant Urwerk EMC SR-71 entangles Blackbird’s eventful history and carries actual parts from the spy aircraft, the $175,000 price makes complete sense!

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Laurent Ferrier x Hervé Di Rosa limited-edition Classic Micro-Rotor watch flaunts 12-armed character on the dial

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Swiss horologer, Laurent Ferrier, is known for making watches that are timeless yet modern in all accounts. Their ultimate amalgamation of form, function, and aesthetics put LF watches ahead of the curve, and its new design, a revival of a flagship piece with touch of playfulness and art, is a fine embodiment.

To celebrate the longevity of the flagship Classic Micro-Rotor, the watchmaker has collaborated with French artist Hervé Di Rosa and arrived at this recovered timepiece that reflects the timeless elegance and minimalism of Laurent Ferrier and the creativity and imaginative artistry of Di Rosa. The five-piece limited edition watch is a testament to the fine collaboration and exchange of expertise between the watchmaker and the artist.

Designer: Laurent Ferrier

Hervé Di Rosa is a renowned name in the French and International art scene. Best known for being the pioneer of the Figuration Libre art movement in the 1980s, the 64-year-old artist unveiled “Hervé Di Rosa – The Worlds-Passer,” a retrospective exhibition in Paris at the Centre Pompidou, which celebrates his life’s work. In celebration of this occasion, the globetrotting artist has given a new artistic makeover to the Classic Micro-Rotor.

The watch keeps the curves of the Classic case, which is inspired by the pocket watches of the 19th century. The round stainless steel case measures 40mm and features a strikingly different dial comprising a 12-armed character named “Ah! Ah! Ah!” It is a design adapted from one of Di Rosa’s vibrant and chaotic paintings from 1984 called the Dirosapocalypse.

The dial of the Classic Micro-Rotor is completely hand-engraved and it’s made from 18-carat white gold. The artistic dial is topped with the iconic white gold assegai-shaped hands that blend with the base, yet stand out in their appearance. The watch case, on the side, has a ball-shaped winding crown, while the sapphire glass case back leaves you admiring the movement. The in-house FBN 229.01 automatic winding calibre has a 72 hours power reserve. The limited edition Classic Micro-Rotor Di Rosa is 30-meter water resistant, and priced at 80,000 CHF (roughly $90,000).

 

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Navigator Analog Watch reflects its allegiance to USS Armstrong starship from the word go

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Certain watchmakers shoulder the responsibility of pushing the defined boundaries with exceptional haute horlogerie. This is not only toiling with complexity; it is reinventing the wheel with craftsmanship and material usage that catapults the timepiece into ultimate rarity where it stands alone to be admired from afar. Its exclusivity substantiates it will forever be away from our reach yet the lure keeps us connected to the unique character.

Based on the idea of reconsidering the mold and reinventing the retro-futuristic allure; a designer envisioned one such analog timepiece – for the Yanko Design x Titan Design Competition – that reflects its allegiance to the USS Armstrong (NCC-317856) starship from the word go.

Designer: Santosh Palaniappan

The competition challenged aspiring designers to reimagine select everyday products – an analog wristwatch, a women’s handbag, a piece of wearable jewelry, and eyewear – with a unique twist. The idea had to fulfill the underlying theme of Retrofuturism, so it resonated with nostalgia yet had its feet in the future.

By swaying into sci-fi territories and then stitching it in time for a wearable, Santosh has for us the Navigator Analog Watch, which he believes is a “humble tribute to his beloved franchise, Star Trek.” From what’s apparent, the watch has a timeless aesthetic – created from a deep admiration for the saucers of the starships – which finds synergy with Star Trek’s optimistic portrayal of humanity’s progression and neatly blends science-fiction with reality.

From how it is designed, though; its interface is ready for global exploration with a red compass needle occupying the dial adorned with subtle geometric motifs. The Navigator Analog Watch innards are neatly streamlined within its disc body which is precision crafted from a single piece of aluminum. The watch case clips magnetically onto a specially designed rubber strap with thematic metal stars using the magnetic crown present underneath the watch. What do you feel about it?

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Golf-inspired luxury mechanical watch boasts a shapeshifting face that changes every day

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I assume that there’s a significant overlap between the watchlover demographic and the golf-playing demographic. Both of them are indicators of high-society, and people who love golf or watches don’t hesitate to flaunt their interests. Designed for specifically that intent, the Byrne Gyro Dial Golf timepiece combines the love for time and turf into one gorgeous mechanical design. The watch comes with a grassy dial, featuring a 3D watch face that tells the time while also highlighting its mechanical prowess. The dial boasts an open-worked rotor at the center, with four mechanical number cubes on the top, bottom, left, and right. As the day passes, the cubes rotate to ‘refresh’ the watch face, alternating between Roman and conventional numbers, and even replacing them with golf balls or golf clubs. Every day, the watch changes its face, giving you something new to look forward to each day, and something to brag about when you’re showing your timepiece off to your friends on the green…

Designer: Byrne

Byrne’s Gyro collection is known for its dynamic displays. Unlike conventional watches with static dials, the Gyro Dial features four rotating cubes that change faces every 24 hours, revealing new designs. The Golf edition takes this a step further by incorporating miniature golf-themed engravings on these cubes.

Imagine glancing at your wrist and seeing classic Roman numerals one day, then playful golf clubs (driver, iron, sand wedge, putter) the next. The watch even features miniature, intricately detailed golf balls with realistic dimples. For traditionalists, sporty Arabic numerals are also included in the rotation.

This unique display isn’t just about aesthetics. The rotating cubes are a feat of engineering. To accommodate the additional weight of the miniature sculptures, Byrne has refined their automatic Calibre 5555 movement. This Swiss-made marvel ensures smooth and precise daily rotations.

The Byrne Gyro Dial Golf is housed in a sleek, 41.7mm grade 5 titanium case with a green-tinted main plate that subtly references the golf course. The sapphire caseback offers a glimpse into the intricate workings of the movement, showcasing its open-worked rotor with elegant finishes.

A comfortable green rubber strap completes the sporty look. Limited to just 24 pieces, the Gyro Dial Golf has a starting price of CHF 25,000 (approx $27,500 USD).

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Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1 world-timer stays accurate even when countries move to Daylight Saving Time

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Bovet fan or not, you cannot help but be awe-struck by the Swiss luxury watchmaker’s complications, craftsmanship, and artistry in collector-worthy timepieces that are over the top for consumers like you and me. That means, even if it is beyond the depth of our pockets, the exceptional work ranging from the ridiculously priced Récital 22 Grand Récital to the new Bovet watch dubbed Récital 28 Prowess 1 is worth appreciating.

The latest addition to the company portfolio, Récital 28 Prowess 1 is the first universal time watch that can adjust to the changes in Daylight Saving Time (DST). While presenting itself as a timepiece that should never let you lose time no matter where you are in the world, it is a significant leap from traditional world timers and features an inventive perpetual calendar, flying tourbillon, and an in-house movement with up to 10 days of power reserve.

Designer: Bovet

Before delving into the details about the abovementioned features, let’s go through how the watch is constructed and what you get. The Récital 28 Prowess 1 comes in a new 46.3 mm Writing Desk case created by Bovet itself in choice of 18K Red Gold, 950 Platinum, and Grade 5 Titanium. Irrespective of the material, the intricately detailed watch features hand-finished and hand-engraved bridges.

The sizeable case allows the dial to make room for a lot of complications starting with the patented double-sided flying tourbillon on the top at 12 o’clock. The highlight is in the center where the 24 cities are displayed on rollers that are controlled through the crown. Each of these cylinders have four positions for UTC, AST (American Summer Time), EAS (Europe and America Summer Time), and EWT (European Winter Time). With the push of the crown, the four different time zones can be adjusted independently.

Given the intricate complication, the Récital 28 Prowess 1 worn on a black alligator leather strap, is extremely exclusive with production limited to only eight pieces a year (in each case material). Of course, owning the watch starting at CHF 650,000 (titanium edition) is a rarity, but if you have one, you can in addition to the flying tourbillon and the DST world-timer, also flaunt the built-in perpetual calendar. With the date and leap year indicator, the perpetual calendar – inner workings visible through the exhibition caseback – is mounted on rollers that roll back automatically like a slot machine at midnight, at the end of the month and at the culmination of the year.

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This Special Limited-Edition Pocket Watch is centenary recreation of the first Citizen pocket watch

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Citizen, as the name suggests, is one watchmaker who has perfected the art of making timepieces people “love and use for a long time.” This journey started somewhat with the first product, a pocket watch titled Citizen, from where the company perhaps acquired its name. One hundred years have passed since 1924, when this pocket watch was made; now to commemorate the feat, the Japanese watch manufacturer has recreated its first pocket watch.

The 100th anniversary edition of the first Citizen pocket watch dubbed the Special Limited-Edition Pocket Watch could scale back the time for these tactile timepieces that were once a staple but lost popularity as wristwatches took over as the timepiece of choice. Staying true to the original in more ways than one, the recreated, modern timepiece makes subtle changes on the dial.

Designer: Citizen

Given that the new pocket watch revisits the era gone by, it also tabs on some modern-day horology nuances to make this special edition model a prominent bridge between the past and present. To that accord, the Special Limited-Edition Pocket Watch features a 43.5mm titanium case with sapphire glass on the front and back. The watch measures 13.4mm at the thickest point and to remain true to the original counterpart, has Arabic numerals, blue hands, and the small seconds at 6 o’clock as in the OG.

It’s essentially the white electroformed dial that spurs the change. Finished with clear coating and polishing, the dial has a unique pattern that Citizen notes is an “evocation of the build-up of snow during a snowfall that suggests the accumulation of time gone by.”

The timekeeping on the new Special Limited-Edition Pocket Watch is ensured by a hand-wound movement with a free-sprung balance wheel adding a touch of modernity. The movement provides a 55-hour power reserve and a noted accuracy of -3/+5 seconds/day. An ideal 21st-century pocket watch, Citizen centenary recreation is paired with an indigo charcoal colored silk braided cord that matches the hands on the dial. The watch strictly limited to 100 examples will retail with limited-edition number engraving and inspection certificate for $9,000 apiece.

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Ventura Edge Dune Limited Edition drops straight out of “Dune Part: Two” fantasy onto your wrist

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Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming movie Dune: Part Two is creating quite a buzz before its March 1 release in the US. Hamilton Watch with its stint of creating watches for more than 500 movies since 1930, wasn’t going to let this opportunity go. The result is a collaboration with Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros to create a duo of exclusive Ventura timepieces inspired by the epic space opera movie’s prop watch. One of them is the Desert Watch carrying a minimalist charm while the Edge Dune Edition has a sci-fi character to it.

We found a fancy for the latter, so we’ll be talking about this sci-fi timepiece here. However, some things are common to both these watches including the commemorative ellipsoid packaging that represents the psychedelic drug in Melange and the water depicted by the blue section. On special request of Denis to create the timepiece in close association with the film’s prop master, Doug Harlocker, the watch turned out to be as unique as it gets. It defies the traditional watch norms resulting in a hardwearing wrist gadget well-suited for the Fremen.

Designer: Hamilton Watch

The Hamilton Ventura Edge Dune Limited Edition has a case made out of black PVD coating and measures 51mm x 47.2mm. The 100-meter water-resistant watch mimics the 3D relief elements present in the original timepiece depicted in the movie. I particularly like the intricate circuit board effect and the amazing texture complementing it.  On the face, it displays the time in cool blue digits and gets the quartz movement on the inside.

The time reading is done in a vertical formation, looking like a faint blue text that lights up at the push of a button. Also, the blue ring on the watch illuminates to complete the look. When the lights go out they go out with a slight brightness peak and fade into the dark, just like the original prop timepiece. The Hamilton Ventura Edge Dune watch will be limited to just 2,000 units and comes at a price tag of $2,500.

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