Features

Watches: Time tellers

28 Feb 2018 by Business Traveller India
REINE DE NAPLES 8965 BY BREGUET

A watch is more than just an instrument of time-telling. It has evolved into an accessory that could be compared to a piece of indulgent jewellery. Watchmakers around the world are packing timepieces with state-of-the-art technology and special features. Last year was no exception, where brands like Breguet, IWC, Longines, Rado, Rolex and unveiled a range of editions and variations.

Here are some of the watches that have made heads turn in recent times.

REINE DE NAPLES 8965 BY BREGUET

Reine de Naples collection is inspired from a bracelet watch that was designed for Caroline Bonaparte, Queen of Naples by A.-L. Breguet. The watch case is made with 18k rose gold and its case-back is created with sapphire crystal. It features a mother of pearl dial and is encrusted with 83 brilliant cut diamonds. Some of its other nuances are a 38-hour power reserve, silicon made balance-spring, roman numerals in rose gold at 6 and 12 o’clock and water resistance up to 30 metres. With an alligator leather strap with gold folding clutch, it is powered by the 591C calibre movement. breguet.com

SUPEROCEAN HÉRITAGE II 42 BY BREITLING

SUPEROCEAN HÉRITAGE II 42 BY BREITLING

Breitling’s special edition  “Superocean Héritage II 42” is a self-winding, high-frequency machine. It has a diameter of 42 mm and comes with a 70-hour power reserve. The wristwatch consists of a steel case and features cambered sapphire which is glare-proofed from both sides. The ceramic bezel is scratch-proof and can unidirectionally rotate. It is water resistant up to 203 metres. It has a leather strap and is bejewelled with 28 precious stones. breitling.com

RAIDER BIVOUAC 9000 BY FAVRE-LEUBA

RAIDER BIVOUAC 9000 BY FAVRE-LEUBA

Favre-Leuba unveiled its iconic timepiece – Raider Bivouac 9000 — to celebrate its 280th anniversary. The Raider Bivouac 9000 is the first mechanical wristwatch capable of measuring altitudes of up to 9000 metres above sea level. A homage to its legendary 1962 namesake, it has been refined to measure altitude with the aid of an aneroid barometer. Unlike the 1962 Bivouac, the new version is also watertight — this is because the air inlet in the case, which is required for the barometer, is protected by a fine but tough membrane made from a micro-perforated hydrophobic material. This membrane allows air but not water or dust particles to pass through.The red central hand indicates the altitude on the bidirectional rotating bezel, which carries a scale divided into 50-metre steps, up to 3000 metres. One full clockwise rotation of the red central hand thus indicates a climb in altitude of 3000 metres. favre-leuba.com

UNICO SAPPHIRE RAINBOW BY HUBLOT

UNICO SAPPHIRE RAINBOW BY HUBLOT

Hublot developed a limited edition timepiece under its Big Bang collection called the  “Unico Sapphire Rainbow.” It has a diameter of 45 mm and bears polished sapphire crystal. The bezel is set with 48 baguette-cut coloured sapphires, rubies, topazes and tsavorites. It is polished with 18k white gold and has a skeleton dial of polished transparent composite resin. The wristwatch comes with a transparent structured lined rubber strap and titanium deployable buckle clasp. The self-winding chronograph has a 72-hour power reserve and is water resistant up to 50 metres. It is equipped with the flyback complication and a column wheel. The sapphire comes with an anti-reflective treatment. hublot.com

INGENIEUR CHRONOGRAPH EDITION “RUDOLF CARACCIOLA” BY IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN

INGENIEUR CHRONOGRAPH EDITION “RUDOLF CARACCIOLA” BY IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN

This is a special edition of 750 watches, dedicated to Rudolf Caracciola, the top racing driver who raced for Mercedes-Benz. The chronograph edition  “Rudolf Caracciola” is launched under IWC’s Ingenieur collection that’s known for its exclusive limited edition collections. The watch features a slate-coloured dial and has a stainless steel case. It is styled with a printed tachymeter scale, rhodium-plated hands and appliqués. This automatic, self-winding timepiece has a diameter of 42 mm. Some of its other specifications include see through sapphire glass back, anti-reflective coating on both sides, date display and in-house 69370 calibre movement that makes its debut with this piece. The watch comes with a designed brown strap, which is inspired from the classic sports car’s leather seats. The watch has a 46-hour power reserve and is water resistant up to 61 metres. iwc.com

CONQUEST MOONPHASE BY LONGINES

CONQUEST MOONPHASE BY LONGINES

“Moonphase” is launched under Longines’ Conquest collection, a classic sports line launched in 1954. Available in diameters of 29.5 mm and 34 mm, this chronometer is powered by the quartz L296 calibre. The sporty model has a  “moon phase” display at 6 o’clock. It has a stainless steel bracelet. The dials are available in sunray silver, white matt and lacquered black with two Arabic numerals and nine indexes. It is water resistant up to 305 metres and has sapphire crystal case with anti-reflective treatment. The watch can be worn for formal occasions as well as casual ones. longines.com

SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA 150M CO-AXIAL MASTER CHRONOMETER BY OMEGA

SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA 150M CO-AXIAL MASTER CHRONOMETER BY OMEGA

Omega introduced the  “Seamaster Aqua Terra” in gold. The wristwatch features a mother of pearl dial and has 11 diamond indexes in 18k Sedna gold holders. The diameter is 34 mm and the watch is water resistant up to 152 metres. The bezel is encrusted with diamonds as well. The timepiece is powered by 8801 calibre and is anti-magnetic. It consists of a transparent case back, and has a date window at 6 o’ clock. A self-winding chronometer, it comes with a 55-hour power reserve. It is arched with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and has anti-reflective treatment on both sides. For styling purpose the  “water resistance” wording is imprinted on the case back instead of the dial. omegawatches.com

TRUE THINLINE DIAMONDS BY RADO

TRUE THINLINE DIAMONDS BY RADO

Rado has produced an extremely thin ceramic timepiece under its  “True Thinline” collection. A stylish piece, this model is bejewelled with 12 precious Wesselton rocks of 0.067 carat each. With a diameter 30 mm, it is water resistant up to 30 metres. The watch is designed with a rose gold ring encompassing the white dial. The chronometer is made with white high-tech ceramic, which is lightweight and scratch resistant. The hypoallergenic strap is also created with high-tech ceramic. The watch case is a combination of ceramic and stainless steel with a thickness of 4.9 mm. rado.com

OYSTER PERPETUAL SEA-DWELLER BY ROLEX

OYSTER PERPETUAL SEA-DWELLER BY ROLEX

Rolex launched a special edition under its perpetual Sea-Dweller collection that was first introduced in 1967. This suave divers’ chronograph has a diameter of 43 mm and has a cyclops lens on the crystal at 3 o’clock. It features a black dial with a sharp chroma-light display. It is water resistant up to 1220 metres. The black cerachrom bezel insert is made of scratch proof ceramic. Powered by the 3235 calibre, the timepiece has a 7-hour power reserve. Some of its other details include a mono-bloc middle case, screw-down case back, winding crown and scratch-proof sapphire. The bracelet is made of 904L steel and is equipped with safety clasp to prevent accidental opening. rolex.com

Sanchita Nambiar

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