The Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5270 was originally launched at Baselworld 2011 as a new complicated wristwatch with a rich 70-year heritage of tradition and innovation. This year at Baselworld 2015, Patek presented a new iteration of the ref. 5270 in 18K rose gold. Unfortunately, this exceptional timepiece didn't get as much attention as the new Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time ref. 5524G-001 featured here. Nevertheless, the new Patek Philippe ref. 5270R-001 is without a doubt the quintessential Perpetual Calendar Chronograph —in a perfectly sized case measuring 41 mm in diameter— and one of the most coveted references among Patekaholics. The Patek Philippe ref. 5270 available up until now only in 18K white gold —or platinum with diamonds under reference 5271—, combines the functionality of a perpetual calendar with the new classic chronograph caliber that is crafted entirely in-house.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Hublot Big Bang Unico Italia Independent Limited Edition. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Already and only after our day one at Baselworld 2015, we can fairly say that so far, blue has been the color of choice for several of the novelties presented across different manufactures we've met with so far. Here, we present you one of our favorite watches from the fair as we type, we are talking about the impressive Hublot Big Bang Italia Independent Limited Edition ref. 411.YL.5190.NR.ITI15 which is the latest in a long line of innovative Hublot timepieces that combine inspirational design with state-of-the-art materials. The new Hublot Big Bang Unico Italia Independent Limited Edition of 500 pieces in either denim blue or denim gray, is fitted with a robust case measuring 45 mm in a brand new material that is exclusive to the brand and that is named Texalium. This new material highly resembling the typical pattern on carbon fiber comes with a slightly different sheen, product of the aluminum-coated carbon fiber used on its case. After doing this hands-on review, we can tell you that this new watch is worth the money.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Bell & Ross Vintage WW1 Edición Limitada. A Watch Inspired by Cigars and Made for Cigar Lovers. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Continuing with our coverage of Baselworld 2015, here we bring you our hands-on review of this new Bell & Ross Vintage WW1 Edición Limitada —Limited Edition in Spanish— limited to 99 pieces. Because time is easily forgotten when you’re enjoying yourself, Bell & Ross has chosen to equip its new Vintage WW1 Edición Limitada ref. BRWW1-GRM-PG with a movement with a 5-day power reserve with a manual wound mechanism that is armed with a double barrel. On the matte grainy tobacco brown dial, one can appreciate an exposed balance wheel at 9 o'clock and a power reserve indicator with the inscription in Spanish “Reserva de Marcha 5 días” —5-day Power Reserve. Fitted with an elegant highly polished pebble-shaped 5N 18K red gold case measuring 42 mm in diameter, the new Bell & Ross Vintage WW1 Edición Limitada exudes class and elegance, while evoking the Latin American tones that gave its inspiration.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Carbon Limited Edition. Live Pictures and Pricing.
This time, we bring you the new Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Carbon. This new watch presented at Baselworld 2015 a few weeks ago is the result of the continued partnership between Hublot and Ferrari. The new Hublot Big Bang Ferrari Carbon is available in a 45 mm case in either 18K King Gold ref. 401.OJ.0123.VR or Titanium ref. 401.NJ.0123.VR. Both watches in a limited edition of 500 and a 1000 pieces respectively, are fitted with one of the most unique bezels we've seen in the market. Sharing the same vision of performance, innovation, and the use of precursor materials, the result is a carbon bezel incrusted with gold or titanium with a micro-blasted coating for extra hardness and a silky metallic-effect appearance.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Arnold & Son Golden Wheel. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Continuing with our coverage of the novelties presented at Baselworld 2015, here we bring you the impressive horological feat by Arnold & Son called the Golden Wheel. The new Arnold & Son Golden Wheel is the world’s first wandering hours and true beat seconds watch. With a rich British watchmaking heritage that dates back to the 18th century, Arnold & Son masterfully reinterprets history with a visionary eye to the future. Underscoring its watchmaking prowess, Arnold & Son regularly unveils complicated watches with a unique twist. The patented Golden Wheel deftly reflects the brand’s ingenuity and commitment to Haute Horlogerie. The Golden Wheel timepiece is a unique three-dimensional interpretation of the ancient wandering hours complication that has roots in table clocks of the mid-17th century. In fact, the first implementation of the wandering hours complication in pocket watches was most likely made in England at the beginning of the 18th century. Thus, it is a fitting complication for the Arnold & Son watchmakers to reinvent anew, perpetuating the long tradition of wandering hour watches.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Edition. Live Pictures and Pricing.
After partnering with Audemars Piguet for several years and after the release of two Royal Oak Offshore limited editions, the legendary Paris-Biarritz race Tour Auto Optic 2000 is now partnering with Zenith. They will finally come together on the starting line of the 24th Tour Auto. Zenith will be the official timekeeper of the competition, and three connoisseurs of mechanical beauty and speed will set off, along with their co-drivers, under its banner. On their wrists, the new Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Edition, a sporty model specially designed for the event in a limited edition of 500 pieces. This new watch, crystallizes the spirit of its partnership with the Tour Auto. Haute Horlogerie and collector's cars are linked by fastidious expertise, as well as a desire for perfection and elegance. The new Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Edition joins them forever by combining the revolutionary chronograph movements for which the Le Locle Manufacture has become famous, with a design whose finely nuanced colors and symbolic elements reveal a subtle automotive influence.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M 'James Bond' Spectre Limited Edition. Live Pictures and Pricing.
In anticipation of the release of the 24th James Bond film 'Spectre' scheduled to open later this year, Omega has created a limited edition Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M model inspired by the Bond family coat of arms. This new Omega just unveiled at Baselworld 2015 over a week ago. The dial, in the most interesting hue of midnight blue, features the coat of arms repeatedly interlocking to create a dynamic pattern on the watch’s blue dial. The coat of arms is also found near the tip of the yellow central seconds hand and a yellow minute track completes the amazing look of this new timepiece. Powered by the completely new Omega Master Co-Axial calibre 8507, this timepiece is resistant to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss —however the brand played with the 007 number and added it to the gauss rating on the dial as 15,007
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Patek Philippe Nautilus in 18K Rose Gold with Matching Bracelet ref. 5711/1R-001. Live Pictures and Pricing.
The Patek Philippe Nautilus is a watch that needs little introduction. Launched in 1976, quickly became a legendary and iconic watch just like every other watch designed by Gerald Genta. Perhaps Genta was gifted with the 'Midas Touch' or maybe he was just the biggest visionary the horological world has had so far. Either way, the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711 is now also available in 18K rose gold with matching integrated bracelet. Fitted with a stunning light/dark brown gradated dial with gold applied hour markers with luminescent coating, the new Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711/1R-001 is simply a stunner. Still powered by the same calibre as the rest of the 5711s, the automatic calibre 324 S C, this new timepiece is definitely one of our favorite watches from Baselworld 2015.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Arnold & Son DSTB. Live Pictures and Pricing.
This Baselworld 2015 was a big year for Arnold & Son with five novelties being presented. The Arnold & Son DSTB ref. 1ATAS.S02A.C121S in stainless steel, is part of the Instrument Collection and like every other model from Arnold & Son, features an in-house mechanical movement. The true beat seconds is a traditional complication of Arnold & Son, and this watch pays tribute to the watches produced by John Arnold during the second half of his career. Those technically superior, widely distributed chronometers reflected Arnold & Son’s commitment to exceptional precision and solved the problem of determining longitude at sea. Upholding that legacy, Arnold & Son’s master watchmakers thrive on creating complicated movements for exquisite timepieces. Such is the case with the DSTB watch, a truly innovative technical and architectural achievement. The newly developed automatic movement showcases the true beat seconds' mechanism entirely on the dial side.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph ref. 5905. Live Pictures and Pricing.
This year at Baselworld 2015, we saw the largest number of watches with blue dials. One of our favorite timepieces presented this year by Patek Philippe is the Annual Calendar Chronograph ref. 5905P-001 in platinum. This new watch available in two dial variations —blue or black— is a well balanced perfectly designed watch with a 42 mm case in 950 Platinum. Annual Calendars are one of our favorite complications as you get a lot of watch for your money. The Annual Calendar mechanism automatically takes into account the differing lengths of individual months. Unlike a perpetual calendar, however, the annual calendar is unable to factor in the differing length of the month of February or the leap years. Once a year, then, at the end of February, it requires manual correction. To make things even better, the new Patek Philippe ref. 5905P additionally features a convenient 60-minute chronograph at 6 o'clock —with built-in day/night indicator—, while the annual calendar information is displayed via three apertures between 10 and 2 o'clock.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Breguet Tradition Independent Chonograph ref. 7077. Live Pictures and Pricing.
For a manufacture like Breguet, literally everything is possible. Thus, this year at Baselworld 2015, we had the opportunity to work on this hands-on review of the new Breguet Tradition Chronographe Indépendant ref. 7077 —Independet Chronograph. This new chronograph is a true feat of horology and one of the most amazing complications. Measuring elapsed times provides immediate visualization of the desired function, but making it work is an additional mechanical challenge, because starting a chronograph disturbs the main gear trains. To alleviate this problem, Breguet has fitted its new Tradition Chronographe Indépendant ref. 7077 model with two independent trains. This new Independent Chronograph is fitted with a robust round case measuring 44 mm in diameter and available in either 18K rose gold or 18K white gold. All traditional characteristics of a Breguet timepiece are present including the case band fluting, the Breguet secret signatures and the handmade Guilloché.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Bell & Ross BR01-92 10th Anniversary Limited Edition. Live Pictures and Pricing.
This year at Baselworld 2015, our friends from Bell & Ross presented more than twenty novelties, amongst those, a new limited edition celebrating 10 years of the iconic BR01-92 square-shaped case Bell & Ross was presented. The new Bell & Ross BR01-92 10th Anniversary Limited Edition ref. BR0192-10TH-CE pays homage to the watch that became the Bell & Ross signature watch since its launch in 2005. Fitted with a matte black ceramic case and in a limited edition of 500 pieces, this new watch is a perfect execution to celebrate such milestone. Equipped with a matte black dial with the traditional B&R layout and a small 10th anniversary medallion at 6 o'clock, the watch exudes coolness and aviation.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges 70th Anniversary. Live Pictures and Pricing.
This year at Baselworld 2015, the Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 timepiece celebrates its 70th anniversary with two limited series paying tribute to the original model and the great watchmaking tradition of the bicentenary Manufacture. One of these two limited editions is the new Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges 70th Anniversary. Like the original Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, the Vintage 1945 collection is rooted in the rich history of Girard-Perregaux. It started back in 1945, when a watch design was inspired by the Art Deco movement. Today, that watch is called the Vintage 1945, and it is an art deco inspired timepiece of which multiple iterations —references— exist and that we have reviewed here and here. The Art Deco movement profoundly made its mark on architecture, interior design, fashion, painting and photography.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Christophe Claret Allegro. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Following Adagio and Soprano, Christophe Claret presents his latest musical masterpiece, Allegro. A master watchmaker with 25 years of experience, Christophe Claret has combined the finest horological complications in Allegro: a minute repeater with cathedral gongs, GMT, big date, small seconds and a day/night indicator. These features are all found in a completely redesigned movement featuring a unique regulator that was designed and manufactured in-house. The 45 mm round case harmoniously blends either 5N red gold or 5N white gold with grade 5 titanium treated with anthracite PVD. An opening in the sapphire dial reveals the striking mechanism. The transparent dial allows the wearer to marvel at the movement’s architecture, featuring Charles X style skeletonized, stepped bridges. With this new timepiece, the conductor of this musical horological orchestra from Le Locle proves he is at the zenith of his art.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the MB&F Melchior L'Epée 1839 Table Clock. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Last year at Baselworld 2014, MB&F surprised everyone with its Starfleet Machine table clock in partnership with legendary clock maker L'Epée 1839 as we featured it here. This year at Baselworld 2015, in order to commemorate their 10th anniversary, Max Büsser and friends —MB&F— presented a new super cool table clock that looks like a robot out of a sci-fi scene named Melchior. Additionally, the Geneva-based Horological lab will present a number of Anniversary Pieces during the year, under the theme: ”A creative adult is a child who survived”.
Melchior, created with L’Epée 1839 is an impressive kinetic robot which may remind you of your childhood dreams, but also happens to be an impeccably finished, 480-component mechanical table clock with five barrels and a steel and brass armour. Fitted with articulated arms —the right one packing a rocket launcher and the left a Gatling gun that serves as the clock key winder—, jumping hours, sweeping minutes, double retrograde seconds and a 40-day power reserve this clock is a true tribute to refined, classic clock and watchmaking.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Flower. Live Pictures, Video and Pricing.
This year at Baselworld 2015, just like every other year, the brand wowed everyone with several watches featuring automatons. As you all know, Jaquet Droz's history was marked by his creation of automatons in the 18th century. In 1774, he successfully completed three humanoid automatons —The Writer, The Draughtsman and The Musician— that were presented in La Chaux-de-Fonds and a year later in France to Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. This year, we were surprised with three amazing timepieces —fitted with automatons— from Jaquet Droz and here's one of them, we are talking about the new Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Flower.
This remarkable timepiece featuring Jaquet Droz's iconic figure-eight shaped case, is available in 18K white gold —8 pieces— or 18K red gold —28 pieces. The 18K white gold reference we have here, comes with a snow-set diamond dial totaling 0.65 carats, an 18K white gold butterfly applique with 54 blue sapphires totaling 0.87 carats and a surprising automaton underneath the domed glass on the top part of the figure-eight with a flower that opens and closes on demand.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Armin Strom Manual Gumball 3000 Limited Edition. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Each year for 17 consecutive years, supercars, superstars and superfans across the globe unite for the Gumball 3000 annual supercar rally which sees 120 incredible cars drive a 3000 mile route around the world. After this year’s event, which travels from Stockholm to Las Vegas in just seven days, Gumball 3000 entrants can reclaim "Gumball fever" by owning a 2015 Gumball 3000 commemorative wristwatch by Armin Strom. The Armin Strom Manual Gumball 3000 ref. ST15-GB.90 in stainless steel black PVD is fitted with a case measuring 43.4 mm in diameter and a thickness of 13 mm. This new watch just released at Baselworld 2015 features a black, white and red theme to celebrate the logo of the Gumball 3000 rally. Fitted with a black leather strap with red contrast stitching, red lining and a stainless steel black PVD pin buckle, the watch is not only cool but quite sexy. This watch was perfectly made to celebrate at the Gumball 3000 finish line in Las Vegas on May 29th, 2015.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Linde Werdelin SpidoLite Gold and SpidoLite Titanium. Live Pictures and Pricing.
This year at Baselworld 2015, Linde Werdelin didn't go as far as it did last year when it released the Oktopus MoonLite with a very special alloy called ALW, instead, this year Linde Werdelin decided to continue to capitalize on skeletonization of their movements and dials to enhance the look of their SpidoLite collection. This year, two new watches were unveiled, the SpidoLite Gold and the SpidoLite Titanium. Both watches in a limited edition of 75 pieces each, show remarkable skeletonization and ultra cool design. While the look of these two new watches is remarkable, one thing that we do need to point out —and we've said this before—, is that the sapphire crystals still don't come to with anti-reflective coating to improve readability and eliminate that unwanted glare that doesn't allow one to fully appreciate the skeletonized dials. Linde Werdelin, one more time, please add the AR coating to the crystals and either you soften the sharp edges of the crown guards or increase the crown size a bit so it's easier to pull out and operate.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Omega Globemaster. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Without a doubt, this has been a big year for Omega at Baselworld 2015. Not only the brand beefed up their dial options for the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon, but also revamped the PloProf line and added several novelties within the ladies portfolio including a White Side of the Moon in white ceramic. However, the most expected release from Omega this year was the watch we have here, the Globemaster. Created in the true spirit of Omega, the Globemaster houses the brand’s most advanced mechanical movement and features a design inspired by early Constellation models from 1952 and 1968, even its name was originally used for the Constellation timepieces that were produced and distributed in the U.S. in the 1950s. For the first time, along with the traditional COSC —Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres— certification, this new watch also comes with the METAS —Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology— certification, which makes this timepiece a Master Chronometer instead of just a Chronometer.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Deadbeat. Live Pictures and Pricing.
A masterpiece of watchmaking precision, a Deadbeat Seconds timepiece is a very rare complication that takes some of the most skilled horologists to make. Long forgotten and mostly used by brands like Arnold & Son, the Deadbeat —Dead Seconds a.k.a. Seconde Morte— has now been rediscovered by Jaquet Droz and released at Baselworld 2015 in the new Grande Seconde Deadbeat. For those of you wondering what a Deadbeat seconds mechanical timepiece is, it is very simple. A Deadbeat timepiece is one in which the seconds hand advances by jumping second by second —ticking as in a quartz powered watch—, rather than by sweeping around the dial. The new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Deadbeat ref. J008033200 is fitted with an elegant 18K red gold case measuring 43 mm in diameter and a rolled edge alligator black strap with matching pin buckle.