Continuing with our coverage of all the Panerai novelties released at the SIHH 2019, comes the new Panerai Submersible Chrono Guillaume Néry Special Edition PAM983, not to be confused with the other Guillaume Néry Edition PAM 982. What makes this watch different, other than the obvious nuances with a black DLC titanium case and bezel and with a blue black dial, is that this watch is sold including an epic experience that only 15 lucky buyers will get to enjoy. The fortunate few who acquire this new Panerai will have the opportunity to participate in an exclusive experience to take place in Moorea —French Polynesia— where free-diver Guillaume Néry lives.
SIHH 2019: Panerai Submersible Chrono Guillaume Néry PAM 982. Live Pictures & Pricing.
As mentioned during our review of the new Panerai Submersible Luna Rossa, this year at the SIHH 2019, Panerai focused their novelties around their Submersible line and released a dozen different Submersible timepieces. The new Panerai Submersible Chrono Guillaume Néry Edition PAM982 is one of our favorites and the result of a partnership with Guillaume Néry the free-diving champion. When we first heard that Panerai was partnering with him, we got really excited as we are big fans of Néry and his diving videos on Youtube are simply epic. We first discovered Guillaume Néry like 6 years ago when he was still an ambassador for Ball Watches —we really couldn’t care less for the watches— and he did a video base jumping into Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin Black Ceramic ref. 26522CE. Live Pictures & Pricing.
After the success of the black ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, Audemars Piguet brings back the heat this time with the intense blackness of this limited edition of 100 pieces of the Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin. An incredibly sexy watch in person, the black ceramic is satin-finished and polished just like any metal Royal Oak. Cased in a generous 41 mm case, this time the Tourbillon Extra-Thin featured a sunburst pattern on the dial radiating all the way from the cage of the tourbillon to the perimeter on what is called the “Tapisserie Evolutive” pattern.
SIHH 2019: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon. Live Pictures & Pricing.
The new Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon is the very first automatic tourbillon in this sporty collection. Housed in a 42.5 mm stainless steel case, the new Overseas Tourbillon features a striking translucent lacquered blue dial —sunburst satin-finished base with velvet-finished flange— in the exact same glossy finish as the one on the Overseas Dual Time released last year. With a tourbillon carriage shaped like a Maltese cross, the opening at 6 o’clock reveals its intricate beauty taking the center stage.
SIHH 2019: Urwerk UR-105 CT Maverick. Live Pictures & Pricing.
After the huge success of the UR-105 CT Streamliner and the UR-105 CT Kryptonite comes a new iteration of this iconic model this time with a bronze and titanium case construction under the name CT Maverick. A watch that could very well be shaped after the helmet of a Roman Centurion , the new Urwerk Maverick is a timepiece that would evolve acquiring the patina of the owner’s lifestyle. Constructed to withstand the daily abuse of its wearer, the UR-10 CT Maverick features Urwerk’s wandering satellite hours where the hours, minutes and seconds are indicated at the front thanks to the emblematic and instantly recognizable signature element of the brand for 18 years.
SIHH 2019: Hermès Arceau L'Heure De La Lune Moonphase Watch. Live Pictures & Pricing.
While Hermès has been making watches for a very long time, it wasn’t until the last three to four years that the orange box leather goods maker has turned into a power house in the field of horology with their very own watch manufacture located in Switzerland. Without a doubt, one of the best releases at the SIHH 2019 was the new Hermès Arceau L'Heure De La Lune moonphase watch available in two versions, one with meteorite dial and the other in aventurine. With two mobile subdials —time and date— that circle around the dial of the watch day-by-day eclipsing two moons located at 12 and 6 o’clock —South and North hemispheres respectively—, the indication of the cycles of the moon is cleverly represented in a way in which it was never done before by any other brand.
SIHH 2019: IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition "The Longest Flight" ref. IW395501. Live Pictures & Pricing.
Centered around the The Spitfire designed by Reginald J. Mitchell —one of the most sophisticated developments in the history of aviation—, IWC launched several new watches in their Pilot’s Spitfire Watch collection to honor this aircraft and the Longest Flight Project. Just like the legendary British fighter aircraft which is the result of a perfectly functional design, so is the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition "The Longest Flight" ref. IW395501. While the watch doesn’t come with any elliptical wings like the plane in question, the Timezoner —originally launched in a Chrono version for the SIHH 2016— is also easy to maneuver with its unique silhouette and bezel that controls the world timer complication.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 44 'Pride of Germany' Limited Edition. Live Pictures & Details.
While the attention was centered on the new CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet as well as some of the new Royal Oaks released by the brand, there’s a pair of new watches that barely anyone got to see and that we were able to even shoot for you. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 44 ‘Pride of Germany’ comes in two iterations and is the first time that AP releases a ‘Pride’ edition in a 44 mm case. The first one, an 18K rose gold model with black ceramic bezel ref. 26416RO.OO.A002CA.01 and the second one, a full black ceramic —case and bezel— model ref. 26415CE.OO.A002CA.01. Without a doubt, our favorite iterations of the Royal Oak Offshore 44 line.
SIHH 2019: Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Petrol Blue Dials. Live Pictures & Pricing.
When we received the press release about the new Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Petrol Blue dial we couldn’t wait until we could see the watches in person at the SIHH 2019. Finally, last week we had a real treat when we got to peruse these two new watches in the metal. This gorgeous new Petrol blue dial with opaline center and sunburst exterior is now available for the stainless steel versions of the FiftySix Self-Winding and the FiftySix Complete Calendar ref. 4000E with moonphase indicator. With an extremely well balanced dial thanks to its double apertures at 12 and a gorgeous moonphase indicator at six o'clock, this is without a doubt, one of the best looking Vacheron Constantin watches out there. Hopefully, these live pictures will get as close as possible to the real beauty of the dials in person.
SIHH 2019: Santos de Cartier Large with Blue Dial. Live Pictures & Pricing.
The Santos de Cartier collection received a major facelift last year and this year at the SIHH 2019, the focus was on the release of a new Santos Chronograph, a couple of new Skeletonized references —one of them with superluminova on its bridges—, the new Santos Dumont lineup and the new Santos large model with blue dial we have here. Named after Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos Dumont whom Cartier made a watch for, the Santos de Cartier features a square case with curved edges and exposed screws that are unmistakable design cues of this legendary watch. The Santos large size with blue dial features a stainless steel case measuring almost 40 mm wide —39.8 mm x 47.5 mm actual size.
SIHH 2019: Panthère de Cartier Figurative Black Lacquer. Live Pictures & Pricing.
As much of a bracelet as it is a watch, the new Panthère de Cartier Figurative is one of the most unique timepieces presented by Cartier at the SIHH 2019. An 18K yellow gold bangle that opens up by twisting one of its sides with the iconic panthère on one end and a quartz watch on the opposite end, the new Panthère de Cartier Figurative is an absolute objet d’art —art object. Feminine, tasteful and exuberant are some of the words that come to mind when perusing this new timepiece in the form of a piece of jewellery.
SIHH 2019: Cartier Baignoire Allongée Celadon & Cartier Tank Chinoise Red. Live Pictures & Pricing.
Amongst many novelties released by Cartier this year at the SIHH 2019, the new Cartier Libre collection stands out because of its lineage and strong DNA. While five pieces were recently presented, there are two watches that we absolutely loved because of their strong art deco look and because they exude Cartier all the way. First let’s talk about the Baignoire Allongée Celadon. Named ‘baignoire’ —word in French for bathtub— because of the similarity between its oval case profile resembling a bathtub, this new watch is endowed with an 18K white gold case measuring 47 mm in length by 21 mm in width and 8 mm thick. Its case in an ode to the jewelry mastery of Cartier is studded with diamonds, emeralds and Paraiba tourmalines.
SIHH 2019: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Burgundy Red. Live Pictures & Pricing.
Paying tribute to the original and first Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso launched in 1931 comes a new iteration of the Reverso Tribute Small Seconds in stainless steel this time sporting an intriguing burgundy red dial. In a hue that could also be described as ‘ox-blood’ color, the watch is equipped with a Casa Fagliano matching red strap. Created in the 1931 as a convenient watch for polo players, the purpose of the Reverso was to be able to maintain the front of the watch protected during a polo match by virtue of swiveling and exposing a solid case back on the front. A perfect example of the Art Deco movement, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Burgundy Red is one of the sexiest Reversos out there.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Collection. Live Pics, Details & Our Point of View.
As soon as we saw the first pictures that were leaked of the new CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection, we decided to respectfully wait until we saw the watch in the metal before we could pass any judgement. While our first impressions based on those pictures were not positive, the right thing to do for WCL was to wait for the dust to settle and not comment anything until we had perused the new watches long enough to provide an unbiased point of view and our honest impressions.
SIHH 2019: Piaget Polo S Green Blueish Dial Limited Edition. Live Pictures & Pricing.
Endowed with a 42 mm stainless steel case the Piaget Polo S on strap sports a limited edition new dial that is die for. Despite that since the time of its launch we haven’t been the biggest fans of the Piaget Polo S because of its design lacking much originality and looking more like a crossbreed between a Patek Philippe Nautilus, an Aquanaut and the original Piaget Polo, when it comes to this particular new Polo S Green Limited Edition, our stance is completely different. After seeing the watch in the metal sporting this new dial at the SIHH 2019, we have to say that this Piaget Polo S is extremely good looking and one that we would consider wearing without any hesitation.
SIHH 2019: Panerai Submersible Luna Rossa PAM 1039. Live Pictures & Pricing.
This year Panerai focused their novelties around their Submersible line and released a dozen Submersible timepieces. While some of them were not linked to some sort of partnership or strategic alliance, there were others like the Luna Rossa that are the result of a collaboration with the 36th America’s Cup Challenger of Record. The new Panerai Submersible Luna Rossa comes with a Carbotech case measuring 47 mm in diameter and a grey dial featuring recycled old sails from the America’s Cup Luna Rossa AC75 team.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15500. Live Pictures, Pricing and Detailed Explanation of Nuances.
With the release of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15500 with a 41 mm case, the 41 mm Royal Oak reference 15400 is now officially discontinued. While many felt that the reference 15400 was not perfect, to us it was a very well balanced Royal Oak in terms of overall proportions and design. When the Royal Oak reference 15400 first came out in 2012, collectors of the brand were critical about the fact that the AP calibre 3120 seemed relatively too small for a 41 mm case size —as it was originally launched for the 39 mm reference 15300—, and that due to that, the date aperture was positioned too far to the left needing a small hash marker to its right.
SIHH 2019: A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Solid Pink Gold Dial. Live Pictures & Pricing.
Originally launched in 2016, the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon is one of the most complicated watches from our friends from Saxony and this year at the SIHH 2019 it simply just got much better. A first for the brand and in a limited edition of only 100 pieces, the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon jhas been graced this year with a very special solid pink gold dial in a white gold case. Unexpectedly, given its compact dimensions, this unique multi-complication watch features a flyback chronograph, a perpetual calendar with moon phases, a tourbillon with stop seconds, and a power-reserve indicator.
SIHH 2019: IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition 'Mojave Desert'. Live Pictures & Pricing.
Amongst the many novelties released by IWC, all of them with focus on the Pilot’s Watch line including the Spitfire and the Big Pilot’s, one of our favorites from the SIHH 2019 is the IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition 'Mojave Desert' with its sand colored ceramic case –a first for the brand. Limited to 500 pieces, this watch could’ve clearly come straight from Operation Desert Storm with its very appealing and unique color hue. Sporting a sand colored dial and sand colored fabric strap, the new IWC ‘Mojave Desert’ is a tribute to the home of the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake —the largest land area of the U.S. Navy— and the color of the uniforms worn by Navy Pilots.
SIHH 2019: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpétuel. Live Pictures & Pricing.
One of the greatest stars at the SIHH 2019 was the just released Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpetual Calendar. A watch that shows the prowess of the manufacture in its fifth multi-axis tourbillon with miniaturization of the tourbillon component to create a more wearable watch. Additionally, the watch combines to other major complications turning it into a Grande Complication type of watch. Combining a Westminster carillon minute repeater that replicates the melody of London’s Big Ben clock tower and a perpetual calendar, the watch is available in a limited edition of only 18 pieces and a hefty price tag of CHF800,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $805,000 USD. The watch is available with two different dials, one being a silver grain dial and the other a gorgeous enamel guilloché blue-greenish dial as shown here.
