The value of precise time is inestimable

“Stop time!” A dream. Always. Even before the Faust of Goethian memory. Which is why trapping the unstoppable passing of time in a haute horologerie dial epitomises insatiable desires. The same desires that are embodied, by means of the longest hand, in burnished steel, for the chronograph seconds, and the shortest, in gold, to wind the movement, in the refined mechanism to measure the split-seconds between a minute, which animate the rattrappante chronograph with perpetual calendar 1815 by A. Lange & Söhne. And captured in the stylised forms of highly technical complexity that embellish the convertible case of the Bovet Cambiano Cambiano Chronograph, designed by Pininfarina, beginning with its dial, which is curvaceous with sharp corners, with symmetrical ergonomic pushbuttons. Together with the feminine seduction that envelops Bovet Récital 9 Tourbillon Miss Alexandra, which is swathed in sparkling diamonds of a timeless cut, and bridges and plates on an open-worked movement. Instead, Chopard’s L.U.C Tourbillon Only Watch 2013, its titanium case adorned with relief or “filet” engravings, also known as Fleurisanne engraving and typical of the village of Fleurier, which bears the coat-of-arms of principality of Monaco on its rhodiumed 18 carat gold dial, has been produced to help raise funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. The Girard-Perregaux Small Chronograph MoM, instead, a special edition designed by Susan Rockefeller, which with its column wheel, visible through the transparent dial, embellished with an 38 rubies and bearing the engraved motto “Protect What is Precious” for the Mission of Mermaids, pays homage to environmental causes. But it is only with the round case of three shaped parts, the convex sapphire crystal and the transparent case-back that H. Moser & Cie Perpetual 1 reveals a heart connected to a ‘perpetual calendar’ which automatically indicates the date via a ‘Flash Calendar’, the only display in the world able to change the date from the end of the month to the start of the following month without any invalid numbers appearing in the window. In the grade 5 titanium case, with or without black DLC coating, of the MCT Sequential One S110, the perspectives created by the prism assemblies with new numerals, cross-shaped bridge and minute pointer announce a complex horological architecture. For Harry Winston, the case with its three arches embracing the crown, studded with 57 brilliant-cut diamonds, reveals the feminine charm of the new dials of the Ocean Biretrograde, with sunray diamond-point finish encircling the hours and minutes dial. The Portuguese Chronograph Classic, in 18-carat rose gold or steel, with silver-plated or slate-coloured cambered dial, reinterprets the elegant design of classical IWC Schaffhausen timepieces. The Portuguese Tourbillon Hand-Wound is a blend of nautical instruments and cutting-edge mechanics, with a slim line and tourbillon rotating around its axis every 60 seconds. The two surreal balances, instead, suspended above the dial from four arching arms give the MB&F Legacy Machine No. 2 a contemporary appearance, as attention is drawn to the planetary differential just below in the centre of the dial, thereby combining art and micro-engineering. Omega offers sophisticated models such as the Seamaster Planet Ocean ”SOCHI 2014” Limited Edition, which is powered by a co-axial Omega automatic movement with silicon balance spring; the Seamaster Aqua Terra 15.000 Gauss, which is resistant to magnetic fields, with a date window at 8 o’clock and yellow details; and the Ladymatic pearls & diamonds, with 34mm red gold Sedna gold case and bezel with diamonds, mother-of-pearl dial, indices with diamonds and hands in red gold. From the world of Formula 1 to precision horology comes brown Silicon Nitride, which is light and resistant and used