Stories to Tell
Timepieces imbued with a slice of history make for enigmatic acquisitions
Some days, we tell stories. Other days, it’s nice to have stories told to us. Nicer still is having these stories on our wrist ready to be told. If you listen carefully, you may just hear enough for a new story to be written.
Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Moon Swiss Serpentinite
The latest variation of the hugely successful Grande Seconde line, this new special edition conjures the magical inspiration from the moon, bringing poetry to watchmaking, breathing into the mechanical the lunar mystery that it still largely unknown.
The challenge of adding a moon phase complication to the Grande Seconde was to transcribe the dimensions of precision and fluid lines while preserving the esthetic codes of the signature figure "8" design. The final decision was to place the moon at the heart of the perpetual calendar, forming a nexus between date and moon. This also allowed Jaquet Droz to apply a multi-level dial that gives tremendous depth to the watch.
The detail does not stop at the unique choice of serpentinite for the dial, a rock with texture akin to snake skin, with an equally peculiar sensation to the touch. Jaquet Droz craftsmen’s expertise in working with mineral dials was put to the test with serpentinite, as the extremely brittle nature of the rock provides a supreme challenge.
The unique nature of this watch extends beyond the choice of material to where the serpentinite was mined. Taken from the slopes of the Matterhorn, from a spot near Hörnli Hut, the iconic base camp of the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865, each watch carries history and a piece of the majestic Matterhorn, a symbol of Switzerland across the globe. This rarity is issued in a numbered limited run of only 88 pieces.
Tag Heuer Monaco 1979–1989 Limited Edition
In Le Mans, France – where else? – last June, TAG Heuer unveiled to the world the second of five limited edition Monaco timepieces that mark the icon’s 50th anniversary. The setting for the big reveal couldn’t have been for fitting – in the 1971 film "Le Mans," actor and "King of Cool" Steve McQueen strapped on a Monaco to his wrist, securing its place in horological, film and pop culture history forever.
How the Monaco arrived at his wrist is a story of complete luck, as explained by Jack Heuer himself. Heuer had sent stopwatches and chronographs to the "Le Mans" film set for filming and was also able to include six identical Monaco watches; the stock available on hand was made possible by the watch’s poor sales at that time. Steve McQueen wore it, and today it is a TAG Heuer icon.
Even though 50 years have passed, it’s still easy to see how every aspect of the Monaco watch design was radical back in 1969. Above its obvious unique esthetics of adapting a classic chronograph dial design into a square watch, it was the first ever square water-resistant watch, and also the first to feature an automaticwinding chronograph movement.
The first limited anniversary model took inspiration from the years 1969 to 1979, the first decade of the Monaco’s history, this second model is all about the 1980s, featuring a fiery bold red dial synonymous with cutting-edge design and racing victory. Paired with a black calfskin strap punctured with holes lined in red, this 169-piece limited edition perfectly encapsulates the flamboyance of the era.
Corum Admiral 42 Full Black
With the release of the Admiral 42 Full Black, Corum is turning tradition over with a complete black-on-black treatment, eschewing the colorful application of previous Admiral watches. The iconic angular case is presented in black PVDtreated stainless steel with a blackened brass dial and paired with vulcanized black rubber straps with a black PVD-treated buckle. Very Spinal Tap in its None More Black execution. Born in the 1960s, the first Admiral’s Cup model was an unusual yachting watch with a square case. However, the Admiral collection that we are now familiar with is actually a redesign from 1983, with its instantly recognizable 12-sided case and nautical pennants on the dial. Over the decades, this collection has become an integral pillar of Corum, and also one of the most iconic nautical-inspired timepieces on the market.
One of the most identifiable characteristics of an Admiral timepiece is the use of 12 vivid nautical pennants as hour markers. These flags conform to the International Code of Signals for indicating numbers, so each hour is represented by its corresponding pennant. With this version of the Admiral, the nautical pennants are still present, but presented in grayscale tones, a rebellious nose-up to convention.
Devoid of colors, the Admiral 42 Full Black is powered by the automatic CO 395 movement providing 42 hours of power reserve and is produced in a limited edition of 100 pieces.