BACK TO BLACK
Presented in a slew of materials, shapes and sizes, the black watch is the perfect canvas for maisons to demonstrate their creativity and imagination.
SPLISH SPLASH
Unveiled during Breitling’s first-ever Summit webcast, the Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition rekindles the sun-kissed, laid-back California surfing culture of the ‘50 and ‘60s in the fast-paced modern day. The new watch pays tribute to the original Superocean from 1957 but is updated with contemporary convenience such as a COSC certified Breitling Caliber 10 automatic movement offering 42 hours of power reserve and an ultra-hard scratch- and shock-resistant ceramic bezel ring. The 42mm example pictured here is encased in stainless steel and makes a splash with its unique rainbow-inspired SuperLuminova coating. Reinforcing its support to clean up the world’s oceans, the Outerknown Econyl yarn NATO strap made from salvaged marine debris can be purchased separately and is available in half-a-dozen colour combinations. Limited to 250 pieces and rated 100m water resistance, the diving (or shall we say surfing) watch is a boutique exclusive.
OPPOSITES ATTRACT
Paradoxes are Chanel’s revolving theme of the year as the maison rolls out the radical J12 Paradoxe Diamonds that eschews conventional wisdom. The aesthetic follows an eccentric distribution where twothirds of the inner 18k white gold case is clad in black ceramic, while the remaining one-third – lugs, crown guards, the bezel, the flange and the dial – is set with baguette-cut diamonds. The crown is further embellished with a brilliant-cut diamond cabochon. In total, the diamonds weigh 4.5ct. This stunning 38mm piece is powered by an automatic Cosc-certified Calibre 12.1 with 70 hours and proves that the three-hand watch needs not be stodgy. As few as 20 pieces are produced – a number paying tribute to the 20th anniversary of the J12.
FIVE IN ONE
Sporty with an added pop of colours as a troupe of five – red, orange, yellow, blue and green – make up Corum’s latest Admiral 42 Automatic Full Black where each variant is limited to 100 pieces. The successors to last year’s monochrome version are Corum’s first releases since undergoing a brand repositioning exercise, promising to be bolder in its approach. Apart from the signature nautical pennants upon a brass dial, the recognisable dodecagonal 42mm case made of black Pvd-treated stainless steel has been retained. The automatic CO 395 movement enjoys 42 hours of power reserve.
DRESS UP
Zenith’s brand-new watches for the feminine halves are just as technically sound as the manufacture’s offering for the masculine halves. Designed as an elegant everyday watch for women, the Defy Midnight is a 36mm canvas of Zenith’s savoir-faire. The watch houses an in-house Elite 670 SK automatic movement with 48 hours of power reserve and a number of references ranging from the stripped-down stainless steel bezel bereft of gemstones to the diamonds-encrusted bezel with 44 VS brilliant-cut diamonds. Although by default, it is paired with a stainless steel bracelet, Zenith is also shipping a trio of coloured straps with the watch. Thanks to a built-in interchangeable system, mixing and matching straps with outfits has never been more effortless.
WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE
Known for its atypical interpretation of prevalent complications, independent brand H. Moser & Cie. incorporates avant-garde material Vantablack, which absorbs 99.96% of visible light to ensure the Venturer Vantablack Black Hands XL the benchmark in watches with black dials. Developed by Surrey NanoSystems, Vantablack is composed of a bed of carbon nanotubes and has been applied onto a number of H. Moser & Cie.’s creations. The 43mm stainless steel model shown here is made available alongside the petite albeit pricier 39mm model in 18k white gold. Both are equipped with a hand-wound HMC 327 manufacture calibre furnished with three days of power reserve.
STARRY SKIES
Peppered with Japanese techniques and aesthetics to fine watchmaking, the Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGD202 is adorned with an alluring night sky dial with specks of gold particles representing distant stars twinkling in the darkest night. The exclusivity of this 43mm 18k rose gold number extends towards the very heart of the watch where the movement was pioneered by the brand and has remained Grand Seiko’s greatest contribution to watchmaking. The Spring Drive 9R01 movement straddles quartz and hand-wound mechanical realms and is equipped with a whopping eight days of power reserve. With an accuracy of +/- 0.5 seconds per day, few mechanical watches are ever as equally as precise.
Tapping into its wealth of Minerva archives, Montblanc’s 1858 Monopusher Chronograph is a reinterpretation of a historical Minerva chronograph and its calibre 13.20 from the 1930s. Much detail has been preserved, such as a black dial with a beige-coloured railway track, as well as two counters at 3 and 9 o’clock. In addition, Montblanc injects a dose of vintage charm through a telemeter scale and beige-coloured Super-luminova numerals. Apart from the 42mm stainless steel expression with beads-of-rice bracelets, the 1858 Monopusher Chronograph is available with cognac calfskin leather straps and a 1,858-piece bronze edition. This watch is fitted with an automatic MB 25.12 movement with 48 hours of power reserve.
MOVES LIKE JAGGER
Ever the extravagant, we have come to expect nothing less from Jacob & Co. The most recent collaborative effort, christened the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, between the watchmaker and Bugatti miniaturised Chiron’s 16-cylinder engine into a marvellous in-house hand-wound JCAM37 movement, which is part automaton and part 30-degree inclined flying tourbillon. The mini engine’s animation can be activated on demand and the wearer is rewarded with the sight of the crankshaft turning and the pistons pumping up and down. Offering 60 hours of power reserve, the watch’s oversized 54mm x 44mm black titanium case is inspired by Chiron’s chassis and the famous EB emblem can be located on the engine compartment.