BASELWORLD 2015 : Time Tales

i_3219_1MANUFACTURE ROYALE

1770 Rose gold

This timepiece, named 1770 after the year Manufacture Royale was established, captures the very essence of the brand. On the one hand, the creative verve of a bold and contemporary design, straight from the imagination of Eric Giroud. On the other, the infinite expertise that comes with the grand tradition of Swiss watchmaking, channelled into a movement that has been developed and built entirely in-house, and whose centrepiece is one of watchmaking’s most compelling complications: the flying tourbillon. As though suspended in its carriage, offset at 7 o’clock, it leaves us free to admire the escapement, complete with a lever and an escape wheel in silicon, the ultimate innovative material to ensure a movement’s precision and performance. Entirely decorated and finished by hand, this same movement is housed inside a pink gold case, itself enlaced by two “brancards” in what is a hallmark of Manufacture Royale. The openworked dial creates multiple levels to offer glimpses of the movement in a technical and contemporary spirit.
Movement
Mechanical hand-wound, MR03 calibre, flying tourbillon with silicon escape wheel and lever, flat balance spring, screwed balance, chamfered, circular-grained, straight-grained and mirror-polished bridges and plate, all by hand, Côtes de Genève, 208 parts, 19 jewels, 21,600 vib/h, 108-hour power reserve
Functions
Hours, minutes, power-reserve indicator
Case
18K pink gold, 20 parts, 43 mm
Dial
Openwork, silvered or black gold
Bracelet/strap
Alligator with alligator lining

i_3220_1HYT

Skull Green Eye

The only way to capture the essence of the Skull is to look it straight in the eye. This is the first time that, when you look at the time, time stares right back. Because Skull’s eyes are alive. The right eye becomes gradually darker as the 65 hours of power reserve go by. The left eye conceals a continually rotating seconds dial. An “out of the box” watch if ever there was, Skull dispenses with minutes to fully focus on the liquid hours, the signature of an HYT watch. This fluid travels along a capillary in the form of a skull, and bending the glass into this form was a significant challenge. Also, power had to be calculated to be sufficient to push the liquid around the sharp angles while maintaining precision timekeeping over 12 hours. Nor are these the only developments. The two vertical bellows are in constant motion as their imperceptible expansion and compression drives the liquid through the capillary to make the skull even more alive. 50-piece limited series.
Movement
Mechanical hand-wound, exclusive HYT calibre, 35 jewels, 28,800 vib/h, hand-chamfered bridges with Côtes de Genève, rhodium-plated bellows, 65-hour power reserve
Functions
Retrograde fluid hours, seconds, power-reserve indicator
Case
Black DLC titanium, 51 mm Black DLC titanium dome at 6 o’clock Sapphire crystal front and back Water-resistant to 50 metres (5 bar / 165 ft)
Dial
Unstructured, hours shown by a green fluid
Bracelet/strap
Black alligator, black DLC titanium folding clasp

i_3222_1JEANRICHARD

Terrascope 39 mm

Inspiration comes out of the blue for Jeanrichard, whose iconic Terrascope lends itself to two original iterations in a new 39 mm size. The first opts for the laidback, stylish colour of denim with a structured blue dial and a matching ostrich strap. The second stands out for its blue hour-markers which are suspended above a matt white dial. Diamonds embellish the bezel in steel, a metal echoed in the bracelet. In true Terrascope style, these new versions boast the legendary case which encloses a round opening in a cushion shape, all the while playing on subtle contrasts between a vertical brushed finish and a polished finish. Sporting and elegant, both these watches are devoted to a life lived for adventure, discovery and the urge to always go that little bit further.
Movement
Mechanical automatic, JR60 calibre, 26 jewels, 28,800 vib/h (4 Hz), black oscillating weight with the JR logo, minimum 38-hour power reserve
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case
Stainless steel, polished and vertical brushed finishes, 39 mm Steel bezel or steel set with 54 VVS diamonds (0.8 ct) Anti-reflective sapphire crystal Engraved screw-down back Water-resistant to 100 metres (10 bar / 330 ft)
Dial
Textured blue or matt white Suspended blue hour-markers with luminescent dot Blued steel hands with luminescent coating
Bracelet/strap
Blue ostrich with folding clasp or steel with butterfly clasp

i_3223_1CONCORD

Mariner Lady

The characteristically relaxed atmosphere of a marina. Long evenings spent on the pontoon, a gentle breeze floating in the air. The inspiration for a sophisticated and modern watch for men and women. Its name: Mariner. Unveiled last year, it now welcomes a new version for women that takes elegance and style to a new level. Crafted from steel, it boasts a delicately diamond-set bezel surrounding a mother-of-pearl dial whose gentle sheen captures the mood of a beautiful summer’s evening, overlooking the sea. And yet the eye is irresistibly drawn to the bracelet. Set with an astonishing 200 diamonds, it brings an air of eternity to the wrist. An ode to femininity culminating in 1.053 carats between the bracelet, bezel and dial.
Movement
Quartz, ETA 7 ¾ 956.112 calibre
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case
Steel, 30 mm Bezel set with 70 diamonds Anti-reflective sapphire crystal Compass rose engraved on the back Water-resistant to 50 metres (5 bar / 165 ft)
Dial
White mother-of-pearl 12 diamond hour-markers Date window at 3 o’clock
Bracelet/strap
Steel set with 200 diamonds, folding clasp with pushers

i_3208_1BURBERRY

The Britain S/S15 Runway – The Birds and The Bees

Burberry adds to its watchmaking repertoire a new limited-series collection. Comprising four versions, The Britain S/S15 Runway – The Birds and The Bees is inspired by the hand-painted prints from the Prorsum womenswear show for Spring/Summer 2015. The straps, in damson, daffodil, peacock or dragonfly, are crafted from the same leather worn by the models in the Prorsum show. Each echoes the vibrant patterns of the different runway outfits, in a mesmerising rainbow of colour. As always, design is courtesy of Christopher Bailey, artistic director and CEO of Burberry.
Movement
Quartz, Ronda 783 calibre
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds
Case
316L stainless steel, polished and brushed, 34 mm Scratch-resistant anti-reflective sapphire crystal Water-resistant to 50 metres (5 bar / 165 ft)
Dial
Silver white sunray Hands coated with SuperLuminova
Bracelet/strap
Leather in daffodil yellow, dark damson, peacock green or dragonfly blue with printed motifs. Buckle.

i_3199_1ARTYA

Son of Sound Guitar Race

The independent ArtyA brand rolls out yet another amazing rock-star speed machine with its new Son of Sound Racing model, issued in a 50-piece limited edition. These collector’s watches sport classic racing track colours in shades of red, white and black conveying a hint of 1950s tarmac. Known for watches bearing no resemblance to others on the watchmaking scene, designer Yvan Arpa wanted to express a “Café Racers” world symbolising an era that saw the birth of rock’n’roll. Its adrenalin-pumping new sports an uncompromising design including active pegs to tune the date, time and play with the chronograph. All of which is set to music by a Concepto calibre specially adapted to the Son of Sound Guitar collection and naturally christened Woodstock!
Movement
Mechanical automatic ArtyA-Woodstock calibre by Concept, patented Active Tuning Pegs System (APTS), 28,800 vib/h, skeletonised and personalised rotor, 48-hour power reserve
Functions
Sliding hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, date
Case
Black PVD-treated steel, 42 mm in width Functional tuning pegs to adjust the time and control the chronograph functions
Dial
Racing red, black and white
Bracelet/strap
Leather, buckle

i_3224_1N.O.A

N.O.A Evo

For N.O.A, the onward march of time is about far more than just units of measurement. It is an opportunity to draw upon the past, to live the present moment and to look to the future by evolving towards ever more daring and luminous horizons. The brand is an inspired dreamer that constantly innovates in presenting the new face of its Evolution: Evo. The watch takes the signature N.O.A three-dimensional effects to new limits by introducing a ceramic rotating bezel underscoring the architectural two-part case construction. Further enhancing these depths effects, the dial is also composed of several layers, with a lower part rimmed by a minute track and date display, while the inner bezel ring creates a multi-level impression with numerals and hour-markers that appear to be literally bursting out of the watch. At its heart beats an automatic movement that may be admired through the sapphire caseback.
Movement
Mechanical automatic N.O.A. A2824 calibre on an ETA 2824 base movement, 25 jewels
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case
316L steel with black PVD treatment, two-part construction, 44 mm Black ceramic rotating bezel Anti-reflective sapphire crystal Sapphire back Water-resistant to 100 metres (100 bar / 330 ft)
Dial
Black, twin-layered construction Hands and applied hour-markers enhanced with Superluminova Black inner bezel ring with raised numerals and hour-markers Date window at 3 o’clock
Bracelet/strap
Black rubber with personalised buckle

i_3225_1CHARRIOL

St-Tropez™ Style

The new St-Tropez™ Style creation from Charriol has what it takes to spark an instant and deep-felt crush. It single-handedly captures the glamour and sparkle of the famous city on the Côte d’Azur. Not only are the dial and bezel adorned in mother-of-pearl, but this model also adapts to every desire thanks to interchangeable clips and chains. The latter are in turn adorned with white zircons, a gem-set double heart, white freshwater pearls and a wealth of other possibilities expressing exquisite wristworn femininity. The watch also comes with decorative clips that can be easily fitted on the legendary cable bracelet. No less than six different motifs are offered to further convey the mood of the moment. Intensely personal and openly romantic, St-Tropez™ Style pays tribute to the inexhaustible strength of love, beauty and serenity. It is the ultimate expression of a unique and infinitely Charriol style.
Movement
Quartz
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds
Case
Steel or pink gold-plated steel White mother-of-pearl bezel
Dial
White mother-of-pearl, different variations Small seconds at 6 o’clock
Bracelet/strap
Braided cable with interchangeable “Logo”, “Everlast”, “Ocean Echoes”, “Lovebug”, “Name It Love” and “Disco Heart” clips Interchangeable “Starlet”, “Gorgeous”, “Romeo”, “Double Trouble” and “Sunny Day” chains.

i_3226_1COVER

Cover CoA10 Watchmaker Limited Edition

A hundred years after watchmaker Stadler-Bouché had a building erected on Weissensteinstrasse in Solothurn, Switzerland, Cover pays tribute to its headquarters with a limited-edition timepiece. Like the building itself, this new watch is imbued with a tradition of refined horology. Indeed, shortly after completion, the building was bought by one of Switzerland’s world-renowned schools of watchmaking. This is where generations of prestigious watchmakers learned the skills of their trade, until 2002 when this “Uhrmacherschule” moved into larger premises. Cover bought and fully renovated the building, which in 2003 became its new headquarters. Thanks to this new vocation, watchmaking continues to thrive within these four walls. To celebrate the centennial of such a historically significant building, Cover has chosen an open-heart movement to beat inside this anniversary watch, revealing the art of Swiss watchmaking from the inside. It comes in an embellished wood presentation box, together with a watchmaker’s loupe through which to observe the mechanics of the movement at close quarters. 200-piece limited series.
Movement
Mechanical automatic
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds
Case
Stainless steel Sapphire crystal front and back Individual series number Water-resistant to 100 metres (10 bar / 330 ft)
Dial
Black, open to reveal part of the movement
Bracelet/strap
Black leather

i_3227_1GRECO GENEVE

Hexagonal Nut-design LTM-18t

In complete defiance of the adage that “form follows function”, Greco Genève has transformed a truly utilitarian object, the hex nut, into a symbol of modern luxury. Fitting a mechanical movement inside a nut-shaped case, threading included, is nothing short of an exploit, yet the Hexagonal Nut watch is much more than a demonstration of expertise inherited from Swiss watchmaking tradition. The first creation in the Les Temps Modernes collection, it conveys the universal values of one of cinema’s masterpieces: Modern Times. Like the film’s hero, Greco Genève plays around with an icon of the industrialised world, a hex nut, and uses it to propel us into a more optimistic future, where people will be at the heart of industrial aesthetics. Full of humour and totally off-the-wall, this 50-piece limited series shows the hex nut in a new light. Mechanical allusions abound, from the wrench-shaped hands to the silicon strap that resembles the tyre tread of a powerful 4×4.
Movement
Mechanical automatic, ETA 2892 calibre, hand-decorated oscillating weight, 40-hour power reserve
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case
Black DLC grade 5 titanium Sapphire crystal front and back Water-resistant to 30 metres (3 bar / 100 ft)
Dial
Black carbon
Bracelet/strap
Textured silicon with black DLC grade 5 titanium folding clasp

i_3228_1ENICAR

Hyperion CH337 Chronometer

Beneath an elegantly sober exterior, the latest addition to Enicar’s Prestige collection, the Hyperion CH337 Chronometer, reserves a multitude of carefully orchestrated details. Beginning with a chronometer movement that has been certified by the COSC, the foremost reference for precision and reliability. Indeed, each individual calibre must endure a battery of tests over several days, in five positions and at three temperatures. The exterior is just as seductive as the mechanics inside. A delicate pattern of waves flows from the centre of the dial, before making way for a more traditional Clous de Paris motif around the periphery, where mesmerising diamond hour-markers take their position. The case opts for a classic round shape while a bracelet with alternating polished and satin-finish links lends the finishing touch.
Movement
Mechanical automatic, SW 260 calibre, COSC-certified chronometer, 31 jewels, 28,800 vib/h
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case
316L stainless steel, 41 mm Sapphire crystal front and back Water-resistant to 50 metres (5 bar / 165 ft)
Dial
Silvered 19 diamonds hour-markers Hands coated with SuperLumiNova™ Small seconds and date window at 6 o’clock
Bracelet/strap
Steel or two-colour steel