February 2021: What's New In Watches

Hublot has collaborated with men’s fashion house Berluti on the watchmaker’s chronograph for the first time, and the resulting Big Bang Unico is a hyper-masculine wristwatch that makes use of Berluti’s legendary Venezia leather. Kris Van Assche, creative director of Berluti, worked closely with the watchmaker for this memorable release, which comes with a micro-blasted and polished black ceramic case that’s worn with a rubber strap lined with coffee-coloured leather.

An exclusive limited-edition model, produced in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department, the Laureato “Ghost” by Girard-Perregaux is housed in a shadowy white ceramic that the brand says is scratch- and stain-resistant. The case’s octagonal bezel and sharp structure makes it instantly recognisable as a Girard-Perregaux. Patrick Pruniaux, the watchmaker’s CEO, says: “The Laureato is an important pillar of our brand. In this first true collaboration between Girard-Perregaux and Bamford Watch Department, we have come together and created something forward-looking and neoteric, a model ideally suited for today and beyond.” 

Ten years after its debut, MB&F’s Horological Machine N°3 “Frog” has been revised and revamped. A sapphire crystal case showcases the watch’s complex mechanics, including two paper-thin domes, which indicate the hour and the minutes, and rotate under markers that are designed to resemble the frog’s eyes.

Licks of Super-LumiNova glisten under the watch’s rotor, which acts as a metal weight to help power the timepiece, as well as the time-display domes. Available in three versions that are limited to ten pieces each, the watch comes in blue, purple or turquoise.

Two luminous blue Manero Flyback models were launched by Carl F Bucherer this summer, and now the watchmaker has unveiled three new colour variants of its popular chronograph, each of which comes with a sporty stainless-steel bracelet. Now available with silver, black or blue-grey dials, these new Manero Flybacks come with two chronograph counters, a small-seconds sub-dial and a date display.

This playful timepiece is a pocket watch that also combines a minute repeater, which is a complication that chimes the time on demand by activating a pusher, and a tourbillon, which increases a watch’s accuracy by cancelling out the effects of gravity. Fun and imaginative, the Arceau Aaaaargh! is decorated in leather mosaic and marquetry. A three-dimensional enamel eye brings to life this dinosaur-inspired timepiece, which was made in collaboration with British artist Alice Shirley, who has previously designed bear- and wolf-themed watches for the house.

Gold Carbon TPT is an exclusive combination of carbon and gold leaf that was unveiled by Richard Mille as part of the brand’s continued efforts to push the boundaries of watchmaking forward. Carbon is known for its strength and lightness, while gold is among the most sought-after metals on Earth. And now, after four years of development, Richard Mille has unveiled two models that use this extraordinary material: the RM 07-01 and the RM 037. Both have been designed with women in mind and boast onyx dials set with black sapphires. Dramatic and moody, each watch showcases a skeletonised automatic movement, the CRMA1, which is framed by satin-brushed, bevelled, micro-blasted and black polished surfaces. 

Roger Dubuis is known for its expertise in flying tourbillon watches. Light and spacious, this one-of-a-kind Excalibur Flying Tourbillon comes with a 42 mm case made from pink gold.

See also: 9 Luxury Green Watches To Add To Your Collection

A pioneer in independent watchmaking, Franck Muller is world-famous for its tonneau-shaped cases and whimsical hour markers. However, its Master Square wristwatch is proof that the manufacturer can also master a more classic design. Black painted Roman numerals adorn a white sun-stamped translucent dial, while a square-shaped case pays tribute to the art deco movement.

Suspended from a melodramatic arch that’s designed to resemble the entrance to Harry Winston’s Fifth Avenue flagship boutique in New York, this unique pocket watch has four independent tourbillons crammed into it. A rectangular case made from white gold houses the open-worked movement that’s surrounded by sparkling blue aventurine and baguette-cut diamonds. A push button releases the timepiece from its case, allowing you to wear it as a pocket watch with a white gold chain.

Measuring in at just 2 mm thick, the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept is a standout wristwatch, so it came as little surprise to industry leaders that the brand took home the prize for the best watch of the year, also known as the “Aiguille d’Or”, at the 2020 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Congratulations, Piaget!

Vacheron Constantin donated a Les Cabinotiers watch to the Christie’s Bid for the Louvre online sale, which took place between December 1 and 15. This one-of-a-kind timepiece, which is yet to be designed, will come with a miniature or “grisaille” enamel dial that will depict a masterpiece chosen by its buyer during a private visit to the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The buyer, who spent about US$345,000 for the piece, will also travel to Vacheron’s manufacture in Geneva to choose the case material from platinum, pink or white gold, as well as a personalised engraving and a strap. Powered by brand’s in-house Calibre 2460 CE, the watch’s open case back will reveal a 22-karat gold oscillating weight openworked in the shape of Vacheron’s famous Maltese cross.

Available in either rose gold or steel, three new timepieces have been added to Baume & Mercier’s Clifton Baumatic collection. They bring with them a brand new complication, which comes with day-date and moon phases. Our favourite is the rose gold edition, which boasts a 42 mm case with satin-polished, double-bevelled edges that beautifully complement a lacquered grey dial.

Last year, Zenith launched an unprecedented version of its Chronomaster A384, after becoming inspired by a cameo appearance of the El Primero A384 in the Japanese manga Lupin the Third. Fast-forward to today, and the watchmaker has followed up with a second model that’s limited to just 200 pieces. Last November, Phillips auction house sold a one-off piece of the Zenith Chronomaster Revival “Lupin the Third” for US$210,016 or about HK$1.6 million.

Panerai has released a special edition of its Radiomir Venti to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its website Paneristi. com. Limited to just 1,020 pieces worldwide, the new model was designed in collaboration with the collectors and enthusiasts who are a part of the online site. Inspired by the brand’s first Radiomir, which dates to the second half of the 1930s, this new limited edition comes with beige Super-LumiNova elements and a revamped brown dial that simulates the effects of time on the original vintage references that are still around today.

Bulgari’s latest collection of high jewellery watches is bursting with colour, having been inspired by the humble rainbow. These new Serpenti watches, which were first introduced by the house in the 1940s, are both glamorous and decadent. We love the blue sapphire versions, which also come with dazzling diamonds that are set into a white gold structure that’s fresh and feminine.

Hyun Bin, who starred as North Korean captain Lee Jung-hyuk in Netflix’s Crash Landing on You (2019), has announced he’s partnering with Swiss watchmaker Omega. The South Korean actor first gained recognition for his role in My Name is Kim Sam-soon (2005) and has since landed numerous roles in film and television.

“Hyun Bin shows a great skill for his character performances, always delivered with confidence and quality,” says Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of Omega. “He is a man of impeccable style and we’re looking forward to bringing him together with our most illustrious timepieces.”

See also: 6 Iconic Watches Worn In Movies