It’s that time of the year when the top names in fine watches introduce their latest creations. Here are a few distinctive new luxury timepieces to check out.
Backes & Strauss Piccadilly Renaissance Diamond Bracelet
Some watches are made to do much more than tell time since they are also eye-catching pieces of jewelry. That’s especially true of the luxury timepieces from Backes & Strauss, a watchmaker renowned for diamond and gem-set models.
The brand showed off the latest addition to the Piccadilly Collection at this month’s SIHH and it’s appropriately dazzling. The Piccadilly Renaissance Diamond Bracelet watch measures a feminine 33mm and 6.1mm thick but it’s not the size that makes this watch memorable. The case is available in 18k white or rose gold and is set with two rows of Ideal Cut white diamonds. Another 737 Ideal Cut diamonds adorn the jewellery bracelet for a total of 874 diamonds weighing in at 11.36 carats. The colored dial is set with Roman numerals of white or rose gold and comes in white, blue or purple.
All models sport the Backes & Strauss trademark single handset diamond in the crown. Yes, this is a stunning piece of jewelry and it tells time, too.
Hublot Unveils New Collection
Last week at a private lounge in Geneva, Hublot introduced the brand’s latest collection of timepieces. Here are three that stand out.
Inspired by delicate embroidery, the Big Bang Broder is as glamorous as a piece of luxury lingerie. This very feminine timepiece was created in partnership with haute couture lingerie house Maison Suisse Bischoff.
This is the year that many watchmakers have discovered the world of astronomy and it shows in the number of timepieces that have drawn inspiration from heavenly bodies. Hublot’s Classic Fusion Auromoon carries out the astral theme with a skeleton based on the phases of the moon.
For the lover of basic black, there is the Spirit of Big Bang All Black, which is all black and all matte. It goes with everything but don’t drop it in the dark.
Vacheron Constantin Harmony Ultra-Thin Grande Complication Chronograph Calibre 3500
Some luxury watches dazzle the eye with dozens of sparkling gemstones and other flashy touches. These are the types favored by those who major in conspicuous consumption and enjoy wearing items that scream out their price tags. Other fine timepieces exude quiet elegance and are likely to impress only those who share the owner’s taste for fine craftsmanship. Fans of the latter are certain to love the latest luxury watch from the house of Vacheron Constantin.
Since 1755, Vacheron Constantin has been creating some of the finest examples of the watchmaker’s craft and now the house is celebrating an anniversary by giving less than a dozen very wealthy aficionados of luxury watches the opportunity to purchase the super-limited edition Harmony Ultra-Thin Grande Complication Chronograph Caliber 3500.
At 5.2mm, the Calibre 3500 is indeed ultra-thin and the entire watch is a mere 8.4mm thick. On the inside are 459 hand-finished parts that operate at 3Hz and have a power reserve of 51 hours. The cushion-shaped platinum case is 42mm wide while the transparent sapphire crystal caseback offers a view of the watch’s inner workings.
The least subtle feature of the Vacheron Constantin Harmony Ultra-Thin Grande Complication Chronograph Calibre 3500 is the price tag of $369,200. Just ten pieces if this exclusive timepiece will be made, making it truly a collector’s item.
