01. UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT. Horology’s wild child dazzles with eye-catching novelties at the Geneva Show 2016.
01. UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT. Horology’s wild child dazzles with eye-catching novelties at the Geneva Show 2016.
It was all about visual impact over at the Hublot booth at this year’s Geneva Show. The brand’s MP-05 LaFerrari – the incredible release from 2013 with the recordbreaking 50-day power reserve – just got even more impressive with a new sapphire crystal case. Sapphire crystal is notoriously diffi cult to work with, so Hublot’s commitment to spend 600 hours to create this piece should be applauded. The case is made up of seven components, each requiring a separate block of sapphire. The entire watch is made up of 637 individual parts, and boasts a suspended vertical tourbillon, 11 barrels and four cylinders that display the time and power reserve. Understandably, it will be limited to just 20 pieces. Presenting fl ash in a more conventional case are the Big Bang Broderie and Big Bang Broderie Sugar Skull. Both feature elaborate embroidery on organza silk-covered dials, with the latter infused with candy colours.
02. WILD AT HEART
The masters of animated sound have returned with a new cast. Ulysse Nardin’s famous jacquemarts have taken an equestrian turn with its new limited-edition Hourstriker Horse. Each of the 28 pieces in rose gold or platinum features a pair of hand-carved horses on an onyx dial, both of which move in sync with each hourly strike of the gong. The self-winding Calibre UN-610 provides a power reserve of about 42 hours, and is housed in a 43mm case that’s water-resistant to 30m.
03. UP FROM THE DEPTHS
When Longines reaches into its vast archives to revive a forgotten gem, people take notice, because pieces in its Heritage collection are always stunning reminders of the past. The newest resurrection is the Heritage Diver 1967, a 42mm red-bezelled beauty powered by the Calibre L688.2, with a column wheel chronograph made by ETA exclusively for Longines. And just like the original, the caseback features a spearwielding diver to lend that charmingly retro feel. The steel watch is water-resistant to 300m, with a power reserve of 54 hours. Available with a leather or rubber strap, or bracelet.
04. SEAL OF APPROVAL
With enchanting calibres like the Escale Worldtime and the Tambour Mysterieuse under its belt, Louis Vuitton has long been given the nod of approval as a serious contender in haute horlogerie. And it’s just got another one from Geneva. Its Flying Tourbillon Poincon de Geneve has, as its name proudly states, been awarded the prestigious Geneva Seal, a certifi cation awarded to Geneva-made movements with outstanding fi nishing and decoration. The movement in question is the skeletonised LV104 calibre, made completely in-house at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, and contains just 168 components to keep its profi le slender.
