HIS ONE STATEMENT PIECE FOR ANY BLACK-TIE PARTY.
HIS ONE STATEMENT PIECE FOR ANY BLACK-TIE PARTY.
IWC Schaffhausen
Portofino Hand-wound Day&Date
An amalgamation of sophistication and functionality is The Portofino Hand-wound Day&Date, a timepiece that has combined the large date with a day and power reserve displays alongside a small seconds hand at 6 o’clock. Though timelessly elegant, it doesn’t compromise readability: not only are its indicators easily visible, but two large digits at 12 o’clock also display the date on a slate-coloured dial complemented by gold-planted hands and 18K red gold indices.
Beating to the IWC-manufactured 59220 calibre, the 45mm timepiece can run up to eight days and endorses the wearer with a brown leather strap from Santoni.
Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph QEII Cup 2016
To celebrate the 18th edition of the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup with The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the watchmaker debuts the eponymous Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph, limited to 200 pieces.
The 44mm in forged carbon case is enveloped with an 18k pink gold bezel as well as black ceramic screw-locked crown and pushpieces. Lending to the masculine aesthetics of the Royal Oak Offshore collection, the black “Méga Tapisserie” patterned dial is embellished with pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, making an even greater contrast.
Fitted with chronograph functions alongside hours, minutes, small seconds and date display, the watch encases the Manufacture Selfwinding Calibre 3126/3840, which is unveiled through a glare-proofed sapphire crystal.
Hublot
Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Chelsea
Also limited to 200 pieces is Hublot’s Classic Fusion Chronograph Chelsea, a brainchild made to celebrate the watchmaker’s partnership with Premier League champions.
Aside from a 45mm satin-finished and polished titanium case and bezel, the timepiece is powered by HUB1143, an automatic chronograph movement that allows for twin counters at three and nine o’clock and a date window at six o’clock. The Chelsea lion logo is seated at 12 o’clock and also on the case back. The dial, meanwhile, is also inspired by the team colours and has a sunray satin finish.
Water-resistant to 50m, it can run up to 42 hours.
Blancpain
Villeret Quantième Annuel GMT Steel
For the first time in Blancpain’s history, the Villeret Quantième Annuel GMT Steel makes its debut in a stainless-steel case, which contrasts a white dial against with a black leather strap, and adds an annual calendar GMT for an extra touch of class. Playing with extremes, the clear sapphire case back reveals the yellow gold winding rotor adorned with a guilloché motif, while the hands and hour-markers mirror the case. The dial has also been cleverly designed to the order of the annual calendar readings, meaning the day, date and month are smoothly read off one after the other.
Beating to the 6054F calibre, the timepiece requires only one adjustment per year – between February and March – and could be conveniently done with its patented under-lug correctors, sans stylus: the one at 1 o’clock enables manual adjustment of the day of the week; while the other at 5 o’clock manages the month. Fast GMT, date corrections and time, meanwhile, are all controlled through the crown. The watch also features a 24-hour counter appearing at 8 o’clock.
The stainless steel watch is equipped with an alligator leather strap lined with Alzavel calfskin.
Bell & Ross
BR 123 Golden Heritage
Tipping the hat to antique watches and the aircrafts of the 1940s is Bell & Ross’s BR 123 Golden Heritage, an even more faithful model to the original 123 Sport Heritage model whether in aesthetic, technical and historical codes. It touts a polished steel case, a traditional domed crystal, a fine black aluminium bezel with 60 minute gradations, as well as a black dial with appliqué gilt numerals; but the most remarkable features, of course, are the hands and indexes in orange complemented by a matching hot- stamped gold calfskin strap.
Heralded the epitome of elegance, the 43mm BR Golden Heritage beats to the heart of the Calibre BR-CAL305 and is water-resistant to 100m.
Zenith
Elite 6150
Also robed in rose gold is Zenith’s Elite 1650 in 42mm, made in commemoration of the Manufacture’s 150th anniversary. Helmed with the in-house movement, the new Elite 6150 calibre, the ultra-thin timepiece has pure and elegant lines and can run up to four days.
The present-day watch tips the hat to the original model debut in 1994, one that was acclaimed for its 100-plus-hour power reserve and a 30mm diameter. Today, the new watch in its distinctive pebble shape is now fitted with a fluted crown; its flowing curves accentuated by the ergonomic lugs that fit snugly on the wrist. Water-resistant to 50 metres, the watch frames a domed silver-toned dial swept over by slim rose gold leaf-type hands.
