At the intersection of music, sports and time-manufacturing is Tissot's PRX Damian Lillard Special Edition. Sports fans are familiar with the Milwaukee Bucks point guard. And in the music sphere, he spits rhymes as Dame D.O.L.L.A. In his collaboration with Tissot, the PRX Damian Lillard Special Edition brings back the sleek lines and bold look of its predecessor, the PRX Powermatic 80. But this isn't a copy. It's so much more thanks to the nuances that tell Lillard's story.
It's a 40mm PVD gold model with automatic movement. The date is displayed with a beveled applied window. Super-LumiNova baton indices and repeated "0s" adorn the black dial. (The "0" is Lillard's jersey number but it is also an "O". This letter represents Lillard's formative years in Oakland, Odgen and Oregon. A stylised monogrammed "D" is etched on the seconds hand. Taking up the quadrants of the flange are the echoes of his triumphs. "DAME" and "TIME", his nickname, each take up a quadrant, respectively; "DDKK", is an homage to him and his family—Damian himself; Damian, his son; his daughters, Kali and Kalii. The final quadrant is "YKWTII"—“You Know What Time It Is”—which referenced "Dame Time"; the moments when Lillard makes big shots in the clutch.
Underneath is a opened mineral glass caseback that showcases the Powermatic 80 calibre. This little engine of precision has an 80-hour power reserve and Nivachron anti-magnetic balance hairsprings for enhanced reliability There's an image of Lillard The gold-PVD single-link bracelet reveals brushed surfaces and is secured with a quick-release spring bars, it can be switched out for a rubber or leather strap.
It is a beautiful gold timepiece. One that is a lovely tribute to Lillard, especially when in telling time, you are reminded that is "Dame Time". If not now, then somewhere else.
One watch brand not short on out-there ideas is Hublot.
Despite closing in on its 45th birthday, it is still regarded as the enfant terrible of the luxury watchmaking biz*. With its Big Bang series, it skilfully blends all kinds of weird and wonderful materials including ceramic, cermet, Kevlar, tungsten, magnesium and rubber into shamelessly hench watches beloved of millionaires and sportsmen, and especially millionaire sportsmen.
It’s MP** series is the place to see its nuttiest creations. For example, 2013’s MP-02 Key of Time came with a one-off mechanism that allowed the wearer to adjust the time to four times faster or four times slower than the rate of actual time passing (Why? It was something to do with being able to control time, the true luxury of our age…).
While 2011’s MP-08 Antikythera Sun Moon paid tribute to the ancient Greek hand-powered model of the solar system, sometimes called the oldest-known example of an analogue computer. Looks-wise these creations have veered heavily towards the steampunk, and they tend to be wildly impractical for actually telling the time.
Hublot just unveiled the latest in the series—the MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium, a timepiece every bit as unwieldy as its name. (It doesn’t have a dial or hands. You wind it using a pair of tiny sliding white gold weights.)
You’ve got to love that the MP series exists. It’s so barmy you wouldn’t be totally surprised if Hublot announced it had all been dreamed up by a computer squirrelling away in a Swiss bunker while the rest of the company got on with selling its (comparatively) normal watches.
We mention this because Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot’s CEO, told Esquire he’d recently given the idea of an AI-generated watch some credence.
“It happened three weeks ago,” he said. “We tried to use it in design. We did some experiments. I must say—amazing results.”
If Hublot was to introduce an AI-designed watch, would it make a virtue of it? Or would it hide behind it?
“I don’t know,” Guadalupe said. “It came up with ideas where it incorporated some complications from other brands, where we can see it was inspired by a [avant-garde independent brand] Grubel Forsey, for example. But really—the results were ‘wow!’ Because if you ask a designer in the company to do that, it will cost you a fortune! And that was for free! And it showed me 10 or 12 products.”
Happily for the human designers, many were only possible in theory.
“Some of them would be impossible to make. One was a kind of a tourbillon / minute repeater with an equation of time [complication]—a Big Bang. They put the screws in a different way. This one was impossible to realise. But it’s really interesting. Because even if it’s impossible, it can give you an idea, you know? It was inspirational. I was really surprised.”
If not Hublot, some brand will surely come up with an AI-designed watch, and soon. On Wednesday, the womenswear designer Norma Kamali announced she was teaching an AI system to replicate her design style—"downloading my brain”, she called it—so that when the day comes for her to retire, she won’t have to worry about a successor—a computer will simply carry on with her ideas.
Obviously this is all fairly terrifying and awful for anyone involved in the creative industries in any way at all. But it does make you wonder if a Hans Wilsdorf ‘designed’ Rolex from beyond the grave would make it any more authentic. Or quite what the ghost-in-the-machine of Omega’s founder Louis Brandt would have made of the 21 plastic MoonSwatches currently stealing the limelight from the brand’s more luxurious creations. Quite possibly he’d be spinning in his grave. Under a full Moon.
*Not least by itself.
**It stands for 'masterpiece'.
Originally published on Esquire UK
There are things that are too good to not to repeat. The Piaget Polo is one of them. Remember the '80s... or at least, how people describe the '80s? Bold colours, birth of pop culture, MTV... it was a vibrant time where Swiss watchmaker, Yves Piaget noticed the shifting change of his clients.
He saw sports becoming commonplace and decided to follow the rabbit and create a a sport line, one that combines elegance with sporty sophistication. Thus the Piaget Polo and 45 years later, in the same year, when the House celebrates its 150th anniversary, we see the return of the improved model, now called the Piaget Polo 79.
Originally crafted to withstand the rigours of the polo field by day and later for the nightlife, the primary version was one with the bracelet integrated into the case; with the engraved horizontal lines—gadroons. The latest iteration is a faithful tribute to its predecessor, this time as an 18K gold watch (case, bracelet, dial and so-on) that weighs close to 200g. The finish is nice to the touch and the watch measures at 38mm wide and 7.45mm thick. But beneath its opulent exterior is an in-house self-winding 1200P1 calibre to replace the quartz calibre.
Using a micro-rotor, it has 44 hours of power reserve, the Polo 79's dial is clean. "Piaget" sits at 12 o'clock and the brushed gold hands are enough to tell time. And really, the Piaget Polo 79 in its simple glory is more than enough.
It's worth noting that Bell & Ross has a finger on the pulse of the future. Aside from being in all kinds of watchmaking endeavours, the brant even ventured into aeronautics and transportation on terra firma. Bell & Ross continues its envelope-pushing course, with the BR 03 Cyber Ceramic.
Taking the iconic BR 03 line, the design is tweaked and given perspectives without erasing what came before. Bell & Ross’ co-founder and creative director, Bruno Belamich, combined the BR 03 design with the Cyber collection's graphic and futuristic codes.
Through faceted 3D designs, the timepiece's personality is shown through the lines making up its case. It reminds one of a stealth aircraft—with their sharp-edged fuselages and the distinct technical feature of reflecting waves, which is how spy planes, drones and strategic bombers become undetectable to radars. (It can be said that this was inspired by stealth design but we are pretty sure that the design is gonna turn some heads, but we digress.) The readability of flight instruments is added to the wrist with a graphic edge and an openwork feature is chosen for the dial and main components on the mechanical self-winding movement, the BR-CAL.383 calibre, with particularly spectacular 3D skeletonising.
Matte black is chosen as its bold shade, straying away from your usual precious materials used in traditional watchmaking. With a laser focus on technical and contemporary components, the BR 03 Cyber Ceramic 42 x 43.7 mm frame is a ceramic case. With the removal of the lugs, the rubber strap is cut into the case. Ceramic is used to decorate the 12 metallic indices and logo and treated in glossy black under the surface of the anti-reflective sapphire crystal. With a five-year warranty, production of this exceptional watch is limited to 500 pieces world-wide.
Certain luxury fashion houses are fixated on their heritage, as though doing so would shield them from the erosion of progress. But the sole dependence on “legacy” and “estate” will not suffice. It’s not enough to just be, you must also matter. One of the brands that wouldn’t think of resting on its laurels is Bulgari, which is seeking to upend conventions with two additions to its Octo Finissimo series.
The products in question are the Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Automatic and Perpetual Calendar models. “CarbonGold” is a mix of high-tech carbon and gold elements first introduced in 1993. Now the maison is outfitting the Octo Finissimo Automatic and Perpetual Calendar models with CarbonGold. When it comes to experimentation with new materials, the maison was among the first to venture into crafting steel jewellery watches before moving on to the use of titanium and platinum. But if you think it’s a simple task of changing up the Octo Finissimo line-up with a mould of CarbonGold material, you’ll be wrong.
Never one to take the easy route, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bulgari’s chief watch designer, saw the need to overhaul the watches from scratch when it came to implementing the new CarbonGold material. “Whenever we work with new materials, we are obliged to start development from scratch,” Stigliani explains. “We had to develop a brand new titanium case insert with lugs and holes for the screws for the case back, but with a different shape. The carbon case, bezel and bracelet came next. It was a challenge for us even after producing the carbon minute repeater.” The carbon cases are adorned with rose gold crowns and carbon dials with matching gold-coloured accents. The case, strap and dial are crafted from exceptionally lightweight, anthracite-coloured carbon with a matte finish. Clean lines border the models, which exude a measured majesty.
Within the remarkable slimness embodies the extraordinary watchmaking expertise of the manufacture. For the Perpetual Calendar, in this new carbon iteration, the classic ultra-thin perpetual calendar complication requires no adjustment until 2100. For the Automatic, there’s an automatic winding, gold bridges and a gold-plated platinum off-centred micro-rotor.
Due to the difficult intricacies of CarbonGold, it took Stigliani and his team three years to develop. But at the end of the day, it is a technical marvel. “One of my obsessions as an industrial designer is things like these that look very simple,” Stigliani adds. “I love the execution, texture, and how unconventionally we played with the material. Everybody knows carbon in the watchmaking industry, but only Bulgari can make such a watch with this kind of thickness, bracelet and movement in carbon and gold.”
It’s not the goal of housing a complication in a slim profile, it was Stigliani’s objective to “enhance the dynamic tension—this unique proposition between having a watch that was, when viewed straight on, very muscular and even aggressive, yet when you turned it on its side, you’d be absolutely surprised to find how thin it was.”
There’s something to be said about Stigliani’s obsession with marrying CarbonGold with the Octo Finissimo. The man came from the school of thought where “beauty is a necessity”.
This is Stigliani’s unconscious search in finding beauty even in the most technical of forms.
Sergio Pérez goes by many names. He’s known as “Checo”; the “Mexican Wunderkind” and, judging by the crowd chanting his name, he can add “People's Choice”.
The prominent Mexican racing driver is firmly entrenched in the world of Formula One. Currently a racer for Team Red Bull Racing, Pérez’s racing prowess shines through with six remarkable victories in F1 Grand Prix races. His debut triumph occurred when driving for Racing Point at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix where he broke the record for the most starts before securing a race win, clocking in at 190.
Another defining moment in Pérez’s career happened at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he clinched his inaugural Formula One pole position. This feat rewrote history by surpassing the record for the most races before claiming this coveted achievement, with a total of 215 races. Pérez’s journey in Formula One began back in 2011 when he made his debut as a Sauber driver. It was in the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix that he achieved his first podium finish, all the more remarkable considering his youthful age and outstanding performance, earning him the moniker of “Mexican Wunderkind”.
A significant chapter in Pérez’s career unfolded when he joined McLaren for the 2013 season. Despite his best efforts, the team failed to secure a single podium finish, leading to Pérez’s replacement by Kevin Magnussen for the 2014 season. In 2014, Force India secured Pérez’s talents with a noteworthy €15 million contract.
He remained loyal to the team even during challenging times when they faced administration problems in 2018, subsequently rebranding as the Racing Point team for the 2019 season. His commitment to Racing Point was further solidified in 2019 with a three-year contract extension. However, in September 2020, Racing Point announced Pérez’s departure at the end of the season, as they had signed the illustrious four-time F1 world champion, Sebastian Vettel, to take his place. In a remarkable turn of events, Pérez inked a deal with Red Bull Racing in December, securing his place on the team for the 2021 season and beyond. Currently, Pérez is under contract with Red Bull Racing until the culmination of the 2024 season, promising continued excitement and excellence in the world of Formula One.
We are at the TAG Heuer Motorsports Experience Pop-Up at Ion Orchard. Already a crowd has swelled to about 180. Eager faces framed by F1 gear; carrying signs of support for Sergio Pérez and Max Verstappen who are due to make an appearance later. A small child, decked out in Team Red Bull race suit and cap, perched on his father's shoulders as he held up a placard saying, "Sergio Pérez 11; you are my number #1".
I tell this to Pérez later at our interview at the pop-up.
ESQUIRE: Did you ever think that you would have the support of fans in a country like Singapore?
SERGIO PÉREZ: Yeah, it’s amazing. It’s great to get so much support from all around the world. You’d think that when you’re so far away from home, that nobody would recognise me, but here people know who I am. It’s funny to see that happen.
ESQ: Where is the furthest that you’ve been in the world where you’re surprised that people have recognised you?
SP: Singapore is quite far from Mexico. So, this would be one of the furthest places.
ESQ: Throughout your career. What is the high point and low point for you?
SP: Obviously winning—it is everything in the sport. Winning is the high point. But then, you would also go through the difficult beats, you know. Sometimes you’d have difficult moments.
ESQ: Then, how do you deal with the pressure, especially as a member of Team Red Bull?
SP: Oh yeah, the pressure. That’s part of the job. We’d have to deliver at the right time and so on. So that makes it really tricky at times. On the track, I need to make sure that I arrive when I should, and deliver when I can. That is very important.
ESQ: This marks the 250th time for you as a racer. What does this milestone mean for you?
SP: It means a lot because, to be able to race this much, means you’ve survived many years of the sport. It’s the pinnacle of what you have achieved.
ESQ: What do you want to do in future?
SP: I want it to be related to sports, to be able to support new athletes in different sporting fields. And maybe form a business that’s away from racing. Maybe real estate. That’s something I will enjoy doing that’s not racing.
ESQ: Before starting a race, do you have any rituals or superstitions that you observe to psych yourself up?
SP: Not really. I just make sure that I’m adequately stretched and warmed up. That’s what I do to get ready for the race.
ESQ: What’s your strategy for the race?
SP: Singapore is exciting and also very unexpected. This circuit is challenging. The heat and a circuit with no straight stretch are tough but we hope to drive well.
ESQ: Do you remember the first watch you got?
SP: Yes. The first watch I ever bought, I remember that it was with my salary that I earned during the summer. Once I got that paycheque, I went straight to the shop to buy that watch.
ESQ: (points to the timepiece on Pérez’s wrist) Is that a [TAG Heuer] Monaco?
SP: (shows the watch dial) This one. This is the Monaco watch that I got when I won my race.
ESQ: What do you like about the Monaco?
SP: Mainly for its precision. That level of detail that goes into the watch, that’s something that I really like and respect.
The very model that Pérez is wearing has its sandblasted black skeletonised dial accented by luminous turquoise highlights and scarlet lacquered hands.
At his appearance, TAG Heuer’s CEO Frédéric Arnault unveiled the Monaco Night Driver Chronograph Limited Edition. Encased in a Grade 5 titanium housing and adorned with a black diamondlike carbon coating, the Monaco Night Driver chronograph showcases TAG Heuer’s in-house Heuer 02 movement. This marks its first utilisation of Grade 5 titanium in a Monaco timepiece.
The chronograph features an anthracite circle set in a sophisticated grey opaline dial, with three distinct counters at the three, six, and nine o’clock positions. At the three and nine o’clock places, you’ll find the anthracite luminescent minute and hour chronograph counters, while a second indicator gracefully resides at six o’clock.
When darkness falls, the luminescent outer dial constituting the grey opaline section shines with a vivid blue luminescence. This mesmerising hue contrasts with the black-lacquered hour indices. The chronograph counters also adopt this enchanting luminescent blue, harmonising with the hour, minute and chronograph seconds hands. Bright dots are placed around the anthracite circle to represent the hours. Capping the “light show” on the dial are the anthracite TAG Heuer logo and the inscriptions “Monaco” and “Automatic”.
Limited to 600 pieces worldwide, the Monaco Chronograph Night Driver Limited Edition will be individually engraved and presented in a distinctive “nomad” travel pouch.
Novelty is the meat and drink of traditional watchmaking, and it does
not get much more traditional than A. Lange & Söhne, where novelty
might be dessert too. In watchmaking parlance, novelty simply refers to new watches offered with new dials or case materials. As is true with the Lange 1 Time Zone and the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar. The former is now offered in a platinum case while the latter has been equipped with a fetching pink gold dial and a white gold case. We got to walk the hallowed halls of the manufacture and saw the assembly process for the base Lange 1 watch. We also heard a little from A. Lange & Söhne production director Anthony de Haas about the realities of production in general. The Lange 1 Time Zone from the Glashütte manufacture, in particular, allows us to craft a grounded story to relook at the brand’s character.
The Time Zone variant, launched in 2005 (named the Lange 1, with its wonderfully asymmetric dial and oversized double date goes all the way back to A. Lange & Söhne’s rebirth in 1994), added the functionality of tracking multiple time zones, making it one of the most interesting haute horlogerie GMT or dual time (more appropriately) watches. It is worth stating again for the record that the so-called Time Zoner is not a world timer, despite that telltale city ring. While the details are fascinating, we will restrict ourselves to revisiting only the points that have seen revision for this story.
In terms of the changes to the new A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Time Zone, platinum is literally the weightiest update. The watch is substantial in any material. Despite its on-paper statistics being a very reasonable 41.9mm (diameter) and 10.9mm (thickness); platinum will make it truly massive. Perhaps that is as it should be for the Time Zoner, particularly if you already own another version of this model. It might also interest those who love high-end dual-time watches. Although this sort of collectors should bear in mind that they will be competing with dyed-in-the-wool A. Lange & Söhne collectors.
This is because the watch is exclusive to boutiques. And is likely to be produced in very small numbers, given that the watchmakers are also working on other models. “Actually we created a problem for ourselves with the Odysseus and the Lange 1 because it is the same qualification of a watchmaker (as in level of expertise) that can work on these watches. This means we have to decide if the Odysseus is more important than the Lange 1… of course, it is not,” said de Haas.
All variants of the Odysseus remain phenomenally popular, thus underscoring the production conundrum the brand has to face. Of course, all current versions of the Lange 1 Time Zone remain in the picture. The movement is the same as the one introduced in 2020, the manual-winding calibre L141.1. Of course, all this means that not very many of the platinum pieces will be made.
The rhodiumised dial of the new Lange 1 Time Zone is a fair accompaniment to the idiosyncratic display. It plays well with the blue design notes, and might even be more legible. The combination of platinum and the glow of the dial is very attractive.
We will end this little update on A. Lange & Söhne with a brief note about the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar. It is now in a white gold case with a pink gold dial. Unlike the Time Zoner, this one is both a boutique-exclusive and a limited edition (100 pieces, with engraved numbering). It is only the third A. Lange & Söhne watch with such a dial and case combination. The others being the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon (2019) and the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar.
Now, A. Lange & Söhne operates with a pretty lean output—just 5,000-odd watches annually, and it has a backlog of orders resulting from the pandemic that it has not yet resolved, according to de Haas. The brand is also owned by the Richemont group, which begs the question: don’t shareholders want to see more watches made and sold? Happily, de Haas has a reply to this question, which he must have faced many times over the years, given the popularity of A. Lange & Söhne watches.
“The only pressure we get from Richemont, which means Chairman Johann Rupert, is this: Stay as you are. Not too commercial. You are the watchmakers of the group. Don’t [play] around,” said de Haas. This may well please established collectors, but it ought to reassure even aspirants that A. Lange & Söhne is committed to making watches in its own particular way, and has no plans to change anything.
When Louis Cartier conceptualised the Tank in 1917, few could have imagined the fame and cultural importance that have become part of the timepiece’s legacy. Today, the Tank collection remains a staple among Cartier’s offerings, with its timeless aesthetic and versatility at the heart of its near- universal appeal. Cartier continues to refresh the Tank with the 2023 editions, reimagined in ways that not only add to, but transcend the seemingly insurmountable limits of horological universality.
The Tank—as its name suggests— has its roots couched in military history. Louis Cartier derived design inspiration for the Tank from the top- down silhouette of the Renault tanks he witnessed on the Western Front in World War I. One of the first few Tanks made was given to General John Pershing, commander of the Paris-based American Expeditionary Force—underscoring its military- inspired beginnings.
Interestingly, however, the timepiece was to find fame far from the mud and gore of the battlefield. It instead went on to become the defining timepiece of Hollywood’s Golden Age, appearing on the wrists of a string of A-listers. Actor Rudolph Valentino famously insisted on wearing his Tank throughout the filming of The Son of the Sheik, despite the obvious anachronism.
Its popularity was not confined to the early 20th century, transcending eras and reaching across gender and disciplines. Personalities from diverse backgrounds—from the realms of philanthropy and politics, to sports and art—were enamoured by the Tank. Appearing on the wrists of icons the likes of John F Kennedy, Princess Diana, Muhammad Ali and Andy Warhol, the Tank became a unisex symbol of elegance. Warhol famously quipped: “I don’t wear a Tank to tell the time. In fact, I never wind it. I wear a Tank because it’s the watch to wear”, which speaks volumes of its universal appeal and cultural significance.
Today, the watch stands as a unique example of design endurance, through its timeless style, versatility and appeal to a wide range of aesthetic sensibilities.
Cartier’s latest refresh of the Tank family pushes the limits of the collection’s universality even further. While the modern Tank family retains the iconic rectangular silhouette and brancards of its predecessors, each new member is also imbued with subtle differences that cater to different sensibilities.
Beginning with the Tank Américaine, the watch’s curved, elongated case mirrors that of the 1921 Tank Cintrée, with the addition of finer, more acrobatic lines that flawlessly integrate the brancards with the extension of the strap. Coupled with the iconic Roman-numerals on the dial, the timepiece’s ergonomic approach and pure form pay tribute to the Tank’s heritage, all while incorporating a contemporary elegance.
The Tank Française has also received a minor facelift that stays true to the monobloc metal design of its predecessors. The 2023 edition notably comes with a new satin-brushed strap with tighter- fitted links that give the timepiece a streamlined and athletic integrated- bracelet aesthetic. Topped off with factory-set diamonds along the brancards, the Tank Française makes for a sporty statement embellished with sophistication.
As with all families, there is always an artistically-inclined child—the Tank family is no different. The newest additions to the Tank Louis Cartier line retain all the design elements of a classic Tank, but are fitted with dazzling new dials that pay homage to the Tank Must dials of the vibrant ’70s. Playing on the concept of echoed elements and mirror constructions, the dials feature graphic motifs in gold, yellow gold, rose gold and white gold, creating optical grids that highlight the texture of geometry and contrasts. A juxtaposition of vintage aesthetics with the bold creativity of art, the Tank Louis Cartier balances the Tank’s historic elegance with artistic inclinations.
Most significantly, however, Cartier has announced that the Tank Normale is this year’s addition to its limited-release “collector’s collection”: Cartier Privé. It is a hotly anticipated inclusion worthy of a feature of its own. It shares many of the iconic design cues from the original 1917 Tank—similar proportions, bevelled sapphire crystal, “railroad track” on the inner dial and 1917 date hidden in the VII numeral. The key difference lies in the Privé Normale’s larger 35.2mm x 27.8mm dimensions. Available in six new designs, the Privé Normale line infuses the essence of the 1917 original with modern appearances, done in true Cartier sophistry and craftsmanship. A release that will more than please the purists, the Privé Normale bridges the gap between Cartier’s past and its present, alongside the other Privé Tank variations.
In a nutshell, the refreshed Tank collection keeps the iconic timepiece in touch with contemporary design cues, while pushing the boundaries of horological universality, making it an enduring icon.
They say that "the sky's the limit" but Breitling never took that to heart. Especially when it comes to its redesigned Avenger series. From flight's fickle fancies to conquering even the toughest of cockpits, the Avenger timepiece is built for fighter pilots... but for the rest firmly grounded on terra firma, the Avenger's design and cutting-edge functionality has appeal as well.
The update is a mix of sleek aviation detailing, wear-resistant materials and Breitling's Manufacture Caliber 01 powering the chronograph models. While Breitling's aviation legacy can be traced back to the 1930s, it brings a modern update to the Avengers model. All thanks to a variety to the colourway, use of baton indexes and decreased cases.
From the Avenger series: the 44mm chronograph, the 44mm automatic GMT and the 42mm automatic. Each model proffers a choice between a military leather strap (with a folding pin buckle) or a three-row stainless steel bracelet with a micro-adjustable folding clasp. With a water resistance of up to 300 metres, these timepieces are as resilient as the aviators who wear them.
As mentioned, the ticking heart of the Avenger chronograph is the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01. The COSC-certified chronometer has a approximately 70 hours of power and has a five-year warranty. An open sapphire-crystal caseback reveals the movements precise mechanics. Your core models have an array of coloured dials. From azure blues and lush greens to classic blacks and desert sands, it's a departure from its usual staid hues. Paired with a rotating 60-minute bezels in stainless steel, baton indexes adorn the dial that highlights the red-tipped chrono hand. Along the crown and bezel, are the innovative square pushers designed for seamless timekeeping.
If up for a bolder statement, the Avenger Night Mission chronograph might be up your alley. The Night Mission is encased in scratch-resistant ceramic and comes in striking yellow or carbon black dials. Crafted from solid titanium, its caseback, crown, pushers and buckle boast unparalleled strength-to-weight ratios. Fashioned from resilient carbon fibre, the black dial is more legible and pays homage to the aircraft design's precision.
Embraced by pilots and globe-trotters alike, the Avenger Automatic GMT 44 allows at-a-glance readings, courtesy of its distinctive red GMT hand and 24-hour rotating bezel. With a diameter mirroring its chronograph counterpart, this timepiece exudes a compact profile. Encased in steel, it offers an option between black or naval blue dials. A COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 32 powers this marvel and promises an approximate 42-hour reserve and is backed by a two-year warranty.
In the realm of timepieces, Breitling's Avenger Automatic 42 is a testament to elegant robustness, meticulously balancing power and precision within its 42mm frame. Crafted from steel, this watch embodies strength and style. It offers enthusiasts a choice of dials in bold hues—classic black, deep naval blue or adventurous camo-green.
Beneath its refined exterior lies the heart of the Avenger Automatic 42—the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 17 automatic three-hand movement. This ensures up to 38 hours of uninterrupted power. You get a promised reliability and performance that withstands the test of time.
Breitling's Avenger collection is not just a timekeeping companion; it's a testament to the spirit of aviation. One that encapsulates the thrill of the skies, the legacy of precision and a boundless innovation.
Ride into the world of Piaget's Polo collection, the crossroads where elegance, innovation, tradition and modernity meet. Since 1979, Piaget Polo had a goal for a pioneering sense of style. And even with a storied sophistication, it has an everyday wearability. A lifestyle watch, if you will.
The Piaget Polo Date was first unveiled in a black colourway at Watches and Wonders 2022. Now it has birthed a variant called the Polo Field. This is a spectacle for the wrist. As a homage to the original polo fields and lawns of West Palm Beach, Florida, when it comes to Swiss craftsmanship, it is reflected in the nuanced detailing of the Piaget Polo Field.
For this edition, the 42mm Polo Field watch has a special green dial with Super-LumiNova markers which shine in the dark and heighten Piaget's signature "P" logo on the tip of the seconds hand. The gadroons on the dial are thicker to blend in with the textured water-resistant rubber strap. Swap out your straps to suit the mood of your day. Hell, you can even replace with another colour, if you so wish.
The timepiece's unique shape—its cushion dial and round bezel—makes you stand out from the crowd. With a stainless steel body contrasting against its sapphire crystal case back, the Polo Field houses an intricate 1110P Manufacture automatic mechanical movement. With a price point that doesn't break the bank, this is a timepiece for those who abide by the risk-takers (whose motto is probably "YOLO"), this is a timepeice for those who live life to the fullest.
As you marvel at the Piaget Polo Field, take a gander at the other Polo models like the Perpetual Calendar and Skeleton. Both are ultra-thin, with the former hosting a Perpetual Calendar with a moon-phase mechanism and the latter housing an all-new self-winding skeleton movement 1200S1 powered by an off-centre micro-rotor etched into Piaget's coat of arms.
The Piaget Polo Field is available here.
So many watch events and so little time. Closing out the year, comes the Singapore Watch Fair 2023 (SWF 2023). Presented by Resorts World Sentosa and held at the Equarius Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa, watch aficionados will be privy to 24 brands and independent watchmakers with a horological haul valued at US$25 million. SWF promises to be your gateway to a world of horological wonders. Embrace the elegance, indulge in the history, and ignite your passion for watches in an atmosphere of luxury and sophistication.
From 18 to 21 October 2023, SWF will feature rockstar collectors like Sandro Fratini and Ali Nael, as they partner with FutureGrail to reveal The Essence of Time Museum. Horological expert Arnaud Tellier offers his curation of rare and exquisite limited-edition watches from Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, Rolex and more.
Another one of the shining gems at SGF is Ludovic Ballouard's masterpiece which is crafted from the rarest metal on Earth, osmium. Highly sought after, this piece is valued for its distinctive upside-down numbers crafted from onyx.
But these are just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the four-day affair, other highlights like masterclasses and panels include:
Event Details:
Date: 18-21 October, 2023
Venue: Equarius Hotel, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 098269
This event is free to the public; register here.
The colour turquoise has been linked with opulence ever since its namesake gemstone adorned the movers and shakers of the ancient world; ergo, it’s no surprise that it looks right at home on one of the world’s most popular luxury watches: the Omega Seamaster.
The Omega Planet Ocean Deep Black Chronograph Seamaster, to be specific, embraces the greeny-blue hue to pay homage to Emirates Team New Zealand (ENTZ). This is a sailing team the Swiss marque has supported since 1995. This is ahead of the 37th America’s Cup taking place in Barcelona in 2024.
About an hour’s drive outside of Barcelona, in the genial coastal town of Vilanova where the first Preliminary Regatta for the forthcoming sporting event took place (as a matter of course, Omega served as the official timekeeper), the black and turquoise watch was unveiled on Wednesday 13 September in the presence of the ETNZ leaders, Omega representatives and a select few members of the international press, including Esquire.
From the outset, the colour palette was the key talking point—a conspicuous combination unmistakably inspired by the New Zealand team’s new motif which is anchored by a turquoise fern.
Raynald Aeschlimann, CEO of Omega, admits that despite turquoise’s deep association with affluence, it took careful thought to find a suitable way to incorporate the colour into the time-honoured design.
“Bringing in that blue was a challenge—I wanted this watch to be recognisable but still in line with what we’ve recently been doing,” he tells Esquire. “We wanted to create something that wasn’t just a collab with another name on the dial.”
Here, the only telltale sign that the watch has been created with the Oceanic sailing team in mind is the logo discoverable on the case's NAIAD Lock rear.
But that’s not to say that the limited-edition release is otherwise identical to your classic Seamaster, because it isn’t.
Touches that make the ETNZ-edition unique include the gradient-effect seconds hands complete with an America’s Cup trophy counterweight, and the 10-minute countdown indicator positioned at 3 o'clock that may be used by the team as they prepare to participate in the competition.
Naturally, Omega hopes that the water-resistant timepiece can aid another win for the titleholders.
“The team has won the cup four times—twice with us, and two other times before our day in the nineties,” says Grant Dalton, CEO of the Emirates-sponsored sports crew. “We’re often asked what’s the motivation to win it again… It's never been won by the same team.”
Beyond its appropriateness for bona fide sailors, the new Seamaster is also an impressive lifestyle accessory for swanky land dwellers, with its brushed black zirconium oxide ceramic case, white lacquer Super-LumiNova detailing (that's watch talk for glow-in-the-dark) and turquoise accents.
Even the packaging is impressive. It arrives in a dual-branded black and turquoise zip case, making for an unboxing experience fit for the movers and shakers of the modern world, counting the defending champions of the world's oldest sporting contest.
Sign up to be notified about the stock of the Emirates Team New Zealand Edition of the Planet Ocean Seamaster over on the Omega webstore. The timepiece, complete with a black and turquoise textile and rubber strap; the turquoise strap, available with or without a satin-brushed ceramic clasp, can be purchased separately.
