From celebrating human achievements to evoking illustrious pasts, these timepieces are horological triumphs in their own right.
Pictured Above: The legendary Omega Calibre 321 has returned, fittingly powering the Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 Platinum. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, the commemorative timepiece is a “Moonwatch” through and through, albeit in a swankier outfit forged from a special alloy of platinum with a little bit of gold. The 42mm brushed and polished case with distinctive twisted lugs frames a stepped dial made of deep-black onyx and 18K white gold indexes and hands. Another noteworthy feature is the sub-dials that are made of moon meteorite.
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Deep Dive
The new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique is clad in titanium, updating its relevance after six decades. Divers will appreciate its high resistance to impacts and corrosion, as will urbanites who like wearing a generously sized (45mm to be exact) watch that is surprisingly lightweight. Water-resistant to 300m, it features a unidirectional rotating bezel fitted with a scratch-proof domed black sapphire insert.
To ensure readability from all angles, its markers, hour markers, and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova, contrasted against a sunburst black dial. Turn the watch around and be mesmerised by the famous Blancpain automatic Calibre 1315 with a whopping five-day power reserve, showcased by a sapphire crystal case back.
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Best of Both Worlds
The new Tissot Gentleman Automatic line-up expertly straddles commercial viability and elegant style. Made of steel and solid 18-carat pink gold (instead of merely plated for appearance’s sake), the four versions are ideally sized at 40mm, with lugs extending and curving downwards to fit the wrist more snugly.
All the dial variants – in black, cream opaline, brown or silver – feature a central crosshair motif and a date aperture within a rose gold border. The ring of appliquéd hour markers has been bevelled and buffed to a satin finish to complement the dauphine hands, while a discreet dash of white Super-LumiNova enhances legibility. Rounding out the host of dynamic features is the automatic Powermatic 80 movement that provides a respectable power reserve of 80 hours.
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RAREFIED AIR
Even those who are well acquainted with the iconic Golden Bridge, Admiral, and Bubble might not immediately register the Lab 01 as a Corum timepiece. Its distinctive, futuristic appearance is the result of its open-worked dial and visible mechanics. Measuring 38.85mm by 55mm, the Heritage Corum Lab 01 is made with grade-5 titanium with black DLC coating and rubber covering the sides to make it exceptionally hardwearing.
One standout characteristic is the crown that is neatly sandwiched between the lugs at six o’clock, which maintains the symmetry of the tonneau-shaped case. Driving the watch is the automatic CO 410 calibre that was reportedly developed by Le Cercle des Horlogers, a Swiss manufacture that specialises in creating complicated made-to-measure movements for various brands.
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MODERN PAST
The famous Golden Horse, one of Rado’s first collections, has been updated with larger dimensions to suit contemporary tastes while retaining its vintage design. A bezel in rose gold-coloured Ceramos or polished plasma high-tech ceramic complements the stainless steel case, resulting in an attractive two-tone appearance. On the other hand, the dials, which range from staid silver to cool green, are adorned with rose gold or rhodium accents on the hands, indices, and a pair of seahorses to evoke the original’s features.
Furthering its vintage appeal is its date window with striking red numerals. The 2019 re-issue of the Rado Golden Horse is equipped with the Swiss-made ETA C07 automatic movement with a power reserve of 80 hours.
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