A. Lange & Söhne reserves its proprietary honey gold – a more scratch-resistant gold alloy that has a rich, warm glow – for a few selected watches only. Since 2010, only seven limited editions have been ‘dressed’ in this special material. For 2019, a limited edition of 100 pieces of the Langematik Perpetual will be […]
Here’s a very special one… the new Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar comes with a normal power reserve of 4 days, however, put in so-called “Standby mode” and the movement switches to a lower frequency, and the power reserve has increased to no less then 65 days! That’s a great feature for when you want to store your perpetual calendar without having to set all indications all over again, when you decide to wear it after some weeks and up to two months. Let’s have a closer look at this spectacular timepiece that incorporates two gear trains, two escapements, and a perpetual calendar, and all that in a relatively small 42mm case.
In a bold move that underscores its technical abilities, Jaeger-LeCoultre unveils a grande complication watch featuring a staggering combination of complications: a multi-axis tourbillon driven by a remontoir d’égalité, a minute repeater with Westminster chime, a perpetual calendar… and more. Meet the new (and superb) Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpetuel – a.k.a The Gyrotourbillon 5.
The Laureato, since its introduction at the SIHH 2017, has been a great success for Girard-Perregaux and had allowed them to be back on the ultra-competitive and oh-so-trendy market of the luxury sports watch. Already existing in an array of models (3-hand, chronograph, tourbillon, skeleton, full ceramic), the brand continues the expansion of this collection by now looking at traditional complications. As a preview of what is to come at the SIHH 2019, meet the new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Perpetual Calendar, in sporty steel attire.
The Laureato, since its introduction at the SIHH 2017, has been a great success for Girard-Perregaux and had allowed them to be back on the ultra-competitive and oh-so-trendy market of the luxury sports watch. Already existing in an array of models (3-hand, chronograph, tourbillon, skeleton, full ceramic), the brand continues the expansion of this collection by now looking at traditional complications. As a preview of what is to come at the SIHH 2019, meet the new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Perpetual Calendar, in sporty steel attire.
Since 2010, Chopard has released a menagerie of beautifully crafted Urushi dials to celebrate the animals of the Chinese zodiac. At the end of 2017, Chopard decided to regale collectors with a superlative one-off piece. Not only did it congregate all 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac, hand-engraved on the sides of the case, but the L.U.C Perpetual T Spirit was also equipped with a perpetual calendar and a tourbillon. A similar collector’s edition, decorated with motifs of Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations was presented during the SIAR and sold in six minutes flat. For 2019, which coincides with the Year of the Pig, Chopard repeats the formula and unveils its latest homage to Chinese cultural traditions with this unique L.U.C masterpiece.
Sold in just six minutes, Chopard’s L.U.C T Spirit of “La Santa Muerte” is an opulent tribute to the festive spirit of Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations. Unveiled during the 12th edition of the Salon Internacional de Alta Relojería (SIAR) – the most prestigious watch show in Latin America showcasing 40 plus brands – Chopard’s unique timepiece was snatched up by a collector in minutes. Crafted in 18k rose gold, with hand-engraved motifs on just about every surface of the case, the grinning skull on the dial steals the show and has been ingeniously designed to host the perpetual calendar complications and reveal details of the tourbillon.
With SIHH 2019 fast approaching, brands are pre-releasing selected models to whet our appetites. Among them is Vacheron Constantin, which has released the first images of two unique pieces, Les Cabinotiers Grande Complication Phoenix and Les Cabinotiers Minute Repeater Tourbillon Sky chart we will introduce in a separate article. But for now, let’s look at the first model, a complex watch with no fewer than 15 complications.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Frederique Constant wowed the crowds in Paris with its double complication at an unbelievable price. Once again, Frederique Constant sticks to its slogan of ‘accessible luxury’ and proves that acquiring a quality, manufacture watch with complications does not mean having to mortgage your house. Frederique’s Constant QP Tourbillon Manufacture snubs the tradition of hyper-expensive complications and offers its very own, in-house take on this classic complication for an exorbitantly contained price. As the culmination and showcase of all the technology FC has amassed over the years, the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon is equipped with the new automatic FC-975 in-house movement. Presented in three different metals and with an openworked or closed dial, the one everybody will be zoning in on is the stainless steel contender with an unbeatable price tag of EUR 19,495.
A classic among classics, the Le Brassus-based manufacture revisits its perpetual calendar complication with moon phases in 2018, in a larger 40mm case size and a choice of two metals: 18k red gold and stainless steel. With subtle design tweaks on the dial and a secured movement, the new Villeret Quantième Perpétuel 6656 models are presented in a more contemporary case size and in a more ‘democratic’ choice of steel… Is Blancpain on the hunt for younger customers?