The New Piaget Possession Collection – A Playful Take on Time
Not every woman’s watch has to be a mechanical wonder. Sometimes an intriguing design can elevate a quartz watch to new heights. Such is the case with the new Piaget Possession watches that were unveiled at the recent SIHH 2018 in Geneva. Ultra-feminine, sleek and super chic, the new Piaget Possession watches have a lot to offer in terms of color and design. And, if you are looking for the perfect gift for that special someone, you won’t go wrong here.
Yesterday, we ran through our picks of SIHH 2018 at the more accessible end of the spectrum, bearing in mind that the HH in SIHH stands for ‘High Horology’. Today, we kick it up a notch, looking at watches that come in between $10-$20k. There are a lot of meaty options in this price point, something that’s reflected in the fairly diverse opinions of Sandra, Andrew, Justin and myself – as we’ve picked out simple, time-only pieces as well as some more complex pieces. I’m not going to spoil the surprise (or the LOLs), but take, for example, Justin’s pick – the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph WT, a watch that is just over the top end of our budget but offers a strong mix of world time and chronograph complication in a stylish sports case and with a pretty exceptional movement. Or, as Justin puts it: “I’ve always found it hard to find a nice world time chronograph with more then 30-minute registers. It drives me bonkers.” We hear you, Justin, we hear you. Now, onto our top watches of SIHH 2018, between $10,000 and $20,000, Stay tuned as things get more expensive tomorrow.
The more distance and time I’ve had to reflect on SIHH 2018, the more I’m inclined to think that the calibre of the exhibiting collections was – overall – very high. The very top end of town was well represented but of more interest to me (and I suspect a lot of you reading this), the offerings at the less stratospheric price points were plentiful, interesting and attractive. Case in point – Montblanc. Montblanc’s hero collections were the greatly expanded and slightly re-imagined 1858 collection, and the classically styled Star Legacy, both full of the sort of value-packed, thoughtful watches that Montblanc have become synonymous with lately. But really, for me it was the 1858 that was the star of the line-up, what with their rugged charms and easy wrist appeal. Make sure to watch the video for a full overview, but to my mind, these three regular production 1858 watches are the ones to watch. Montblanc 1858 Geosphere With its twin, rotating hemispheres and ceramic compass bezel this twin-time watch was one of Montblanc’s real talking points. It’s offered in a regular production steel model or a limited bronze case, bund strap combo that’s Reinhold Messner levels of awesome. Montblanc…
Ulysse Nardin showed a refreshingly diverse collection at SIHH, with everything from clean, simple (dare we say, classic) designs, all the way up to the incredibly complex and cutting edge. So, as you can imagine, our favourite picks cover off both ends of the spectrum, from daily wear to more special occasion pieces. And while we kept our focus to four models, there’s a few honourable mentions, particularly the new Torpilleur models, and the epic Deep Dive. Ulysse Nardin Classico Last year, we were collectively besotted by the blue enamel, guilloche Classico. This year, we fell in love all over again with this new, inky black-dialled beauty. Simple, but refined. RRP $12,995 (indicative) Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon To be honest, Ulysse Nardin’s Marine Tourbillon is one of the leaders in its class. First released last year with a white enamel dial, it was a a very pure execution of the design. This time around, the design is a lot flashier, thanks to the guilloche-finished bleu enamel dial, which just sings under the light. RRP $41,700 (indicative) Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision And here’s where we depart from the world of classical design for the aggressively modern. The Freak is a genuine…
Ever since we first saw them at SIHH, the collective Time+Tide team has been crushing hard on the new Luminor Due models, particularly the 38 and 42mm offerings. Now, obviously these are watches with strong cross-gender appeal, so we thought it’d be a smart idea to get two takes on these models, courtesy of slender-wristed Sandra and Felix (and his mighty wrists). First thoughts Sandra Lane: Shock, horror! Panerai have made a “small” watch. Some are calling it a watch for women (or – God forbid – even a ‘girly’ watch) but really it’s not. It is simply a watch for those who prefer not to wear a saucer-sized monster on their wrist … for reasons of aesthetics, comfort, fit … whatever. Felix Scholz: Yeah, that did seem to be the initial reaction in some quarters. I think the more prevalent attitude (in the halls of SIHH at least) was — finally! I know so many people who love the PAM look but can’t handle the case size. And you’re absolutely right re the gender split, Sandra, I can easily wear a big, 45mm-plus watch, but would happily strap that 42mm model on any day of the week. The case…