SIHH 2017 – A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Decimal Strike (with a new striking complication)
For the SIHH 2017, A. Lange & Söhne just reveled a new model in the emblematic Zeitwerk collection, and not just a new execution of an existing watch, but a new type of complication. This watch joins 3 other members in the family: the Zeitwerk, the Zetiwerk Striking Time and the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater (the latter two being chiming watches). For this new kid in the collection, A. Lange & Söhne introduces a new type of striking mechanism, the Decimal Strike, which gives echo to the unique display of this watch. Please meet the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Decimal Strike.
The first day of any overseas watch fair is pretty much a blur of lights and (occasionally ticking) sounds for Felix and me. Don’t blame that on the boogie, blame it on the tyranny of distance. For the friends we are yet to meet this week in Geneva, here’s a pre-emptive answer for you: “We landed the afternoon before doors opened.” Stepping off a 24-hour flight from some mythical place known as Australian summer into a blizzard of snow and new watches means that few stand out from the maelstrom. These are the five that did from Day One of SIHH 2017. The Panerai PAM671 – the blue dialled Bronzo It lives! Some mocked our crystal ball skills when we published these predictions a few days ago, but critics should note we were profoundly right when we suggested Panerai might release a blue-dialled Bronzo to stand muscly shoulder to muscly shoulder with its rare and highly sought-after green-dialled brother. And choosing between them for most handsome is even more difficult than with the Hemsworth family. The combination of deep, navy blue dial with the gold-like hue of the new bronze, and then the luscious chocolate-rich brown strap… Be still our beating wrists. The issue…
Walking into Montblanc’s revamped SIHH booth, it didn’t take long to work out what the overarching theme of 2017 would be. If the deconstructed racing chronograph suspended from the ceiling wasn’t enough of a clue, the booth staff in stark white racing firesuits certainly gave the game away. Montblanc’s off to the races, and in pole position is an aggressively updated Timewalker. The Timewalker is one of Montblanc’s most successful ranges and, over the years, the distinctive Arabic numerals, modern hand design and sculptural, cut-away lugs have become emblematic for the brand. Recently though, the pioneering model has been somewhat overshadowed by new and exciting heritage models. Not any more. The reimagined Timewalker collection is the brainchild of Davide Cerrato, Managing Director of Montblanc’s watch division (and former Creative Director at Tudor), and is released as a fully formed, mature sports collection comprising everything from simple three-handed options to more complicated offerings like this chronograph. And while the key details like the stylised hands, numerals and cut-out lugs are still there, the overall aesthetic is much more restrained, and with the subtlest touch of vintage (like the tip of the seconds hand and clever rubber racing-style strap). But it’s the…
