Keeping track of time should not be relegated to a necessity. A classic timepiece can be a style statement, a souvenir, a beautiful enhancement to our daily life.
As the world moves towards smartwear and fitness bands, time still stand with iconic clocks.
BusinessLive ME picks the best watches that zapped the world in 2019. From Audemars Piguet to Rolex, Patek Philippe to Chanel and many more, here are some of the classic, beautiful and most talked-about time pieces of 2019:
Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin (6.3mm thick)
The world’s thinnest automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch, marks Audemars Piguet’s latest technological milestone with a movement of 2.89mm thick and a case of 6.3mm in height. Presented as a prototype at the SIHH in 2018 as RD#2, it now combines titanium and 950 platinum for an elegant look and a lighter feel on the wrist.
The manufacture developed two pioneering and patented innovations: the end-of-the-month cam has been integrated to the date wheel, while the month cam has been combined to the month wheel.
Bvlgari
Octo Finissimo Chrono GMT
The classic piece set a fifth world record — for the thinnest Chronograph GMT Automatic — and the unveiling of the new Octo Finissimo Ceramic, writing a new chapter in the unexpected use of high-tech materials. Endowed with chronograph and GMT functions, it is an exciting blend of technical sophistication and aesthetic refinement. A perfect fusion of design and technology, Octo Finissimo keeps embodying Bvlgari’s ground-breaking approach in the field of watchmaking.
Read: Investing in Watches
Chanel
J12
Over the last few years, Chanel’s watch division has made great. The J12 iconic timepiece features the Caliber 12.1, a self-winding movement manufactured exclusively for the brand. The watch was seen on the wrists of women such as Hillary Clinton, Victoria Beckham, Keira Knightley and many more.
Hermes
Arceau L’heure de la lune
This watch offers a unique vision of Earth’s satellite with the simultaneous display of moon phases in both northern and southern hemispheres. Two mobile counters gravitate on a meteorite or aventurine dial, revealing mother-of-pearl moons in step with an exclusive module, coupled with a Manufacture Hermès movement. It recently won the GPHG 2019 Calendar and Astronomy category for the double moon phase indicator.
Seiko
Prospex LX
The water resistant Seiko Prospex LX series takes its name from “lux,” the Latin word for “light.” It is a premium sports watch collection that blends a high aesthetic sense with high practicality. A limited edition model for launched for divers. By utilizing cermet for the bezel, the luster of fantastic water surfaces were depicted, both in violet gold and platinum colorings.
Read: The Best Dive Watches
Rolex
Yacht-Master 42
With the distinctive Rolex dial, this self-winding mechanical movement watch is characterised by 18 ct gold alloys. The Oysterflex bracelet offers a sporty alternative to metal bracelets. The bracelet attaches to the watch case and the Oysterlock safety clasp by a flexible titanium and nickel alloy metal blade. The calibre 3235 is a new-generation movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex.
MB&F
Legacy Machine FlyingT
A cult favorite among watch enthusiasts, MB&F’s Legacy Machine collection doesn’t disappoint. The three-dimensional horological art pieces for women has a round case in white gold, with a steeply cambered bezel and slender, elongated lugs, is fully set with diamonds.
An asymmetric ventricular opening in the dial plate frames the heart of the LM FlyingT engine – a cinematic flying tour – billon that beats at a serene rate of 2.5Hz (18,000vph). The dial of black or white lacquer that displays the hours and minutes with a pair of elegant serpentine hands in blued gold. The dial is inclined at a 50° tilt so that the time can be read only by the wearer.
Tudor
Black Bay P01
First launched in 2012, the Black Bay collection is the modern incarnation of Tudor’s iconic Submariner design from 1954. The collection has three categories – The Modern Tools, The Game Changers, The Pure Classics. These watches reinterpret the classic dive watch in innovative materials and with the addition of complications like the chronograph that will make them indispensable everyday companions.
Tissot
Heritage Collection
One of the most respected watchmakers in the industry with a 160-year-old legacy, the Heritage series tells stories of the past in a contemporary style, appealing both to modern tastes as well as fascinated collectors. It won the Poland’s Watch of the Year public prize for third consecutive year.
Patek Philippe
5172G Chronograph
The brand redesigned its chronograph of classic architecture for men (column wheel, horizontal clutch and manual winding), endowing it with a new white gold case with round guilloched pushers and three-tier lugs. Its subtle vintage allure is underscored by a sapphire-crystal “box” glass. The dial also sports an all-new look with a blue background and contrast luminescent white gold applied Arabic numerals and hands.
Images & text curated from brand websites
