Ten Remarkable Timepieces from SIHH

Ten Remarkable Timepieces from SIHH

May 21, 2015 • Fashion, Features, In the Magazine, Reviews

By Yang-Yi Goh

Every January, thousands of buyers, journalists and watch nerds descend upon Geneva, Switzerland for Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), a five-day celebration of the some of the newest and most luxurious timepieces in the world. With 2015 marking the tradeshow’s 25th anniversary, exhibiting watchmakers—16 “Maisons” in total—pulled all the stops,displayingan endless array of their latest jaw-dropping wares. Here, we round up 10 watches that best captured our imaginations.

MENS

Panerai Radiomir Firenze 3 Days Acciaio

From A Room with a View to The Light in the Piazza, there’s no shortage of heartfelt artistic tributes to Florence in popular culture. This exquisite timepiece represents yet another worthy offering. The 47 mm stainless steel cases are hand-engraved by Florentine craftsmen, with intricate motifs inspired by the ornate facades of the city’s myriad churches. As rare as they are beautiful, only 99 of these bad boys were produced, available exclusively at (you guessed it!) the Panerai flagship in Florence. $17,000 euros (C$23,060)

IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days Edition “75th Anniversary”

Swiss stalwart IWC has come under fire as of late—including a scathing open letter from Grammy winner (and noted watch enthusiast) John Mayer—for supposedly straying too far from its heritage and favouring flashy new designs over its traditional utilitarian tool watches. Lucky for Mayer, the watchmaker appears to have returned to its roots with its latest release. Built to celebrate the 75th anniversary of IWC’s iconic Portugieser model, this throwback homage offers nothing but a clean, handsome aesthetic and a resilient mechanical movement that delivers eight days of reserve. Its body, if you will, is a wonderland. $11,500 Swiss francs (C$14,627) for steel, $22,000 Swiss francs (C$27,979) for red gold

A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater

The German engineers at A. Lange & Söhne have built a reputation for flawlessly precise technical achievements. And rightly so: their Zeitwerk Minute Repeater marks what is perhaps their most exacting—and utterly desirable—leap forward yet. Housed in an elegant 44 mm platinum case, the watch features a highly complex and extraordinarily accurate mechanism that chimes out the current time on command. Just about everyone will appreciate its impressive good looks, but true horology connoisseurs will quiver with awe at its mechanical perfection. $440,000 euro (C$596,543)

Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 370 Revelation

For the car lovers among us, Parmigiani has produced this striking and unusual curiosity to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its ongoing collaboration with legendary automaker Bugatti. The sleek, sexy lines of the rose gold casing are meant to invoke Bugatti’s Veyron supercar, with a distinctive tubular movement that sits on the wrist like an engine block. It’s an inimitable work of art that will turn just as many heads as the vehicle that inspired it. $500,000

Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Seconds Vision

Since its inception just over a decade ago, Greubel Forsey has been revered among watch collectors for its swing-for-the-fences, no-holds-barred design philosophy. The problem is, not many of those collectors have actually wanted to wear the Swiss watchmaker’s innovative, ultra-high-end creations, as their massive, detail-heavy tourbillons often veered too far into garish territory. But the company’s newest effort shows a budding commitment to tasteful restraint. There’s still a large visible tourbillion, but it’s built into a slim, toned-down 43.5 mm white gold casing. Less, Greubel Forsey has finally learned, is more. $290,000 euro (C$393,075)

WOMENS

Cartier Clé de Cartier

It’s a rare privilege to bear witness to the birth of an icon, but with Cartier’s debut of its new Clé de Cartier collection, it feels like we’ve done just that. Encompassing a fresh rounded shape, a reinvented sapphire-set crown, and an all-new in-house movement, the line is a strong and versatile addition to the Parisian house’s already-brilliant range. Of the 22 models unveiled, the 35 mm rose gold bracelet version—with an understated pavé diamond bezel—is easily the most captivating. $45,200 euro (C$61,257)

Audemars Piguet Diamond Punk

The masterminds at Audemars Piguet claim that their latest timepiece was inspired by the “graphic design codes of the punk era,” which is a little confusing because the last time we checked it wasn’t terribly “punk rock” to wear a geometric cuff bracelet covered with 7,848 snow-set diamonds. Not to mentionanother 300 diamonds on the watch’s hidden face! But whether you choose to pair it with a ball gown or a Sex Pistols tee, it’s impossible to deny that this audacious, show-stopping marvel demands—and deserves—your full and undivided attention. $753,800 USD (C$955,520)

Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Jour Nuit Oiseaux de Paradis

If you’ve ever wished to own a watch that borders on the whimsical, look no further. Depicting a bird of paradise setting its elongated feathers down upon a bird of paradise flower, the hand-enameled, gem-set dials gradually rotate over a 24-hour period so that the scene changes throughout the day. It’s an oddity so charming and quirky that it could star in the next Wes Anderson movie. Price upon request

Ralph Lauren 867 Petite Diamond

Named for the American designer’s historic New York flagship at 867 Madison Avenue, this sophisticated eveningwear accessory boasts bold Art Deco styling with a diamond-encrusted white-gold case set upon a chic black suede strap. The very picture of timeless refinement, it’s the kind of heirloom that will enchant and enthrall for generations to come. Price upon request

Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-vous Moon

Few companies have pushed the boundaries in women’s watchmaking quite like Jaeger-LeCoultre, which blends technological precision and artful presentation with effortless grace. This new contribution is no exception. The watch not only tracks the phases of the moon, but it does so in a most beguiling manner: the moon itself is made of mother-of-pearl and is surrounded by cabochons representing the stars in their constellations, all set in a 39 mm white gold case with 208 brilliant-cut diamonds studding the bezel. All in all, it adds up to a timepiece as mesmerizing as the evening sky itself. $49,900 euro (C$67,939)

Cartier Fashion Ralph Lauren SIHH Watches