For a few days each year in March, Basel, Switzerland becomes the watch and jewelry capital of the world. Nearly 1,500 world-renowned brands unite to celebrate new collections and trendsetting innovations. It all takes place inside the famous Messe, an incredible piece of design, almost as inspirational as the show itself.
the COMPETITOR
ROLEX
Welcome a new version of the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, which traces its lineage to 1963. Today’s version comes in steel with a monobloc Cerachrom bezel, developed and patented by Rolex, in black ceramic. The 2016 Cosmograph Daytona carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which guards its reputation for reliability and performance. The Daytona’s bezel is engraved with a tachymetric scale for measuring average speeds of up to 400 miles or kilometres per hour. rolex.com
the BANKER
BLANCPAIN
The white dial and black leather strap of the Villeret Quantième Annuel GMT is paired with a stainless steel case; this is the first annual calendar GMT model in this metal. The hands and hour-markers match the case. The clear sapphire case back reveals the yellow gold winding rotor adorned with a guilloché motif. The Villeret Quantième Annuel GMT, which is equipped with the self-winding 6054F caliber requires only one date adjustment per year, between February and March. A 24-hour counter at 8 o’clock serves as the reference time. blancpain.com/en
the CREATIVE
NOMOS GLASHÜTTE
With bold lemon yellow encased in rose gold, the Lux Zikade nonetheless has subtleties and refinement; it is also one of the most beautiful and extravagant timepieces around. Timelessly elegant and entirely modern, it is a perfect example of Glashütte fine watchmaking; its tonneau form, smaller for women, fits the DUW 2002 caliber perfectly. Fine sunbeam polishing, gold chatons handpolished in elder pith, and a hand-engraved balance cock testify to haute horlogerie, handcrafted in the NOMOS Atelier Lux Zikade rose gold 18k, tripartite. nomos-glashuette.com
the CEO
H. MOSER & CIE
The name on the dial usually indicates its worth. For H. Moser & Cie it’s a different “concept.” It recalls the beginning of watchmaking, when only the movement would bear a maker’s mark. The beauty was expressed with few embellishments. Moser brings back minimalism for true iconic branding. Bridging past and present, the Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept considers all of the open space on the dial; the signature of the dial is critical here. Moser went with a strong sky-blue fumé (French for “smoked”), a finish that is unique to the brand. h-moser.com
the TRAVELER
PATEK PHILIPPE
The World Time watch, also referred to as Heure Universelle by collectors, is one the company’s most popular complicated wristwatches of the last nearly eighty years. Because of time zone changes, the new model replaces all previous ones. Its case, dial and hand designs are reworked, with updated, globally valid city names. Changes were applied to the winglet-style lugs and the narrow, smoothly polished bezel. The hand shapes are new, with a pierced hour hand with a silhouette that evokes the famous “Southern Cross” constellation. patek.com
Photographs: courtesy of designers/brands; Rolex ©Rolex/Alain Costa; glaschutte and h moser by By Martin Kaegi