Welcome back to the next instalment of our regular series focusing on all of the new watch releases of the past seven days, Watches of the Week. In this week's instalment we'll be featuring the latest pieces from the likes of Audemars Piguet, Armin Strom, Girard Perregaux and IWC. Enjoy!
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Frosted Gold Flying Tourbillon
Yep, you read that right. A frosted gold Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon. In what looks like to be the ultimate flex from Audemars Piguet, the Royal Oak Concept Frosted Gold Flying Tourbillon features a hypnotic dial that looks like you’re falling into a deep, dark, diamond-filled wormhole. The Royal Oak Concept Frosted Gold Flying Tourbillon’s wormhole in this instance is an ornate diamond-encrusted tourbillon carriage whose design mimics the dial’s circular look. Similar to the ripples formed in a still pond after a rock has been dropped in it, the Royal Oak Concept Frosted Gold Flying Tourbillon’s dial is the talking point but that’s not to take away anything from the white or pink gold frosted case, which is exquisite in either metal. Certainly not for everyone, but I absolutely love it. My kind of haute horlogerie bling, for sure. In either metal, the Royal Oak Concept Frosted Gold Flying Tourbillon will cost 145,000CHF.
Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force
Now available in a rose gold case and bridge variation with a black dial, the Gravity Equal Force is indeed a looker. Dramatic yet subtle, the Gravity Equal Force features a 41mm wide rose gold case with a narrow bezel, ornate lugs and a riveted crown. The semi-openworked dial is super contemporary in its design and features avant-garde architecture and exposed components on the right hand side, while the left is covered by two overlapping sub-dials. The Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force in rose gold will cost 26,900CHF.
Moritz Grossman Hamatic Vintage
Utilising a specially designed movement based on the traditional hammer mechanism from the 19th century, the Hamatic Vintage from Moritz Grossman does away with the conventional rotor winding system. In fact, the hammer mechanism may prove to be a better power generator, given the fact that even the smallest of arm movements provide some form of winding power in either direction. Not taking away anything from the immensely beautiful dial, the Hamatic Vintage's selling point is indeed the movement. Priced at €40,300 and limited to 25 pieces.
Moritz Grossman Backpage
The Backpage is an interesting concept from Moritz Grossman. It features a mirrored movement that is on full display whichever way you look at it. Superb craftsmanship is matched only by an unobstructed view of the movement. The inverted look of the movement is a dramatic one, giving the wearer a glimpse into the incredible capabilities of the Moritz Grossman atelier. Available in either pink or white gold, both limited to only 8 pieces each.
IWC Aquatimer Automatic Edition "Boesch"
Boesch Motorboote is a high-performance mahogany boat manufacturer on Lake Zurich. And like IWC, they boast handmade luxury products that are instilled with quality and timeless beauty. So a collaboration between these two manufacturers should eventuate in one thing: brilliance. And that is exactly what the Aquatimer Automatic Edition "Boesch" is. Marking their 100th anniversary, IWC has released the Aquatimer Automatic Edition "Boesch" which features an abundance of mahogany boating inspiration from the light brown inner bezel to the dark brown dial, from the black crown to the brown rubber strap. The finishing touch is the multi-coloured brown seconds hand for me. The Aquatimer Automatic Edition "Boesch" is priced at $11,300USD.
Girard-Perregaux Quasar Azure
The Quasar Azure is a progression from Girard-Perregaux's use of sapphire as a case material. This time Girard-Perregaux has opted to use a blue coloured sapphire crystal which looks superb against the highly futuristic look of the openworked dial. The Quasar Azure is a huge watch, however. It measures 46mm across and 15.25mm in depth. This is accentuated by the blue sapphire case even more, giving the illusion that the watch actually wears a lot larger in real life. The Girard-Perregaux Quasar Azure is limited to 8 pieces and will be priced at 274,000CHF.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe
Now available in Sedna gold, the iconic Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe has progressed from solely being something of function to now being something of expression. I love the combination of the blue dial with the Sedna gold case. The blocky hour and minute hands, lollipop seconds hand and angled date window continue the traditional look of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, but the use of Sedna gold really adds that extra bit of oomph. With thanks to the use of the precious material, pricing is quite a bit higher than the usual steel models. But this is a gorgeous piece. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe in Sedna gold is priced at €23,450.