Welcome to the next edition of Watches of the Week, our weekly series where we feature all of the new watch releases of the past seven days. In this week's instalment we'll be highlighting the latest watches from the likes of Richard Mille, MB&F, Hermès and Franck Muller. Enjoy!
Richard Mille RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail
Richard Mille has just dropped its latest and greatest, the RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail. Priced at $1,022,000USD and limited to 106 pieces, the RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail features a brand new case structure inspired by the futuristic look of the McLaren Speedtail. The RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail took 8,600 hours of development of its 672-part movement that's able to withstand 5,000Gs, along with another 18 months of development for that fantastic new case shape. While the traditional tonneau-shaped cases resonate more with me, I'm still completely enamoured by the flow of the RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail. Staggering stuff from Richard Mille, as usual.
MB&F LM101
MB&F's LM101 is back! Originally released in 2014, the LM101 was met with wide acclaim and deserved fan-fare, really propelling itself as a staple of the Legacy Machine collection and modeling itself as one of the purest models of the family. Fast forward to 2021 and the LM101 is back, albeit with some aesthetic and mechanical changes. We now have a steel model with a light blue dial, a red gold model with a royal blue dial and a white gold model with a purple dial, each with white lacquered sub-dials. Each model features a 3D horological movement developed by MB&F, along with a flying balance wheel with a H. Moser & Cie Straumann double hairspring. The overall aesthetic of the new LM101 was overseen by none other than Kari Voutilainen himself, so rest assured that not only mechanically but also viscerally, the LM101 is utter perfection. In stainless steel the LM101 will cost 49,000CHF, while the white gold and red gold models will cost 59,000CHF (not including tax).
Hermès Arceau Space Derby
Available with a miniature painting on either an aventurine or pink opaline dial, the new limited edition Hermès Arceau Space Derby draws inspiration from the colourful universe of the illustrator Ugo Bienvenu who originally created this design based on 20th century American comic book heroes. The Hermès Arceau Space Derby's dial is a magnificent ode to artistry and uniqueness, full of character and sublime details, enhanced by the stirrup-shaped lugs and the smoothness of the case. Fantastic stuff.
Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon
Franck Muller has put its in-house manufacture tourbillon front and centre with the new Grand Central Tourbillon, quite literally. Franck Muller has used a guilloche dial, serving as the perfect backdrop to the central tourbillon. The orientation of the hour numerals along with the redesigned Cintree Curvex case draws focus to the tourbillon, ensuring that everything works cohesively in favour of the magnificent haute horlogerie complication. The new Franck Muller Grand Central Tourbillon will be priced at 112,000CHF.
https://www.franckmuller.com/
Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton NightLum
New from Bell & Ross is the BR 05 Skeleton NightLum. It's an artsy, modern and bold new piece from Bell & Ross that highlights some of the maison's key aesthetic points, primarily its square-shaped cases, high levels of legibility and a contemporary interpretation of traditional horology. I love the openworked dial covered by that smoked sapphire plate, adding a level of intrigue and mystery that we often lose with a completely openworked dial. The luminescent material used in the hands and indices is phenomenal and super bright. The only thing lacking here is the use of an ebauche movement, where I think Bell & Ross should really be using an in-house movement, especially at its €5,900 price point (€5,900 on a rubber strap, €6,400 on a steel bracelet).
TAG Heuer Green Carrera Special Edition
From TAG Heuer we have the new Green Carrera Special Edition. Inspired by the original version made in 1963, the Green Carrera Special Edition features a tri-compax dial layout made capable by the use of the in-house Heuer 02 calibre. The dial has a beautiful green colour that shifts shades depending on the light, contrasted perfectly by the snailed sub-dials. The TAG Heuer Green Carrera Special Edition is limited to only 500 pieces and will be priced at $9,650AUD.
Raymond Weil Bronze Freelancer
Raymond Weil's Freelancer is back and in its latest variation we have a fully openworked dial encased in bronze. I love the contrasting look of the bronze case here with steel lugs, gold balance wheel and bronze coloured hands. This look is further complemented by the colours throughout the openworked movement, working in favour of the bronze case to not only enhance it, but also to balance it. The Bronze Freelancer is powered by Raymond Weil's in-house Calibre RW1212 movement and is strapped to an aged brown leather strap.
William Wood Watches Raises Funds for Fire Fighters Charity
We featured William Wood Watches way back in March where we covered the awesome Triumph Chronograph. And in our latest edition of Watches of the Week, we're featuring William Wood Watches but in a different light. To celebrate the International Fire Fighters Day, William Wood Watches is auctioning off their timepieces with all of the proceeds to be donated to the Fire Fighters Charity which serves as a vital resource in the provision of vital health and wellbeing services to the UK's fire services community.