Another week down, another round up of all the latest watch releases in our regular series, Watches of the Week. In this week's instalment we'll be featuring new watches from MB&F, Vacheron Constantin, Omega and TAG Heuer. Stay safe and enjoy!
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date Platine
The latest piece to be added to Vacheron Constantin's Excellence Platine collection is the Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date Platine. Clad entirely in platinum, the Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date Platine features all the hallmarks of a Vacheron Constantin produced Platine Collection watch. It features a 42.50mm wide and 9.70mm thick platinum case, a sand-blasted platinum dial, white gold applied hour markers and a blue alligator leather strap with platinum stitching and a platinum folding clasp. The Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date Platine is limited to only 50 numbered pieces and will cost $67,000USD. Flex.
MB&F + L'Epée 1839 Starfleet Explorer
Available in a red, blue or green version, the 1839 Starfleet Explorer is the latest collaborative effort between MB&F and L'Epée. The1839 Starfleet Explorer looks like something out of a sci-fi film and features a unique system to display the hour. There's also three colour-matched spacecraft that rotate around the movement every 5 minutes -- pretty cool. Each colour variant is limited to only 99 pieces and will cost a pretty approachable 9,900CHF.
Omega Speedmaster 38mm
The more subtle Speedmaster collection has now been expanded with Omega introducing four brand new references. Available in either full Sedna or yellow gold and with either the standard bezel or a diamond encrusted one, the new Speedmaster 38mm has all the hallmarks of the typical Speedie, but in a look that is, for the most part, super feminine. Pricing for the models with the standard bezel is at $15,600USD, while the diamond bezel option will cost $18,900USD.
NOVE Trident
Traditional dive watches are big, thick and bulky. They're made that way to handle the crushing pressures of the ocean's depths. But NOVE has come up with an ingenious method of slimming down its dive watches without deterring from a very respectable depth rating. The Trident features a case that measures a paper-thin 6.80mm in thickness with a depth rating of an incredible 200m. As well as being at home in the ocean depths, the Trident can easily slip under a shirt cuff, making it the ideal watch for work and play. It also features a unique 3-lever stop system to keep the bezel unidirectional which you can actually see in motion, too. There are plenty of variations of the Trident you can choose from, and by putting in the code 'HAULOGERIE' you'll get 30% off!
Czapek & Cie Sursum Corda
Celebrating the 175th year since the Czapek & Cie name came about, the Sursum Corda does well to sum up its rather young yet illustrious history. It features a gorgeous world map dial in cloisonne enamel, a case made out of white gold and a variety of finishing techniques applied to the dial at large. The Sursum Corda is not a worldtimer which may be a touch confusing given the world map adorning the dial -- this is in fact a simple hours, minutes and seconds displaying watch. Nevertheless, it is exceptionally beautiful. This is a unique piece and will cost 60,000CHF.
TAG Heuer Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Limited Edition
To celebrate its appointment as the official sponsor and timekeeper of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, TAG Heuer has created the Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Limited Edition. This unique piece features a deep red backdrop on the face of the watch contrasted by a white dial holding the chronograph functions. It also features the race's logo between 1 and 2 o'clock. The Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Limited Edition is priced at 6,700CHF and will be limited to only 1,000 pieces.
Laco Frankfurt GMT Wins the Red Dot Design Award
Laco's super impressive Frankfurt GMT, which we featured way back in February, has just won the Red Dot Award for "Product Design 2020". This is an internationally prestigious design competition that is both highly revered and highly competitive. The watch itself is absolutely superb and features a highly contemporary aesthetic, is supremely functional and hugely versatile. One of our favourite affordable GMT timepieces from one of our favourite watchmakers. Congratulations again Laco!
F. P. Journe Quantième Perpétuel
A revamped and refreshed look accompanies the 2020 version of the F. P. Journe Quantième Perpétuel. Featuring three distinct apertures in the centre of the dial depicting the day, month and date below, the Quantième Perpétuel's layout is one focused on legibility and ease of use. It also features the leap year indicator spitting just below the centre stack hands along with a power reserve depicting its incredible 160 hours of power. Priced from 66,400CHF in gold, while in platinum the F. P. Journe Quantième Perpétuel will cost 70,000CHF.
Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Tourbillon Slate
Entirely my cup of tea, as opposed to Parmigiani Fleurier's other offering which we will come to soon enough, the Toric Tourbillon Slate features a stunning slate grey guilloche dial encased in 18k of red gold with the focus on that large one minute tourbillon at 7 o'clock. The Toric Tourbillon Slate is limited to only 25 pieces and will be priced at 130,000CHF.
Frederique Constant Regatta Countdown
A sports watch from Frederique Constant was always going to raise some eyebrows, but the Regatta Countdown is a bang on splendid example. Frederique Constant really did hit it out of the ballpark with the Regatta Countdown. I won't get into the eccentricities of a regatta countdown mechanism, but it is an interesting complication that basically features a timer for a 10-minute countdown displayed in the five apertures at the top of the dial, the typical countdown period before the start of a yacht race. The Frederique Constant Regatta Countdown is priced at €3,495.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Tondagraphe
On paper the Tonda Tondagraphe seems like a real winner with all the hallmarks of a super complicated high end timepiece. That, coupled with its $199,000USD price tag makes for a fairly expensive proposition with a whole lot of expectation. But, the Tonda Tondagraphe unfortunately falls short of the mark, at least from an aesthetic perspective. The slate grey dial, while itself beautiful, seems haphazardly organised and very confusing. The orientation of the elongated lugs blending well into the sides of the case means that the chronograph pushers sit very close to the crown, an issue ergonomically and visually. Instead of bashing the Tonda Tondagraphe relentlessly, I might just leave it there and say at least Parmigiani Fleurier is marching to the beat of its own drum. I guess.