Welcome to the first Watches Of The Week of 2023. In the year's inaugural edition, I'll be highlighting some amazing new watches from a broad spectrum of watchmakers, including new watches from Laurent Ferrier, Hermès, Zenith and Girard-Perregaux. Happy reading and I hope you all have a happy, safe and healthy year!
Zenith DEFY Skyline Skeleton
Zenith has continued on its unrelenting onslaught, unveiling its latest and greatest in the form of the new DEFY Skyline Skeleton. The Zenith DEFY Skyline Skeleton offers the maison's iconic El Primero high-frequency movement (1/10th of a second) within that beautiful octagonal shaped stainless steel case with either a blue or black openworked star-shaped dial. The new Zenith DEFY Skyline Skeleton is available for CHF10,900.
Hermès Horloger Hermès H08
New from the Hermès Horloger is the H08. An extension on its popular sports watch, the new H08 fields a rose gold and titanium case, along with a black gold finely grained dial. Powering the H08 is the Vaucher calibre H1837 automatic movement. The Hermès Horloger Hermès H08 is priced at €15,750.
Richard Mille RM66 Flying Tourbillon Rock’n’Roll
Richard Mille dropped its latest high horology work of art in the form of the insane RM66 Flying Tourbillon Rock’n’Roll. Complete with the stylised rock'n'roll skeletonised hand gesture and a flying tourbillon encased in carbon TPT and gold, the Richard Mille RM66 Flying Tourbillon Rock’n’Roll is as much of a statement piece as anything else out there. The will retail for USD1,095,000 and is available in a limited run of only 50 pieces.
Urwerk UR-112 Aggregat Back to Black
From Urwerk we have the new UR-112 Aggregat Back to Black. From its black DLC-treated titanium and stainless steel case, hunter-style blackened steel hinged bonnet and digital hours and minutes display (shown on triangular prisms inside transparent sapphire crystal cylinders), the Urwerk UR-112 Aggregat Back to Black is one serious bit of kit that is definitely unlike anything else out there. Priced at CHF280,000 and limited to only 25 pieces.
Girard-Perregaux's New Laureato Absolute Models
New from Girard-Perregaux are two Laureato Absolute additions. Named Light & Shade and Light & Fire, these two new models both feature sapphire crystal cases, albeit finished off in two different color ways, grey for the Light & Shade model, red for the Light & Fire model. Both models feature extensive openworking and associated superlative finishing, and both are available for CHF95,000.
Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit
With the new Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit we have something completely unconventional from the independent maison. From its salmon coloured dial to its cushion-shaped titanium case, matching integrated bracelet and super contemporary hand-wound tourbillon calibre LF619.01 movement, the Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit hits all the right notes as being something very much against the grain for the independent watchmaker. Pricing on request.
Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton White
Ulysse Nardin unveiled its latest and greatest with the new Diver X Skeleton White. Encased in a polished and satin finished titanium case with a concave rubberised bezel, the Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton White features a skeletonised X-shaped grey dial and is powered by the manufacture calibre UN-372.