Following on last week's fairly lightweight instalment, this week's Watches of the Week round up features a stacked line up of new watch releases from a variety of watchmakers including Breitling, Bulgari, Omega, Jaquet Droz and Ulysse Nardin amongst others. Enjoy!
Breitling Endurance Pro
Breitling is as Breitling does, and in the case of the Endurance Pro we have a watch that is tailored made for the enthusiasts who have an itch for pushing their personal athletic ambitions. Encased in Breitling's proprietary Breitlight case material and featuring a super accurate SuperQuartz movement, the Endurance Pro is the perfect watch for the active enthusiast. Available in a variety of colours with matching rubber straps, the Endurance Pro captures the quintessential look of Breitling's professional watches in a casual and sporty way. The Breitling Endurance Pro is available now for a very approachable $4,490AUD.
Bulgari Octo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton
Records were made to be broken, right? Bulgari, one of the kings of slimline watches, has just dropped its 6th record-breaking watch, the incredible Octo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton. At the same time Bulgari also released a new aluminium collection of watches, but my focus here is on the haute horlogerie piece that is the Octo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton. It measures 42mm across and an incredible 7.40mm in thickness. Don't forget that this is a tourbillon and a chronograph. Its movement measures just 3.50mm in thickness. WTF! The Bulgari Octo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton will be made in a limited run of only 50 pieces with a price tag of €150,000.
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition
Partnering with Nekton, a not-for-profit research foundation committed to protecting the world's oceans, Omega has released the Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition. It features a laser ablated black ceramic dial that has been matte finished with polished waves as well as a titanium bezel with a laser ablated diving scale. Aesthetically the Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition is incredible. I love the contrast of the titanium bezel with the dark dial. And mechanically, the Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition is no slouch either. Powered by the Master Chronometer Calibre 8806 with a METAS certification, the Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition holds its own on both fronts. It's available on a steel bracelet for $9,425AUD and on a rubber strap for $8,925.AUD.
H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Centre Seconds
New from H. Moser & Cie is the Streamliner Centre Seconds. Following on from the design of the Streamliner Flyback Chronograph released earlier this year, the Streamliner Centre Seconds features a green fumé dial, a time-only configuration and a stainless steel integrated bracelet. The Streamliner Centre Seconds is a unique take on the appeal of the stainless steel sports watch that draws inspiration from the trains that exemplified the Streamlined moderne style of the 1930s. The Streamliner Centre Seconds will be made as a standard production piece and will cost $21,900USD.
Girard-Perregaux Drops A Handful Of New Watches
Girard-Perregaux has gone out on a limb here and has released a bunch of new and exciting watches. We have the Free Bridge in two versions, steel and DLC-coated steel with pink gold accents. There's also the Cosmos Infinity Edition - a true balls-to-the-wall haute horlogerie beast. Then we have the Laureato, 1966 and Vintage 1945 Infinity Editions, all carrying with them the theme of onyx dials. Too much to sum up in a paragraph, so if you want to know more just follow the link below.
Longines Heritage Military Marine Nationale
New from Longines is the Heritage Military Marine Nationale, a captivating piece that really does well to capture the original piece's innate qualities. Having been designed and created for the French Navy in the middle of the 20th century, the Heritage Military Marine Nationale has been reintroduced as Longines' latest vintage-inspired piece. Browns, blues and creams complete what is a very appealing aesthetic and one that has clearly stood the test of time.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Relief Dragon
From Jaquet Droz we have the new Petite Heure Minute Relief Dragon. In a feat of horological art, the Petite Heure Minute Relief Dragon celebrates the Earth Dragon, the 5th element in the 60-year cycle of the traditional Chinese calendar. With thanks to the use of the new "Spiderman" jasper mineral, the Petite Heure Minute Relief Dragon is endowed in beautiful shades of brown, ocher and burgundy throughout the dial. It also features a black onyx sub-dial and an onyx bead at 6 o'clock, a symbol of well-being, luck and prosperity.
Ulysse Nardin Blast
Last but certainly not least is the Ulysse Nardin Blast. Boasting a new case and a new movement, the Blast introduces a new era in skeletonised high complication watches from Ulysse Nardin. Available in a variety of metals and colours, the Blast continues Ulysse Nardin's recognisable openworked themes, including that rectangular frame, the three-point lug system and movement architecture that is both highly contemporary and superfluously finished. Pricing for the Ulysse Nardin starts at $44,000USD.
Breguet Quantieme Retrograde 7597
Breguet has released the Quantieme Retrograde 7597, a curiously architectural piece that features a retrograde date indicator in the bottom hemisphere of the dial. The dial is, of course, a masterpiece, as are all of Breguet's openworked pieces. Details endow the Quantieme Retrograde 7597 from head to toe and leaves little to the imagination, in the most positive of ways, of course. It's an exciting piece and from all angles there's even more to discover, such is the way with many of Breguet's openworked models.