New timepieces that stand out
From mechanical wizardry to refreshed models, these 3 watches are worth a second look.
Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture
WHILE designed to display its impressive mechanisms like an open book, it’s the watch case that stands out in what is arguably Greubel Forsey’s greatest timepiece so far. The conical shaped case of this new gravity-defying watch is “wholly atypical” and a key explanation of why it’s unlike anything the brand has created. Already known for its high-priced super complication watches and mechanical wizardry, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture moves Greubel Forsey’s watchmaking prowess to the next level in its purposeful construction, sculptured components and spectacular mechanical interplay kinetic and movement. And all of these are visible through the new case. Made of ultra-light titanium and crystal clear sapphire, the case measures 45 millimetres (mm) across the bezel and 47 mm on the case-back. It’s cleverly constructed to provide not only a clear view of the watch’s highly polished inner beauty and complexity, but also makes it appear compact despite its size. Thanks to the material and convex profile of the case, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes Architecture, which comes in a rubber strap, is also comfortable to wear.
Greubel Forsey will produce 11 pieces of the watch in 2022 and 18 yearly from 2023 to 2025. The Tourbillon Secondes Architecture will be officially discontinued at a final total of 65 timepieces produced. Price: S$706,200.
Tudor Ranger
Strapped with Tudor’s first automatic and waterproof watches, the Oyster Prince, the British North Greenland Expedition team set out on its arctic exploration in 1952. After 2 years in the frigid cold, they reported the timepieces were still working well and “maintaining a remarkable accuracy” despite the extreme weather. The Oyster Prince proved to be “a robust, practical and affordable instrument”. The concept subsequently gave birth to the Tudor Ranger line of expedition timepieces.
The latest Tudor Ranger celebrates the 70th anniversary of the 1952 British expedition — and certainly lives up to its heritage. The 39 mm stainless steel case and bracelet of the new watch are satin-brushed — creating an overall matt finish — in the purest spirit of a “tool watch”. The Arabic numerals at 3, 9 and 12 o’clock on the dial bear the aesthetic standards set in the course of its history. Powering the new waterproof timepiece is a high performance Tudor in-house movement that’s COSC-certified for accuracy and reliability. It boasts 70 hours of power reserve. And the new Tudor Ranger remains affordable. In fact, it’s the cheapest Tudor sports model with an in-house movement. Price: S$4,210 (steel bracelet), S$3,780 (leather or fabric strap).
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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Music Edition
This could be mistaken as the Audemars Piguet-Carolina Bucci Royal Oak Offshore 50th Anniversary watch Part II. Its multi-coloured dial is similar to the rainbow dial of the earlier timepiece, rolled out just a month ago. But music aficionados will be quick to recognise that the columns of colours on the new watch bear the pattern of equaliser (or VU meter), used in recording studios.
It’s Audemars Piguet’s way of saying “thank you for the music”. Indeed, “sound has always been the heart of the watchmaking art, long before time could be read on dial, for example thanks to bells striking the time”, it says. “Ever since its founding, Audemars Piguet has constantly created bridges with the world of music, notably by playing a pioneering role in the development of chiming watches.”
The Music Edition comes in 5 references, in 37 and 43 mm wide cases: 2 models in titanium (limited 500); 2 in gem-set 18-carat white gold; and 1 in black ceramic (limited 250). All are powered by an automatic movement. Prices: S$42,000 to S$58,500 (titanium and black ceramic); 194,300 Swiss franc (S$278,600) excluding VAT (gem-set white gold, 37 mm); 215,300 franc excluding VAT (gem-set white gold, 43 mm).
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