I like almost everything Australian Marc Newson designs, and when he focuses on haute horlogerie the outcome is usually fabulous – like the highly covetable Ikepod range. So when he collaborated with Jaeger-LeCoultre on a reinterpretation of their classic Atmos range of clocks the outcome was always going to be special.
It takes some considerable effort for me to pay attention to a watch; there is so much choice around it has to be something special.
The Black Pearl, designed by Switzerland-based HD3 Complication, definitely meets this standard.
A combination of steampunk exposed mechanisms and pirate and buccaneer-inspired elements, it features a mixture of intricate mechanisms and detailing, and chunky nautical fixtures.
Custom-engraved panels, a cannon hatch and a ship’s wheel-like dial complete the unique and extremely attractive piece.
Oakley released their unconventional Timebomb, their first watch, over a decade ago and now there’s a sequel – the Elite Timebomb II. The elite version continues the unconventional approach with an all-titanium case and bracelet, mounted in unobtanium rubber to ensure a flexible fit. It’s powered by a Swiss 25 jewel automatic mechanical movement, with sapphire crystal and case-back to let you admire it. Add a carbon fibre dial and bezel and this watch looks like no other, with a functional, purposeful bent and stunning detailing.
The Los Angeles product design house Knot have developed a great new concept in watchmaking. Mixing military design cues with a simple clean aesthetic, this watch features three concentric rings for hours, minutes and seconds and a barrel date indicator. While it is just a concept I for one would love to see it make it to production…
Built as a unique one-off for the charity The Only Watch, the Freak Black Out is one of the most amazing watches ever made. First conceived and made in 2001, the Freak is one of the most innovative watch designs in the past century, and this latest edition is the best incarnation yet. The Freak is unique in that it has no hands – the movement itself revolves around to display the time – and the bezel and crystal therefore form part of the movement itself! It represents truly elegant engineering, as it does not only have fewer moving parts than the simplest watch, but also proudly shows off its function in beautiful form.
Two car designers from the north of England have formed a new watch brand under Industrial North Design, and after two years development are releasing their first two watches – the Britannic and the Vanguard-Precision.
The designs are clearly rooted in the rich industrial heritage of the north, and the construction promises to follow suit – CNC machined from solid billets of stainless steel with sterling silver faces, they are built to Brunel levels of over engineering. As a great extra touch, the straps come engraved in either the old British Ministry of Information slogan “Keep Calm, Carry On” or “Come into the Factories”.
Both watches are limited editions with only 15 of each being made, so get your £5,000 cheque ready and Industrial North Design will ship you your new watch in around eight weeks.
Like Rolexes and Panerais but want something a little extra, something that makes your watch truly unique and one of a kind? Project X will take the watch of your choice and customise it – add a sapphire case back, PVC coat the watch, remove the date magnifier or crown guard – it’s all up to you. And if the bespoke nature scares you they also design a series of limited edition watches to their own specifications – sold in strictly limited runs of 24 per design to guarantee that exclusivity.
Omega ups the ante with this new Seamater Aqua Terra GMT Chronograph watch. The timepiece is available in either steel or 18k red gold, and on both versions the hands and hour markers on the dial are in 18k gold. Sounds like Rolex territory to me. Not sure if any previous Seamaster Aqua Terra watches had gold (white) in the dials of even steel watches. The vertical line pattern of the dial is meant to look like the deck of a boat (the “Teak Concept”), which explains part of the ritzy character of the watch. The dial will have highly polished features, and you can tell it is nice and deep to look into. There is of course a metal (steel or gold) bracelet available in addition to the alligator strap. The watch will be a good size at 44mm wide. Things were getting kinda crazy with the 46mm plus sizes that Omega started to dabble with a little while ago.
