Skyscrapers and skateboarders as envisioned by famous Illustrator Tom Christopher grace the dials of the newly re-launched Ikepod Megapod.
The recently re-launched Ikepod Megapod, here with a dial designed by Tom Christopher.
Looking like a flying saucer, the Ikepod case has always been a stylistic expression of design where less is more – not so much in a Bauhaus school of design, but rather in a geometric expression that allows the sensual curves of the capsule-case. This identifiable case frames the art and function of the dial.
Ensconced in the rather large 46mm case (which the company claims wears like a 43mm due to the shape) is a Miyota automatic mechanical movement visible through the exhibition back.
Limited to 200 pieces, the artistic collaboration watch is available now at a price of $1,750. For more details or to purchase call (214) 231-0144.
Hublot continues its long-running affiliation with the Dominican Republic-based Arturo Fuente cigar empire with a new limited-edition watch that celebrates Carlos A. Fuente Sr., the son of the company’s namesake founder.
The new Big Bang Unico Arturo Fuente Ceramic is the first ceramic model in the series, which debuted in 2012. Echoing earlier Fuente models, Hublot has laser-engraved the new watch’s 44-mm black ceramic case with a tobacco leaf pattern. Within the case Hublot fits its excellent UNICO caliber HUB1242 movement, a flyback column-wheel chronograph offering a 72-hour power reserve.
The new Hublot Big Bang Unico Arturo Fuente Ceramic.
Hublot adds a host of details to the watch to underscore its rich partnership with the Fuente family. For example, the watchmaker places Roman numerals on the dial instead of the traditional Arabic numerals found on most other Big Bang Unico models.
This gesture, according to Hublot, adds “a remarkable note of authenticity to the timepiece” because the Roman numerals are also seen on a clock that has historically appeared on the family crest. The numerals reference the Fuente motto: “We will never rush the hands of time.”
The crowned lion that appears at 9 o’clock on the watch’s skeletonized dial references the fact that Fuente supplied cigars to the Spanish court.
Furthermore, Hublot places Fuente’s historic logo appears in the center of the caseback along with “CF” in reference to Carlos Fuente Sr. and the words “Edición de homenaje” (which is Spanish for “edition in homage”). A dedication by Carlito Fuente Jr. reads: “Our Father, Our Friend, Our Hero.”
Finally, the back of the watch is engraved with “Big Bang Limited Edition” along with the number of the piece in the limited edition run of 100 pieces.
Independent Swiss watchmaker Delma continues to swim with the sharks with a new dive watch made to venture far deeper than most of its similarly priced competitors.
The new Delma Blue Shark III Black Edition.
The new Delma Blue Shark III Black Edition, water resistant to an impressive 4,000 meters, retains this collection’s very sporty technical features, including professional-level helium escape valve and crown protection, but now offers added protection of a scratch resistant black DLC coating on its 47mm steel case.
Built as a limited edition of 300 pieces, the new watch is hyper-visible on a diver’s wrist with large luminous hands and indexes and luminous markers along its broad bezel.
Delma is making 300 examples of the new Blue Shark III Black Edition in each of three dial colors: black, blue or orange dial. All three versions come with an additional black genuine rubber strap and a black-DLC-coated buckle with tools for interchanging the bracelets.
Inside Delma fits a Sellita automatic movement, which is protected by a solid caseback that Delma engraves with a Limited Edition number and an eye-catching blue shark image.
Price: $2,750.
Specifications: Delma Blue Shark III Black Edition
(Limited edition of 300 pieces in each dial color)
Case: 47mm by 18.5 mm stainless-steel black DLC (diamond-like-carbon), helium escape valve at 9 o’clock, luminescent numerals, indexes and hands. unidirectional rotating bezel in black DLC. Water resistance to 4,000 meters as tested and certified by the Swiss PST Laboratory for Product Safety Testing in Zwillikon, Canton of Zurich.
Movement: Sellita SW200 automatic, frequency 28,800 vph, power reserve of 38 hours.
Dial: Blue, black or orange with applied indexes and Arabic numerals with luminous markers. Orange hour, minute and seconds hand with luminous markers.
Bracelet: Scratch resistant, stainless steel black-DLC-coated bracelet and a black genuine rubber strap. Security screws and custom tools to enable easy and reliable adjustment of the interchangeable bracelets.
Girard-Perregaux updates its sporty steel Laureato with two grand feu enamel dials to create the Laureato 42mm Eternity Edition.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Eternity Edition, showing green grand feu enamel dial.
The new glossy blue and green dial colors nicely complement the Laureato’s signature brushed and polished steel case and bracelet, a combination new for Girard-Perregaux when it debuted the first Laureato collection in 1975. At the time, integrated steel bracelet watches were novel among luxury watchmakers.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Eternity Edition, blue enamel dial model.
The new Laureato 42mm Eternity Edition joins other Eternity models, including those within the brand’s La Esmeralda Tourbillon and Cat’s Eye collections. All the new Eternity models are meant to celebrate Girard-Perregaux’s 230th anniversary.
The Girard-Perregaux La Esmeralda Tourbillon “A Secret” Eternity Edition, which will be sold in seven different color enamel dials.
“With our Eternity Editions, much like the Infinity Editions that preceded them in 2020, we wanted to produce a limited number of watches that showcase our expertise for the enjoyment of generations to come,’ says Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux.
The Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Eternity Edition.
Girard-Perregaux makes the grand feu enamel dials at its in-house facility using a time-honored high-temperature firing process. Artisans mix metallic powders that they then dust onto the dial and fire in an 800-degree Celsius oven. This process is repeated up to ten times to achieve the desired glossy appearance.
Girard-Perregaux explains that flawless grand feu enamel dials will look new and brilliant for generations, hence their use for the new Eternity Editions.
The watchmaker’s artisans add a final guilloché sunray motif to the new dials to enhance its brilliance when seen in light. Note that the watch’s date display features white numerals on a dial-color disc, a feature that Girard-Perregaux says follows long-time “horological etiquette.”
Inside, the watchmaker places its excellent GP01800 automatic caliber with a pink gold oscillating weight and Côtes de Genève on the bridges. The movement also shines with hand-beveled edges, mirror-polished screws, circular graining on the main plate and engraved gilded text.
The Girard-Perregaux is making 188 of each of the blue or green-dialed Laureato 42mm Eternity Editions. Middle East retailer Seddiqi will sell both versions during December. After January 1, 2022, Girard-Perregaux will offer the watches globally through its retailers and on its e-commerce site. Price: CHF 13,460.
Alpina has updated a bygone mechanical caliber design to launch its Startimer Pilot Heritage Manufacture with a ‘bumper’ rotor that pings back and forth, rotating 330 degrees instead of the 360-degree modern standard for automatic movements.
The new Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage Manufacture, with a movement utilizing a ‘bumper’ oscillating weight.
A version of this type of to-and-fro oscillating ‘bumper’ weight was used in many early automatic Swiss watches starting from the late 1920s into the 1960s and could be found installed into watches from Omega, Universal Genève, Jaeger-LeCoultre–and Alpina.
Alpina made this ‘bumper’ caliber in the 1950s.
The new Caliber AL-709 on this new Alpina watch, which is visible through the clear sapphire caseback, mimics the watchmaker’s own vintage ‘bumper’ movement from the 1950s.
According to Alpina, the two calibers share “the same geometry and the same inspiration.” However, while the vintage version rotates 120°, the new one rotates 330°. In addition, Alpina has replaced the springs used in the vintage designs with more efficient blades.
Alpina has placed its retro-bumper caliber into an existing 42mm steel cushion-shaped case from its Startimer Pilot Heritage collection.
The case nicely combines a circle in a square with rounded edges. A smartly satin-brushed and polished case middle further emphasizes the case’s dual geometry, which to my eye feels more inspired by watches from the 1970s than from those made in the 1950s.
A view of the AL-709 automatic movement, with a ‘bumper’ rotor.
Alpina has built its AL-709 caliber with an extended diameter that reaches to the edge of the round inner caseback, in part to underscore the watch’s Heritage message.
The dial also adds to the vintage look with its 1950s style cues, notably the three matching hands. Alpina also wisely places the watch’s crown at 4 o’clock, which enhances the case’s cushion profile. The 42mm case size and the sporty red accents add a contemporary edge.
Alpina is limiting the new Startimer Pilot Heritage Manufacture to 188 pieces, each with a brown calfskin strap with off-white topstitching. Price: $2,850.
Specifications: Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage Manufacture
(Ref. AL-709SR4SH6, Limited edition of 188)
Movement: Automatic AL-709 Manufacture caliber, 38-hour power reserve, 28,800 alt/h.
Case: 42mm by 13.25mm brushed and polished stainless steel, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, see-through case back, water-resistant to 100 meters.
Dial: Silver color with vertical brushed finishing, black minutes and seconds graduation, silver color indexes and hands with red luminous treatment.
Bracelet: Brown calf leather strap with off-white stitching.
