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Bulova adds a handsome new automatic pocket watch and new automatic and quartz tank models to its vintage-themed Classic collection. All the new additions are inspired by Bulova’s own Sutton series from the early 20th century.

The new Bulova Classic pocket watch, with skeletonized automatic movement.

Pocket watch

The new pocket watch, offered in either silver-tone or gold-tone styles, measures 50mm in diameter and features an eye-catching skeletonized automatic Miyota movement with a 42-hour power reserve. 

The watch’s polished steel case and snap-open case back is nicely vertical-brush finished, recalling graceful, vintage styling of an earlier age.

Particularly note that the case’s architectural lines continue onto the watch’s chain, which includes a signature Bulova tuning fork clasp. Bulova makes the watch in either silver with blue-tone Roman numerals and markers or with a luxurious gold tone case and accents and grey Roman numerals and markers. Prices: $595-$695.

Sutton Tank models

Bulova’s new Sutton tank watches include one 33mm x 49mm rectangle stainless steel automatic model that boasts a new bracelet.

Made with a two tone design (silver-tone and gold-tone finish) with textured white dial, curved mineral crystal and an open aperture between the 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions.

The new Bulova Sutton Automatic tank watch, with a new bracelet.

Within that space we see the escapement of the 82SO Miyota automatic movement with 42-hour power reserve.

Placed on a matching two-tone silver and gold stainless steel bracelet, the watch sells for $550.

Also new are two quartz-powered tank watches, each measuring a smaller 21mm x 32.5mm size, and each featuring a stainless steel case with gold-tone finish, mother-of-pearl dial and curved mineral crystal.

One of two new quartz-powered Bulova tank models.

One model offers a diamond accented dial and is set on an alligator grain strap with matching stitching ($350).

The second version featuring Roman numeral accents and is set on a two-tone silver and gold stainless steel bracelet ($395). Bulova fits both the strap and bracelet version quick-release spring bars to allow for easy interchangeability.

 

Greubel Forsey launches Balancier 3, a thinner and less pricey model within its double-curve-case Convexe collection.

The new Greubel Forsey Balancier 3.

The new 41.5mm x 13.55mm titanium watch retains the watchmaker’s emblematic arched bridge and multi-level architecture, but here the case lugs no longer have screws—a first for Greubel Forsey.

The watch’s three prominent bridges and its namesake balance wheel dominate the dial. One bridge houses the barrel, the second holds the large (12.6mm) balance wheel, and the third is attached to the seconds counter, supporting the hour and minute hands.

All the bridges feature Greubel Forsey’s signature hand finishes: a curved polished surface, polished bevels and hand-polished screws.

Both of the watch’s two series-coupled fast-rotating barrels (one turn in 3.2 hours) are also quite prominent at the top of the dial. The barrels provide a chronometric power reserve of three full days.

In another first for the Convexe collection, Greubel Forsey has placed the Balancier 3’s power reserve indicator on the caseback.

The watchmaker will make the new Balancier 3 with either a black or blue dial, each limited to eighty-eight pieces with a rubber strap or a Greubel Forsey titanium bracelet upon request.

Price: $182,000. 

Zenith adds a highly reflective mirror finish to a new model in its Defy Extreme collection.

The new Zenith Defy Extreme Mirror.

The very contemporary Defy Extreme Mirror reflects all colors with its fully mirror-polished metal exterior, familiar Defy angular case and polished integrated bracelet. The stark combination offers a dramatic, monochromatic option within the watchmaker’s rugged Defy chronograph collection.

Without colors, the new watch seems to blend with its environment. Zenith pairs the mirror-finish with an equally dramatic multi-layered open dial that features a sapphire center, finished to be both translucent and reflective.

The watch’s 1/100th-of-a-second chronograph scale features satin-brushed metallic elements, which retains the Defy’s easy-to-read dial, despite the watch’s metal-head theme.

Inside the watch the wearer will see an El Primero 9004 high-frequency chronograph movement, found in all the Defy Extreme models. The movement offers 1/100th-of-a -second time measurements with two independent escapements. One beats at 5Hz (36,000 VpH) for timekeeping while the second vibrates at 50Hz (360,000 VpH) to activate the chronograph function.

Zenith customizes each model in the Defy Extreme collection with a specially decorated rotor. On the Defy Extreme Mirror, the star-shaped winding rotor is finished in a silvery-grey metallic tone to match the case and dial elements.

Zenith attaches the new watch to the wrist with a black Velcro strap and a rubber strap, which can be easily swapped with the steel bracelet using the quick strap-change mechanism on the back of the case.

Price: $26,100.

Specifications: Zenith Defy Extreme Mirror 

Movement: Zenith El Primero 9004 with a frequency of 36,000 VpH (watch) and 360,000 VpH (Chronograph). 

Power reserves: 50 hours (watch) and approx. 50 min (chronograph).

Functions: Hours and minutes in the center,  small seconds at 9 o’clock. 1/100th of a second chronograph with a central chronograph hand that makes one turn each second, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 60-second counter at 6 o’clock, Chronograph power-reserve indication at 12 o’clock. Special oscillating weight with satined finishings.

Case: 45mm polished steel, water resistant to 200 meters, flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, caseback with transparent sapphire crystal.

Dial: Mirror tinted sapphire with three silver-colored counters, hands and markers are rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1.

Bracelet: Full interchangeable strap system. Full polished metal bracelet with folding clasp. Two straps included: 1 Rubber with folding buckle and 1 Velcro.

Price: $26,100. 

Citizen Watch America last week opened its first-ever U.S.-based multi-brand flagship store in New York City. Offering a wide range of all the Citizen Watch America group brands, which include Citizen, Bulova, Accutron, Frederique Constant, and Alpina, the 7,000-square-foot, three-story flagship is situated at 605 Fifth Avenue, near Rockefeller Center.

Designed by architect Ken Park and his award-winning New York-based firm Kenneth Park Architects, the store features a large video display that can be seen from the street, showcasing watches in apparent three-dimensional views. Inside, a seamless twenty-feet-long wall highlights Citizen’s watchmaking history.

Citizen also teamed with Paris-based Japanese architect, Tsuyoshi Tane (ATTA – Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects) to create an artistic installation called Light is Time, which features thousands of suspended movement baseplates that glitter in the light.

In the store, the first two floors display a full range of watches from each of the Citizen group brands, including timepieces available exclusively at the flagship location.

Next year, Citizen will unveil a museum archive and a dedicated space for events and community programs.

“We are proud to join the ever-growing Fifth Avenue shopping district and introduce Citizen Watch America group brands through an innovative and immersive experience,” says Jeffrey Cohen, President of Citizen Watch America. “This is our first-ever U.S. multi-brand flagship and there is no better place than New York City to capture the inclusive worldview of our company as it serves as the most iconic intersection for citizens from across the world.”

Breitling adds a tourbillon to three models in its Top Time Classic Cars Collection, the series of luxurious sporty chronographs that celebrate classic automobiles. The new models honor the legacies of the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette and Shelby Cobra, three famed cars Breitling has linked to existing watches in the collection.

The new Breitling B21 Top Time Ford Mustang.

The watchmaker combines the new tourbillon addition with a variety of case metals and dial treatments (including one with a walnut burl dial) meant to add some contemporary technology to the essentially retro-themed Top Time collection.

The new Breitling Top Time B21 Shelby Cobra

Breitling fits each watch with Caliber B21, the same movement Breitling developed with the movement maker Manufacture La Joux-Perret and the same caliber seen first inside last year’s Breitling Premier Tourbillon.

The new Breitling Top Time B21 Chevrolet Corvette.

The Caliber B21 has a column-wheel-controlled design with a horizontal clutch and is a COSC-certified chronometer with a skeletonized oscillating weight. The wearer can enjoy a view of the column wheel on each watch through the caseback.

Breitling first introduced the Top Time Collection in the 1960s and revived it in 2021 as a ‘modern retro’ series built with mushroom-style chronograph pushers and an up/down dial design. 

For the new models, Breitling places the tourbillon carriage at 12 o’clock with the chronograph minute counter at the 6 o’clock position, in part to recall the look of vintage automotive dashboard gauges. You’ll also find tachometer scale just inside the bezel of all three new models.

The Watches

One debut model, the Top Time B21 Ford Mustang, boasts a 43-mm bronze case with a titanium back and a green dial, colored to match the first-generation Ford Mustang (1964 to 1974.)

Breitling Top Time B21 Shelby Cobra

A second debut, the Top Time B21 Shelby Cobra, has a 44-mm black ceramic case with a titanium back, crown, pushers, and buckle. Its blue dial matches the color theme of 1962 model, famously developed by Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby.

Breitling Top Time B21 Chevrolet Corvette.

The third debut, the Top Time B21 Chevrolet Corvette, pairs its 44-mm black ceramic case with a titanium back, crown, pushers, and buckle. Its unusual walnut burl dial and perforated leather racing strap are an homage to the steering wheel and dashboard inlays of the legendary 1960s “Sting Ray” Chevy Corvette.

Price: $47,000.