The Baselworld watch fair is the premier even in the watch industry and it’s just around the corner. From March 17-24, the world’s top watchmakers will showcase their newest releases and we can’t help but get excited. We decided to take a look back at some of our favorites from the past few years. Keep reading to see some of the best watches released since 2010.
2010: Girard-Perregaux Ladyhawke Tourbillon
Boucheron and Girard-Perregaux partnered to create a timepiece remarkable in design and in watchmaking. The timepiece, unveiled at Baselworld in 2010, features a dazzling, high-jewelry exterior housing an impressive movement. The watch features over 25 carats of diamonds and rubies.
The movement, inspired by one presented by Constant Girard-Perregaux at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889, for which he won a gold medal. The tourbillon is composed of 72 parts and weighs just 0.3 grams. It also has a 72-hour power reserve.
2011: Harry Winston Opus Eleven
The Opus collection was introduced in 2000, originally released in limited numbers. Each year, a new watch is released in collaboration with Harry Winston and one chosen watchmaker. This year Denis Giguet helped create the Opus 11. What they created is nothing short of amazing. The watch only displays the hour, minutes and seconds, but the movement is extremely complex.
At each hour, the face of the dial comes to life in a way that must be seen to understand. Made of 500 components, the movement takes a highly-skilled watchmaker five weeks to assemble. Only 111 were made and sold from $230,00 to $290,000.
2012: Rolex Sky-Dweller
This watch is most remarkable as Rolex’s most complex watch yet. It’s also notable because Rolex doesn’t often add new models or complications to its collection. The watch features Rolex’s first annual calendar and a central, rotating disc for a second timezone.
Rolex may be the GMT master, but the Sky-Dweller featured the dual timezone function with an actual complication instead of the typical rotating bezel. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this model isn’t one of the complications, but how you set them. The bezel rotates to set the date, time and second time.
2013: Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon
The Speedmaster Professional is perhaps the most beloved Omega to date. NASA-approved for a moon landing, the Speedmaster Professional is a watch that needs no updates. However, Omega decided to get creative with its non-Professional Speedmaster. Still true to its roots, their 2013 edition is called the Dark Side of the Moon.
This update is quite the upgrade in durability with the case, dial and bezel all in ceramic. The most obvious feature of this watch is the new all-black look which Omega says was inspired by the Apollo 8 astronauts who were the first to see the dark side of the moon.
2014: Patek Philippe 5990 Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph
In 2014, the Nautilus got an update with a new complication added to the industrial and iconic sports watch. The complication in question – dual time zones. Patek is more than qualified to produce the highest quality movements, and adding this complication the Nautilus was next logical addition to the sports watch.
It wasn’t until 2006 that Patek Philippe added a chronograph movement to the Nautilus. The rugged design, sturdy steel case and now, the second time zone, make the watch perfect for the adventurous. The watch features date, chronograph, travel time and a day-night indicator. The watch sells retail for about $57,000.
2015: Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time
If you closed your eyes and envisioned a Calatrava from Patek Philippe, you would not picture this. Most Patek Philippe designs are conservative and high brow. While the price is something you would expect from the iconic brand, this particular timepiece is something you would expect from Panerai or IWC.
The jumbo-sized pilot watch does, however, house a Patek movement and it was crafted by the best. The watch is a beautiful and refined design of the classic pilot look. The watch is simple in its readability and features two times zones and a day-night indicator. The piece may not be what you would expect from Patek, but it’s still a high-quality luxury sports watch. The retail value: $50,000.
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