COOL COMPOSITES
Right on the heels of the Bamford Carbon Monaco and the Carbon Aquaracer, Tag Heuer’s popular Carrera line is getting the carbon fibre treatment to mark its 55th anniversary in 2018. The Carrera Carbon Tourbillon Phantom gets its name from its black opaline dial, black gold-plated, and black PVD-covered parts and case, and a darker version of the Calibre Heuer 02T movement. The 45mm COSC-certified tourbillon features a fixed bezel and lugs made of carbon, and the model is limited to 500 pieces. Slightly smaller are the 43mm Heuer 02 Carrera Carbon models in rose gold and carbon, and blue rhodium with carbon. Though lacking a tourbillon, the watches offer a generous power reserve of 80 hours. They are available as a limited edition of 350 and 750 pieces respectively.
TOUGH LOVE
The legendary dive watch from Blancpain has enjoyed numerous iterations in its 66-year history, and its latest is the first standard Fifty Fathoms model to come in titanium. The tough, lightweight material is a sensible choice for a dive watch (as evidenced by previous models such as the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe and Fifty Fathoms GMT), so to have it on a basic Automatique model is a welcome move. It still measures 45mm in diameter and comes with a ratcheted unidirectional rotating bezel, scratch-proof domed black sapphire insert, lumed hour markers and hands, and 300m water resistance. The exhibition caseback provides a view of the 1315 calibre, which is equipped with a silicon balance spring and offers five days of reserve power.
ENGINE OF TIME
Collaborations between watchmakers and car manufacturers are plenty in the world of haute horlogerie, but for a brand as cutting-edge as Roger Dubuis, only a marque that is equally avant-garde would make a good partner. That partner is Lamborghini. What first came of their alliance was the Excalibur Aventador S in 2017, and this year we are getting the Excalibur Huracan Performante. Named after the Huracan sports car, the watch boasts a brand new automatic movement, the RD630, which comes with 60 hours of power reserve. There are lots of automotive-inspired design cues to be found here, including a decorative bridge resembling a spoiler, a crown inspired by the racing nuts on supercar wheels, and an Alcantara strap featuring a rubber inlay that mimics the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R’s tyre pattern. Bright yellow accents complete the sporty look.
