These firm favourites have stood the test of time for a reason. By constantly improving themselves within their design codes, they have secured a legacy that is instantly distinguishable and lauded.
TAG HEUER MONACO BAMFORD
The Monaco is nothing short of an icon in the impressive list that is TAG Heuer’s repertoire, and the brand’s collaboration with Bamford Watch Department, the London-based label known for taking luxury watches a step further with personalized customization, revives the classic square timepiece for the present. Bamford’s signature futuristic style transforms the Monaco into an ultra-modern piece, opting for the use of solid carbon in the making of the case, a lightweight material that is becoming the material of choice in modern horology. The black carbon case and black alligator strap is offset by a luminous aqua blue, a Bamford-favoured shade, which adorns the indices and the date window, resulting in a watch that combines heritage watchmaking expertise with the modern visual identity of the present.
CARTIER SANTOS DE CARTIER
Take to the skies with Santos de Cartier , a timepiece born out of dear friendship and a man’s love for the open air. Originally crafted in 1904, the reinvented Santos de Cartier stays loyal to the original philosophy of its predecessor while adding an innovative flair symbolic of the modern era. The transgressive square shape remains unchanged, as well as the iconic eight screws on the bezel. However, the straps have been updated with interchangeable versions such as steel, gold or calfskin, thanks to Cartier’s Quick Switch system. With the latest Santos de Cartier, the 1847 MC automatic caliber reaches new heights in terms of performance and comfort, with anti-magnetic nickel phosphorous components in the escapement and movement mechanisms, as well as a shield made from paramagnetic alloy. The product of a grand friendship between Alberto Santos Dumont and Louis-François Cartier, Santos de Cartier is a repetition of history that never falls out of style.
BULGARI SERPENTI TUBOGAS
Bulgari’s Tubogas feminine watch has firmly claimed its seat at the table of history’s most iconic designs since the stylised serpent with a watch in its head made its debut in the 1940s. After 70 years, the Serpenti Tubogas still retains its status, returning in a design inspired by the maison’s heritage jewellery and introducing the watch to a new audience. The Tubogas bracelet is made by coiling long bands of gold around a steel core, allowing the coils to interlock, which means no soldering is required and the bands retain a flexibility and bounce that make it comfortable around the wrist. This quartz-powered piece features a tricolour Tubogas bracelet of 18K gold in rose, white and yellow, while the watch case sits in the serpent’s head, surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds.
GIRARD-PERREGAUX LAUREATO CERAMIC
The recognisable silhouette of the Laureato gets an update that reaffirms its position as a modern icon in the world of haute horlogerie. The adoption of new-age horology materials gives us the Laureato Ceramic range, with the signature steel octagonal bezel- and lug-less integrated case made even more ergonomic with the use of light and scratch-resistant ceramic. The 42mm Laureato Ceramic is powered by the GP01800 self-winding mechanical movement, which is itself an icon of the maison. This timepiece is available in classic shades of black and white ceramic, with the option for a black or white rubber strap, to always match your ensemble and keep its place as an everlasting icon.
OMEGA SPEEDMASTER CK 2998 LIMITED EDITION
An ethereal experience that some might describe as “out of this world”, the Speedmaster CK 2998 Limited Edition pays homage to its predecessor as it uses the classic model as inspiration for many of its features. Both models share customisable options, allowing you to choose from four different timing bezels tachymeter, pulsometer, decimal and telemeter. With subdials in black, in contrast with the polished stainless steel case and sand-blasted silvery dial, the Speedmaster is powered by the Omega Calibre 1861 and has an engraving of the original seahorse medallion on the caseback. With the original CK 2998, created in 1959, having been the first Omega worn in space on the Sigma 7 Mercury programme by astronaut Walter Schirra, there really is nothing earthly about the beauty and sophistication of the CK 2998 Limited Edition.
AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK TOURBILLON EXTRA THIN
The Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra Thin takes one of the maison’s signature designs into brand-new territory. The iconic tapisserie dial pattern, a series of perfectly cut squares sitting in geometrically-precise rows that is an instantly recognisable feature on all the dials in the Royal Oak collection , is redesigned into a sunburst pattern emitting from a window on the bottom of the dial that proudly displays the tourbillon mechanism. This brand-new dial pattern is fitted on the classic Royal Oak case, with octagonal bezel and eight hexagonal screws, and is also available in Audemars Piguet’s first-ever plum coloured dial that complements a stainless steel case and bracelet. The Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra Thin also comes in pink gold, with a blue dial, and platinum set with baguettecut sapphires with matching sapphire-blue dial.
