Five Dream Watches For Him
His tastes are eclectic. Here are five timepieces from Blancpain, Girard-Perregaux, Hublot, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Vacheron Constantin that are sure to make his eyes sparkle.
Perfect with a tuxedo, this Annual Calendar GMT from Blancpain’s Villeret collection will allow you to watch the New Year jump automatically into place. Multi-functional and modern in a 40 mm round stainless steel case with hands and hour-markers to match, the day, date, and month on its clean white dial are read at a glance. And because this Annual Calendar is also a GMT, a small 24-hour counter at 8 o’clock indicates home (or a second) time, with local time provided by the central hour hand.
Easily adjusted with Blancpain’s patented under-lug correctors – at 1 o’clock to change the day, and 5 o’clock for the month, with local time, GMT and date settings made with the crown, this timepiece is equipped with the self-winding 6054F caliber that features a guilloché yellow gold oscillating mass visible through the sapphire case back. EUR25,450.
Every guy needs a sports watch, and this Competizione Circuito Chronograph model from Girard-Perregaux looks just as great in the city as it does on the tracks. Robust and light, its 42 mm round case combines titanium and carbon, for a metallic effect reminiscent of high end cars.
Housed inside the racy case with crown and push pieces in DLC-treated titanium, the Manufacture’s mechanical movement GP03300-0122 with automatic winding pulsates at 28,800 vph for optimal accuracy during 46 hours. Meticulously finished with a circular-grained mainplate, bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève and blued screws, you can admire it through the sapphire crystal case back.
On the “honeycomb” open-worked black composite dial inspired by automobile radiator grilles, we read the hours, minutes, small seconds, date and chronograph. This model comes with a carbon-effect calfskin strap with double folding clasp in DLC-coated microbead-blasted steel. Reference: 49590-39-612-BB6B. EUR13,500.
You don’t have to be Parisian as “he” is to appreciate the Hublot Classic Fusion « Vendôme Collection” launched earlier this month at the Hublot boutique on Place Vendôme to pay tribute to the Place and its famous bronze column. Featuring a spiralling series of bas-reliefs depicting Napoleon’s victories, the column is made with bronze melted from the canons of his ennemies, and topped by a statue of the Emperor himself.
The tribute watch’s dial is adorned with bronze, offering a stunning green and gilt marbled “verdigris” colour that makes each dial unique, protected against corrosion and oxidation by a sapphire capsule that encloses it. And if you look closely at 12 o’clock, you’ll see the famous column as part of the stylised H on the logo, a logo used at the N° 10 Place Vendôme boutique.
Inside the 45 mm titanium case, the self-winding movement Caliber Hublot HUB1100 provides a power reserve of 42 hours. This model is complemented with a “vintage” black rubber and brown calfskin strap. Ref: 511.NX.0630.VR.VEN16. EUR10,300.
Available exclusively at the Hublot Place Vendôme boutique until April 2017.
With the Duomètre Quantième Lunaire from Jaeger-LeCoultre, haute watchmaking is as refined as it is surprising. On the left side of the silvered opaline dial, the lunar calendar function is displayed under a domed sapphire crystal, where the moon phase indicator glides across a star-sprinkled sky, harmoniously balanced by the traditional hours counter on the right.
At 6 o’clock, the ‘jumping seconds’ counter is surrounded on each side by the decorated movement, admired through two discreet apertures, revealing the geartrains, bridges, and baseplate on either side of the red movement jewels.
The case houses two independent mechanisms – the Dual-Wing® system, one dedicated to the functions, and the other to the operating of the watch’s regulating organ. Each has its own source of energy, guaranteeing maximum timekeeping accuracy.
Powered by Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 381, this mechanical manually-wound movement comprises two independent barrels, each providing a 50-hour power reserve.
Completed with a leather strap, this exceptional beauty is priced at EUR43,000.
The fifth dream watch is actually five more, with the “Elégance Sartoriale” collection from Vacheron Constantin. Gold dials have been transformed with a master guilloché technique into three dimensional patterns and coated with translucent Grand Feu enamel to create raspberry red Prince of Wales, royal blue tartan, lavender-toned herringbone, linen-coloured pin stripes, or warm grey windowpane motifs, each with a finely gadrooned pattern around the rim, much like the stitching of a hem, and a mother-of-pearl hour circle reminiscent of fine shirt buttons. Classic with a twist, these 40 mm white or pink gold timepieces are equipped with the mechanical manual-winding Caliber 1400. Hallmark of Geneva. EUR57,600 with matching cufflinks at €3,000.
