A selection of luxury timepieces were showcased at this year's Baselworld show which took place at the Messeplatz exhibition centre in Basel, Switzerland.
The Emerald Time by Harry Winston
This timepiece is crafted in white gold and adorned with shimmering aventurine and radiant diamonds, the Emerald Time by Harry Winston recalls the elegance of the Art Deco period when the House of Harry Winston was established.
The watch is a precious, yet practical, object that reflects the Harry Winston brand and celebrates the streamlined design ethos of the Art Deco movement.
Inspired by Mr. Winston’s favorite diamond cut, the emerald-cut, a series of overlapping octagonal shapes bring a dynamic, architectural feel to the clock.
The timepiece is decorated with precious blue aventurine, the color scheme of the Emerald Time by Harry Winston evokes the signature codes of the House. It features a total of 223 brilliant-cut, 235 baguette-cut and one emerald-cut diamond.
The 18-karat white gold Emerald Time by Harry Winston is equipped with a pivoting mechanism, which allows it to show the time and date on one face, and a mirror on the other. Interrupting the formal geometry of the rich blue aventurine inlays, the diamond-set areas of the stand and frame are endowed with a gentle, feminine curvature.
The stand, which can be folded, provides a firm and stable footing for the pivoting clock and mirror. With the light of diamonds and dark blue aventurine, the Emerald Time by Harry Winston, even when closed, glows like a miniature skyscraper.
To set the time of the Swiss quartz-powered clock there is an octagonal-shaped crown with the HW logo on the side of the stand. The Emerald Time by Harry Winston is a very special objet d’art and serves as a constant reminder of the glamorous world of Harry Winston.
The thousandth COSC certified tourbillon movement
TAG Heuer's 1000 Heuer-02T Tourbillon movements have been certified by the independent testing body, Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC).
A limited set of 1000 pieces were designed and crafted by the TAG Heuer Manufacture, at its La Chaux-de-Fonds and Chevenez sites in Switzerland.
The manufacturing took place inhouse at the TAG Heuer Manufacture, which involved machining to fitting of the main plate, assembly of the movement, as well as a number of other elements.
Jean-Claude Biver decided to celebrate the round number, which is highly significant for the brand, by auctioning the 1000th COSC Chronograph certified tourbillon chronograph on eBay from 14-29 March 2017. It comes in an exclusive presentation box which also contains the new TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 watch – all at a reserve price of US$17,846.
All the proceeds from this one-off sale have gone to Make-a-Wish Switzerland, who grant wishes for seriously ill children aged three to eighteen.
The New Retro Skeleton Tourbillon from de Grisogono
The New Retro Skeleton Tourbillon from de Grisogono is a minimalist watch which has been highly crafted in construction and features a case composed of two cambered and perfectly matched sapphire crystals, elegantly united by a slender ribbon of gold.
The wide case houses a tourbillon bearing the de Grisogono signature. The New Retro Skeleton Tourbillon transcends a legendary complication in a daring and spectacular style.
Skeleton Tourbillon embodies a daring new look and creates shapes that highlight functions, to develop original complications, to play with aesthetic codes in order to magnify the art of time measurement.
Brilliantly escaping the bonds of existing conventions, de Grisogono has developed an exclusive movement with an original construction. As if suspended inside the case and held by majestic bridges with an architecture evoking the grilles of vintage cars, the tourbillon flaunts its free-spirited attitude at three o’clock.
Water-resistant to 30 metres, the New Retro Skeleton Tourbillon is teamed with an alligator leather strap featuring large square scales and a saddle finish. The watch is endowed with the aesthetic codes of the 1950s, a time Fawaz Gruosi regards as synonymous with supreme elegance.
Deep Blue Octopus by Romain Jerome
The latest collection from RJ-Romain Jerome features a unique timepiece, which features an octopus design.
This 25-piece limited edition Deep Blue Octopus features an all-black look to reflect the darkness of the ocean. The 47mm case features elements in black PVD-coated steel.
The new model comes with an internal unidirectional rotating sapphire bezel featuring engraved five-minute graduation and a luminescent time indicator, which is activated by the 3 o’clock crown for the elapsed time controller while the 9 o’clock crown sets the time.
The timepiece has also been cleverly built around the number eight, representing the 8 legs of the Octopus: there are 8 head screws on the case, 8 screws holding the case back as well as 8 rivets on each crown. And finally, the Deep Blue Octopus is water resistant down to 888 feet for underwater exploration.
The octopus is able to disappear during darkness to let the luminescence shine through the inserts in the sea urchin cavities which have been individually hand-filled.
