Round-UpWatches And Wonders 2021: The Watch Guide Recommends Must-Have Timepieces For Men With Discerning Taste
While this year’s edition of Watches and Wonders was held online, once again due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we’ve ensured to bring you all the stories and latest launches from the annual watch gala. From grand-complication pieces and concept watches, to classic staples and their sporty counterparts; we now bring you the best among the launches that one can actually look forward to enjoying
May We Recommend
Arnold & Son Luna Magna
The new Arnold & Son Luna Magna is as minimal as is resplendent. Yes, there’s a glittering Aventurine glass dial, with off-centred hours and minutes in smaller, white, lacquered dial, with elegant hands and Roman numerals, and a moon phase indicator below that. Yet, it’s just such a simple and refined display—the whole thing. It’s very readable and doesn’t take away from the primary function of timekeeping, despite the pièce de résistance that is the moon phase display. A three-dimensional sphere crafted from white marble and aventurine glass—the latter to match the rest of the night sky that the dial depicts—the moon is a work of art. It’s simple, yet so effective, and so poetic, with its abstract depiction. If you do want a more direct moon phase reading, you can flip the watch over for a view of the more conventional moon chart indication, along with components of the manual-winding A&S1021 calibre that runs the whole show. It offers a huge power reserve of 90 hours—the icing on the proverbial cake. Everything is housed in a 44mm red gold case, which is 15.9mm thick—counting the domed sapphire crystal glass and caseback—and is fitted with a hand-stitched blue alligator leather strap with a solid gold buckle.
Baume & Mercier Riviera Baumatic
The iconic Riviera collection has been Baume & Mercier’s emblem of technical innovation since 1973. With its impressive and instantly recognisable dodecagonal bezel carved in solid steel, a Riviera timepiece still commands an uncompromised following among loyalists. At the recently concluded Watches and Wonders 2021 (Geneva digital edition), the brand updated their heritage collection with—the Riviera Baumatic. It is equipped with their in-house Baumatic calibre, which promises a power reserve of five days and beats at 28,800vph. The first variant of this timepiece features a translucent, smoky blue, sapphire-crystal dial allowing a beholder to have a peek into the inner workings. It is packed in a satin-finished 42mm steel case and is attached to a built-in steel bracelet. There is also an ADLC variant featuring a smoky-grey sapphire crystal dial and a black rubber strap.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar
Italian watchmaker Bulgari have just set their seventh world record with the new Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar—the slimmest perpetual calendar watch, till date. One of the conversation pieces at this year’s digital edition of Watches and Wonders, this ultraslim timepiece is available in two versions: the signature full titanium case, and a platinum version. Since 2014, Bulgari have been shattering their own records of ultrathin watches with highly complex mechanisms that incorporate contemporary and stylish Italian design codes. The Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar is powered by the automatic in-house movement, calibre BVL 305 that is just 2.75mm thick and contains a total of 408 components. It uses a micro-rotor, and utilises the space between the components in an ingenious manner, without reducing their dimensions or compromising on the design. It can equip the watch with a power reserve of 60 hours. The dial showcases hour and minute hands, replete with the perpetual calendar functions, including retrograde date, day, month and a retrograde display of leap years. They are adjusted with the help of three correctors: one for the date at two o’clock, another for the month at four o’clock, and a third for the day between eight and nine o’clock. The movement is fitted inside a 40mm case (for both titanium and platinum models), and measures a mere 5.8mm, to keep the watch as slim as possible. It’s also possible to read the time without having to make any adjustments before February 2100. This piece is available in either a matching titanium bracelet or a navy blue leather strap and is water resistant to 30m.
Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives
The ScubaTec is Carl F. Bucherer’s dive watch series, which has given us, over the years, special editions dedicated to the manta ray, and in support of preserving this peaceful and elegant sea creature. In association with the UK-based Manta Trust that works towards protecting the manta ray in seas worldwide, Carl F. Bucherer have now launched their third manta ray edition. This one represents the support that the Lucerne-based brand have extended towards the Trust’s work in the Indian Ocean—particularly around the islands of the Maldives. As the brand help fund the Trust’s ‘floating research station’—with which they seek to find out more about the creatures and, in turn, how to help them—proceeds from the sales of this watch will also help the cause. The diver’s timepiece comes in a generous 44.6mm steel case, with brushed finishing. Chiselled details include the bevelling on the lugs and the knurling on the edge of the unidirectional-rotating diver’s bezel, featuring a 60-minute dive-time scale on a ceramic insert. The blue and white of the bezel complement the blue dial, with the white Super-LumiNova in its applied markers and hands. The dial is decorated with a pattern reminiscent of the lines of the manta ray’s silhouette, while the steel caseback of this 500m-water-resistant watch presents an embossed depiction of the gorgeous creature.
Corum Admiral 42
Known for their marine watches that are ready to take on the high seas, Swiss watchmaker Corum updated their coveted—Admiral collection with a range of impressive new models featuring a 42mm sandblasted steel case with anti-fingerprint finish. For the ones who want a blend of superb engineering and quality aesthetic Corum’s two-toned 18-karat gold version of the Admiral 42 Automatic will be a perfect fit. Lending it a more classic, yet contemporary look is its cloud white dial with colourful pennants. This 50-piece limited edition model is available in a steel and gold bracelet or with a dark blue strap. All Admiral 42 timepieces are powered by CO 395 automatic movement and offer a power reserve of 42 hours. Additionally, Corum also updated its Admiral 42 Chronograph range. Available in a 42mm, stainless steel dodecagonal case, these timepieces are powered by the automatic calibre CO 984. Beating at a frequency of 28,800vph, it packs a power reserve of 42 hours. If your idea of a perfect chronograph is of a clean, impeccably constructed timepiece that does the job, yet is versatile enough for a board meeting or a relaxed day at the beach, then this is the right fit! The rhodium-plated appliques and colourful nautical flags certainly add character to the white dial. Presented on a matching polished steel bracelet, the Admiral 42 Chronograph is water resistant to 100m.
H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Centre Seconds Mega Cool
For more than a year, we have all been forced to stay in confinements due to the unabated spread of the coronavirus and its several variants. However, amid this gloomy and sad predicament, H. Moser & Cie. decided to introduce a timepiece that exudes optimism, along with a promise of better times. Here is the Pioneer Centre Seconds Mega Cool with ‘blue lagoon’ fumé dial, which reminds us of the shimmering turquoise waters of an island paradise and emanates a ray of hope that once all this ends, we can all go for exotic summer vacations. With anthracite coloured markers and the brand’s logo printed with a translucent material at 12 o’clock position, the 42.8mm timepiece’s dial looks minimalistic, subtle and mesmerising. Not deviating much from the design of its ancestors, the Pioneer Centre Seconds Mega Cool sports new timekeeping hands that are shaped like those found on the Streamliner models. Beating inside the stainless steel case is the self-winding HMC 200 movement—a culmination of Moser’s 200 years of expertise—with a power reserve of 72 hours.
Hublot Big Bang Unico Yellow Magic
If you are looking for a watch that offers not only reliability and precision but also instantly grabs the attention of the viewer, then Hublot Big Bang Unico Yellow Magic is a perfect fit for you. After four years of laborious research and development, the team at Hublot were able to successfully present the ceramic material in a host of striking hues, like this yellow, without burning the pigment during the developing process. Reminiscent of a New York taxi, the sunny yellow colour is seen on the 42.5mm case of the timepiece, along with its bezel, rubber strap, and the dial. Thanks to the skeletonised face of the Big Bang Unico Yellow Magic, one gets a glimpse of the in-house self-winding Unico HUB1280 movement, which beats at 28,000vph and has a power reserve of 72 hours.
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch
This year, IWC have reimagined their iconic and extremely successful Pilot’s and Big Pilot’s range. The latter’s new edition is particularly noteworthy, owing to how the Schaffhausen-based brand have reduced the generous case size of 46mm, down to 43mm, while retaining the sizeable visual impact that the watch has on the wrist. Another first for the series is the bracelet strap option, which could be included as the overall weight of the watch has reduced, along with its size. Moreover, the easy-exchange system allows you to switch straps effortlessly, for an alternative look. The overall case design has been refined, taking every dimension into consideration individually. The signature oversized onion-shaped crown has been fine-tuned so that it doesn’t poke against a wearer’s wrist, and the caseback is finally transparent with sapphire crystal. It reveals the IWC manufacture calibre 82100, which is automatic and offers a significant 60-hour power reserve. On the dial, everything is still as recognisable as the distinguished Big Pilot’s has always been, with rhodium-plated hands and large Arabic hour numerals, except for the aviation motif at 12 o’clock. The dial comes in black or blue, the former with a brown leather strap, and the latter with a strap in blue leather or steel.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green
As Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Reverso, their timeless icon, the brand unveiled some stunning versions of this classic at Watches and Wonders, this year. Apart from the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185—the most complex Reverso ever created, the company introduced a refreshing new model of its Tribute Small Seconds edition. Paying homage to the original 1931 model—created for British army officers commissioned in India—this model is now available in a deep forest green hue. It stands out for its rich green sunray-brushed lacquer dial and matching leather strap and is a new addition to the existing line-up of chocolate brown, red, burgundy and blue models. The dial features all the signature design elements where the hours are marked by applied indexes rather than numerals. Their faceted shape echoes the form of the dauphine hands and adds visual depth to the lacquered surface. The circular small seconds counter is displayed at six o’clock and is a fine example of linear geometry. The solid steel caseback provides an ideal canvas for personalisation with a motif or engraving. The owner can choose to keep this hidden, or turn the case over, so that the caseback serves as a dial. The slim, 8.5mm-thick case houses the manual-winding Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 822/2—a rectangular movement designed specifically for the Reverso, offering a power reserve of 42 hours.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Master Big Date
Embodying the engineering prowess of Maurice Lacroix is its latest Aikon Master Big Date. If you expect a perfect concoction of intriguing complications and aesthetic balance then this is your piece. Housed in a 45mm steel case, this timepiece features Maurice Lacroix’s in-house calibre ML 331—which beats at 18,000vph and offers a power reserve of 50 hours. Aesthetically, this timepiece has been designed to with attention to all the details, giving fans a view of the innovative engineering involved in its making. Its large, skeletonised bridge at eight o’clock floats between the glass and the sapphire crystal caseback, offering a perfect view of its regulating system. You can see a large double-window date at 10 o’clock. Adding to this immersive scheme of the design is the small off-centred seconds hand, which opens at four o’clock, offering yet another peek of the calibre. The grand dial plate also lends it character with an off-centred hour-and-minute dial. The timepiece comes affixed with a steel bracelet or a dark blue Cordura strap with a steel folding clasp.
Nomos Tangente Neomatik 41 Blue
Tangente, with its minimalist and refined design, represents the quintessential design pillars of German watchmakers Nomos Glashütte. At Watches and Wonders 2021, the brand unveiled the Tangente Neomatik with a new dial interpreted in midnight blue. What makes this timepiece one-of-a-kind is its patented date display. Its date ring at the periphery of the dial is defined by the analogue date ring with Arabic numerals and highlighting apertures flanking them. Unlike its predecessors, which relied on the colour red to highlight the date, the new Nomos Tangente Neomatik 41 has looped in bright acid green to frame the current date. To ensure legibility in the dark, the green hue is treated with Super-LumiNova—giving the piece a livelier appearance. It is equipped with Nomos’ revolutionary in-house calibre DUW 6101—the first Neomatik calibre with a date mechanism. It offers a power reserve of 42 hours and is packed in a 40.5mm stainless steel case. The watch is presented on a durable black leather strap and is water-resistant to 50m.
Oris Dat Watt Limited Edition
Created in collaboration with Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS), the new Oris Aquis Dat Watt pursues the cause of environmental preservation. CWSS is a trilateral organisation, working with Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands with an aim to preserve the Wadden Sea off northern Europe. What makes this region unique is its intertidal ecosystem—it is home to 30 species of breeding birds, 2,300 species of flora and fauna, and 2,700 species in the marine areas. Housed in a stainless steel 43.5mm case, it is the exquisite blue-grey colour of the dial which visually engages, at first. It becomes a perfect backdrop for the hands and indices marked with Super-LumiNova. This edition is equipped with Oris 761 calibre—offering a power reserve of 38 hours. Another intriguing feature is the pointer moon indication that allows divers an easy indication of tidal range, via a chart, based on the correct day of the lunar cycle that one can set using the pointer. This watch comes in a limited edition of 2,009 pieces—the number signifying the year when Wadden Sea was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Panerai Luminor Marina eSteel
Well established in the realm of marine watches, this year, Panerai have upped their game by embracing eco-conscious watchmaking, for a cleaner planet. The brand have always been at the helm of introducing new materials, thanks to their investment in new technology, and at Watches and Wonders 2021, they unveiled a new iteration of their famed Luminor Marina model—now available in eSteel. This is a trademark recycle-based material and reduces the need for virgin material extraction. About 58.4 percent (89g) of the total weight of the watch (152.4g) is attributed to recycled material. The watch stands out for its 44mm brushed case with a polished bezel, a rubberised crown and a personalised lever with the eSteel logo. One can choose from three dial colours: blu profondo (blue), grigio roccia (grey), and verde smeraldo (green), which is exclusive to Panerai boutiques and e-commerce. Each model flaunts a polished dial with a dark-to-light gradient, with the eSteel logo at six o’clock. The watch is powered by calibre P.9010, an automatic in-house movement with a three-day power reserve. It is equipped with a rapid-adjustment system that moves the hour hand forward or backward, in increments of one hour, entirely independent of the minute hand, making it particularly useful when switching between time zones. With an impressive water-resistance of up to 300m, the Luminor Marina eSteel timepieces are presented on recycled textile straps that complement their dial colours, and also come with an additional strap each.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300 Calibre 5 Automatic
The new iterations of the revamped Aquaracer 300 collection might have the same dodecagonal silhouette as their predecessors, but they are equipped with futuristic technology and fully updated to match the modern standards of the horological industry. One of the timepieces introduced during the Watches and Wonders 2021 was the special edition of the Aquaracer 300, which comes with a sandblasted matt-finished titanium case, a green sunray-brushed dial and a radial-brushed ceramic bezel insert. Keeping in mind all the needs and requirements of a new generation of divers, adventure enthusiasts and urban explorers, TAG Heuer have built a perfectly legible watch, featuring the trusted and reliable Calibre 5 movement—beating at a frequency of 28,800vph. It offers a power reserve of 38 hours. The titanium case is water-resistant up to 300m, and comes fitted with a newly designed integrated bracelet, with a folding clasp.
Zenith Defy Extreme
Zenith continue to push the boundaries of innovation and craftsmanship with their latest offering, the Defy Extreme. With this new series within the famed Defy collection, the brand have once again showcased their potential of ingenious engineering and boundless imagination. What Zenith have done here is house their iconic El Primero 21 movement in a totally brand new case profile, which is more sculpted and angular than its older variants. With a bigger case size—it now measures 45mm—and a 12-sided ring underneath the bezel, the overall design of the watch looks bolder and edgier. The Defy Extreme comes in three variants: a micro-blasted titanium case with black accents on the dial; a brushed, polished and micro-blasted titanium case with blue accents on the dial; and a micro-blasted titanium and polished rose gold case, with gold-plated accents. However, the icing on the cake is Zenith’s all-new quick-change strap system attached to the timepiece, which enables the wearer to interchange the bracelet with a contemporary rubber or Velcro strap.
Click here to browse through our Watches and Wonders 2021 recommendations for ladies
Shop The Story
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Arnold & Son Luna Magna
1LMAR.A02A.C153A
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Baume & Mercier Riviera
MOA10617
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Baume & Mercier Riviera
MOA10616
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BVLGARI Octo
103463
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BVLGARI Octo
103200
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Corum Admiral
984.111.20/V705 AA52
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Corum Admiral
395.110.24/V720 AA24
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H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer
3200-1214
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Hublot Big Bang
441.CY.471Y.RX
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Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
Q3978430
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Maurice Lacroix Aikon
AI6118-SS00E-430-C
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Nomos Glashutte Tangente
182
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Oris Aquis
01 761 7765 4185-SET
