The Salon International de la Haute Horologerie or the SIHH is an important week for watch lovers. Luxury watchmakers flocked to the Geneva convention last week to showcase the latest complications, movements, and designs. For instance, Cartier introduced a new collection of Panthère watches, including a white gold model inlaid with a diamond and lacquer panther pattern.
Suffice to say, it’s not a fair you’d go to if you don’t have the dough. Still, there is a thrill in looking at nice things, even from afar.
Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art Les Aerostiers
Inspired by the first aeronauts, each of the five dramatic dial styles features an engraved gold hot air balloon over an enameled background that looks almost like stained glass. Combined with the four disks showing hour, minute, day, and date on the dial’s “windows,” it’s an impressive feat of craftsmanship and aesthetics.
$ 135,000
A Lange & Söhne Triple Split
The rattrapante is possibly the most challenging watch complication because it measures split units of time. In less complicated terms, each chronograph has two hands so you can reset the timer while still running. And this watch has three of those on its 43mm diameter, making it the first of its kind. Only 100 pieces were made.
$ 147,000
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon
They say diamonds are a girls best friend. Then Audemars Piguet replied: Honey, we got you covered. It honestly comes as a shocker that this watch inlaid with over 460 diamonds isn’t the priciest on this list. Still, AP made a big step by releasing their first ever women’s concept watch. It doesn’t have to be yet another male-dominated industry.
$ 197,000 to 409,500 (depending on your choice of diamond cut: brilliant or baguette)
Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Skeleton Mysterious Double Tourbillon
In a solid platinum case with no dial, the main focus is the watch’s skeletonized movement through the crystal. The drama climaxes upon the tiny double tourbillon at 6 o’clock: a hypnotizing mechanism which rotates all around its fluted encasement. The watch also comes with a diamond-engraved bezel, because why not?
$ 216,000 to 530,000
Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Planétarium
Definitely one for the astrology gurus if you’ve got means to spare. Who needs the time of day when you can track the solar system on a starry dial made of Aventurine. Imagine having the universe in the palm of your hand. Well, in this case, it’s on a diamond-set bracelet wrapped prettily around your wrist.
$ 330,000
Greubel Forsey GMT Earth
Most luxury watches are obviously more showy than they are practical, but if we’re talking about utility, the GMT Earth can pass as a must-have for jetsetters. This watch can tell the time in two time zones, plus a daylight savings indicator at the back. But what steals the show is the miniature globe which rotates once every 24 hours.
$ 633,000
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Compilation
If you’re thinking, “how could the makers of that diamond-encrusted watch outdo themselves this year?” then wonder no more. It’s called a Grande Complication because it measures time in four different ways. To take things home, this Royal Oak form (as you’ve seen sparkling above) is rendered in white and black ceramic with titanium bolts.
$ 725,000
Photos courtesy of Hodinkee
Writer: BELLE O. MAPA
