New Releases – Nivada Grenchen Antarctic 35mm

As the trend of oversized watches wanes, Nivada Grenchen delves into its heritage to unveil the Antarctic 35mm, a slim and small neo-vintage classic. The hand-wound Landeron 21 caliber opened up new possibilities in terms of slimness (7mm case thickness and 10.1mm with the crystal) and diameter (35mm), enabling the brand to reissue an old classic in its original, period size. Everything about it is identical to the watch worn by polar explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd while overseeing Operation Deep Freeze in 1955 and 1956, including the applied steel ‘arrowhead’ indexes.

 

 

Watches at auction

Highlights from the 3 December Christie’s auction in New York include a Patek Philippe 18k gold automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases, formerly owned by Andy Warhol. After the Warhol 10-day auction in 1988, this reference 3448 remained with the original buyer until 2014 when it was acquired by the present owner.

Estimate: $350,000-600,000

 

Another important timepiece offered at auction is the Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 5002P-001. Launched in 2001, this extremely rare platinum double-dial wristwatch features twelve complications including 'Cathedral' minute repeating tourbillon, perpetual calendar with retrograde date, Moon age and angular motion, sidereal time and sky chart.

Estimate: $1,200,000-2,000,000

 

 

The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2023

The 2023 winners of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) were unveiled on 9 November. The 2023 jury and the 847-member GPHG Academy honored contemporary watchmaking excellence and creativity by awarding 19 prizes. 

 

The winner of the "Aiguille d'Or"

The “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix went to Audemars Piguet for the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4 watch. 

The Special Jury Prize, which rewards an outstanding personality or institution, was handed to Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese for the creation of the AHCI. 

The Bovet 1822, Bulgari, Christopher Ward, Dior Montres, Ferdinand Berthoud, Hautlence, L’Epée 1839, Laurent Ferrier, Maison Alcée, Petermann Bédat, Piaget, Raymond Weil, Simon Brette, Tudor, Ulysse Nardin and Voutilainen brands also received awards from the Jury and the Academy.

 2023 PRIZE LIST

“Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix: Audemars Piguet, Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4
Innovation Prize: Hautlence, Sphere Series 1
Audacity Prize: Maison Alcée, Persée Azur
Chronometry Prize: Ferdinand Berthoud, Chronomètre FB 3SPC

The "Horological Revelation"

“Horological Revelation” Prize: Simon Brette, Chronomètre Artisans
Ladies’ Watch Prize: Piaget, Hidden Treasures
Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize: Dior Montres, Grand Soir Automate Etoile de Monsieur Dior
Men’s Complication Watch Prize: Voutilainen, World Timer
Iconic Watch Prize: Ulysse Nardin, Freak One      
Tourbillon Watch Prize: Laurent Ferrier, Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit
Calendar and Astronomy Watch Prize: Bovet 1822, Récital 20 Astérium
Chronograph Watch Prize: Petermann Bédat, Chronographe rattrapante
Sports Watch Prize: Tudor, Pelagos 39
Jewellery Watch Prize: Bulgari, Serpenti Cleopatra
Artistic Crafts Watch Prize: Piaget, Altiplano Métiers d'Art - Undulata
“Petite Aiguille” Prize: Christopher Ward London, C1 Bel Canto
Challenge Watch Prize: Raymond Weil, Millésime automatic small seconds
Mechanical Clock Prize: L'Epée 1839, Time Fast II Chrome
Special Jury Prize: Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese

 

Watches at Auction - Marlon Brando's Rolex

The highlights of the upcoming Christie’s auction in Geneva (‘Passion for Time’, 6 November) include the Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675 worn by Marlon Brando when playing Colonel Walter E. Kurtz in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 classic “Apocalypse Now”. Marlon Brando ‘customised’ this piece by hand-engraving his name on the caseback.  In addition, as Petra Brando Fischer recalls: “....he wore the watch on the set of Apocalypse Now in the Philippines, being asked  to take it off during filming as it would stand out too much.” She said her father argued that ‘If they’re looking at my watch, then I’m not doing my job as an actor,’ and the powers that be on set eventually relented.

 

 

Brando went a step further, by removing the bezel as well as the steel bracelet, which he replaced with a sober black strap, and pared down to essentials, allegorically mirrored the character of Kurtz.

Estimate: CHF 1,000,000-2,000,000

 
 

Vintage ad - A. Michel

ENGLISH

"Our company supplies all kinds of raw movements, anchor and cylinder, 5 to 20 lignes - We do not manufacture complete watches". This 1923 ad reminded industry players that A. Michel only made and supplied raw movements. In 1926, the company was among the founding members of the Ebauches S.A. group along with A.S. (A. Schild) and FHF (Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon).

Do you like vintage watch ads? Visit the page about Watch Ads, the one and only two-volume pictorial history of communication and design in 20th Century watchmaking. Do you wish to know more? Watch the video clip about the publication and download the preview of Volume 1.

ITALIANO  
"La nostra compagnia fornisce movimenti di ogni tipo, ad ancora o a cilindro, da 5 a 20 linee - Non produciamo orologi completi". Questo annuncio del 1923 ricordava ai professionisti del settore che A. Michel si limitava alla produzione e fornitura di movimenti grezzi. Nel 1926, la compagnia fu tra i membri fondatori del gruppo Ebauches S.A. insieme con A.S. (A. Schild) e FHF (Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon).
Ti piacciono le pubblicità d'epoca? Visita la pagina su Watch Ads, l'unica storia illustrata in due volumi della comunicazione e del design nell'orologeria del Novecento. Vuoi saperne di più? Guarda il video sull'opera e scarica l'anteprima del Volume 1.

  

Upcoming Auctions – Only Watch 2023

The one-off timepieces being auctioned at the Only Watch sale on 5 November in Geneva are on display in a promotional tour traveling from America to Europe, via Asia and the Middle East. Held by Christie’s, the event’s tenth edition will benefit research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other genetic diseases. A total of 73 brands are participating, including 16 collaborations and 16 first-time entries. In addition to contributions by prestigious manufacturers, the 62 timepieces feature emerging watchmaking talents; reflecting the charity's approach, funding research undertaken by doctoral and post-doctoral students. The pictures below feature just a small selection from the Only Watch catalog.

Frederique Constant Tourbillon Planetarium

Furlan Marri Secular Perpetual Calendar

 

Krayon Anywhere

 

Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer

 

Maurice Lacroix

 

Reservoir x Télôs

 

 

New Releases – Ocean Moon V RAAF Limited Edition 2023

For this limited edition Royal Australian Air Force release, Bausele utilizes the Sellita SW200 Swiss automatic movement. The timepiece features a Faraday cage shock system and two screw-down crowns, the second of which controls an inner bi-directional count-up bezel for diving. The large hands, indices, and digits outfitted with Super-Luminova contrast with the blue sunray-style sandwich dial. Both the dial and the case back are adorned with the RAAF name and kangaroo logo. The 42 mm case is in 316L brushed surgical grade stainless steel.