New releases - Schwarz Etienne Geometry

 

Divided into quadrants, the dial is adorned with an array of finishes, including fluted lines, azuré, clous de Paris and sandblasted sections. It is in 18ct and offered in a choice of two colors: silver and salmon. The 39mm polished stainless steel case features an exhibition case back granting sight of the Manufacture automatic movement, the calibre ASE 200.02. Equipped with a micro-rotor, the latter runs for 86 hours.

 

 

Create a fully customized tourbillon watch

 

The horological experience at Initium introduces a new course for watch enthusiasts: crafting your own Swiss made tourbillon timepiece. Developed in La Chaux-de-Fonds by a watchmaker with whom Initium has been collaborating since 2017, the manually wound caliber boasts a power reserve of 105 hours. Every component, from the case to the hands, including the dials - a peripheral ring containing indexes and a skeletonized central portion - can be chosen by participants to create a fully customized timepiece. The day of instruction provides an immersion into the world of horology, alongside a Master watchmaker with whom participants will also share a meal at noon. The course can be taken at Initium's workshops in Le Noirmont as well as in the old town of Geneva. Price: 18’500 Swiss francs.

 

 

New releases - Hervé Schlüchter L'Essentiel

 

Drawing inspiration from the movements of iconic pocket watches and from an 1810 Antide Janvier regulator, the timepiece displays the hours on a 24-hour philosophical disc in aventurine, the minutes via central regulator hand, and small seconds on a subdial at 6 o'clock. Two complications are included: the 24-hour philosophical disc and the stop lever for time correction. The movement features three horological specialties: a ‘moustache’ lever escapement, a Guillaume-type balance and wolf’s tooth winding. A limited edition of 25 pieces.

 

 

New Releases – Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer

The final two series of the award-winning caliber invented by Bernhard Lederer are housed in a 44 mm case available either in a 904L steel version with a Pacific Green grey-green open dial, or in a 18k pink gold version with a Black Rhodium grey-black open dial. The movement combines a new type of constant-force escapement with a double gear train. This duality is manifest with two synchronized seconds hands running in opposite direction within two intertwined apertures that together form a big figure eight.

Vintage Press - Journal Suisse d'Horlogerie (1935)

ENGLISH
Here (picture below) is how the Swiss Watchmaking Magazine (Journal Suisse d'Horlogerie) presented new models back in the 1930s. Two of these watches are sought-after items by modern day collectors. The Oyster Royal features a case that went on to become a Rolex signature design. The LeCoultre "day-date" is the first of a successful series of calendar watches by the brand. Spécialités Horlogères was the Swiss distributor of LeCoultre watches.

ITALIANO
Ecco (foto sopra) come la Rivista Svizzera dell'Orologeria (Journal Suisse d'Horlogerie) presentava le novità negli Anni 30. I collezionisti di oggi apprezzano molto due di questi orologi. L'Oyster Royal ha una cassa che sarebbe diventata emblematica della produzione Rolex. Il "day-date" LeCoultre è il primo di una serie di orologi con calendario della Casa. Spécialités Horlogères era il distributore svizzero degli orologi LeCoultre.

 

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