The world’s largest show for watches and jewelry, Baselworld was in full swing, with unmatched timepieces that give a glimpse of the year to come for watch fans of all flavors. Here are five that stopped the show.
Grand Seiko Sport Spring Drive SBGC230
Grand Seiko roars in like its symbolic lion with a Sport collection to celebrate the 20th anniversary if its innovative Spring Drive movement—among other anniversary models. This top-of-the-line SBGC230 features a gleaming, beefy, angular 44.5 mm 18K rose gold case; an exquisite lion’s mane dial pattern in deep red (and a royal red croc strap to match); a GMT function; and concave chronograph pushers to ensure a satisfying timing activation. The GMT function and Spring Drive power reserve join the chronograph subdials and date window on the face. $42,000, Ben Bridge Jeweler, Ala Moana Center
Graff GyroGraff Endangered Species Collection
Graff uses the brilliance of its diamond timepieces to shine a light on the plight of endangered species. Stunningly artful mosaic diamond marquetry renditions of an elephant, panda, gorilla, rhino or tiger (shown here) adorn a highly complicated 48 mm white gold GyroGraff timepiece, which sports its typical double-axis tourbillon, 3D spherical moonphase complications and a power reserve indicator. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, incorporating between 112 and 139 individual components per dial. This tiger version sports 127 pieces of meticulously layered white and black gold plaquettes (small plates), custom-cut white diamonds and cognac sapphires. Price upon request
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42
Rolex takes a decidedly techy tack with the Yacht-Master 42. A new 42 mm size and next-generation calibre 3235 movement hallmark this version, which is rendered in white gold for the first time. But the combination of a signature black Oysterflex bracelet that sheathes a flexible metal blade in high-grade elastomer rubber, a unique matte-black execution of Rolex’s patented Cerachrom bezel and a deep-black dial makes the timepiece a real dark-horse contender for the wrists of the nautical watch cognoscenti. $27,800, Ben Bridge Jeweler, Ala Moana Center
Patek Philippe Calatrava Weekly Calendar 5212A
There are many, many special aspects to this all-new 40 mm timepiece from Patek Philippe. For starters, it’s the first movement of its kind from the brand—displaying time, day, date, month and a unique number of the week indication all via special central hands; the date is reported by a window at 3 o’clock. Next, it’s rendered in steel, a rarity for the brand. But the real story is that Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern was so enamored by the design sketches, he decided to reproduce the artists’ work in the dial’s numbering, gauging and lettering, lending an artful freehand feel to its appearance. $33,454, Ben Bridge Jeweler, Ala Moana Center
Zenith El Primero A386 Revival
Watchmaker Zenith fetes the 50th anniversary of its legendary El Primero chronograph movement with this faithful rendition of a 1969 Zenith, the El Primero A386 Revival. Rendered in special solid yellow, white and rose gold iterations, the heritage 38 mm size, domed crystal, subtle three-color counters, outer tach scale, mushroom pushers, and vintage hands and markers speak to the original timepiece’s design zeitgeist. The vintage components were digitally reverse-engineered to ensure modern precision as well as accurate reproduction and were then married to the latest version of the El Primero movement to create a modern-day masterpiece with a strong vintage heart. Limited to 50 pieces in each version of gold, $19,200, DFS Hawaii, T Galleria, Royal Hawaiian Center
Photography by: brands
