Winter is finally drawing to an end, and as we all slowly come out of hibernation bleary eyed and wondering how the hell we got here, we quickly come to realise that the next Wind Up instalment is upon us! In this instalment we’ve a couple of pieces from Ulysse Nardin, a game changer from Omega and for all you lovers of black-on-black everything, we’ve got a little something-something for you that we think might just tick all your boxes. So as always gents, sit back, relax and enjoy!
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Ulysse Nardin Classico Zheng He
Haute horlogerie and fine art seem to go hand in hand, and Ulysse Nardin are one of the key players in this market. Their innate ability to bring together the worlds of artistry and horology is really quite impressive, as is evident in their latest piece, the Classico Zheng He. Handcrafted from 18k rose gold, the Classico Zheng He’s depiction of a wooden ship in the centre of the dial has been beautifully portrayed by use of the enamel cloisonné technique. Infinitesimally difficult to create, this intricate work of art is valued masterpiece of both artistic talent and contemporary horology mechanics. The Classico Zheng He is less of a timepiece and more of a gorgeous representation of just how skilled Ulysse Nardin are as watchmaking ateliers. In a museum or on your wrist, the Classico Zheng He will be sure to impress and delight.
Ulysse Nardin Executive Moonstruck Worldtimer
The next piece from Ulysse Nardin that we’re featuring in this instalment of The Wind Up is something that will more likely than not tickle your technological pickle. It’s the Executive Moonstruck Worldtimer, a magnificent looking time piece that enables the wearer to quickly and easily move time forward or backward at a push of a button. Super useful for the frequent traveler. The Moonstruck Worldtimer is also the only piece in the world with the bright part of the moon constantly facing the sun, as it happens in real life. Beyond these impressive technical features, the Executive Moonstruck Worldtimer is damn good looking. The dial has brilliant pops of colour splattered across it, and the unique lug system looks nice and comfy. The Executive Moonstruck Worldtimer is another impressive piece from Ulysse Nardin, and it’s not hard to see why they rank as one of my favourite niche ateliers.
Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Ceramic
New from Jaquet Droz is the Grande Seconde Ceramic, a stunning timepiece available in all white or all black. My pick? The all-black version, of course. This version is available in two versions, each with a clous de Paris dial decoration. One variant shows the power reserve, whilst the other just the time. Other than that, they’re basically the same piece. The all-black ceramic 44m Grande Seconde is a gorgeous spectacle whose darkness is offset wonderfully by the 18k red gold hours, minutes and seconds hands. The slim bezel puts a huge emphasis on the dial, and while the spotlight can often draw out blemishes and inconsistencies, the Grande Seconde Ceramic stands head and shoulders above a lot of other mono-tone pieces. The Grande Seconde Ceramic is powered by the automatic Calibre 2663A-S which boasts a power reserve of 68-hours. Each variant is limited to only 28 pieces worldwide, and while they’re priced quite high, they do represent some fairly decent bang for your buck.
Singer Track1
Unique. Polarising. A bit of an odd-ball. No matter which way you look at it, the Singer Track1 is an acquired taste. From the tonneau shaped 43mm wide, 15mm thick case to the domed sapphire crystal, the Track1 is indeed different. The atypical placement of the crown and pushes adds a dimension of individuality to an already very different looking watch. Now if the front-side of the piece doesn’t really get you going, then all you need to do is to turn the watch around and look at its backside. The AgenGraphe movement is seriously one of the most insanely beautiful movements, ever. There’s a whole lot going on in such a small space, and the sheer amount of mechanics involved is enough to satisfy even the thirstiest motoring-cross-horology enthusiast. Different, peculiar, unconventional and slightly outlandish, the Singer Track1 is the idiosyncratic piece you never thought you needed.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer Master Chronometer
Outside of the Speedmaster, Omega is a bit of a hazy affair. It’s difficult to gauge what’s what, whose who and why there are so many damn pieces. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I mean more options means well, more options right? But at the same time, people tend to stay with what they know, so their attention will probably more than always be directed to what they know: the good old Speedy. But outside of the iconic Speedmaster, we have to remember that Omega produce some very high quality pieces, including of course the Seamaster. The Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer Master Chronometer is one downright beautiful timepiece, well deserving of its place in Omega’s line up. The Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer Master Chronometer is actually the first worldtimer from Omega. Add to that the coveted title of a Master Chronometer. And the fact that it’s made of platinum. What does that mean? Well, it means you have one serious-ass watch. The Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer Master Chronometer is powered by an in-house METAS-certified Master Chronometer 8939 movement. And what does that mean? Not a lot outside of the world of watch nerdery, but in the world of reality it means that you’ll have one of the most accurate, most precise timepieces in the world. Oh, and those twisted lugs… Like the icing on the cake. Super expensive, super limited and super awesome, the Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer Master Chronometer is an example of just how capable Omega are as a mainstream watchmaking manufacture.
If you enjoyed The Wind Up and would like to continue reading about watches, you can head on over to my blog, Haulogerie, where I delve a bit deeper into the wonderful world of watches.
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You’ll also like:
The Wind Up – Watch News #47
The Wind Up – Watch News #46
The Wind Up – Watch News #45
