Updated:
Readtime: 6 min
Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here.
Welcome to the next instalment of our weekly series covering all of the latest watch releases, The Wind Up. In this week’s instalment, we’ll be featuring new pieces from the likes of Hublot, Panerai and Girard-Perregaux, along with a new piece from IWC and a combined effort between the watchmaker and one of Australia’s greatest ever actors, Cate Blanchett. Enjoy gents!
You’ll also like:
The Wind Up – Watch News #155
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Crystal Rock
Featuring a super-strong lightweight high-tech carbon class case, the new Laureato Absolute Crystal Rock is undeniably cool. Clad in avantgardism and modernity, the Laureato Absolute Crystal Rock is an ode to Girard-Perregaux’s forward-thinking abilities and potency on recreating age-old classics. The sandwich-style dial continues the Laureato Absolute Crystal Rock’s theme of texture and depth, with the in-house manufacture movement rounding off what is a supremely interesting timepiece.
- Brand: Girard-Perregaux
- Model: Laureato Absolute Crystal Rock
- Reference: 81060-36-693-FH6A
- Case Diameter: 44mm
- Case Thickness: 15.15mm
- Case Material: Carbon Glass (proprietary composite of carbon fibre, fibreglass, and pigmented glass fibres; each case is unique)
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Movement: GP Calibre GP03300-1058, in-house self-winding automatic chronograph, 28,800 vph
- Power Reserve: 46 hours (minimum)
- Strap: Grey rubber with fabric-effect motif and grey stitching; black PVD-treated titanium folding clasp
- Price (at launch): USD$16,900 (limited to 100 pieces; no AUD RRP published)
Hublot Introduces its Haute Joaillerie Collection
Hublot has introduced three new pieces in its Haute Joaillerie collection of watches. The first is the Big Bang Unico High Jewellery, which features 334 baguette-cut diamonds hand-applied to one of the watchmaker’s most iconic timepieces. The second is the Spirit of Big Bang High Jewellery, another jewel-encrusted timepiece with enough bling to blow the socks off of anyone you come across. And the third is the Classic Fusion High Jewellery, the most elegant and classical-looking of the three, this particular piece has an interesting dial pattern that is sure to mesmerise and hypnotise. Not least because of its 400-plus diamonds!
Panerai Drops New Logo Pieces
Panerai has unveiled two new “logo” pieces to its Luminor collection. The first is the Luminor Logo 44mm, which features a steel case, a matte black dial and a small seconds indicator at 9 o’clock. The second is the Luminor Base Logo 44mm, which is the same as the former piece but does away with the small seconds register, and in doing so the far cleaner of the two. The presence of the “OP” logo with the divergent double arrows represent the brand’s propensity with respect to being able to work above and below the surface of the sea. Very cool stuff.
Chopard Unveils New Alpine Eagle Models
Chopard released a fair few new models to its Alpine Eagle collection. For the first time, the Alpine Eagle collection will include a flyback chronograph model in a 44mm case. There will be three versions, two in steel with either an Aletsch Blue or Pitch Black dial, along with a bi-metal model with a Pitch Black dial. But for those of you truly wanting to flex, Chopard has definitely got you with its solid rose-gold with matching bracelet Alpine Eagle Large. The baller status quo piece.
Alpine Eagle XL Chrono – Lucent Steel / Aletsch Blue (ref. 298609-3001)
- Brand: Chopard
- Model: Alpine Eagle XL Chrono
- Reference: 298609-3001
- Case Diameter: 44mm
- Case Thickness: 13.15mm
- Case Material: Lucent Steel A223
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Chopard 03.05-C, self-winding flyback chronograph, COSC-certified, 4Hz (28,800 vph), 45 jewels
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Strap: Integrated Lucent Steel A223 bracelet with folding clasp
- Price: AUD$38,200
Alpine Eagle XL Chrono – Lucent Steel / Pitch Black (ref. 298609-3002)
- Brand: Chopard
- Model: Alpine Eagle XL Chrono
- Reference: 298609-3002
- Case Diameter: 44mm
- Case Thickness: 13.15mm
- Case Material: Lucent Steel A223
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Chopard 03.05-C, self-winding flyback chronograph, COSC-certified, 4Hz (28,800 vph), 45 jewels
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Strap: Integrated Lucent Steel A223 bracelet with folding clasp
- Price: AUD$38,200
Alpine Eagle XL Chrono – Steel & Rose Gold / Pitch Black (ref. 298609-6001)
- Brand: Chopard
- Model: Alpine Eagle XL Chrono
- Reference: 298609-6001
- Case Diameter: 44mm
- Case Thickness: 13.15mm
- Case Material: 18-carat ethical rose gold and Lucent Steel A223 (rose gold bezel, crown, and bracelet centre links)
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Chopard 03.05-C, self-winding flyback chronograph, COSC-certified, 4Hz (28,800 vph), 45 jewels
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Strap: Integrated Lucent Steel A223 and rose gold bracelet with folding clasp
- Price: AUD$60,300
Alpine Eagle Large – Solid Rose Gold (ref. 295363-5001)
- Brand: Chopard
- Model: Alpine Eagle Large
- Reference: 295363-5001
- Case Diameter: 41mm
- Case Thickness: 9.70mm
- Case Material: 18-carat ethical rose gold
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Chopard 01.01-C, self-winding, COSC-certified, 4Hz (28,800 vph), 31 jewels
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Strap: Integrated 18-carat ethical rose gold bracelet with ethical white gold folding clasp
- Price: AUD$118,000
IWC Top Gun SFTI Edition
IWC’s latest piece is the black-on-black Top Gun SFTI Edition. Featuring a ceramic case, the Top Gun SFTI Edition is a tribute to the “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor” watch which was made in 2018 to honour the US Naval Aviation Community. While that piece is only for TOPGUN graduates, the Top Gun SFTI Edition is the next best thing for us civilians. Just epic.
- Brand: IWC Schaffhausen
- Model: Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “SFTI”
- Reference: IW389104
- Case Diameter: 44 mm
- Case Thickness: 15.7 mm
- Case Material: Black zirconium oxide ceramic; caseback and pushers in Ceratanium
- Water Resistance: 60 m (6 bar)
- Movement: IWC Cal. 69380, automatic column-wheel chronograph
- Power Reserve: 46 hours
- Strap: Olive green canvas strap with leather backing
- Price (at launch): AUD$14,200
IWC and Cate Blanchett Talk Sustainability
IWC’s CMO Franziska Gsell sat down with Australia’s pride and joy, the famous actor and producer Cate Blanchett, to talk about global sustainability. More specifically, they spoke about IWC’s commendable approach to actively managing its environmental and social impact, which has earned the watchmaker a leadership role in sustainable luxury watchmaking. You can follow the link below to watch the video. Round of applause to two industry leaders trying to make a difference.
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 horology.
You’ll also like:
The Wind Up – Watch News #155
The Wind Up – Watch News #154
The Wind Up – Watch News #153
Comments
We love hearing from you. or to leave a comment.