The Wind Up – Watch News #251

Welcome to the first edition of the Wind Up for 2023. I hope you all had a lovely break and are ready for another big year! To kick off 2023’s proceedings, we’ve got a pretty stacked lineup of watches that are only going to get crazier every week. We’re forecasting a massive year for a lot of the big names in watchmaking, and as the market becomes even more competitive so too will the level of quality watches be raised. In 2023’s very first Wind Up, we’ll be highlighting a handful of new watches that we know will grab your attention. Richard Mille dropped its latest horological heavyweight, Laurent Ferrier unveiled its latest super-complicated marvel, while Girard-Perregaux took its openworking to a whole other level. Happy reading fellas and have a great 2023!

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Richard Mille RM66 Flying Tourbillon

Richard Mille has merged the worlds of rock’n’roll with horology with its latest endeavour, the RM66 Flying Tourbillon. Featuring an openworked handcrafted in red gold flashing the iconic “horns” sign, the RM66 Flying Tourbillon’s drama extends to that exquisite flying tourbillon sitting between the hand’s extended fingers. From an artistic perspective, the RM66 Flying Tourbillon absolutely slaps. And from a watchmaking point of view, it really doesn’t get much more complicated than a flying tourbillon. Add to that the mass appeal of Richard Mille and what you get is a bona fide grail that we can only lust over. Brand: Richard Mille Model: RM66 Flying Tourbillon Reference Number: RM66 Diameter: 42mm Water Resistance: 50m Calibre: Calibre RM66 Power Reserve: 72 hours Price: USD1,095,000 Shop the RM66 Flying Tourbillon at Richard Mille

• Brand: Richard Mille
• Model: RM 66 Flying Tourbillon
• Reference: RM 66
• Case Diameter: 42.70 mm
• Case Thickness: 16.15 mm
• Case Material: Carbon TPT bezel and caseback; grade 5 titanium caseband with 5N red gold polished inserts
• Water Resistance: 50 m
• Movement: Calibre RM 66, manual winding flying tourbillon, 21,600 vph (3 Hz), 17 jewels
• Power Reserve: Approx. 72 hours (±10%)
• Strap: Jet-black rubber
• Price (at launch): CHF 985,000

Audemars Piguet x Dreamscape

Audemars Piguet and Dreamscape, a leader in immersive virtual reality content creation, have come together to create an incredible immersive virtual experience. Combining technology and emotion, this experience is centred around the theme of Clockwork Forest, which transports participants into a forest inspired by the Vallée de Joux. The Vallée de Joux is the birthplace of Audemars Piguet, and so this experience is both inspirational and nostalgic in its approach. Participants are able to wear VR headsets and motion sensors and are given the mission of restoring the course of time before the irreversible disruption of nature occurs. This immersive experience will be open to the general public from the beginning of March at Dreamscape’s first European venue located in the Confederation Centre mall in Geneva. If you’re there, check it out! Visit Audemars Piguet official site

Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit

Laurent Ferrier’s new Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit may look unassuming with its cushion case and salmon-coloured dial, but it is perhaps one of the most incredible examples of a bona fide high-horology sleeper there is. Underneath that salmon dial and titanium case lies a spectacle of complicated watchmaking in the form of a hand-wound tourbillon. The Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit is a modern iteration of the wearable, high complicated wristwatch. It’s lightweight thanks to its titanium case and bracelet, it’s low-key thanks to its very unassuming aesthetic, and it’s the ultimate sort of if-you-know-you-know kind of watch. For the true connoisseurs out there. Brand: Laurent Ferrier Model: Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit Reference Number: LCF044.T1.RN1 Diameter: 44mm Water Resistance: 100m Calibre: LF619.01 Power Reserve: 80 hours Price: Price on request Visit Laurent Ferrier watch site

• Brand: Laurent Ferrier
• Model: Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit
• Reference: LCF044.02.T1.RN1
• Case Diameter: 44 mm
• Case Thickness: 13.40 mm
• Case Material: Grade 5 titanium (brushed and polished)
• Water Resistance: 100 m / 10 ATM
• Movement: Calibre LF619.01, in-house manual-wind tourbillon with double balance spring, 21,600 vph, 188 parts, 23 jewels
• Power Reserve: 80 hours
• Strap: Integrated grade 5 titanium bracelet, 3-link, folding clasp
• Price: CHF 175,000

New Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Models

Girard-Perregaux has unveiled two new variations of its Laureato Absolute. With cases crafted in sapphire crystal, both new models have that airy feeling of being almost completely openworked. The first model subbed Light & Dark has a grey monochromatic theme, while the Light & Fire model has a red-tinge to its sapphire crystal. Both models feature Girard-Perregaux’s exceptional GP01800-1143 movement, expertly skeletonised and visible at almost any angle. The Light & Shade model is not a limited edition, while the red-toned Light & Fire was made for the Chinese New Year and is limited to 18 pieces. Both models retail for CHF95,000. Shop Girard‑Perregaux watches 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.

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Laureato Absolute Light & Shade

• Brand: Girard-Perregaux
• Model: Laureato Absolute Light & Shade
• Reference: 81071-43-2022-1CX
• Case Diameter: 44mm
• Case Thickness: 11.56mm
• Case Material: Metallised sapphire crystal with black PVD titanium lugs and crown
• Water Resistance: 30m
• Movement: Calibre GP01800-1143, skeletonised automatic, 28,800vph, 172 parts, 25 jewels
• Power Reserve: 54 hours
• Strap: Black rubber with fabric-effect texture; black PVD titanium folding buckle with micro-adjustment
• Price: CHF 95,000 (no AUD pricing published)

Laureato Absolute Light & Fire

• Brand: Girard-Perregaux
• Model: Laureato Absolute Light & Fire
• Reference: 81071-44-3115-ICX
• Case Diameter: 44mm
• Case Thickness: 11.56mm
• Case Material: Red polycrystalline YAG (Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) with black PVD titanium lugs and crown
• Water Resistance: 30m
• Movement: Calibre GP01800-1143, skeletonised automatic, 28,800vph, 172 parts, 25 jewels
• Power Reserve: 54 hours
• Strap: Black rubber with fabric-effect texture and red stitching; black PVD titanium folding buckle with micro-adjustment
• Price (at launch): CHF 95,000 (limited to 18 pieces)