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Christmas is fast approaching, and with just over a month to go until the big day, you better believe we’ve got our wish-lists ready and waiting. In this week’ instalment of our regular watch-focused series, The Wind Up, we’ve got some pretty special pieces well worthy of their place on your very own Christmas wish-list. From Vacheron Constantin’s award winning Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942 to a piece made in collaboration between Zenith and custom See more in watches powerhouse Bamford, we’ve got it all. So, as always, sit back, relax and enjoy!
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Vacheron Constantin Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942
Vacheron Constantin’s Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942 is one hell of a watch, and it recently won the Revival Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awards. Iconic, emblematic and highly functional, the Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942 is a watch that revels in the rich history of the Vacheron Constantin atelier. From the scarab lugs to the very vintage-esque dial, the Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942 is just about as close to old-school as I’d want a modern watch to be. The Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942 combines a deliciously appealing dial palette with some super useful functions, encased in a package that can easily be worn every day. Love it or hate it, the Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942 is well deserving of its accolades.
- Brand: Vacheron Constantin
- Model: Historiques Triple Calendrier 1942
- Reference: 3110V/000A-B426 (blue strap) / 3110V/000A-B425 (burgundy strap)
- Case Diameter: 40 mm
- Case Thickness: 10.35 mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 30 m (3 bar)
- Movement: Calibre 4400 QC, manual-winding, in-house, Poinçon de Genève certified
- Power Reserve: 65 hours
- Strap: Alligator leather with steel ardillon pin buckle
- Price: AUD$42,700
Shop Vacheron Constantin watches
Zenith x Bamford for MR PORTER
What do you get when you combine Zenith’s horological prowess with Bamford’s insane ability to make the good better. And then in that crazy combo, sprinkle on top the men’s fashion giant, MR PORTER. Well, you get the now sold out Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Solar Blue Limited Edition Automatic Chronograph. This is a delightfully fresh-looking watch that brings together the best of both worlds: a wonderful watchmaking heritage with a very forward-thinking, contemporary design. This is a watch that has a lot of appeal to me across the spectrum, and it’s one that I seriously had no doubt would sell out. Very cool stuff.
- Brand: Zenith
- Model: Chronomaster El Primero Solar Blue Limited Edition (x Bamford / MR PORTER)
- Reference: 03.2152.4069/57.C814
- Case Diameter: 38mm
- Case Thickness: 12.75mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: Zenith El Primero Calibre 4069, automatic, column-wheel chronograph, 36,000 vph, 31 jewels, COSC certified
- Power Reserve: 50 hours (minimum)
- Strap: Navy blue Alcantara with white stitching, steel pin buckle
- Price (at launch): USD 7,500
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Aventador S
The collaborative efforts between Roger Dubuis and Lamborghini, thus far, have been insane! I’ve long been a fan of these mash-up pieces, and the Excalibur Aventador S is the latest product to come out of their much-acclaimed partnership. Excalibur Aventador S’ aesthetic is one that I absolutely cannot speak highly enough about. There aren’t many watchmakers that can create a skeletonised (openworked, inverted, whatever) dial as good as Roger Dubuis can. And the Excalibur Aventador S is a wonderful representation of that fact. This is a very sporty looking watch, but be that as it may, I can easily see myself dressing it up in a suit. Not going to slide under my shirt cuff? Oh well, guess I’ll just have to stare at my wrist all day. This is a very exceptional timepiece from a super contemporary brand, and it’s one that I would absolutely purchases (were I a billionaire’s heir).
- Brand: Roger Dubuis
- Model: Excalibur Spider Aventador S
- Reference: RDDBEX0686
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Case Thickness: 14.05mm
- Case Material: C-SMC carbon composite (Lamborghini racing-grade) with titanium mid-case and blue rubber overmoulding
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Movement: Calibre RD103SQ — manual-winding, skeletonised, Duotor dual balance wheel with differential, 57,600 vph, Poinçon de Genève certified
- Power Reserve: 40 hours
- Strap: Bi-material rubber strap (black base, Neptune blue inlay, red stitching); titanium black DLC folding buckle with quick-release
- Price (at launch): Approx. CHF 180,000
REC Watches RJM
REC Watches are no stranger to recycling used parts to create unique watches, and the RJM is the latest piece of that ever-expanding puzzle. Salvaging aluminium from PT879, the only Mark IX Spitfire aircraft to make it back to the UK after being sent to Russia as part of the historic lend-lease agreement during World War 2, the RJM is a truly unique design. The RJM is available in three different models, with each using the recycled parts of that iconic PT879 throughout the watch. Each piece will be powered by the Miyota 9015 automatic movement, featuring a rotor decoration inspired by the Spitfire’s well-known metal rivet construction. REC Watches will also be donating part of the proceeds of every RJM sold towards the restorating of the PT879. Nostalgic and cool!
- Brand: REC Watches
- Model: RJM
- Reference: RJM-01 (black dial, 547 pcs) / RJM-02 (brown dial, 552 pcs) / RJM-03 (military green PVD, 515 pcs)
- Case Diameter: 41 mm
- Case Thickness: 10.9 mm
- Case Material: 316L stainless steel (RJM-03: gun grey PVD coating)
- Water Resistance: 30 m / 3 ATM
- Movement: Miyota calibre 9015, self-winding automatic, 28,800 VPH, 24 jewels
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Strap: Black calf leather (RJM-01) / tan calf leather (RJM-02) / military green canvas (RJM-03); 20 mm lug width, quick-release
- Price (at launch): USD$1,095
Swatch x Damien Hirst
Fans of Mickey Mouse, rejoice! Swatch have teamed up with Disney and Damien Hirst to celebrate Mickey’s 90th birthday. Two unique models will be released, one called the Mirror Spot Mickey and the other will be called the Spot Mickey. The Mirror Spot Mickey will feature a mirrored dial and will be made in a not-so-limited run of 19,999 pieces, while the Spot Mikey features a black dial and will be made available in a slightly-more-limited run of 1,999 pieces. These pieces are, at least from the prospective of childhood nostalgia, pretty damn cool. Do they carry some sort of horological value? Absolutely not, but as far as melancholy goes, this is one cool bit of kit.
Ulysse Nardin FreakIT
Taking a step in the direction of absolute customisation, Ulysse Nardin have combined the enthralling task of creating your very own timepiece with what is, perhaps, one of their most coveted watches, the Freak. Ulysse Nardin have created the FreakIT app, taking the idea of a truly bespoke watch to a whole new level. There’s an enormous array of choice here, and the customising configurator gives you a massive 22 different watch component and movement part options to choose from. Simply put, the FreakIT will enable you to create your very own, one-of-a-kind watch. The price to pay for this amount of individualization and control? A measly 105,000CHF (or about $145,000AUD).
Visit Ulysse Nardin watch site
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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The Wind Up – Watch News #75
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The Wind Up – Watch News #73
- Brand: Ulysse Nardin
- Model: Freak Vision (FreakIT)
- Reference: 2505-250
- Case Diameter: 45 mm
- Case Material: Platinum with blue-coated titanium lateral sidebars (brancards)
- Water Resistance: 30 m
- Movement: Calibre UN-250, in-house automatic, Anchor Constant Escapement with flying carrousel, silicon balance wheel, “Grinder” winding system
- Power Reserve: 50 hours
- Strap: Customisable alligator leather or fabric (22 component options via FreakIT app); titanium folding clasp
- Price (at launch): CHF 105,000 (Approx. AUD$145,000)
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