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Another week in the bag, and another Wind Up instalment. In this week’s round-up of all the happenings in the wonderful world of watches, we have watches from the likes of Chopard and Romain Gauthier, along with a couple of pieces from Citizen. So, as always guys, sit back and enjoy the new releases!
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The Wind Up – Watch News #98
Chopard L.U.C XPS Azur
In partnership with Cannes Internal Film Festival, and to celebrate their long-standing relationship, Chopard have released the L.U.C XPS Azur specifically dedicated to those classy individuals waltzing on down the red carpet of the film festival. Inspired by the beautiful blue colours of the Riviera, the L.U.C XPS Azur features a stunning blue-clad hand-guilloché dial, an 18 carat white-gold case and what is one of the finest automatic time-only mechanisms, the L.U.C 96.01-L. The refined characteristics of the L.U.C XPS Azur are really attributable to Chopard’s continued pursuit for excellence, and this latest piece is a wonderful expression of that directive.
- Brand: Chopard
- Model: L.U.C XPS Azur
- Reference: 161946-1001
- Case Diameter: 40mm
- Case Thickness: 7.20mm
- Case Material: 18-carat ethical white gold
- Water Resistance: 30m
- Movement: Chopard L.U.C 96.01-L, in-house automatic, COSC-certified chronometer, Poinçon de Genève
- Power Reserve: Approx. 65 hours
- Strap: Hand-stitched black alligator leather with 18-carat white gold pin buckle
- Price (at launch): Approx. CHF 37,800
Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor Limited Edition
Featuring a gilded mainplate and palladium-treated bridges in a beautiful white-gold case, the brand-new Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor Limited Edition elevated one of their most beautiful models to new heights. Available with either a blue, black or white enamel dial, each Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor Limited Edition model presents something different. The black model is perhaps the most wearable, the white model the most conservative, while the blue model has a dash of pizazz that screams presence. Aside from that, everything else is business as usual, with the same meticulous level of detailing apparent throughout. Brilliant stuff.
- Brand: Romain Gauthier
- Model: Insight Micro-Rotor White Gold Limited Edition
- Reference: MON00370
- Case Diameter: 39.5mm
- Case Thickness: 12.9mm
- Case Material: 18k white gold
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Movement: In-house automatic with bidirectional 22k solid gold micro-rotor, gilded mainplate, palladium-treated bridges, 28,800 vph
- Power Reserve: 80 hours (dual mainspring barrels)
- Strap: Brown hand-stitched alligator leather with 18k white gold pin buckle
- Price (at launch): CHF 79,000 (ex-tax)
Laurent Ferrier Tourbillon Grand Sport
Completely out of left field comes the Tourbillon Grand Sport from one of my all-time favourite independent watchmakers, Laurent Ferrier. The step into the high-end sports-watch game is not an easy one, and with watches like Patek Philippe’s Nautilus, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak and Vacheron Constantin’s Overseas all but saturating the market, Laurent Ferrier’s logic behind its entry can be somewhat questionable. Aside from that, the Laurent Ferrier Tourbillon Grand Sport does present itself as a fairly interesting watch. Dial-side it’s very business-like and straightforward. Legible, wearable and functional. Flip the watch over and you’ll see just what makes Laurent Ferrier such an incredible watchmaker, the movement. This ruthenium-plated movement is the bee’s knees, and with its inclusion comes an inflation of the price. At $185,000USD (or about $265,000 Aussie smackaroos), the Laurent Ferrier Tourbillon Grand Sport is venturing into unchartered territory. Be that as it may, getting your hands on any one of the 12 limited edition pieces will be a trying task in itself. And that’s before you’ve begun consolidating everything you own to fund it.
- Brand: Laurent Ferrier
- Model: Tourbillon Grand Sport
- Case Diameter: 44mm
- Case Thickness: Approx. 13mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: Manual-winding calibre LF619.01; tourbillon with opposing double balance spring; 21,600 vph; 188 parts; 23 jewels; ruthenium-treated bridges
- Power Reserve: 80 hours
- Strap: Dark taupe rubber strap with stainless steel folding clasp
- Price (at launch): CHF 172,000 (approx. AUD$265,000 per Man of Many at publication)
Oris Divers Sixty Five Chronograph
Available with either a leather strap or a steel bracelet, the Oris Divers Sixty Five Chronograph now features a 43mm wide stainless-steel case with a unidirectional bronze bezel with black aluminium insert. The hour markers and bold and highly legible, the dial is pronounced and information, the exposed pushers and crown are a nod to the past, and the overall look of the Oris Divers Sixty Five Chronograph is really quite pleasing. And while it won’t appease the “watch aficionados” out there, nor will it tempt them to part with their dosh, I know for us more common folk, it’s a brilliant entry piece that can be worn every day. I’m a fan.
- Brand: Oris
- Model: Divers Sixty Five Chronograph
- Reference: 01 771 7744 4354-07 5 21 45 (leather) / 01 771 7744 4354-07 8 21 18 (bracelet)
- Case Diameter: 43mm
- Case Thickness: 16.93mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel with unidirectional bronze bezel and black anodised aluminium insert
- Water Resistance: 100m (10 ATM)
- Movement: Oris Cal. 771 (based on Sellita SW 510), automatic chronograph, 28,800 vph
- Power Reserve: 48 hours
- Strap: Brown leather with stainless steel buckle, or stainless steel riveted bracelet with folding clasp
- Price (at launch): Approx. AUD$6,300
Citizen Eco-Drive Aqualand 200m Primaster 30th Anniversary Limited Edition
In the history of the Wind Up, I don’t think we’ve ever featured a watch from the Citizen manufacturer. Maybe we have, but I know it’s a fairly uncommon feat. This week we have not one, but two Citizen watches to show you. The first is the Promaster, a deep-diving, push-it-to-its-limits watch that wants to be tested. The Eco-Drive Aqualand 200m Primaster 30th Anniversary Limited Edition has enough features to keep you alive underwater, and more than enough to boast to your Submariner-wearing friends. The dial is large and full of luminous material, so legibility underwater is going to be a breeze, as is differentiating between the different functions with thanks to alternating colours representing different pieces of information. High-tech and super cool.
- Brand: Citizen
- Model: Eco-Drive Aqualand 200m Promaster 30th Anniversary Limited Edition
- Reference: BN2037-11E
- Case Diameter: 46.1 mm
- Case Thickness: 16.4 mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel with Duratect MRK-coated accents
- Water Resistance: 200 m (ISO 6425 diver’s standard)
- Movement: Citizen Calibre J250, Eco-Drive (light-powered), analogue depth + time display
- Power Reserve: Approx. 11 months from full charge
- Strap: Black urethane strap with additional suit-extension band
- Price (at launch): USD$775
Shop Citizen Baselworld 2019 page
Citizen Satellite Wave GPS Collection
The second piece is the Citizen Satellite Wave GPS Collection, a watch that gives you the ability to adjust the time in over 40 timezones. This travel-friendly watch is devilishly good-looking, and with various colour palettes to choose from, there’s definitely going to be something for everyone. Utilising the latest GPS satellite timekeeping technology, the Citizen Satellite Wave GPS Collection is an emphasis on functionality, on ease of use and of sound looks. Far more reliable than a mechanical worldtimer, the Citizen Satellite Wave GPS Collection looks awesome and is more than capable of telling the correct time no matter the circumstances.
Shop Satellite Wave at Citizen
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.
You’ll also like:
The Wind Up – Watch News #98
The Wind Up – Watch News #97
The Wind Up – Watch News #96
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