Jewellery & Watch News
Every year, the month of April comes around and the world’s biggest luxury watch brands unveil their latest releases. Last year, the Watches & Wonders experience differed greatly from those of previous years, when what was once known as the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) swapped the Switzerland exhibition for an entirely digital platform. Following in the previous year’s footsteps, the 2021 Watches & Wonders event remained wholly online, but this certainly doesn’t seem to have affected the calibre of watches released.
Today, we will be looking at some of the best Watches & Wonders 2021 releases from the likes of IWC Schaffhausen, Breitling, TAG Heuer, Oris, NOMOS, Baume et Mercier and more. If you’d like to learn more about any of the models and collections listed below, don’t hesitate to head over to the C W Sellors website here or you can contact our team of luxury watch specialists on 01335 453453 or by sending us a message at [email protected].
IWC Big Pilots Top Gun Mojave Desert Watches
Dressed in stealthy sand-coloured ceramic with matching rubber straps and brown subdued dials, the duo of IWC Big Pilots Top Gun Edition Mojave Desert watches were one of the biggest launches from IWC Schaffhausen during the 2021 Watches and Wonders event. The first reference is the IWC Big Pilots Top Gun Edition IW506003 which delivers classic three-hand with date complication and a power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock powered by the IWC-manufactured 52110 calibre with an impressive power reserve of 7 days. The sand-coloured ceramic 46mm case comes fitted with a smooth unadorned bezel, large knurled crown and a water resistant rating of 60 metres. The other reference is the IWC Big Pilots Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Edition Mojave Desert IW503004. Dressed in the same sand-coloured ceramic and dark brown dial, the release delivers one of IWC Schaffhausen’s most coveted complications: the perpetual calendar. Powered by the IWC-manufactured 52615 calibre it boasts a date display and power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock, the month at 6 o’clock, weekday and small seconds at 9 o’clock and a colourful double moonphase display at 12 o’clock which needs to be adjusted by only one day after 577.5 years.
IWC Pilots Chronograph 41
Building on from the success of the Spitfire chronographs from 2019, IWC have introduced the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 into their classic collection. There are currently four references to choose from, each presenting the iconic cockpit instrument DNA through robust 41mm stainless steel cases, smooth unadorned fixed bezels, integrated push pieces and a large, knurled screw in crown. They are all powered by IWC-manufacture 69385 chronograph calibre. Reference IW388101 opts for a blue dial adorned with rhodium plated hands and blue calfskin leather strap while IW388102 follows suit but with a classic fine-link stainless steel bracelet. The other two references boast green-dials. IW388103 comes on stunning vintage-inspired brown calfskin leather strap and reference IW388104 pairs the green face with a fine link stainless steel bracelet and folding buckle.
Breitling Premier Heritage Collection
Moving onto Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling. They started the Watches & Wonders 2021 exhibition with the launch of two extraordinary new collections, the first being the Premier Heritage series. Taking inspiration from the brand’s three leading founders, Leon Breitling, his son Gaston and his grandson Willy, and their contributions towards the development of the chronograph, the new Breitling Premier Heritage watches reveal incredible chronograph functionality alongside several other rare and impressive complications. The first complication on show is the classic chronograph with the Breitling Premier Heritage B09 Chronograph 40. Available in steel or rose gold with a green or silver face, these watches deliver COSC certified chronograph complication powered by the B09 automatic movement, a 100 metre water resistant rating, sapphire crystal glass and 40mm diameters. The second piece in the Breitling Premier Heritage collection is the B15 Duograph 42 which features the rare and unusual Rattrapante complication, otherwise known as the split seconds chronograph. Powered by the COSC-certified Breitling Calibre B15 manual winding calibre, a duo of watches deliver two chronograph seconds hands alongside a small seconds dial at 6 o’clock, a 30 minutes counter at 9 o’clock and power reserve of 70 hours. The designs are available in steel with a blue dial or rose gold with a black dial. Lastly, the Breitling Premier Heritage collection is home to a pair of B25 Datora 42 watches which alongside classic chronograph function delivers a double window display for day and month at 12 o’clock and a subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock which points to the date and presents a moonphase aperture at the centre. Again, we are spoiled with two designs, the first in steel with a copper dial and the second is rose gold with a silver centre.
Breitling Super Chronomat Collection
The second new collection launched by Breitling during the Watches & Wonders 2021 event is the Super Chronomat. Taking inspiration from the original Frecce Tricolori watch designed for the Italian Air Force’s aerobatic fleet in 1983, these watches introduce a range of new design features including a larger case size of 44mm, a new ceramic insert bezel and a unique rubber strap inspired by the iconic rifle-linked Rouleaux bracelet. There are a total of 11 new models to explore including six Breitling Super Chronomat B01 44 watches in blue, black or brown powered by the Breitling Manufacture Calibre 01 automatic winding movement. There is then a unique Breitling Super Chronomat B01 44 UTC watch which sees an extraordinary UTC module embedded into the stainless steel bracelet. Lastly, there are four Breitling Super Chronomat 44 Four-Year Calendar watches which deliver a semi-perpetual calendar mechanism alongside classic chronograph function.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Series
For Swiss watch manufacturer TAG Heuer, much of the focus during the Watches & Wonders 2021 event was on their new Aquaracer Professional 300 Series. Inspired by the original and highly collectible Heuer Ref.844, the collection revives the iconic DNA of the divers model but with some significant contemporary improvements. The designs come in two sizes, 43mm and 36mm, with green, black, silver and blue dials with the familiar angular stainless steel cases, 12 sided unidirectional bezel with ceramic insert and 300m water resistant screw down case back engraved with the historic image scaphander diving suit. Each TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Series is powered by the Calibre 5 automatic winding movement and fitted with a stainless steel bracelet.
Baume et Mercier Riviera Collection
Baume et Mercier revived a historic collection as part of their Watches & Wonders exhibition: the Riviera. First launched in 1973, the Riviera was designed to embody the refined and elegant lifestyle of the southeast French coast of the same name. At the time of its release, it broke the boundaries of traditional watch design, embracing a strong presence characterised by a twelve sided bezel and integrated stainless steel bracelet. This striking silhouette returns as part of three sub-collections. The first is the Baume et Mercier Riviera Baumatic hosting the brand’s in-house BAUMATIC calibre with a 5 day power reserve and a unique smoked sapphire skeleton dial. The second is the Riviera 42mm which delivers stainless steel cases, integrated metal and rubber straps, and unique textured dials in black, black and silver. Lastly, the Baume et Mercier Riviera 36mm is designed for smaller wrists and houses a Swiss quartz movement with cases adorned in a choice of diamonds.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Ventura GMT
For the first time, Maurice Lacroix have released their iconic Aikon model primed for international travel. Equipped with a vivid GMT hand, the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Ventura GMT collection includes two 43mm watches engineered from stainless steel with notched bezels engraved with a 24 hour scale and sophisticated integrated straps. At the centre, the pair of monochromatic dials revel in the idea of for everyday wear. The first model is paired with a sunburst black dial and a vivid red GMT hand while the second elects a silver off-white sunburst dial with a bright orange GMT hand. Beating at the centre of the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Venturer GMT watch is the ML165 automatic winding movement with a power reserve of 42 hours, a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and 26 jewels.
Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert Limited Edition
Another Watches & Wonders 2021 release inspired by the desert, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert Limited Edition celebrates mountaineer Reinhold Messner and his five-week solo trek across the Gobi with a handsome smoked brown and bronze aesthetic. Replicating the rocky terrain colour scheme, the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Gobi Desert watch features a satin-finished case engineered from a special alloy of bronze with slim curved lugs, a shiny brown ceramic bronze bezel and a vintage-style brown Sfumato calfskin leather strap. For many, the case back is where some of the brand’s greatest prowess takes place revealing a unique engraving of Gobi Desert’s famous Flaming Cliffs and a wind rose compass whose patterns are inspired by traditional Mongolian ornaments. At the centre, two hemisphere globes positioned at 12 and 6 o’clock read two different time zones surrounded by a fixed scale with the 24 hour markings. The anti-clockwise turning globe at 12 o’clock denotes the northern hemisphere and the clockwise turning globe at 6 o’clock indicates the southern hemisphere.
NOMOS Tangente 38 Doctors Without Borders 50 Years
NOMOS Glashutte have been supporting Doctors Without Borders since 2012, creating over 10,000 watches in aid of their efforts and in turn raising a sizable amount of donations. To continue their work and to mark fifty years since the founding of the Medecins Sans Frontieres, the Glashutte watch manufacturer has launched the new NOMOS Tangente 38 Doctors Without Borders 50 Years watch. As will all NOMOS Doctors Without Borders watches, the Tangente 38 Limited Edition is characterised by its Arabic numeral at 12 dressed in red, a colour synonymous with the institution and for the first time the wording “‘50 ANS DE MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES’ is included on the very edge of the dial .The same wording is engraved on the closed stainless steel case back alongside its limited edition status out of 2,021 pieces. The NOMOS Doctors Without Borders Limited Edition measures to 37.5mm in diameter, is engineered from stainless steel, paired with a grey textile strap and is powered by the manual winding Alpha movement built in-house by the brand.
Oris Aquis Dat Watt Limited Edition
Another charitable efforts comes from Oris who have launched the Oris Aquis Datt Watt Limited Edition as part of their Change for the Better campaign, a campaign which seeks to improve and conserve the planet we all live on. This time, the Aquis model is designed in support of the Wadden Sea, the world's largest tidal system and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The limited edition of 2,009 pieces showcases a unique dial displaying the lunar cycle and tidal range in the Northern Hemisphere, a decision that wonderfully tributes the Wadden Sea and its location in the North Sea. The complication is powered by the Oris 761 automatic winding movement which uses a central white pointer hand that once aligned with the correct day in the 29.5-day lunar cycle, will show the corresponding tidal range on the white outline on the dial. The same hand also indicates the waxing and waning of the moon. The movement is housed within a 43.5mm stainless steel case topped by a white unidirectional bezel and scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass.
Oris Aquis Depth Gauge
A surprise from Oris during the Watches & Wonders 2021 exhibition was the relaunch of their Aquis Depth Gauge. Promising even better performance than its predecessors, the design features a non-coated stainless steel 45.8mm case like that of the first generation Aquis Depth Gauge watches, a polished black ceramic insert bezel and larger inclusions of Superluminova on the dial. One of the most important changes however is found within the dive gauge system which guarantees better legibility, The case back has also been re-engineered so that the familiar metres to feet conversion chart is always set at 90 degrees to the 12 o’clock position. The Oris Aquis Depth Gauge watch remains powered by the Oris 733 automatic winding movement, one of their most trusted and well-worn calibres delivering central hands for hours, minutes and seconds, an instantaneous date window at 6 o’clock and a power reserve of 38 hours.
Bell & Ross BR 03 92 Red Radar Ceramic Limited Edition
One of Bell & Ross’ most iconic designs also made a return during the Watches & Wonders 2021 event: the Red Radar. This time, the iconic red sapphire crystal glass dial inspired by radars used by flight controllers is paired with a handsome 46mm matte black ceramic case, a more scratch resistant and lightweight choice than its black coated stainless steel predecessor. Despite the new case, the real centrepiece remains the dial which is composed of two concentric discs which are fused within the dial. The external disc displays the hours while the inner showcases the minutes. To read both these intervals, follow the two screen-printed planes adorned above the dial which give the illusion of real flight. At the centre of the Bell & Ross BR 03 92 Red Radar Ceramic Limited Edition, a continuous seconds hand flows gracefully around the dial’s circumference evoking the realism of the scanning motion as done by the light beam on a real radar display.
Longines Heritage Silver Arrow
Last but not least in our rundown of best Watches & Wonders 2021 releases is the Longines Silver Arrow. Swiss watch manufacturer Longines are no strangers to vintage models taking inspiration from their 190-year long history. For this year, the brand look back to 1955 when the brand held an in-house competition with its employees to find the name for a new timepiece with an innovative design. Out of 450 suggestions, the Silver Arrow stuck out. The design is revived for 2021 with the same crisp silver dial accented by a sloping outer segment with a silver polished ring and a crisp white minutes scale. Also around the edge are twelve striped indexes, just like that of the original, with instantly brings to life the playful era of the 1950’s. The case of the Longines Silver Arrow remains engineered from stainless steel and measures to 38.5mm in diameter, a little larger than the 35mm original, and is powered by the modern day L888.5 automatic calibre.
