Jewellery & Watch News
Just when you thought the distraction of Watches & Wonders had passed, then comes the Geneva Watch Days event for 2021, and as always, collectors seasoned and budding found themselves inundated with a whole bunch of new releases. The 2021 Geneva Watch Days showcase took place this August and saw a group of 27 luxury watch brands come together to debut their latest releases and limited editions for the season. To help keep you up to date with all that’s new in the luxury watch world, here is a run-down of some of the best releases launched at this year’s event…
Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet Limited Editions
Oris made somewhat of a bang for their Geneva Watch Days 2021 debut with arguably one of the largest limited edition runs we have ever seen. The new Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet see’s a series of 21 watch designs dedicated to the 21 different aircraft utilised by the Rega Swiss air rescue organisation. Each aircraft is given its own 100 piece limited edition design commemorated with a special decoration on the case back which features an image of the aircraft and its registration number. Other than the case back, each Oris Big Crown ProPilot Rega Fleet Limited Edition remains the same with a 41mm stainless steel case with a gunmetal grey PVD finish, sapphire crystal glass, two straps and a bi-directional bezel with a pulsometer scale and triangle marker in red. This marker is designed to indicate “the golden hour”, the critical first hour of any rescue mission. Powering the limited editions is the Oris 798 automatic winding movement with a 42 hour power reserve, a frequency of 28,800vph and 25 jewels.
Oris Aquis Date Upcycle Watches
The second release from Oris is a duo of Aquis Date Upcycle watches which bring a unique and colourful and dial at the forefront of their iconic diver’s reference in a choice of 41.5mm or 36.5mm cases. Oris is quite easily one of the most dedicated luxury watch manufacturer’s we’ve seen to ocean conservation and their efforts continue with each Oris Aquis Date Upcycle watch presented with a recycled PET plastic dial. Due to the recycling process of the material, no two dials are the same making each watch completely bespoke to its wearer. The rest of the design retains the popular Aquis DNA with a stainless steel case, rotating bezel with grey ceramic insert scale, 300 metre water resistant rating, a 60 minute diving scale and sapphire crystal glass. Through a mineral glass back you can also witness the Oris 733 calibre automatic winding movement which fuels the hours, minutes, seconds and date.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronograph
Next up is Parmigiani Fleurier and their three new releases for Geneva Watch Days 2021 including a pair of Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronograph watches. Available in either stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold, the sporty Tonda case is revived and equipped with a coveted chronograph movement. The case measures to 42mm in diameter and 12.4mm in height, offering a 100 metre water resistance and a stunning guilloche dial. Parmigiani Fleurier’s dials are always a topic of choice for us, and the dials of the new Tonda PF Chronographs are no different presenting a stunning deep blue tone on both models and adorned with matching guilloche chronograph counters and a date at 4.30. An in-house movement with column wheel chronograph powers the chronograph seconds, 12 hour and 30 minutes counters with a high frequency of 5Hz. The calibre PF070 also offers a 62 hour power reserve.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Annual Calendar
Following very closely in line with the chronograph above, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Annual Calendar delivers a slightly more complex in-house movement with an annual calendar complication. The automatic calibre PF339 impresses with a modular construction and delivers a double moon phase aperture at 6 o’clock with a retrograde date hand as well as sub counters for the weekday and month. Each of the complications are presented on a warm grey guilloche dial encapsulated by a choice of a stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold case. The cases measure to 42mm in diameter, 11.mm in height, promise a water resistance of 100 metres and secure to the wrist by matching steel bracelets.
Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Hemispheres Retrograde
Last but certainly not least from Parmigiani Fleurier for Geneva Watch Days 2021 is this stunning Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Hemispheres Retrograde watch with a blue dial. We’ve seen several iterations of this design in the past including black and silver-dialled variants, but this is the first time blue guilloche makes for the backdrop of the two independent time indicators. Alongside the hours, minutes, small seconds, retrograde date, and day and night indicator is a second time zone powered by the self-winding calibre PF317. The beauty of this movement is that is can be independently adjusted to the nearest minute and is coupled with two series-coupled barrels to ensure excellent rate regularity and a power reserve of 50 hours. The 42mm case is currently available in stainless steel but we have hope a second instalment will deliver the Toric Hemispheres Retrograde in rose gold.
Arnold & Son Globetrotter Limited Editions
Arnold & Son had no need to present anything ground-breaking for Geneva Watch Days 2021, instead they relied on their coveted Globetrotter model to attract attention, and there’s no denying it did just that. The design delivers a range of updates in two styles, both in stainless steel. One features a gorgeous blue dial while the other remains classic in white opaline. The updates include the use of mother-of-pearl powder in the blue lacquer that represents the oceans, Super-LumiNova along the shorelines of the continent and a re-designed bridge securing the upper pivot of the rotating hemisphere. Other than that, the iconic Arnold & Son Globetrotter retains all the characteristics we have come to love including its unique three-dimensional world time function, highly domed sapphire crystal glass, a 45mm case diameter, 30 metres water resistance and the in-house A&S6022 automatic winding movement. Both editions are limited to 88 pieces.
Louis Erard Excellence Régulateur Aventurine, Lapis Lazuli & Malachite Watches
Louis Erard have truly stepped up their game, not just for the Geneva Watch Days 2021 event, but for the whole year. Following in the footsteps of some of their other artisanal designs launched for Watches & Wonders, the Swiss watch brand have announced a trio of Louis Erard Excellence Régulateur watches in a choice of three dials: Aventurine, Lapis Lazuli and Malachite. The Aventurine stands out for its dark glass dial with golden flecks, a material first created by Venetian glass-blowers in the 17th century while the Lapis Lazuli reference ensures a mesmerising deep cobalt colour crafted from lapis lazuli with dotted silicate inclusions. Lastly, the Malachite contrasts significantly to the others with a deep green dial painted by German artist Gerhard Richter. Given their unique materials, no dial will be the same meaning each 99-piece limited edition will be completely bespoke to its wearer. The Louis Erard Excellence Régulateur watches also serve a regulator set up with two snailed opaline counters powered by the Sellita SW266-1 automatic winding movement, a 42mm stainless steel case and a calf nubuck leather strap dyed in the same colour as its gemstone dial.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Chronograph Sprint Watch
The star of the show for Maurice Lacroix’s Geneva Watch Days 2021 releases is the new Maurice Lacroix Aikon Chronograph Sprint watch. It delivers the legendary Aikon profile in a new black DLC finish for the first time alongside a new dial and strap colourway to match. The stainless steel coated case still maintains the 44mm diameter but with an additional stealthy vibe helped by a gunmetal finish on the six prong bezel and knurled crown. Beneath flat sapphire crystal is a matching ink black dial with an embossed grey square pattern and pops of pastel blue on the small seconds dial at 9 o’clock, central chronograph seconds hand and the numerals and minutes track. The same shade of blue continues on the rubber strap. Fuelling the chronograph complication and the day and date window is the calibre ML112 automatic winding movement with a 48 hour power reserve. You can admire it’s Swiss made construction, circular graining and Cotes de Geneva rotor through the exhibition case back.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Tribe Limited Edition
Another instalment to their Aikon family for Maurice Lacroix is the new Aikon Tribe Limited Edition. Designed in partnership with Simon Nogueira, a parkour expert and freerunner, the design features a truly extraordinary stainless steel case and bracelet engraved with patterns reminiscent of Maori tattoos. The bezel is particularly captivating, with the lines and curves of the engraving catching the light on the wrist disrupted only by the striped prongs. The rest of the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Tribe watch keeps in line with the rest of the Aikon collection with a 42mm diameter, black sunray brushed Clous de Paris dial, luminescent hands, a date window at 3 o’clock and a water resistance of 200 metres. The movement within is that of the ML 115 automatic winding calibre with a 38 hour power reserve and a special oscillating rotor engraved with the pattern matching that of the case and bracelet.
DOXA Sub 600T Pacific Limited Edition
DOXA surprised us all at the Geneva Watch Days 2021 event with the revival of one of their most historic models: the Sub 600T. Contrasting wonderfully against its cushion-shaped case brothers, the DOXA Sub 600T delivers a strong, angular case shape engineered from lightweight titanium alongside a gorgeous nautical blue colourway inspired by DOXA’s Australian partners Time+Tide. Named the DOXA Sub 600T Pacific after it’s cobalt blue dial and rubber strap, the limited edition of 200 pieces is one of just a few DOXA releases crafted from titanium. It also features a fully brushed and matte finish, a 40mm diameter and the familiar unidirectional bezel with twin depth-minute display adorned with highly legible white and orange accents. The dial similarly features elements of orange and white including Superluminova markings and a lollipop seconds hand. The off-set crown and screw down case back assist in a 600 metre water resistance, hence the name of the DOXA Sub 600T Pacific, while within the Sellita SW 200-1 automatic movement manages a decent 38 hour power reserve.
Sinn 103 Classic 12 Chronograph Limited Edition
For German watch manufacturer Sinn, Geneva Watch Days 2021 was all about bringing attention to one model, and one model only: the Sinn 103 Classic Chronograph Limited Edition. Considered one of Sinn’s most notable pilots watches, the Sinn 103 was first developed during the mid-1960’s and to celebrate of the brand’s 60th anniversary, they look back to the original 103 models to bring a classic timepiece to the wrist of collectors. Limited to 600 pieces, the release delivers a stunning black ceramic bezel, a first for the Sinn 103, engraved with a 12 hour scale for displaying a second time zone, and a matching black and white reverse panda dial detailed with snailed counters for the chronograph functions. Despite its historic inspiration, the Sinn 103 Classic 12 Chronograph showcases all of their most contemporary technologies including Ar-Dehumidifying Technology, a 200 metre water resistant rating and the SW 510 self-winding movement. To mark it as an anniversary issue, the watch is also detailed with a special glass back engraved with ‘1961-2021’ and ‘60 Jahre’ and is secured to the wrist by a new dark green strap crafted from wild boar leather.
Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante Limited Edition
Last but certainly not least on our rundown of Geneva Watch Days 2021 watches is the Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante Limited Edition. Just one glance at this model and you can quickly see how extraordinary it is. Its intricate skeletonised dial reveals the split-seconds chronograph movement within which delivers a unique Rattrapante, or split seconds hand that allows you to time two events of different lengths simultaneously. Also on the dial is the movement’s two column wheels, horizonal clutch and Rattrapante clamp, all part of the automatic calibre SXH6. The movement, capable of a 60 hour power reserve and frequency of 4Hz is also viewable through the exhibition case back. The movement is housed within a 42.5mm stainless steel case equipped with box-shaped sapphire crystal glass, an integrated crown guard for the 2 o’clock Rattrapante pusher and a 120 metre water resistant rating. The Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante is a limited edition of only 77 pieces.
For more information on the Geneva Watch Days 2021 releases and to get your hands on your own, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, speak to one of our luxury watch specialists by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
