Another week down, another round up of all the latest watch releases in the next Watches of the Week segment. In this instalment we have new pieces from watchmakers like Audemars Piguet, Longines, Montblanc, F. P. Journe and Bremont. Enjoy!
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Platinum
New from Audemars Piguet is the limited edition Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Platinum. Featuring a solid platinum case that measures 41mm in diameter and a very thin 9.50mm in thickness, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Platinum is just about as low key as it gets when it comes to high end watchmaking. The black Grande Tappisserie dial is wonderful, legibility is of no issue and the moonphase at 6 o’clock adds a bit of colour to an otherwise very sterile environment. Created and reserved for Japan-based retailer Yoshida’s VIP customers, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Platinum is limited to only 20 pieces and while we don’t exact numbers on pricing, the reference 26597PT will of course be priced well into six-figure territory.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie
Available in either titanium or platinum and limited to only 20 pieces in each metal, the Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie is Audemars Piguet’s latest super haute horlogerie piece. Featuring Audemars Piguet’s renowned Calibre 2959, the Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie is a beautiful and heavily simplified rendition of what is, in essence, an extremely complex horological organism. Like the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Platinum, the Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie is also available exclusively at Yoshida. The titanium version is available on a full titanium bracelet (and comes with a blue alligator strap), while the platinum version comes only on a black alligator strap. The titanium model is priced at $321,700USD, while the platinum model jumps up to $386,600USD.
Richard Mille RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams
Last week Richard Mille released the $698,000USD RM 52-06 Tourbillon Mask which we absolutely loved, and this week the brand came out with a piece made in collaboration with Pharrell Williams. The watch in question is the RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams. Limited to only 30 pieces and costing an eye-watering $969,000USD, the RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams is actually quite a cool looking piece. Its dial is very much out of the box and mimics the look of an astronaut’s helmet with the depiction of Mars’ surface in its reflection. The RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams is a celebration of the artist’s love for space, for art and for non-conformity, and the piece I feel accurately personifies his unique characteristics. Lots and lots of details can be found throughout the watch and in typical Richard Mille fashion the brand has created something that is completely against the grain. Big fans we are.
Bremont 1947 Collection
Bremont has released a wholly unique collection of watches made in collaboration with the critically acclaimed artist, producer, song writer and Rolling Stones guitarist, Ronnie Wood. Named the 1947 Collection, this new family of watches feature 47 limited edition pieces, each individually hand painted by the Ronnie Wood. Each piece houses a moonphase mechanical movement with Ronnie Wood’s signature on the rotor, encased in 42mm of 18k white gold. This isn’t the first time Ronnie Wood has worked with Bremont, with their first collaboration occurring 8 years ago. Each piece in the 1947 Collection is unique, with each model costing $69,995AUD.
F. P. Journe Astronomic Souveraine
From one of my most favourite watchmakers of all time comes the manufacture’s latest masterpiece: the Astronomic Souveraine. Featuring a whopping 18 functions and created with the sole purpose of contemplating the celestials above us, the Astronomic Souveraine was inspired by a pocket watch that F. P. Journe himself created in 1987. Featuring complications shown on both sides of the piece, the Astronomic Souveraine displays the mean solar time, the sidereal time, a day/night indicator, a moonphase, the hours in two time zones, an annual calendar with a zodiac indication and an equation of time. The Astronomic Souveraine also has a tourbillon with a remontoir d’egalite constant force mechanism and a minute repeater, all controlled by the single crown. Measuring just 44mm wide and 13.8mm thick, the Astronomic Souveraine’s steel case holds an incredible 758 components. Priced at a bank-breaking 885,000CHF.
Vacheron Constantin Partners Up with the Louvre
Vacheron Constantin has partnered up with the Musée de Louvre in an artistic and cultural collaborative effort, enable the manufacture to venture in to projects within the fields of craftsmanship, watchmaking, art and culture. Having already partnered up in 2016, where the 18th century clock La Création du Monde was restored, Vacheron Constantin and the Musée de Louvre emphatically join hands to continue to build upon artisanal practices and techniques, all the while undertaking incredible horological projects drawing inspiration from the Musée de Louvre’s masterpieces. I can’t wait to see what this collaboration brings about, with expectations high!
Longines Heritage Military 1938
I’m really enjoying the direction Longines seems to be taking like the Heritage Classic ‘Sector’, and its latest piece is no exception. The Heritage Military 1938 is based on a Longines military watch from 1938. I am absolutely astounded as to how well Longines have executed the Heritage Military 1938. From the expansive black dial, the creamy patinated hands and hour numerals, along with the sharp steel case, the Heritage Military 1938 ticks almost all of my boxes when it comes to reissue military watches. The onion crown is a nice touch, but if I were nit-picking there seems to be a bit too much real estate on the dial. Otherwise, it is fantastic. The Heritage Military 1938 is limited to only 1,938 pieces and is priced at $3,350AUD.
Montblanc Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38
Like Longines, Montblanc seems to be heading in a very favourable direction, and the new Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38 is leading the charge in that respect. After discovering some original Minerva MB M62.00 calibres (which themselves were inspired by the Pythagore calibre from 1948), Montblanc decided to put them to good use. Sitting in a 39mm steel case and featuring a two-tone salmon dial (that itself features a sunburst inner dial, a snailed small seconds sub-dial and a grainy outer dial), the Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38 is stunning. The only thing more beautiful than the dial is the exquisite movement. The Heritage Small Second Limited Edition 38 is limited to only 38 pieces and is priced at €17,900.
Comments