At the beginning of every year, the watch industry meets in Switzerland to show off their new models for the year. The focus at each of these shows is to see who can make the thinnest, biggest, coolest, most complicated watch in the world. And while many of the products are priced for only the most elite watch collectors in the world, a good majority of them are actually attainable in this lifetime. All of them are, functional masterpieces of technical skill, but none will appear in stores until June 2014, at the earliest. From £300 to £300,000, here’s just a few of what’s to come.
Raymond Weil Freelancer
This dressy addition to the Freelancer group combines a rose gold coated PVD plated stainless steel case, a black lacquer dial and leather strap. A visible balance wheel at 12 o’clock provides a peek into the inner-workings of this automatic watch. A simple design like this makes it an ideal match for a formal suit or even tuxedo, making it the ideal time piece for formal occasions.
Oris Calibre 110
This watch features Oris’ first in-house movement in 35 years, and marks the company’s 110th anniversary. This hand-wound watch has a 10-day power reserve, displayed with a non-linear indicator on the right side of the dial. Rather than each of the 10 days getting equal play, the hand seemingly slows down as the power starts to fade.
This watch’s movements are made “in-house”, a feature deemed more desirable by watch enthusiasts as opposed to brands who outsource their movements.
Hamilton Pan Europ H-30
Recently the Pan Europ has been exclusively battery-powered, but this new model features a movement powered by motion. The retro-inspired piece is updated with new colours, sporty racing stripes and an 80-hour power reserve. The look of this watch can be easily changed by swapping straps between leather and textile for the ultimate in versatility.
Panerai Radiomir 1940 Chronograph
A limited edition series, this design references the look of the 1940s Radiomir with its cushion case and Plexiglas crystal. The red gold version has a brown dial with Roman and Arabic numerals.
Panerai will only make 100 pieces of each version: white gold, platinum and red gold making them collectors pieces.
Cartier Calibre de Cartier Diver
Cartier’s first dive watch combines technical deep-sea functions and a sleek, elegant design. It has essentials like a unidirectional bezel, super luminova hands and dive-time indicator. It’s also fitted with a thick crystal and a screw-in crown for water-resistance to 300 meters.
Most watches of this speciality are heavy and somewhat bulky but this one is just 11mm thick, which means it looks just as good casually with a wet suit or formally with a 3-piece suit.
A watch can be a major investment so it is worth taking time to research any watch you choose and looking into whether it might appreciate or depreciate over time. A well-made watch can end up being more financially viable in the long run.