From Rado's latest designer collaboration to Exaequo's homage to painter Salvador Dali, and Piaget's bejewelled masterpiece, here are the must-haves from the world’s most storied houses.
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Rado. Photo: Courtesy of Rado
If you’re looking for a watch that starts conversations, then these three lookers will do quite nicely. From Rado comes the DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan watch, which marks the brand’s second collaboration with the British industrial designer. The watch’s gold PVD Ceramos bezel is accompanied by a black dial with printed minute track, a day-date window (at 3 o’clock) with Chauhan’s proprietary font and a new pillow-shaped rubber strap that bears the designer’s aesthetic DNA.
Over at Studio Sarpaneva, it’s the Moomins who take centre stage— and with good reason. The loveable hippo-like Finnish characters turn 80 years old this year, and the Finnish watch brand is celebrating the milestone with a 42mm high-grade Outokumpu steel watch (limited to 60 pieces).
Then, there’s Exaequo’s celebration of surrealism with a Dali-esque timepiece. The Melting watch now comes with a new white dial and “ageing jeans” strap that is meant to take on its own individualistic look through wear and time.
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PIAGET
The 32mm Piaget’s Limelight Gala Precious, created in tandem with Emirati jewellery designer Shamsa Alabbar, features a textured mother-of-pearl dial in a bold geometric design, encircled by a ring of 42 graduated diamonds. A hand-etched “Decor Palace” bracelet completes the pretty picture.
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JACOB & CO.
Anyone familiar with G-Dragon knows that the K-pop superstar baulks at conventionality—which makes the news that he teamed up with Jacob & Co. hardly surprising at all. The watchmaker is known for extravagant, high-watchmaking designs that take no prisoners. The pièce unique Astronomia Solar G-Dragon he co-designed with the Korean style icon, does not disappoint.
Created in celebration of the brand’s first mono-brand boutique in South Korea, the 44mm rose gold watch is rife with a trove of coloured gems, in addition to a daisy-shaped hour and minute dial and other 3D celestial bodies. It also comes with a US$1 million price tag.
LONGINES
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of its Conquest collection this year, Longines released a 30-strong fleet of timepieces that span elegant time-only editions to ultra-rugged sporty numbers. This Conquest in purple is perfect for anyone looking for a watch that falls comfortably in the middle of these two styles.
Sporting a matching-tone rubber strap, the 34mm automatic steel watch bears a rose gold cap and crown, accompanied by rose gold hands and hour markers on its snailed sunray dial for that added touch of luxe.
PATEK PHILIPPE
To say that Patek Philippe’s new Cubitus timepiece caused waves when it launched would be an understatement. Dividing the horology industry into two distinct camps, the watch caused much heated discussion about its merits the second it was unveiled. But if the month that followed showed anything, it’s that Patek Philippe can do no wrong: Quicker than you can say the watchmaker’s name, new outlets were already reporting celebrities such as Mark Wahlberg and Orlando Bloom, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg with the watch on their wrist.
And it’s no wonder—it’s Patek’s first new collection to be launched after 25 years, designed in the vein of its highly coveted Nautilus timepiece. It’s a sure formula for success, found in the form of three 45mm timepieces: Two time-and-date editions in steel, and rose gold and steel bicolour, and an Instantaneous Grand Date, Day and Moon Phases in platinum.
OMEGA
Omega’s new fleet of Constellations look familiar, it’s because the pattern showcased on their dials was first introduced in 2008. Sixteen years later and the distinctive motif—achieved through electrochemical etching and laser engraving for the mother-of-pearl dial—is back in the spotlight with 20 new models and an expanded range of chic colours.
Available in the brand’s proprietary Moonshine and Sedna Gold, or full steel or bi-colour steel and gold editions, fans can choose between three sizes: Quartz numbers in 25mm and 28mm, and an automatic Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre for the 29mm.
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RADO
Avant-garde-looking ceramic watches are what Rado is most known for. But with its Centrix Automatic Open Heart collection, the Swiss brand flexes a different facet of its design-centric personality—one that offers Rado fans even more styling options for going about their day.
Featuring a generously openworked dial, the 35mm watch bears a stylised bridge motif on its face, resulting in shapes that recall the sun rising or setting along the horizon. Beneath, clearly visible to the eye, is the automatic movement with a circular grain decoration for a play of light that complements the glimmering mother-of-pearl dial.
Looks are not all that this watch offers. The movement offers an 80-hour power reserve, and is equipped with an anti-magnetic Nivachron hairspring for higher accuracy in five positions (that’s two more positions than required by standard testing).