The Breitling Navitimer 8 Collection, Georges Kern’s First Creation as CEO of Breitling
After he unexpectedly left IWC and joined Breitling as new CEO, Georges Kern was under the radar… We were all waiting for the first novelty to come out of the Grenchen-based manufacture. And today, here THEY come. Indeed, it’s not a watch but a full collection, named the Breitling Navitimer 8 collection, which is today introduced. 5 different models, 5 different displays, 5 different movements, 1 entirely new concept. Let’s have a look at Kern’s first creation.
Last night, Roger Federer confirmed his GOAT status with his sixth Australian Open win, beating 29-year-old Marin Cilic in three hours in the sweltering Melbourne heat. Roger Federer — the first man to win 20 Grand Slam titles — is one of Rolex’s most important international testimonees, so it was no surprise he was wearing the latest and greatest Sky-Dweller in white gold Rolesor (with blue dial) as he hoisted the cup. But, much like last year, our eyes were distracted from Fed’s Sky-Dweller by Mirka Federer and her dazzling wrist. Last year, Mirka outshone her husband with a platinum Day-Date dripping with stones. This year, she did it again with the brand new Yacht-Master 40 in rose gold on Oysterflex with stunning sapphire bezel (coincidentally, one of my favourite watches of last year). Aside from being an absolutely boss watch, Mirka’s choice to give the heavy platinum a rest for the 2018 Australian Open finals made perfect sense, given that the temperature was a humid 37.8C yesterday, and didn’t drop below 30 degrees overnight. So while her 36-year-old husband sweated it up on Centre Court, Mirka (or at least her wrist) would have been cool, calm and collected…
While we all know that Van Cleef & Arpels love a bit of poetry, I get the feeling that they also have a major thing for swans. Huh, what? You know, the way swans glide across the water, all elegance and beauty, no visible effort – while paddling furiously beneath the surface. Well, that’s how Van Cleef & Arpels make their complication watches, whether for men or women. Refined, beautiful, often rather dreamlike on the outside; brain-bendingly complex on the inside. In 2014, you may remember, Van Cleef & Arpels launched an astonishing planetarium watch developed in collaboration with the master of astronomical horology, Christiaan van der Klaauw. It replicated the entire solar system, with each planet completing an orbit – a full turn around the dial – in real time (Mercury three months, Earth 365 days, Jupiter 142 months, and so on). It’s a stunning watch. And, at 44mm, it’s man-sized. Now, the new 38mm version gives us girls a turn. To reduce size, only the inner solar system is represented: Mercury, Venus and Earth. Each is represented by a tiny polished bead –Mercury in pink mother-of-pearl, Venus in green enamel, Earth in turquoise – fixed to a rotating…
For over 30 years the Portofino has been amongst IWC’s dressiest offerings, with a rounded Lépine-inspired case, and elegant, elongated Roman numerals. So it comes as no surprise that the line has a prominent place in IWC’s 150th anniversary collection. And while there’s simpler offerings, such as the Automatic and the Chronograph, our eyes (and hearts) were drawn to the more complex Hand-Wound Moon Phase Edition “150 Years”. Looking at the watch its easy to see why. 45mm of rich red gold protecting the calibre 59800, with moon phase and power reserve, all topped off with that deep, deep blue dial, with gold details (like that oh-so-romantic moon). It might not be a dress watch in the typical, diminutive sense, but there’s no denying its a showstopper. IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase Edition “150 Years” Australian pricing and availability IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase Edition “150 Years in red gold, limited to 150 pieces, $34,200.