1) BULGARI OCTO FINISSIMO REPETITION MINUTES
Bulgari has usurped Vacheron Constantin as producer of the world’s thinnest minute repeater with the Octo Finissimo Repetition Minutes. The sand-blasted titanium case is just 6.85mm thick and 40mm wide. The hour markers have been cut out not just for aesthetic reasons, but to help the sound travel.
2) ULYSSE NARDIN GRAND DECK MARINE TOURBILLON
Ulysse Nardin celebrates its nautical heritage this year with a watch that ingeniously recalls the deck of a ship. Sweeping across the hand-crafted wood marquetry dial is a boom-like retrograde minute hand that’s pulled by a nanowire. This wire is made of polyethylene Dyneema, a stronger-than-steel material used in ship’s rigging.
3) BREITLING AVENGER HURRICANE
Looking at its hulking 50mm case, one wouldn’t expect the Avenger Hurricane to be light. But thanks to a new material Breitling dubs “Breitlight”, the case is actually 3.3 times lighter than a titanium equivalent and, as a aesthetic bonus, features a subtle mottled effect.
4) CORUM HERITAGE BUBBLE DANI OLIVIER
The most striking of Corum’s new Bubble watches this year is a pair that features the dreamlike nudes of famed Paris-based photographer Dani Olivier. Both editions are limited to 88 pieces, with the 88th watch featuring a red gold bezel as opposed to black PVD.
5) HUBLOT BIG BANG MECA-10
What makes Hublot’s new skeletonised watch stand out isn’t just its Meccano-inspired design, but also its impressive 10-day power reserve. A red dot at three o ‘clock will reveal itself during the last two days of reserve, while another indicator at 6 o’clock will tell you exactly how many days you have left.