Dreaming of your next getaway? Let these blue-themed watches whisk away your travel-withdrawal blues.
Jaeger-Lecoultre Master Control Memovox Timer
The coronavirus-induced lockdown has got many of us into the joy of baking. Why not keep track of the fermentation by setting up the Jaeger-Lecoultre Master Control Memovox Timer’s brilliant countdown function? You may just end up with a perfectly baked sourdough. The uniqueness of this alarm watch can be segregated into two – the tiny triangle to set the alarm time or the little hand of which ends with a red Jaeger-LeCoultre logo for counting down precious hours. The punctuality is regulated by an in-house 956AA automatic movement with 45 hours of power reserve, all housed within a 40mm stainless steel case. The open caseback lends to viewing pleasure where the innovative peripheral bells can be seen struck by the hammer, producing a rich and balanced melody augmented by decades of know-how since the maison’s first Memovox appeared in the 1950s. This niche novelty is limited to 250 pieces.
Longines Dolce Vita
Few would argue the Dolce Vita isn’t as beautiful as the sound of its name. It has the right proportion no matter which sizes it comes in. It looks as good as it comfortably hugs the wrist. It has a timeless appeal that only a handful of watches dare come close. With a blue dial that forever changes its appearance according to the lighting condition, the specimen shown here would endear itself to women after a chic everyday watch. Residing in a 23.3mm x 37mm stainless steel case, the watch is driven by a quartz movement blessed with an end-of-life indicator, which signals when the battery runs low by reducing the second hand to a four-second jump.
Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition II
It took Breitling just one month to introduce the second iteration of the rainbow-inspired, 250-piece Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition, after the initial capsule collection sold out within hours. While the much-loved element of multi-hued Super-LumiNova is retained, the Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition II trades in the black dial for blue. This edition is endowed with a 42mm stainless steel case and bi-directional rotating bezel with an ultra-hard blue ceramic bezel ring. By default, the watch is paired with either a gold-brown leather strap or an integrated Ocean Classic stainless steel bracelet. Nonetheless, you may opt for an Outerknown Econyl yarn NATO strap, available separately in six colour combinations. As part of Breitling’s pledge to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, the brand will donate CHF500,000 to six charities supporting the frontline healthcare workers based in France, Italy, Japan, Spain, UK and USA, from the sale proceeds of the 1,000-piece production.
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M
Do divers still take their mechanical diving watches on their excursions? We reckon there aren’t too many. Perhaps that is precisely the reason that drives the evolution of mettle-proven tool watches into a statement of luxury less susceptible to wear and tear. At the forefront, Omega offers a slight variation to the a la mode two-tone visage by pairing blue and gold. The 42mm Seamaster Diver 300M amps up the luxe game by pairing the durable polished blue ceramic bezel punctuated by a Ceragold diving scale with its very own 18k Sedna gold case. The blue ceramic dial is laser engraved with a wave motif. With water resistance of 300m, you can wash your hands with abandon, shower with it or even in the rare instance, dive with it. You are assured that it will still keep an admirable time thanks to the in-house METAS-standard 8801 automatic movement.
Grand Seiko SLGA001
Grand Seiko celebrates its 60th anniversary with the SLGA001, a professional diving watch capable of 600m of water resistance. While its 46.9mm x 16mm case is crafted from high-intensity titanium and resistant to helium intrusion, the finest part of the watch is the brand-new self-winding Spring Drive movement. Not only is the ultra-modern 9RA5 movement thinner than the acclaimed 9R65 movement, it also boasts an improved accuracy of +/-10 seconds a month and an elongated power reserve of five days. The enhancement entailed a thorough rethink of the movement’s layout, including the repositioning of the Magic Lever and the admittance of an asymmetrical pair of mainspring barrels. Reinforced by a one-piece central bridge, the new movement is both more robust and shock resistant than its predecessor. Coupled with a beautiful dial, there isn’t really a chink in its armour. The only gripe we have, though, is that the SLGA001 is limited to 700 pieces.
LM101 MB&F x H. Moser
MB&F revisits its Legacy Machine 101, best known for its architectural elegance, simplicity and purity, for the inspired LM101 MB&F x H. Moser. Bereft of emblems and indices, the watch birthed from the reciprocal collaboration between MB&F and H. Moser & Cie. is the result of a back-to-basics approach to highlight aesthetics and the quintessence of mechanical watchmaking underneath a sapphire dome. Apart from the mesmerising gravity-defying balance wheel as its primary attraction, the watch benefits from H. Moser & Cie.’s fumé dial in red, cosmic green, aqua blue or funky blue. Each colourway is produced in 15 examples – a number paying homage to MB&F’s 15 years of existence and the 15th anniversary of H. Moser & Cie.’s relaunch. Clad in a 40mm stainless steel case, it is only the third time in MB&F’s history that a stainless steel watch is offered. It is fitted with an in-house manual-winding movement boasting 45 hours of power reserve.
Montblanc Star Legacy Orbis Terrarum
In a myriad of blues, Montblanc’s Star Legacy Orbis Terrarum combines the much-adored colour with the ever-pragmatic world-time complication. Among the most handsome timepieces in the market, the worldtimer aces it with a sophisticated dial ornamented with the iconic exploding star guilloché pattern and a multi-tier construction featuring a mirror-polished map. It is just right in terms of balancing legibility and splendour, without appearing unnecessarily convoluted. Montblanc further equips the watch with an automatic MB 29.20 movement fitted with an in-house world-time module, enabling all 24 time zones in an hourly increment to be seen at a quick glance. The pusher at 8 o’clock allows for the jumping of the hour hand forward in single-hour increments, which is especially handy if one travels from west to east. The 43mm stainless steel example shown here is paired with a supple Sfumato alligator leather strap in matching colours. An 18k rose gold variant limited to 500 pieces, which costs three times as much, is also available.
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Azzurro Power Control
Akin to an annual ritual, Chopard presents this year’s Mille Miglia collection as a tribute to the 1,000-mile Brescia-Rome roundtrip race. The Mille Miglia GTS Azzurro Power Control stays true to its name with a scintillating satin-brushed blue dial reminiscent of the paint job found on many a great classic car in the century past. The bi-material watch blends stainless steel and 18k rose gold to excellent effect, straddling sporty and elegance, thus ensuring you won’t look out of place be it atop the podium or at the glitzy post-race party. On top of that, the rose gold bezel is enriched with a varnished blue aluminium bezel insert. Rendered in 500 pieces whereby each piece is individually numbered, the 43mm number has a 60-hour power reserve indicator modelled after a fuel gauge. The utilitarian complication is part of the chronometer-certified Chopard 01.08-C automatic movement.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique
As one of the early adopters of titanium in watchmaking dating back to the 1960s and a pioneer in modern diving watches, it seems incomprehensible that Blancpain didn’t festoon its Fifty Fathoms Automatique with a titanium bracelet sooner. Better late than never, the new model offers a point of difference to the sail canvas and NATO strap-accompanied brethren. Thanks to the lightweight material, this Fifty Fathoms Automatique number belies its unapologetic 45mm frame. It is anointed with plenty of sensible and luxury touches we have come to expect from Blancpain. The links are satin-brushed by hand and they are made in compliance with a patented system that preserves the smooth look and soft feel of the bracelet’s edges. The diving watch is water resistant to 300m and regulated by the in-house 1315 automatic movement. Impervious to magnetic fields, the movement delivers 120 hours of power reserve through three series-coupled barrels.
Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon H. Moser x MB&F
Two of the independent daredevils of Swiss watchmaking, MB&F and H. Moser & Cie., collide in a ground-breaking fraternisation, and one of the two sparkling fruitions is the MB&F x Moser Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon. An interpretation of MB&F’s Legacy Machine FlyingT, the Moser-led Endeavour encased in 42mm stainless steel is notable for its marvellous fumé dial, intricate display of its one-minute flying tourbillon and an inclined sapphire dial. The watch employs H. Moser & Cie.’s in-house HMC 810 automatic movement, offering 72 hours of power reserve, as well as the unique deployment of a cylindrical hairspring, which is said to reduce friction and improve isochronism compared to the customary flat hairspring. Counting over 1,500 pieces in its current annual overall production, H. Moser & Cie. is keeping the Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon lean with five variants composed of funky blue, burgundy, cosmic green, off-white and ice blue, where each is limited to 15 pieces. Only several pieces have been allocated for Southeast Asia, we are told.
This story first appeared on Prestige Online Malaysia.
