Zeno Basel Vintage Classic Chrono Hand-Wound 4100-i4

Zeno Basel Vintage Classic Chrono Hand-Wound (Ref. 4100-i4)

The 2012 hand-wound Zeno Basel Vintage Classic Chrono (Ref. 4100-i4) pilot's watch features all the usual stuff that you expect from a Valjoux 77xx-powered device. There is a chronograph, a rudimentary calendar, and an almost inevitable moonphase complication. Basically, everything that a gentleman needs in a vintage-style "aviator." Presented in a slightly oversized stainless steel body, the 4100-i4 is powered by a rare(-ish) version of the hand-wound caliber and features a somewhat eclectic, but pleasant to look at, dial. It was first unveiled during Baselworld 2012 show.

Bell & Ross BR 01 Horizon Sports an Unusual Dial

Bell & Ross BR 01 Horizon Automatic watch

Renowned among watch enthusiasts for their huge, square-shaped pilot's watches, the Swiss watchmaker Bell & Ross has recently extended the model range with the new Bell & Ross BR 01 Horizon. Presented at Baselworld 2012 and modeled after a real navigational instrument, the new model sports the most unusual dial design.

Clerc Hydroscaph Central Chronograph CHY-554 Black DLC

Clerc Hydroscaph Limited Edition Central Chronograph (ref. CHY-554) in Black DLC

The new Clerc Hydroscaph Limited Edition Central Chronograph (ref. CHY-554) comes equipped with a central chronograph minutes hand that not only makes the timekeeper's dial more interesting to look at. The design also significantly simplifies the task of measuring short periods of time: something that most common chronographs with their tiny, difficult-to-read totalizers are not always good at.

Glycine Combat Golden Eye Automatic Diver

Glycine Combat Golden Eye Automatic diving watch (Ref. 3863.399 C6-TBA9)

Glycine has finally updated its military-styled 'Combat' collection with a new version. Featuring a black PVD-treated case with rose gold PVD elements, the timekeeper is -sort of pretentiously- named Glycine Combat Golden Eye (Ref. 3863.399 C6-TBA9). Well, I hope that next year they will offer the same model with the bezel and crown crafted from bronze. Although not as flashy (if you can apply the adjective to such a noble alloy with its aura of adventure and glory,) on certain markets it's going to be smashing.

Frederique Constant Moon Timer Looks Smart and Sharp

Frederique Constant Moon Timer Automatic (ref. FC-330B6B6) watch

The 2012 Frederique Constant Moon Timer (ref. FC-330B6B6) comes equipped with the same automatic movement as their rectangular-shaped Carree Moonphase Date model but is presented in a sportier, medium-sized body that reminds us about pocket watch-based models from the 1930s and perfectly matches its irresistibly vintage-styled dial layout. Curiously, the new timekeeper is more in line with the 2012 Alpina Heritage collection.

Under Pressure: Alpina Extreme Diver 300M

Alpina Extreme Diver 300M Automatic diving watch

During Baselworld 2012 trade show the Swiss watchmaker Alpina has presented a pretty sexy automatic diver. The new Alpina Extreme Diver 300M not only sports a nicely-shaped case with an easy to grasp notched bezel but also features a pretty much impressive water resistance rating of 30 ATM: that's 300 meters!

Casio ProTrek All-Analog PRX-7000T with Module 5241

Casio ProTrek PRX-7000T quartz watch

Although the annual trade fair in Basel is usually associated with fine (and often impressively expensive) mechanical watches, there is always a number of lower-priced models made by Japanese watchmaking giants that, while not looking particularly dressy or refined, bring to your wrist those cutting-edge technologies that often turn a modest quartz timekeeper into a miniature computer. The new all-analog Casio ProTrek PRX-7000T is one of these few.

Jaquet Droz The Eclipse Onyx in Stainless Steel

Jaquet Droz The Eclipse Onyx in Stainless Steel (Ref. J012630270) automatic watch

The new Jaquet Droz The Eclipse Onyx has not one, but whole two aces in its sleeve. For starters, it has its face crafted from black onyx: a mineral, which is widely used in jewelry for making cabochons and beads, but rarely employed when it comes to crafting dials (well, Jaquet Droz knows a thing or two about jewelry, so they use the mineral pretty often.) The second is its unusual moon-phase indicator that may be of some interest to those already tired of the customary displays.