Presented in two colors of its laconic, easy to read dial, Alpina Alpiner Manufacture makes the time-proven Caliber AL-710 in-house automatic movement its selling point. The “Manufacture” mechanism slowly replaces third-party mechanisms from their relatively inexpensive lines. Accurate and reliable, the AL-710 greatly increases the timekeeper’s collectability while still making it a nice daily wearer
41 mm
Certina Chronographe DS-8 Phase de Lune Quartz
Officially presented during the Baselworld 2015, the Certina Chronographe DS-8 Phase de Lune is a perfect example of a dressy “complication” watch that somehow manages to combine into a single package an almost stunning exterior, a reliable quartz chronograph movement that, for all things practical, blows out of the water almost all advanced electric mechanisms currently available on the market, while spicing all up with a very affordable price. What more do you expect? A free Porsche?
Alpina Alpiner Automatic Chronograph (Ref. AL-750SG4E6B)
With its 2014 self-winding Alpina Alpiner chronograph, the Swiss-based brand finally offers an interesting timekeeper. Interesting for the kind of customers that are tired of numerous recreations and reissues and just want a watch that would look cool in a room filled with 85-inch 4K TV sets, smart coffeemakers, and modern furniture made of shiny steel and expensive leather. Although in its finish I see numerous references to products made by other watchmakers (like, for example, this 2010 Chronoswiss Pacific Collection), I must admit that all in all the device looks refined and well-balanced. It is one of their collections that Alpina will never be ashamed with.
Breitling Chronomat Airborne 30th Anniversary 41/44
Breitling, the company that likes to be associated with anything that has an even passing relationship with the sky, greatly appreciates its long-standing partnership with Frecce Tricolori, the Italian Air Force aerobatics team. It was less than 18 months ago that the Swiss watchmaking brand has introduced its Chronomat Frecce Tricolori 44 Limited Edition: a fairly normal member of the family that differed from its siblings only with the team’s logo printed on its black dial. This year, they introduce their new Breitling Chronomat Airborne 30th Anniversary: another limited edition that, as the name implies, celebrates the 30th anniversary of their relationship. Available both in a compact 41 mm body and in a more impressive 44 mm case, the chronograph looks a lot more original, comes with two colors of its dial and is equipped with a high-grade, in-house chronograph movement.
Archimede SportTaucher Kompass Automatic Diver
The sporty Archimede SportTaucher is now available with a new feature: a bidirectional rotating bezel graduated with a compass-style 360-degree scale. Although unlike some electronic timekeepers, the Archimede SportTaucher K (Kompass) doesn’t have a real compass function, you can still use this little gadget to impress your girlfriend by finding north (or south). The only three things that you need to do achieve this are the watch, visible Sun, and a girlfriend.
Making it Complex: Bvlgari Octo Chronograph Automatic
For the year 2014, the Italian fashion brand has updated its signature Octo family with a beautiful Bvlgari Octo Chronograph. With its extremely complex-looking body featuring as many as 110 surfaces that are alternately machine-brushed and polished, this gorgeous timekeeper makes your average “sporty” chronograph look like a dull and chunky piece of metal that also happens to have a movement inside.
A. Lange & Sohne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase in Rose Gold (Ref. 139.032)
A. Lange & Sohne, an elite German watchmaker as well as a jewel in the crown of the Richemont Group (just for context, their portfolio also includes such gems as IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Panerai,) has recently launched its new masterpiece. The A. Lange & Sohne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase (Ref. 139.032) features a familiar design of its face with lots of off-centered sub-dials and the signature big date indicator, which is now powered by a new version of their gorgeous Caliber L095 hand-wound movement.
DuBois et fils DBF001-07 Automatic Chronograph with Big Date
DuBois et fills, a French watchmaker that currently tries to reinvent itself, has offered a new DBF001 collection of automatic chronographs. Delivering a surprisingly satisfying mixture of sportiness and elegance, this may be their first step towards real success.
Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Aerolithe Automatic Chronograph (Ref. PFC329-3400600)
Designed as a tribute to the futuristic 1935 Bugatti Aerolithe Coupe, a legendary vehicle that still serves as a source of inspiration to many industrial designers, the 2013 Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Aerolithe (ref. PFC329-3400600) carefully mixes design cues taken from the vintage sports car with their traditional elements producing an object of an almost stunning beauty.
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Ultra-Thin Minute Repeater (Ref. 30110/000R-9793)
Vacheron Constantin just never fails to deliver one masterpiece after another. The 2013 Patrimony Ultra-Thin Minute Repeater (Ref. 30110/000R-9793) is not only a perfect dress watch for the extremely wealthy watch lovers. It also sports a wonderful hand-wound caliber that is claimed to be the thinnest minute repeater mechanism in the industry.