Watch & Yearn
From embellished faces to watches that display more than time, the latest trends in complications are easy to incorporate into any wardrobe.
(Photos courtesy brands)
Form, Meet Function
Displaying multiple functions is one way that watchmakers show off their horological prowess. Jaquet Droz (jaquet-droz.com) went to that most ancient of time-telling rituals: observing moon phases, and brought it to one of the brand's iconic timepieces. The Grande Seconde Moon is true to its classic silhouette with two dials forming a figure-eight on its face, now with a moon phase complication on display.
Blancpain's one-of-a-kind Chinese Calendar (blancpain.com) watch melds elements of the Gregorian calendar with the main indications of the Chinese calendar on its jade green face—including Chinese zodiac signs.
About Face
One should never judge a book by its cover and neither should timepieces be selected simply because of their dials. However, with watchmaking, the beauty is in the details, and these two timepieces are prime examples of how watch faces not only make an impact but carry on a watch's theme. Breguet's Marine Équation Marchante 5887 (breguet.com) honors the brand's connection to the French Royal Navy. Its blue dial features a "wave" pattern developed especially for this timepiece and a hand tipped with an anchor motif.
The dial of Harry Winston's Midnight Precious Weaving Automatic (harrywinston.com) showcases a rare Japanese weaving technique in which gold thread and mother-of-pearl are woven to create a dramatic design.
The Racers
It's no surprise that many watch brands have ties to racing. The Formula1 Fangio Special Edition by Tag Heuer (tagheuer.com) honors the 60th anniversary of legendary Argentinian racer, Juan Manuel "Chueco" Fangio's fifth and fourth consecutive victory at the 1957 Driver's World Championship.
Rolex's Yacht-Master II (rolex. com) is built for yachting competitions. This newest iteration includes a programmable countdown designed for the start sequence of regattas.