The sky is the limit
Breitling’s Navitimer pilot watch, first introduced nearly 70 years ago, is now available in 36mm and 32mm sizes with pastel accents and mother-of-pearl dials made from traceable precious materials, including versions with lab-grown diamonds. With its signature beaded Navitimer bezel, this automatic watch is as versatile and elegant as Charlize Theron.
From £3,400; Breitling.com
roman classics
The jewelery and watchmaking house Bulgari celebrates more than a century of watchmaking in Out of time, published by Assouline. The book explores the house’s creativity and technical know-how in vibrant style, with a range of authors exploring sources of inspiration, including artist Marina Abramovic discussing snakes and sprinter Carl Lewis talking about breaking records.
£195; bulgari.com
Deep dive
Late fifties The US Navy produced the Tudor dive watch, which was worn by Navy SEAL teams into the eighties. To celebrate, Tudor has released the new Pelagos FXD. Featuring fixed straps, a titanium case, a unidirectional rotating bezel and a powerful in-house movement, this watch is a modern version of the famous Milsub (Military Submariner) watch. The Rolex brother also plays to its strengths and value for money.
£3490; tudorwatch.com
let’s Dance
Dior’s Grand Bal Milly La Nuit pays homage to Christian Dior’s beloved gardens at the Moulin du Coudray, his country home in Milly-la-Forêt, south of Paris, and also evokes the ballgown movement. The limited edition watch features a Dior Inversé movement that allows the rotor, adorned with rose gold foliage, pavé diamonds and blue sapphires reminiscent of the wisteria on the house’s façade, to dance freely, casting shadows on the green malachite dial.
£49,000; dior.com
Partners in time
For its exhibition at Frieze London in Regent’s Park, watchmaker Breguet teamed up with independent curator Somi Sim, who was inspired by the complex engineering involved in recording time. Sim showcases the work of international artists reflecting on the art of watchmaking and Breguet’s many technical innovations.
Until October 15; breguet.com
Revival of an icon
A sought after collector’s item, Les Rééditions by Cartier recreates historical timepieces in limited and numbered editions. The long platinum Tank Cintrée is the latest model to celebrate the centenary of its debut. The new case is slimmer while retaining its signature curve, while the hand-wound movement, ruby cabochon on the crown, and polished and brushed finishes add to the charm. We want.
£36,900; Cartier.com
Geometry lessons
Longines’ new Mini DolceVita, inspired by an archival piece from 1927, features a graceful rectangular steel case set with 38 top Wesselton diamonds, while a round dial, small seconds and 198-link steel bracelet complete the geometry. This model is available in a variety of colors and configurations, and as always from the Swiss brand, you get great bang for your buck here.
From £3,700; Longines.com
Think pink
Swiss watchmaker Zenith is committed to the well-being of women and, through its partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, aims to make a positive impact on the lives of people affected by breast cancer. The new collaboration includes a limited-edition Chronomaster Sport Pink Edition, a chic automatic chronograph with a sporty look, with 20 percent of all sales donated to the foundation.
£10,100; zenithwatches.com
Racing forward
Bremont’s founders, brothers Nick and Giles English, are passionate about engines, so it’s clear that as neighbors the duo and the Williams Racing Formula One team should work together. Their latest collaboration is the Bremont WR-45, a 43mm chronograph crafted from DLC-coated steel, predominantly black with splashes of Williams blue on the dial. Team drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant will wear them for the rest of the Formula 1 season.
£5,795; bremont.com
Swap places
Italian luxury brands Panerai and Prada have collaborated to create the thin and sleek Luminor Due automatic watch, complemented by exclusive straps made from Prada Re-Nylon, a regenerated nylon fabric in a stylish color palette. It comes with a PAM Click Release system that makes it easy to change the strap.
From £6,000; panerai.com
Right on the go
Recently published Tag Heuer Carrera: the race never stops in honor of the 60th anniversary of the brand’s iconic chronograph. More than just a catalog of numerous versions, this volume is divided into six chapters, covering each decade, that introduce readers to the evolution of watches and describe their significance and influence on the worlds of motorsports and horology. The connoisseur’s Christmas gift is sorted.
£80; tagheuer.com
Ten to one
Grand Seiko’s Tentagraph has the longest power reserve – three days – of any high-speed automatic chronograph, and the new 10 beats per second movement ensures stability and precision. The Japanese watchmaker created a patterned blue dial reminiscent of the starry night on Mount Iwate. Now he can be proud of the model’s nomination for the 2023 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix.
£12,500; grand-seiko.com