BASELWORLD 2019





 

Switzerland, home of Toblerone, Emmental cheese, cuckoo clocks and, of course, watchmaking so it’s no surprise that one of the world’s largest watch events is held there. For centuries Switzerland have maintained their position as world leaders in watchmaking, starting from a cottage industry to a multi-billion dollar sector.



 





The beautiful Swiss city of Basel hosts Baselworld – The Watch and Jewellery Show, the industry equivalent of Paris Fashion Week, where watch brands showcase their latest creations. Held at the stunning Messe Basel building, industry giants have flocked to Basel since 1917 and last month our watch buyers undertook their annual pilgrimage to gain insights into the upcoming trends and to order the latest releases. Discover the inside scoop from Jason, our watch expert:



 



TAG Heuer Autavia Collection

“For Baselworld 2019, TAG Heuer promised us that the new Autavia models would be both visually and technically stunning — and they weren’t wrong! Originally conceived as a dashboard clock (‘Autavia’ being a combination of automobile and aviation), but mainly deployed in the timing of rallies, it was Jack Heuer who first decided to use it in one of the company’s emblematic chronograph watches in 1962.  

Five years later, the Monaco would launch the brand as the automotive timekeeping specialists, but the Autavia’s distinctive case and bevelled lugs earned it a following of its own, until the original model was discontinued in 1985. BUT in 2017, following a competition that was run amongst TAG Heuer’s global fan base to find the one watch it would like to see revived, the winner was revealed as a 1966 Autavia once worn by the racing driver Jochen Rindt. A classic was reborn!

Seven new Autavia were introduced to us at Basel , each with the new version of the TAG Heuer Calibre 5 movement that includes the brand’s in-house “Isograph” carbon composite hairspring technology.. “Isograph” is the name TAG Heuer will apply to its new carbon-composite hairspring technology, which the brand introduced for the first time in January 2019 in the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 02-T.

In short, it is a non-metal, non-silicon hairspring technology that has benefits that neither metal or silicon can boast. Most notably, Isograph has two main benefits over silicon from a production standpoint. Firstly, the springs are much more flexible, thus less fragile than silicon hairsprings, secondly, they can be produced in volume. To prove the versatility of the Isograph carbon composite hairspring, TAG Heuer produces it in house and then puts it in a base Swiss automatic movement, which is the Calibre 5.

The 4Hz, 38-hour power reserve automatic movement is given a host of new performance advantages, such as being entirely non-magnetic and unaffected by things such as changes in temperature, things that can cause harm to a mechanical movement. The Autavia collection, itself, comes from the mind of their new chief designer, Guy Bove.

The Autavia is a product he should be proud of for its blend of practical utility and TAG Heuer sports DNA. What we really like is that this is not just a remake of the classic Autavia but perhaps, a more relevant and modern timepiece. In short, it is a vintage-themed watch with modern character and material choices and we are very excited about it. TAG Heuer proves it is serious about the Autavia, given the number of versions it is releasing, including four steel models and two bronze watches. All models feature ceramic rotating bezels, save for one that uses a steel bezel that matches the look of the case. The ceramic colour options include blue, black, green, and dark brown.

Those opting for the matching three-link steel bracelet will, for now, have to choose the blue or black dial model. Each of the dials has a “smoked” style to it, which is a bit lighter toward the centre than the on the periphery of the face.

At 42mm wide, the TAG Heuer Autavia case is well proportioned for many wrists, and the slightly larger crown is an intentional design choice meant to evoke traditional pilot’s watches. Even the rear of the case has a propeller motif on it, which means that TAG Heuer isn’t at all sticking to the automotive legacy that many people know the Autavia for.”



 

 



Breitling x Norton



The Breitling Premier Norton Edition is a potent representation of a partnership between two iconic brands that share intriguingly similar timelines and powerful legacies. The watch expresses the style and performance expected from a maker of refined Swiss watches and a motorcycle brand renowned for its exclusive British engineering.



The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Edition celebrates the partnership between the prestige watch brand Breitling and British motorcycle company Norton, known worldwide for its high-performance motorcycles. The watch is part of Breitling’s Premier collection, a family of elegant watches defined by their fashionable flair. The new Norton Edition is a distinctive interpretation of the Premier that makes a bold urban chic style statement. Willy Breitling was famously quoted as saying: “When a man puts on his Breitling, there is the unmistakable stamp of impeccable taste.” A Norton motorcycle is a similar sign of its owner’s personal flair.
 

Breitling CEO Georges Kern says that his brand has striking parallels with Norton Motorcycles: “Breitling and Norton are both innovative and entrepreneurial and have powerful legacies. This new watch honours the great partnership between these two aspirational brands.” He smiles and adds, “I think that anyone who puts one on might suddenly imagine ‘Born to be Wild’ playing somewhere in the background.”



Stuart Garner, CEO of Norton, agrees: “Breitling’s new Premier Norton Edition incorporates DNA elements from both brands, offering wristwatch and motorcycle fans the opportunity to express their individuality, and perfectly embodies the nature of our brands.”



The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Edition reflects the cultures and values of these two great brands. Its 42-millimeter stainless-steel case, water-resistant to 10 bar (100 meters) is distinctive: a “Norton” logo is engraved on a plate on the left side of the case, and the transparent caseback features a printed Norton motorcycle and logo.



The elegant black dial with golden numerals and hour and minute hands offers an intriguing contrast to the brown vintage raw-leather strap that will appeal both to watch enthusiasts and serious motorcyclists. The model is also available with a stylish stainless-steel bracelet. The silver subdials – a chronograph minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock – against the black dial indicate theBreitling Manufacture Caliber 01 at the heart of this watch, which delivers an impressive power reserve of approximately 70 hours.



The COSC-certified chronometer features a black tachymeter scale on a white inner bezel around the dial, with “TACHYMETER” inscribed in red. The hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova®, which makes them highly legible on any route a biker might choose, from a city street to a remote back road.



The Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Edition is just the beginning of a special partnership between two extraordinary brands. Some new surprises will be announced throughout the year.



 

 

Gucci

If you signed up for our newsletter then you have just seen Gucci’s new release, Gucci Grip, the statement gold PVD watch that is sure to make waves in the fashion world. An affordable piece that stands out from the crowd!



But let’s take a momentary break from watches and admire Gucci’s exhibition space. The watches are displayed in gorgeous wooden and glass cases but it’s the decor that really stands out – verdant exotic plants, vintage rugs, plush velvet furniture, an aesthetic at odds with the clean mechanical watches. It’s this stylised fusion of nature and man-made that Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s creative director, cultivates so well and features in the House’s motifs.



The new advertising campaign for Gucci’s distinctive jewellery collections channels the spirit of freewheeling, carefree travel and possesses a playful, bohemian period mood that perfectly showcases the aesthetic of the designs. Featuring long-standing friend of the House musician, singer, songwriter and producer Florence Welch, who is Gucci’s jewellery ambassador, the setting is a retro style wooden wagon, overflowing with colourful furnishings and trinkets. Welch reclines on beds of cushions and decorative fabrics within, or sits outside dreamily peering out at the viewer, adorned in Gucci’s highly stylised rings, bracelets and necklaces. Set-off beautifully by the colourful and evocative images, the pieces are principally from the Le Marché des Merveilles, Gucci Ouroboros, Gucci Flora and Dionysus fine jewellery collections and the House’s silver jewellery collection.



 

Breitling x Bentley



Breitling and Bentley Motors enjoy the longest-ever partnership between a watch brand and an automobile manufacturer. In fact, it dates back to 2003, when Bentley, the world’s most admired luxury car brand, launched the very first Continental GT.

Every detail in this unrivalled grand tourer reflected Bentley’s ongoing commitment to quality, luxury, and performance, and, fittingly, the company chose Breitling to design the onboard clock. It was the beginning of an important partnership for both brands, and now Breitling has announced the release of the Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition, which celebrates 100 years of luxury motoring excellence.



The Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition is an exceptional member of the Swiss watch brand’s elegant Premier collection. Produced in 18ct red gold and stainless-steel versions, some outstanding design features distinguish these limited-edition timepieces from all others.
 
The elegant, unique brown elm burl dial with black subdials (a chronograph minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small-second subdial at 9 o’clock) is particularly eye-catching. These contrasting subdials indicate that the watches are powered by Breitling’s flagship Manufacture Caliber 01. The in-house mechanical movement delivers an impressive power reserve of approximately 70 hours.
 



Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11



Marking the golden anniversary of the OMEGA watch that was gifted to astronauts in 1969 to celebrate the first moon landing, OMEGA has produced this Speedmaster limited to 1,014 pieces, driven by the manual-winding OMEGA Master Chronometer Calibre 3861.



18ct Moonshine™ gold has been used to create this commemorative timepiece. The vertically brushed step dial, also in 18ct Moonshine™ gold, includes faceted onyx hour markers. Inspired by the piece of 1969, a few touches of burgundy have been added, including the ceramic bezel ring, the markings on the caseback and the movement.



The inner decorative caseback ring, crafted from 18ct Moonshine™ gold and blackened, features a partial world map of the American continent and a domed lunar meteorite inlay, representing the true proportions of the Earth and the Moon.
 





Omega’s Time To Move event had a strict embargo on its new releases (cameras and phones were taken off us before we could step inside the exhibition space) but watch this space as next month they hold their official press release and we’ll be sure to let you know everything Omega for the coming year.



So there you have it! All you need to know about Baselworld 2019. Don’t forget to pre-order your favourite pieces and sign up for our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss out on the latest news.