Baselworld, the largest international watch fair on the globe, is currently taking place in the Switzerland with some of world’s finest and most famous watchmakers turning out to show their latest and greatest creations. From fantastic world time watches, to fine jewellery timepieces and the latest cutting edge movements, scroll down to see the best new watches from Baselworld 2017.
Breguet Marine Équation Marchante 5887
A new Grand Complication with roots firmly in the nautical world, there were few watches from Baselworld 2017 more appropriate for the modern superyacht owner than Breguet's Marine Équation Marchante. This extraordinary timepiece tells both civil time and ‘true’ time simultaneously via the use of two minute hands with the solar hand adorned with a golden sun.
Hidden behind the intricate wave-engraved dial is a truly exceptional complication requiring the utmost in horological expertise to execute and, along with true and civil time, offers a perpetual calendar with day, date, months and leap-year cycle displays as well as a 60-second tourbillon.
Case: Platinum or rose gold, 43.9mm
Strap: Alligator leather
Movement: Calibre 581DPE self-winding
Price: £161,300 in rose gold, £172,800 in platinum, marine.breguet.com
Blancpain Villeret Ref. 6612-3616-55B
Despite being best known for is Fifty Fathoms diving watches, of which there were two new iterations at Baselworld, Blancpain’s annual Metiers d’Art timepiece has become something of a highlight in the watch calendar and 2017’s instalment does not disappoint. Conceived as a tribute to Switzerland, the unique timepiece depicts a ‘battle of the queen cows’ staged in front of the Matterhorn with the highly skilled Japanese techniques of shakudō and rokushō, as well as hand engraving, used to create the incredibly delicate and detailed dial.
Case: 18ct red gold, 42mm
Strap: Leather
Movement: Calibre 13R3A manual wound
Waterproof: 30 metres
Limited edition: 1
Price: POA, blancpain.com
Hublot Big Bang Unico Depeche Mode
Baselworld has become the place for fine watchmakers to announce their latest watch collaborations and of no brand was this more true than at Hublot which revealed no fewer than four collaborative lines, including projects with Ferrari, tattoo artist Sang Bleu and superyacht owner Lapo Elkann. The real headline, however, was the latest piece from Hublot’s on-going charitable partnership with Depeche Mode: the Big Bang Unico Depeche Mode. Limited to 250 pieces and created to celebrate the band’s new album Spirit and upcoming world tour, the sale of each of rock-inspired charity timepiece will help raise money for charity:water which aims to provide clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries.
Case: Black ceramic, 45mm
Strap: Rubber, leather and ceramic
Movement: Calibre HUB1242 self-winding chronograph
Waterproof: 100 metres
Limited edition: 250
Price: TBC, hublot.com
Tag Heuer Carrera Heuer-02T Tourbillon
Of course, not every new release has to be a ground-breaking new movement or headline grabbing collaboration. In 2016 Tag Heuer launched the Carrera Heuer-02T Manufacture Chrono Tourbillon to great acclaim. This year it returned with the same timepiece with one simple difference – 68 glittering baguette diamonds set into the bezel. A simple but effective enhancement guaranteed to be on every Tag fan’s wishlist.
Case: Titanium, white gold and diamond, 45mm
Strap: Alligator leather
Movement: Calibre HEUER-02T automatic chronograph
Waterproof: 100 metres
Price: €57,900, tag-heuer.com
Patek Philippe Calatrava Squelette
There was much for female watch lovers to get excited about at Baselworld 2017 as well, with many of the women’s highlights coming from Patek Philippe. The highly feminine Calatrava 4899/900, with its bright pink strap and mother-of-pearl dial set with diamonds and sapphires, is bound to be a hit but in terms of sheer elegance the Squelette can’t be beaten.
Measuring in at 39mm, the Squelette is ostensibly a men’s watch but with looks this good it’ll be hard to keep the female collectors away. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the ultra-thin Calibre 240 movement, the Squelette has been crafted in 18 carat rose gold with a skeletonised dial showcasing the impossibly pretty engraved movement. Hand executed by Patek Philippe’s master craftsmen, the movement engraving alone takes over 130 hours.
Case: 18ct rose gold, 39mm
Strap: 18ct rose gold
Movement: Calibre 240 SQU self-winding
Waterproof: 30 metres
Price: POA, patek.com
Omega 1957 Trilogy Limited Editions
2017 marks the 60th anniversary of three of Omega’s most popular models: the Seamaster 300, the Railmaster and the Speedmaster. To celebrate the house has released a special set featuring a limited edition version of each classic piece housed in a beautiful Swiss oak box along with a leather watch roll, six spare straps and a wooden spring bar changing tool. However, with just 557 available and an incredibly competitive price tag of around £16,000, you’re going to have to be quick to get your hands on one.
(Seamaster 300/Railmaster/Speedmaster)
Case: Steel, 39mm/Steel, 38mm/Steel, 38.6mm
Strap: Steel, leather or NATO (all)
Movement: Master Chronometer 8806/Master Chronometer 8806/Calibre 1861
Waterproof: 300 metres (all)
Limited edition: 557
Price: Circa £16,000, omegawatches.com