Make Every Minute Count with the Ressence Type 1 Slim X

When Ressence started in 2010, the manufacture had a clear purpose in mind: to improve the function of the mechanical watch in the 21st century context. After refining legibility, daily wearability and overall intuitiveness, Ressence’s next pursuit is dedicated to being more conscious of the passage of time. As we should all be, every one of us.
The purposeful ambition, to make better use of our time by focusing on our relation to it, starts with the new Type 1 Slim X. This watch is once more inventive and highly creative but also a limited-edition piece, marking the 10th anniversary of Ressence.
For all of us, time is an asset and every day, every one of us gets 24 hours. No more, no less, no exceptions. And still time seems to slip through our hands while we’re busy, moving fast, being over-connected consumers. Our activities seem to have become more and more meaningless and passive. As mentioned, Ressence is dedicated to change our relation to time – the one we have, how we chose to handle and even waste it. So that we can begin again to spend it more consciously, making every minute count.

The Type 1 Slim X is part of the new Collection X. This series marks the first 10 years while Ressence created a dedicated symbol for the collection that is the fusion of an X (ten in Latin) and an hourglass. The hourglass is devoted to make the wearer of the watch more aware of the time that is passing and like every watch in the new collection, the Type 1 Slim X is wearing it on its hour disc. Each of the four watches of the line is limited to 40 pieces and shares the main dark olive-green colour.

Ressence is convinced, that objects primarily designed as tools – such as watches – have to evolve with their time. Featuring the emblematic Ressence ever-changing dial, the Type 1 Slim X’s discs have been given a subtle, but focused makeover. Hand-made of course.
The new design is strictly driven by functionality. It all starts with the Ressence Orbital Convex System ROCS, the in-house developed (and patented) horological unit, which features discs that continually obit around one another. On the Type 1 Slim X, when the watch indicates midnight or midday, the dial is equally divided into two separate finishes; matte on one half and circular on the other half. In a playful way, the different finishes reinterpret the colour as the light hits the surface.
On the minute and the hour discs, the two finishes are a graphical extension of the hands. Once in motion, magic takes on a new meaning. The passage of time can be observed at a glance, a modern and wearable interpretation of an hourglass.

Of course, Ressence has the watch also designed with an organic form – tactile curves and domed sapphire glass are extending to the very edge of the case, making the Type 1 Slim X more sapphire than metal. The watch has no crown, since the winding and setting mechanism are worked into the case back. This makes for better ergonomics, also allowing a perfect left-right fit.
The case is made from titanium and measures 42 mm in diameter. It is only water-resistant up to 1 atm, so do not wear this watch to activities where it can get wet.
We mentioned it earlier, but let’s get back to the ROCS 1 for a minute, the movement that powers this watch. The automatic calibre works with 28,800 vibrations per hour and provides a power-reserve of approximately 36 hours.

Intuitive in viewing and motion, understated in its aesthetics, the Ressence Type 1 Slim X is a playful and relevant companion. It is completed by a olive green calfskin strap, complementing the dial very nicely.

Urwerk presents the EMC TimeHunter Stormtrooper

For the new Urwerk EMC TimeHunter White Ceramic the nickname „Stormtrooper“ was chosen. Everyone who knows Baumgartner & Frei is not surprised by this choice because of their love of science fiction and the heavy influence of the Star Wars universe on their own designs over the years. The signature armour of the Stormtrooper was an instant icon ever since it appeared on screen in 1977. The Stormtrooper was designed to intimidate but also to look super cool and super clean.
The EMC Stormtrooper evokes the same characteristics. The whole watch belongs like it belongs in a sci-fi movie, and for this limited edition the white ceramic case set it apart from the previous models, indeed all previous Urwerk watches. Because gone is the trademark black look, as the manufacture embraces white for the first time in its history.

The EMC TimeHunter Stormtrooper belongs to the Ur-Chronometry family, which encompasses Urwerk watchmaking concepts dedicated to outstanding precision. An EMC TimeHunter is essentially a dual measuring instrument. Its appearance and even its surface all signal its nature. The EMC Stormtrooper is crafted from steel and its caseback from titanium. Its aesthetic is not round, square or cushion-like, nor indeed any of Urwerk’s signature indefinable shapes. This hyper-technical machine hugs the contours of the movement inside and submits to the constraints of its various organs. It is not symmetrical, regular, flat or curved, yet remains aesthetically pleasing and distinctive, embodying a truly unique personality.
Moreover, its stainless steel „hood“ is micro-beadblasted and then given a hard, matt ceramic lacquer-type treatment. As a result, the surface of the EMC TimeHunter „Stormtrooper“ has a grainy finish reminiscent of military equipment. The case measures 43 mm in diameter and 51 mm in length and is water-resistant up to 3 atm.

The same functionalism reigns on the dial with its matt black surfaces. Each indication zone has its own clearly marked space. Each unit is painted with fluorescent green Super-LumiNova to perfect the contrasts. In addition to the main dial with its chequered hand grenade pattern, which displays the hours and minutes, the EMC TimeHunter features a smal disc-type seconds hand at 1 o’clock, graduated in five-second increments. It is complemented by a power-reserve indicator at 7 o’clock.
The indications linked to the chronometric monitoring function are concentrated at 11 o’clock and indicated by the „EM Control“ marking on the screw-down bezel.

At the very heart of the EMC concept lies an electronic/mechanical system that makes each of these timepieces one-of-a-kind, bestriding two worlds. It is an entirely mechanical watch, optimised with the help of an electro-optical circuit. Designed exclusively for the EMC collections, the UR-EMC2 calibre is entirely crafted, finished, assembled and adjusted by Urwerk.
It incorporates an electronic module whose function it is to measure the rate of the mechanical part. It has its own power source, separate from the rest of the movement. On one side the engine, on the other, the control unit. These two integrated units make the EMC TimeHunter a truly wearer-adjustable watch.
The hand-wound movement works at a frequency of 4 Hz and offers a power reserve of a maximum of 80 hours.

The EMC TimeHunter Stormtrooper is a very limited edition of only 5 pieces.

Rado True Square x Tej Chauhan

The latest design collaboration of Rado is a pure expression of Emotive Industrial Design, created to celebrate the Master of Materials. And it brings the watch maker to the future in style. Tej Chauhan is an award-winning British industrial designer famous for its pioneering design. With flowing shapes, innovative high-tech ceramic and bold colours, the Rado True Square Tej Chauhan visualises the great futuristic visions of pop culture.
Rado has always looked toward the future, as have countless artists, directors and architects who repeatedly tired and are still trying to define the aesthetics of tomorrow. Many of their spacey, colourful, revolutionary designs have already achieved cult status.
Tej Chauhan and Rado found ideal partners in each other; both strategically use shape, colour, materials and contrast.

The basis of the collaboration was the new True Square – the first square watch made from solid high-tech ceramic, whose flowing shapes are created using injection moulding. The matt yellow ceramic case highlights the unique texture of the high-performance material and is combined with a case back in polished dark grey PVD-coated stainless steel with sapphire crystal and special engraving. The case measures 38 mm in diameter and is water-resistant up to 5 bar.
On the matt black dial with silver-coloured concentric circles, the hands provide strong contrasts from the centre: the minute and hour hands are painted in white, the second hand in neon red. In an opening at 3 o’clock, the date is displayed in a typography specially designed by Tej Chauhan. Blue indexes between 9 and 12 o’clock refer to the time of the day when things start moving – in the morning at the office or in the evening on a night out. Faceted sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside provides the best insights and impresses as an independent design element.

This watch is powered by a modern automatic calibre. The ETA C07.611works relentless and absolutely reliable and provides a power reserve of approximately 80 hours.

The Rado True Square x Tej Chauhan is complemented by a bracelet made from yellow leather elements held by ceramic connectors.

The MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual Evolution

Over the past 15 years, MB&F creations have transported their wearers to destinations that exist only on maps of the imagination: from star-cruisers to deep-sea jellyfish, Maximilian Büsser’s Machines are the mechanical cartographers of the multiverse. With the new Legacy Machine Perpetual EVO, this year the Manufacture is undertaking the greatest journey yet – that of evolution. With this watch, you can become a navigator and explore the map of your own life.
In terms of combining prestige, tradition and innovation, Legacy Machine Perpetual has remained at the apex of MB&F watchmaking savoir-faire since it was introduced five years ago.

MB&F has built the LM Perpetual Evolution into a 44 mm zirconium case. This lustrous silvery-grey metals‘ material properties are surpassing those of stainless steel and aluminium. Nevertheless, zirconium is rarely used in watchmaking. The material is known to spontaneously ignite in powdered form, making it dangerous to machine.
The new profile emphasises openness and extreme clarity and a specially developed monobloc shock-absorbing system – the FlexRing – makes for the most robust Machine ever to emerge from MB&F. In this design, MB&F has eliminated the bezel and fused the domed sapphire crystal directly to the case. New geometries had to be calculated, achieving the mechanically opposing aims of maintaining structural strength and decreasing ist height-to-diameter ratio.
The previously circular pushers have been enlarged into double-sprung oblong actuators, boosting the tactile comfort and ease of adjustment. And for the first time in any MB&F creation, the LM Perpetual EVO is rated at 80m of water restistance, enabled by its screw-down crown.

The increased openness of this design highlights the equilibrium between the legibility of LM Perpetual EVO’s calendar indications and the cinematic play of the engine components – surmounted by the iconic MB&F hovering balance wheel.
The three color variants of the coated dial include an atomic orange. Although dark shades of PVD and CVD coating have been used for years in watchmaking, with colours toward the cooler end of the visible light spectrum becoming more common recently, warmer hues such as yellow, orange and red have always remained unattainable. A combination of technical innovations in the areas of coating material and technique allows this Legacy Machine to don an outrageous orange. Blue and black versions are also available.

The LM Perpetual Engine, designed in 2015, features a perpetual calendar that replaces traditional constructions with an innovative mechanical processor consisting of a series of superimposed disks. It takes the default number of days in the month at 28 and then adds the extra days as required by each individual month. This ensures that each month has exactly the right number of days, and removes the possibility of the date jumping incorrectly. And where, in other watches, exists the very real risk of damage by pressing the pushers during the date changeover, this one comes with an inbuilt safety feature. It disconnets the quickset pushers during the date changeover, so that the movement cannot be damaged.

A closely-fitted, integrated strap provides the smoothest wearing experience of any MB&F Machine ever.
Each of the three colours is produced in a limited series of 15 pieces – celebrating the brand’s 15th anniversary.

Very Attractive: André Belfort Sous les mers „Pepsi“

Absolutely timeless, masculine and sporty: The André Belfort Sous les mers iss not only the perfect companion for trips into the abyss but also in day-to-day life. Diving watches have long since earned their place on the wrists of the masses and no longer have to limit themselves to adventures and leisure time. This is especially true for the more reserved versions in dark colours or those which come in classic designs, such as the model we introduce today.

The dial of the André Belfort Sous les mers features a design that is as simple as it is traditional. The large size of the hour-markers and hands guarantees excellent legibility in the dark and under water thanks to the generous use of lume. A scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the dial and comes with a cyclops – a magnifying glass – right above the date window at the 3 o’clock position.
The bezel completes the attractive appearance of the Sous les mers and, not least because of its large numerals, contributes decisively to the characteristic appearance of this diver’s watch. Of course, all variants are beautiful, but the striking two-tone design – especially in the timeless red and blue „Pepsi“ version – is particularly popular with watch enthusiasts. As with all diver’s watches, the bezel of the Sous les mers can be only moved clockwise to prevent an accidental (and potentially deadly) extending the dive time.

With a diameter of 44 mm, the Sous les mers is a larger model and is therefore fully in line with the latest trends. Fans of sporty watches in particular prefer a bigger diameter. Especially in the case of diving watches, where excellent legibility is always the top priority, the dial must not only be clearly structured but also large enough.
The partly brushed and partly polished details of the case and the stainless steel bracelet create a charming overall picture, which is further enhanced by the serrations on the bezel.
The case is water-resistant to 30 bar or 300 metres and is equipped with a helium valve at the 9 o’clock position. This guarantees an automatic release of all gases that may have penetrated the case during the dive, so they cannot damage the watch on the way to the surface.

The Sous les mers is powered by a reliable, high-performance automatic movement with a power reserve of 38 hours.

In addition to the two-tone model presented here, André Belfort offers the Sous les mers in 10 other colours, fitted with stainless steel or silicon bracelets.

Soonow Instant Rainbow: The Most Colorful of Skulls

When the past meets the future, something beautiful happens. It’s called the present. In these unique times, we are constantly being challenged to explore new ways of perceiving the now. And the HYT Soonow Instant Rainbow tells this intensely contemporary, fluid story in a captivating, colorful way. Time’s intrinsic flow presents itself as a broad spectrum of possibility. ‚Now‘ potentially lasts forever, as it continually becomes what was ’soon‘ just a moment ago. Stopping and preserving time are as illusory as prolonging a rainbow. All we can do is enjoy the beauty of both as they appear to us.

This multi-colored timepiece, integrating the HYT fluidic module, shows time and light performing their intrinsic magic. Its design is rooted in the truth that both are in constant motion. Its message is that both should always be appreciated and never restrained. Yellow and blue, two of the three primary colors, trace the paths of elapsed and future time respectively. The other colors of the rainbow spread across and around the dial with refined gradual shading. Light dances with 668 sapphires, amethysts and tsavorites in 14 color variations, In combination with the violet anodized titanium dial, covoered with 313 yellow gold pins, this heightenes the overall radiance of the mesmerizing, three-dimensional whole.

The look of the skeleton on the dial of the Soonow Instant Rainbow has a hypnotic quality. Its right eye shows the power reserve progressing smoothly through the entire color spectrum, as does the seconds indicator in the other socket. Different monochrome Super-LumiNova outlines, around the openings for the eyes, nose and mouth, draw the gaze. And the skull offers a grin full of solid gold teeth.

The HYT Soonow Instant Rainbow is a very limited edition with only 8 pieces available.

Bell & Ross Flight Instruments: BR 03-92 HUB

Bell & Ross, the ultimate reference for professional aviation timepieces, goes back to its origins in high performance military instruments with a new interpretation of its iconic watch, the BR 03-92 HUD. The Instrument collection is directly inspired by the aeronautical essential navigation tools of aircraft cockpit and highlights bell & Ross‘ four fundamental requirements: legibility, functionality, precision and water-resistance.
Fully in line with the characteristics of this collection, the new BR 03-92 HUD gets inspiration from the avionics displays of fighter jets equipped with the most cutting-edge technology.
Everything started in 2005 with the BR 01 which was inspired by the cockpit clocks of 1970’s airplanes. Then in 2010 the BR 01 Radar entered the market, followed by other models like the BR 01 Turn Coordinator. And now, ten years later, the watchmakers at Bell & Ross are turning all their attention to the Head Up Display (HUD). This new introduction completes the Flight Instruments Family.

The HUD is a transparent glass screen that displays all information that is essential to fulfill a mission in the pilot’s visual field. For optimal effectiveness, its primary function is to keep the pilot focused on the target ahead without having t take the eyes off their line of sight. The HUD takes on the augmented reality concept; with displaying digital data onto the windshield, pilots can be alerted about everything from the horizon line, altitude or speed to navigation aids. If you think that that sounds vaguely familiar it’s because the HUD is now also frequently used in the automobile industry.

The design of the BR 03-92 HUD embodies the spirit of Bell & Ross’ Instrument watches, as a contemporary style, the black matte ceramic case features the iconic “circle in a square” that evokes the silhouette of an aircraft cockpit clock.

The technical and graphical tools with tips to translate this display type at the much smaller scale of an analog mechanical watch was an innovative exercise at the brand’s creative studio. Arranged in tiers, the BR 03-92 HUD is built around superimposed levels to create an overlay that echoes the real HUD instrument.
The watch hinges on three layers: On the upper level, the green-tinted sapphire crystal gives the illusion of the digital HUD-type display, using the surface of the disc dial and that of the crystal. Here are the four brackets found from HUD line of sight. On the middle level, the black and green hands reveal the minutes and seconds. The hand’s center parts were purposely hidden to further increase the legibility. On the lower level, the hours are indicated by a green triangle marker which appears in the center through an independent concentric disc. The watch also features a small date at 4 o’clock.

And of course, the coatings are worth noting on this timepiece. By using the green color, Bell & Ross recreates the graphic style of this Instrument as closely as possible. The green on the dial mirrors the computer-type display of the HUD, and the cases anti-reflective matte black background provides a striking contrast and the sapphire crystal is tinted.
To provide an intense green light, hour numerals, indices and triangle as well as the minute-circle and hands are coated with green Super-LumiNova.

The BR 03-92 HUD fits perfectly in the Instruments family which guarantee ultra-legibility at all times. The combination of green tinted sapphire crystal on green information emphasizes this.

The watch is powered by the calibre BR-CAL.302, an automatic movement known for its absolute reliability.
The utilitarian approach of this watch is completed with both a black rubber and an ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric strap.

The BR 03-92 HUD is a limited edition of only 999 pieces.

Urwerk Ur-100 Gold Edition

This new creation is the fourt episode in the UR-100 intergalactic saga, recounting the adventures of an atypical time instrument written, produced, and directed by the horological studio Urwerk. Approaching light speed, the UR-100 pushes the boundaries of technology, design, indications and functionality. Like other Urwerk models, this latest UR-100 clearly shows that science fiction has been an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Baumgartner and Frei. Why else would this newest model be named after the popular Star Wars droid C-3PO.

First and foremost, the UR-100 is slim – extra-flat for a satellite-geared watch – with angular contours; it’s an elongated octagon with three notched sides. The form uses subtle asymmetry, taking clues from Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon. The UR-100 is cutfrom a solid block of yellow gold, its surface satin-finished to the same pale shine as the Star Wars droid. It measures 41 x 49.7 x 14 mm and is pressure tested to 3 bar.
Topping the case is a sapphire crystal bubble reminiscent of the shape of the first Urwerk models, the dome housing the control center of this intergalactic visitor.

The UR-100’s astrophysics govern the Urwerk universe with rotating satellites displaying the hours and minutes. Isochronal revolutions create a miniature cosmic ballet, the hour satellites also displaying minutes as they traverse 120 degrees across the bright green scale. A bold red arrowhead marks the confluence of hours and minutes, offering a unique, highly legible, and intuitive time display.
At last, but certainly not least, are the discreet spacetime indications on each side of the top of the dome’s periphery. After each of the three red minute arrowheads pass the numeral 60 they disappear and then reappear again on two separate kilometer scales. The first display at 9 o’clock marks the 555 km traveled along the equator during 20 minutes of the earth’s rotation, the second display at 3 o’clock indicates the distance – 35,740 kilometres – traveled by the earth as it orbits the around the sun over 20 minutes.

The UR-100 is powered by the calibre UR 12.01. The automatic winding system is equipped with the legendary „Windfänger“. This planetary gear limits the speed of rotation of the rotor, minimizing both excessive winding and wear and maximizing reliability and lifespan.
This automatic movement operates at a frequency of 4 Hz and provides a power reserve of at least 48 hours.

The UR-100 C-3PO is a special edition limited to 25 pieces.

Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu II Limited Edition

Blue is the new black – at least if you ask watch manufacturer Hublot. And the new Limited Edition of the Big Bang Sang Bleu is also a true artistic sculpture on the wrist. The watch reinforces Hublot’s Big Bang Integral collection. The overall design and functionality of the Sang Bleu II are identical to previous models of this collection, but the colour scheme is a different one.
The introduction of the iconic, award-winning Big Bang design in 2005 paved the way for further successful collections such as the Classic Fusion or the Spirit of Big Bang with complications ranging from the most classic to the most complicated of watchmaking. This is one of the reasons why it continues to shape Hublot’s extraordinary DNA with constant growth.

From an ancient practice to a worldwide cultural phenomenon, tattooing has become an art form in its own right thanks to the work of visionary artists such as Maxime Plescia-Büchi, founder of Sang Bleu. And the Big Bang Sang Bleu II is the expression of Plescia-Büchi’s craft of geometry and dimensionality, implemented in the form of a timepiece. A watch, a sculpture, a work of art that tells the time – a fusion of different concepts to create a unique, timeless watch, brought to life by Hublot’s expertise in materials.

As already mentioned, the new Hublot Limited Edition is entirely blue – blue like the ink of the Tattoo Studio, which name it bears. Both, dials and bracelets come in this colour, emphasising the design of geometric lines that run across the hands, bezel and case. The bezel is not round but hexagonal and is fitted with the classic six H-shaped screws. And the alternating polished and satin-finished surfaces further emphasise the geometry of this Big Bang. The case of the Sang Bleu II is water-resistant up to 10 atm.
The skeletonized dial consists of different layers which together create a complex 3D effect. Reading the time display is a challenge and may require some practice. A central chronograph seconds hand extends across the entire diameter of the dial; the hours and minutes are indicated by arrow-shaped hands placed on square, dragon-shaped structures. Two hexagonal, rotating subdials are placed beneath several elements; at three o’clock you’ll find the chronograph minutes, at nine o’clock the running seconds. And between four and five o’clock there is also a small date window.

The 45-mm-case of the Big Bang Sang Bleu II houses an Unico in-house calibre. The HUB1240 automatic chronograph movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph and provides a power reserve of 72 hours. The movement can be seen through the sapphire case back, including the rotor which was designed by Buchi.

The Big Bang Sang Bleu II is available in two limited versions. Hublot offers 100 pieces of the King Gold version and 200 pieces of the Titanium version. Both models are presented on a blue rubber strap.

Louis Erard und Alain Silberstein present two Limited Editions

Louis Erard watches are introducing a reinterpretation of the brand’s regulator watch in collaboration with the architect and watchmaker Alain Silberstein, available in two editions. This is a double first: in its 90 years of existence, Louis Erard has never given a carte blanche to a designer, while Alain Silberstein had never before designed a regulator watch.

While on the surface it may appear fun and light, this limited edition watch has hidden depth. It reflects the strategy of the Louis Erard brand, more focused than ever on its vocation as an independent watchmaker dedicated to excellence in the making of accessible watches.

The watch’s design starts with the mechanics: the brand’s regulator, an exclusive calibre made for Louis Erard. This complication goes back through the history of watchmaking. Traditionally, the principle of the regulator is to separate the indications of the hours, minutes and seconds in order to improve chronometric precision. This is a pillar of Louis Erard’s timepieces, with the regulator at the heart of its collections since the brand’s relaunch in 2003. The regulator remains more than ever at the centre of the brand’s strategy.
For Alain Silberstein, the regulator is also a technical, aesthetic and philosophical essential. For him, the regulator is the centrepiece, a model for the breaking down of time focused on the central minute hand. It is reduced to the most basic form of an indicator: an arrow. It is large and yellow on the black version, and deep blue on the white version. This minute hand points to simple lines. The rest of the dial features the same geometric simplicity: The hour hand is a large red triangle, while the seconds are indicated by a serpentine hand. The colours follow a similar logic, reduced to the basic spectrum of blue, red and yellow, inspired by the Bauhaus movement. This way, the watches pay tribute to the birthplace of modern design.

All models are powered by an automatic calibre, the ETA Peseux 7001, which is equipped with the Louis Erard RE9 complication. It operates at a frequency of 21,900 vibrations per hour and provides a power reserve of up to 42 hours.

Louis Erard and Alain Silberstein have designed the cases to match the dials. They are made either of stainless steel or black PVD coated stainless steel and water resistant up to 5 atm. Depending on the colour, the watches are equipped with a black or brown calfskin strap.
As mentioned, the watches are limited editions with 178 watches each.