A New Aesthetic for the Perpetual Calendar from Montblanc

Montblanc just unveiled its new Heritage Manufacture Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100. This watch features vintage aesthetics, being inspired by historical Minerva wristwatches from the 1940s and ’50s, and a beautiful rose gold case.
Invented in the 18th century, the perpetual calendar complication is a highly complex mechanism that automatically takes the number of days in the month, as well as the cycle of leap years, into account. This way, the perpetual calendar automatically corrects itself for short month, including the 29th of February in leap years. This way, as long as a watch with a perpetual calendar is kept running, it won’t require any manual adjustment for decades. To achieve this, the functions draw on a technical memory of 1460 days, representing four years. To this day, the perpetual calendar continues to fascinate and delight watch enthusiasts, making it a very popular complication.

The Heritage Manufacture Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100 indicates the hours, minutes, day, date, month, moonphase, and leap year – and is still a very legible watch. This is due to the large subdials at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. And the new aesthetic, featuring a brown colour scheme, suits this watch extremely well. The sapphire crystal class box continues the elegant vintage look of this watch.
In line with the design codes of the Heritage line, the Heritage Manufacture Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100 comes in a 40 mm rose gold case with curved horns. It is water-resistant up to 5 atm.

This watch is powered by the in-house calibre MB 29.22. This movement with its perpetual calendar complication took Montblanc three years to develop and was introduced two years ago. The calibre comprises 378 components of which 259 are dedicated to the perpetual calendar function. The mechanism allows the user to adjust the watch via the crown in both directions, which is unusual. Also, Montblanc has built in a safety feature, that prevents any setting between the hours of 6 pm and 12 pm, when any manipulation could potentially (and very likely) damage the movement. The movement works at a frequency of 4 Hz and provides a power-reserve of approximately 48 hours.

The Heritage Manufacture Perpetual Calendar Limited Edition 100 is equipped with a brown alligator leather strap, which completes the overall design nicely.

Ready for Take-off with the Mathis Montabon Aerotime II

Today, we’re taking a look at a new model by Mathis Montabon, one that is clearly related to all things aviation: the Aerotime II. This generously sized men’s watch combines a clearly legible dial with a powerful automatic movement and an overall great energy.

With its strong and highly expressive looks, the Aerotime II fits perfectly into the latest Mathis Montabon collection. The completely polished stainless steel case features a generous diameter of 44 mm. This timepiece does not hold back but wants to stay out, and with a weight of more than 100g it needs a man who can literally wear it. The bezel and the lugs are of slender built and together with the crown and its guard they provide beautiful lines and an airily feel for this big watch.

The slim bezel and the understated design of the case ensure that most of the viewer’s attention is drawn to the dial of the Aerotime II. A very decorative slide-rule design runs around the edge of the dial while the centre is divided between four different subdials. At the 3 o’clock position you’ll find a classic small date window. Directly opposite, at the 9 o’clock position you’ll find a date display which is further complemented by a month display at 12 o’clock. the subdial at the 6 o’clock position also provides a very handy 24-hour-display. And, as if that were not enough, Mathis Montabon has finished the dial with a beautiful sunburst pattern.
In order to guarantee ideal legibility, the manufacture has used a lot of luminous paint for the prominent indexes as well as for the hands. This ensures time is clearly legible even in the dark. A red seconds hand and individual accents on the slide-rule are adding additional colour to the dial.

Powered is the Aerotime II by a powerful, reliable automatic movement. Precise and tireless, it provides the power for all the functions mentioned above.

Mathis Montabon offers five different versions of the Aerotime II Three with light-coloured dials in stainless steel or with a rose gold or gold PVD coating. The stainless steel case has also been combined with a dark dial and there is also an all-black version.
All watches are supplied with a leather strap.

Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Healey Automatic

The Vintage Rally Healey limited editions have worked their way into the affections of countless classic car enthusiasts in the past. These watches were created as a result of a partnership between the Frederique Constant Manufacture and the Austin-Healey car brand which dates back to the year 2004: seventeen years of allegiance and fellowship between watchmaking and mechanics, punctuated by rallies, meetings, races and a shared passion for retro design.
The previous edition of the Vintage Rally Healey Automatic dates back to 2018; now it’s back with two new versions. Putting its tradition of sporty chronographs on hold, Frederique Constant has given the Vintage Rally Healey Automatic a more urban design. Designed for the gentleman drivers who also appreciate a getaway from the racing track, this timepiece allows to casually enjoy a new design imbued with retro charm.

Stylish and timeless, the first model features a 40 mm rose gold case, that coordinates with the hour markers and hands; it is also water-resistant up to 5 atm. For optimum legibility even in the dark, Frederique Constant worked with a luminous treatment. The flange counts down the minutes against a chocolate coloured background that matches the calfskin strap. With its perforation, it underscores the neo-vintage quality of the watch.

The second version’s entire dial is adorned with the legendary deep, bold green colour of the Healey company. A study in contrast and a return to the roots of one of the most iconic rally car colours, „British racing green“ has long been associated with the vintage Austin Healeys that are especially desirable among collectors. Frederique Constant’s rendering is especially sleek and stylish and the revival of this shade on a three-hand model enables the wearer to subtly show off their love of vintage cars without compromising the timeless elegance of a more urban timepiece.

Both versions are three-hand models with a date window at 3 o’clock. They are all powered by the automatic FC-303 calibre. It works at a frequency of 28.800 beats per minute and provides a power reserve of up to 38 hours.

The Secret Lies in the Twist of the Lines

Today, we take a look at Cartier’s latest watch creations. Before the Maison became an important watchmaker in the 20th century by introducing the first Santos-Dumont in 1904, Cartier had already made a name for itself as a master jeweller. And the Maison still combines watchmaking with the ambition to make its watches look like a piece of jewellery – especially the women’s watches.
The new Maillon de Cartier stands for the unmistakable style of the manufacturer. The watch focuses on the bracelet and its individual links. Cartier has always used links as a central design element for rings, necklaces and bracelets. Traditional standards are interpreted in a modern way, resulting in an exceptional outcome.

With the Maillon de Cartier the Maison introduces a future classic among its collections. For the link bracelet, Cartier has aranged the elements in a way that they lie diagonallyone behind the other. This design gives the feminine watch its special elegance; the interplay of curves and bevels leads to the twisted links.
The dial of the Maillon the Cartier blends harmoniously into the twisted perspective of the braclet. Its elements and the case melt into a single, refined and graphic sweep.

Rectangular elements, a hexagonal dial and bevelled edges complement each other to create a rhythmic design and an overall architectural approach. The case measures 16 x 17mm with a height of only 6.8 mm and is polished to a high gloss.

The dial of the watches is unmistakably Cartier: silver-plated dials, blued steel sword hands and stylised Roman numerals capture the eye as soon as it can tear itself away from the unique bracelet.

The Maillon de Cartier collection consists of a gold base model that features a blue cobochon on the crown and five watches with diamonds. The Maillon de Cartier in red and white gold have 24 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel and a red gold Maillon comes with 400 diamonds – not only on the bezel but also on the bracelet. Cartier also offers a white gold version with diamonds all over, including the dial, which amounts to a number of 486 diamonds in total.
All watches are powered by a quartz movement.

The Maillon de Cartier collection also includes two limited editions: A yellow gold watch set with diamonds and a black dial (limited to 50 pieces), and a Maillon whose case, bracelet and dial are set with diamonds and tsavorites. This is a limited edition of only 20 pieces.

Vacheron Constantin Has a New Horological Muse

The Égérie is the new horolocial muse of Vacheron Constantin, and it joins the world of Haute Manufacture. In this new collection dedicated to women, Haute Horlogerie meets Haute Couture, seen through the prism of craftsmanship, precision, excellence and beauty.
The sophisticated style of Haute Couture is subtly paired with the asymmetrical aesthetic faithfully perpetuating the Vacheron Constantin heritage. Thus, the new Érégie collection weaves the face of watchmaking femininity; a watch featuring a classic look, draped with a mischievous touch: inspiring, independent and charismatic.
The feminine name of this collection derives from the famous nymph Egeria featured in Roman mythology to the contemporary muses who inspire artists and designers.

A delicate interplay of textures and intertwined shapes, alternating flat and raised areas; a pleated effect reminiscent of fabric; a singular asymmetry borne by a fluid aesthetic: such is the exquisite aesthetic of the Égérie watch.
Égérie is also the modern interpretation of aesthetic codes cherished by Vacheron Constantin, which has been offering off-centre displays since the early 19th century, notably by playing on two intertwined circles. Égérie has made this its signature touch. The date or moon-phase integration is thus part of a subtle diagonal line formed by the logo and the crown daringly placed between 1 and 2 o’clock. Depending on the model, the latter is adorned with a cabochon-cut moonstone or a rose-cut diamond.

A dial featuring a pleaded pattern. A diamond halo resembling slender braiding and accentuating the feminine shape of the case. And above all, sophistication in every detail, expressed through pleasingly harmonious geometry punctuated by gold Arabic numerals, daintily scalloped like lace.

The Érégie self-winding is availbable in rose gold or stainless steel. The 35 mm pebble-shaped case is crowned with a slender bezel overstitched with 58 diamonds. The dial sets the stage for a delicate opaline silver work of art composed of concentric circles, graced with a pleated pattern. The calligraphic numerals evoke fine embroidery, while the leaf-type hours and minutes hands recall fine needles used by nimble fingers.
The Égérie self-winding is powered by the calibre 1088, an in-house automatic movement that provides a power-reserve of 40 hours.

The night star is at the very heart of the Égérie moon phase model, which comes in a 37 mm case in rose gold or steel, which a diamond-set bezel. An offset circle glittering with 36 diamonds displays a dreamlike version of time, with the gold moon appearing in a starry sky revealed behind clouds formed by a delicate mother-of-pearl assembly. The enchanting charm of this model is further enhanced by its opaline silver dial and pleated pattern.
The Égérie moon phase model is available in stainless steel or rose gold; both versions feature a generous diamond setting. Both are also fitted with the calibre 1088L.
But – the Égérie moon phase is also available as diamond-pavé model in white gold. Its white gold case bears 292 diamonds, while the dial deploys its concentric circles amid a shower of 510 diamonds.

Vacheron Constantin supplies all models on either stainless steel or leather straps, depending on the version.

For Men and Women: The New Tonda 1950 Lune

Two years after it first appeared, Parmigiani Fleurier is updating the aesthetic of the Tonda 1950 Lune with a model featuring a slate dial and a second design with round diamonds on the bezel. Both showcase the poetry of the „lunar calendar“ complication which illuminates their dial with a new layout. Behind this harmony, it is easy to forget the sheer mechanical complexity required to create an ultra-thin self-winding movement with so many time indications.

With a rose gold case matched with a slate colour dial, this Tonda 1950 Lune is the epitome of the classic elegant watch. The lunar calendar, displaying the two hemispheres, is located at 10 o’clock instead of its previous position at 12 o’clock. This offset layout balances the date at 3 o’clock, the logo at 1 o’clock, and the small seconds window at 6 o’clock. All of the time indications are structured to create a pleasingly harmonious dial.

On the other hand, the Tonda 1950 Lune with diamonds features a rose gold case, a mother of pearl dial, a beautiful complement to the light which plays across the stones – a combination which cannot fail to enthral. Additional touches adorn the piece, such as the moon at 10 o’clock which is set in the middle of a starry sky, and the gold outline around the date window at 4 o’clock. Lastly, the dial has been made smaller to accommodate a slightly broader bezel, allowing larger diamonds to be set within it, offering exceptional sparkle and brilliance, unlike any other.

The Tonda 1950 Lune owes its slender proportions to its calibre, the PF708, a mechanism combining precision and reliability with automatic winding thanks to its platinum micro-rotor. Its elements have been carefully arranged o the main plate to ensure the various time indications are harmoniously displayed. As is standard practice at Parmigiani Fleurier, and one of its hallmarks, it boasts hand-applied finishes and bevelled bridges. Its structure is complemented by „Côtes de Genève“ decoration.
The automatic movement works at a frequency of 3 Hz and provides a power reserve of 48 hours.

Parmigiani Fleurier delivers the Tonda 1950 Lune with alligator leather straps – black for the men’s models, red and indigo for the women’s models.

Discreet and Sleek: Chrono Diamond Zelya

Recently, Chrono Diamond has added a few new models to its already extensive collection. So we thought it is about time to take a closer look at one of them. We have picked the Zelya, a wonderfully sleek women’s model that, like all other watches from Chrono Diamond, stands for the use of high quality materials and Swiss craftsmanship.

The Chrono Diamond Zelya is the beautiful embodiment of a discreet and slender ladies‘ watch. It couldn’t be more understated. In this timepiece, nothing distracts from the true, most important role of a watch: the display of the time.
Chrono Diamond has furnished the dial with a sunburst finish whose unity isn’t interrupted by a date window or subdials. The Zelya displays hours, minutes and seconds in a classic manner using three central hands and simple applied indices. The company logo is flanked by the two diamonds, characteristic for all Chrono Diamond watches. The dial is protected by a hardened mineral glass.

The Zelya features a stainless steel case with a diameter of 36 mm and a height of only 8 mm. So the watch is on the smaller size and with its short lugs it should fit perfectly on every wrist. The case is waterproof up to 5 atm and thus up to most everyday challenges.
In the case you’ll find a reliable Swiss quartz movement working tirelessly. Opting for quartz made the moderate proportions possible in the first place.
The Zelya is completed by a beautiful and slim Milanaise bracelet.

Chrono Diamond offers a variety of different versions of this watch. It comes not only in a stainless steel version, but also with gold, pink gold or black PVD coating. It can also be chosen between different colored dials; from silver and gold to dark grey and blue. So there should be something for every taste, from plain and simple to a little more sporty and eye-catching.

The new Mido Baroncelli Midnight Blue

With the new Baroncelli Midnight Blue watches, Mido is commemorating its horological heritage. This watch is offered as a pair and is thus part of the Baroncelli line. Just perfect for all the couples who want to express their affiliation with two matching timepieces.

Mido has finished the deep blue dials of the Baroncelli Midnight Blue with a satin sunburst finish. The women’s model features diamond hour-markers, which further enhance the intensity of the blue hue. The Dauphine-shaped rose gold hour and minute hands are faceted, as are the beautiful lancet-shaped indexes of the men’s version.
There’s just one small complaint we have about the Baroncelli Midnight Blue and that is, that the dark blue dials are quite rudely interrupted by the white date windows at the 4.30 o’clock position. The dials are protected by a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on both sides.

The round cases of the two timepieces are measuring 29 mm for the ladies‘ version and 38 mm for the men’s version. They are made of stainless steel with a rose gold PVD coating and are water-resistant up to a pressure of 5 bar or 50 metres.

The two Baroncelli Midnight Blue are powered by an automatic movement. In the women’s model, the ETA 2671 operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour. It provides a power reserve of 38 hours. Mido has equipped the men’s watch with the Calibre 80 (based on the ETA C07.611), which provides a power reserve of up to 80 hours. However, it operates at a slightly lower frequency with 21,600 vibrations per hour. Both movements are decorated with Geneva stripes and the company logo. Mido has equipped both watches with a sapphire crystal back so the movements and its finish can be admired accordingly.

Mido has fitted both models with a Vachette leather strap in a semi-matte crocodile look.
In addition to the two Baroncelli Midnight Blue watches with rose gold coating, Mido also offers the pair in a stainless steel version.

The Mido Ocean Star Collection Has Two New Members

The Mido Ocean Star Collection got two new nautical-inspired members. The sporty, elegant pieces each have their own distinct personality. Water-resistant up to 20 bar, they are the perfect companion for all fans of nautical activities.
The new Ocean Star is released as two different versions with distinct personalities. To the superficial observer, they may look different, but they are not. The first model sports a bold vintage look and features a sumptuous green grained dial, the second model is inspired by the maritime world and the call of the sea, with its deep blue grained dial.

The dials of both Ocean Star models are protected by a robust 42.5 mm diameter case in steel with elegant polished and satin-finished pink gold PVD treatment. The case is enhanced by a polished aluminium unidirectional rotating bezel in green or blue, according to the model, which features a dot of white Super-LumiNova at 12 o’clock. The sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective treatment on both sides means that the dials can be admired without moderation. The generous touches of white Super-LumiNova on the indexes and hands guarantee perfect legibility in all situations. The skeletonised hour and minute hands are polished and satin-finished with pink gold PVD treatment. A touch of orange Super-LumiNova placed at the end of the seconds hand recalls Mido’s visual identity, while an aperture at 3 o’clock indicates the day and date.

Water-resistant to a pressure of 20 bar, they house the Caliber 80. This latest-generation automatic movement provides up to 80 hours power reserve. The case back has a surprise in store for all marine enthusiasts: it is decorated with a polished starfish in relief – the symbol of the Ocean Star collection.

The straps carry on the colours of the dial. The green one features leather strap that acquires a patina over time, finished with ecru stitching. The blue one is accompanied by a blue fabric strap, reminiscent of boat rigging. Both are fitted with a pin buckle in stainless steel with a polished and satin-finished pink gold PVD treatment.

Clear Design: The New Armin Strom Pure Resonance

Armin Strom is known for maintaining a pared-down approach when it comes to watches. This ensures the brand’s style of watchmaking remains focused on its essence. And with every new model Armin Strom heads further in that direction and the new Pure Resonance is no exception. This version too heads further in said direction, squarely placing emphasis on the watch’s most remarkable feature: the visible dual balances oscillating in resonance.

The goal of the Pure Resonance has not changed: to display the interesting resonant balances while improving overall precision. To this end, the twin seconds flyback mechanism of Caliber ARF15 was removed and replaced with one clear-cut subsidiary seconds subdial. The reason for this can be found in the straightforward approach to the movement: the fewer functions a timepiece must perform, the better it can concentrate on accuracy. In other words, with no superfluous functions the watch con focus fully on precisely providing the time.

The dial now offers just subdials for time displays. Roman numerals dominate the off-center subdial displaying hours and minutes in black and blue with blued steel hands, while a classic railroad track marks the exact minutes. The smaller subdial at 7 o’clock displays seconds using only a baton-styled white hand and a simple track.
The resonators are placed at the left side of the dial. The time displays receive their portioned energy from the lower regulator, while the upper regulator remains in place to create resonance.

This conceptual forthrightness is reflected in the design of the movement: the basic calibre ARF16 showcases the resonant regulators and resonance clutch spring. New bridges are decorated with côtes de Genève. The mechanical movement beats at a frequency of 25,200 vph and provides a power reserve of 48 hours minimum.

The outward design of this new Pure Resonance has been kept also pure. The case has a diameter of 42 mm and comes in rose gold or stainless steel. It is 1.4 mm smaller than the original version, comes with reduced lugs and crown and practically no bezel. The characteristic lip at 6 o’clock remains, therefore it can be customized easily.
The case is water resistant up to 5 atm and comes with a leather bracelet.