They’re a constant presence throughout the year, of course, but as the warmer weather approaches and the sun beats down from an azure sky, we start to think about water sports, and we naturally want our watch to reflect the colours of summer, and give it that refreshing note of blue.
If you’re in the market for a blue watch this summer, there’s a simple solution to finding that rare pearl. It’s quicker than browsing through a pile of watch catalogues, and more focused than typing “blue watches” into Google. It’s the aptly named Bucherer Blue Editions, featuring nothing but blue watches. Choosing a Bucherer Blue Edition guarantees three essential features: quality, exclusivity and popularity. All of the watches are by major watchmaking companies. These watches, chosen from among the brands’ most popular styles, and reworked as exclusive pieces – sometimes limited editions – with the blue Bucherer seal, are available only from Bucherer, in boutiques or online. Prices range from under CHF 1,000 to over CHF 250,000. The collection offers both sports and dress watches and, because blue is not just for boys, women’s watches too. They also come with complications, or without. Let’s have a look at some of the sports models.
IWC Portugieser Chronograph
It’s the latest piece to join the Bucherer Blue Edition collection, unveiled only a few hours ago! Its fresh blue and white color palette evoke the sea, sailing and nautical sports, all in a sports chic style. The case, a little larger than 40mm, is suitable for men as well as women, who would surely appreciate the airiness of the numbers and counters that correspond to a summer wardrobe. The watch is a limited edition of only 365 pieces. Don’t be late!
Movement : automatic Calibre 79350
Functions : hours, minutes, secondes, chronograph
Case : stainless steel, 40,9 mm
Dial : silver
Price : 7900 CHF
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe
Dive watches are some of the bestselling sports watches, and blue is a perfect fit. Since 1950, when the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe by Blancpain first began to draw the attention of divers, it has never been so blue: ceramic case, crown, pushers, bezel, dial, movement rotor, kevlar strap – everything is blue. The watch is completely at home up to 300 metres below the ocean surface, and its flyback chronograph is very useful on dry land too.
Movement: automatic Calibre F385, 5 Hz
Power reserve: 40 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, flyback chronograph
Case: brushed blue ceramic, 43 mm
Dial: blue sunray, satin-brushed chapter ring
Water resistance: 300 metres
Price: CHF 17,800
Oris Divers Sixty-Five
Vintage fans will appreciate this watch’s classic case, convex sapphire crystal, large round beige hour markers and leather strap. It looks like a bicompax chrono, but it is in fact a true dive watch, a descendant of a model from the 1960s. It’s water resistant to 100 metres and has a screw-down crown and a unidirectional rotating bezel in blue aluminium – the Bucherer touch.
Movement: automatic Calibre SW 510
Power reserve: 48 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph
Case: steel, 43 mm
Dial: blue
Water resistance: 100 metres
Price: CHF 3,950
Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze
With this watch on your wrist you might start thinking you’re an action hero. It’s a modern version of a 1970s Tudor diver that equipped the French navy. The case made of bronze, a metal historically associated with underwater exploits, underlines its retro appeal, and the striped fabric strap adds an elegant touch.
Movement: automatic Calibre MT5601
Power reserve: 48 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Case: bronze, 43 mm
Dial: blue
Water resistance: 200 metres
Price: CHF 3,850
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph
This watch is immediately recognisable for its powerful case, octagonal screwed bezel and tapisserie dial. The Bucherer Blue Editions version of the Royal Oak Offshore chronograph uses rose gold to offset its sporty appeal with a note of luxury. The blue is a discreet accent on the dial. There are two further Royal Oak models in the Bucherer Blue collection: an Extra-Thin Tourbillon and an Offshore Chronograph for ladies.
Movement: automatic Calibre 3126/3840
Power reserve: 50 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph
Case: steel/rose gold, 42 mm
Dial: blue tapisserie
Water resistance: 100 metres
Price: CHF 33,900
The Longines Master Collection
Longines fans be warned: this watch comes in a limited edition of just 500. This chronograph, with its timeless design and understated blue and silver colourway, offers the opportunity to call yourself a watch collector without breaking the bank. It also guarantees its owner the pride of owning a slice of history, with a chronograph inspired by timepieces created by a watchmaker that can trace its lineage back nearly two hundred years.
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph
Case: steel, 40 mm
Dial: blue sunray
Water resistance: 30 metres
Limited edition: 500 pieces
Price: CHF 2,700
Tissot T-Classic Chemin des Tourelles
This watch is the latest example of a collaboration based on savoir-faire, tradition and innovation, all values embodied by the Bucherer Blue Editions. The name is redolent of the history of a watchmaker that was founded back in 1907. It’s a classic timepiece, with guillochage and Roman numerals, given a contemporary sporty touch by its blue colouring and red chronograph hands. It comes in a very reasonably priced limited edition of 888.
Movement: automatic Calibre C01.211
Power reserve: 45 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Case: steel, 44 mm
Dial: blue, Clous de Paris guilloché
Water resistance: 50 metres
Limited edition: 888 pieces
Price: CHF 965
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Aventador S
If you’re tempted by this super sporty timepiece, it might not be solely because you want a blue watch to go with your casual white polo shirt, as you head off for a game of squash. It could well be to match the unique and virtually unattainable Lamborghini Aventador S Blue Editions, which you may or may not have parked in your garage. The watch, in a limited edition of 8, with its skeletonised Roger Dubuis calibre with double sprung balance and differential, skeletonised carbon fibre dial, blue chapter ring and Geneva Hallmark, was developed in association with Lamborghini Squadra Corse.
Movement: hand-wound Calibre RD103SQ
Power reserve: 40 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, jumping seconds, power reserve indicator
Case: carbon, 45 mm
Dial: blue skeletonised
Water resistance: 30 metres
Limited edition: 8 pieces
Price: CHF 242,000
TAG Heuer Formula 1
The name alone will immediately spark the interest of motor racing fans. This particular 43 mm model, powered by the Calibre 5, comes in various dial colours as part of the TAG Heuer collection. But the blue dial is exclusive to the Bucherer Blue Editions. Its unassuming price tag is another reason to treat yourself.
Movement: automatic Calibre 5
Power reserve: 38 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case: steel, 43 mm
Dial: blue
Water resistance: 200 metres
Price: CHF 1990
