The dream watches of our editorial staff

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The dream watches of our editorial staff - Christmas gifts
3 minutes read
When our in-house editorial team is asked to choose their dream watch without any constraints, an eclectic wish list emerge.

Brice Lechevalier - Patek Philippe Nautilus Réf. 5711/1R
Buying an exceptional watch involves preparation and requires a suitable environment that is capable of satisfying the rush of dopamine and endorphins that will ensue from the marriage of virile wrist and the new arrival. What better choice for Christmas than a cult model from an iconic brand that you don’t yet have in your collection? The magic starts when you walk through the doors of the Patek Philippe Salon in Geneva at this time of year. The welcome, the smiles, the decoration, showcases generously filled with universally acclaimed timepieces on five storeys of century-old walls all cause the tension to mount a notch. Out of professional familiarity, it’s a model from Baselworld 2015 that was featured in a GMT test bench who pheromones worked on me. Out of the box, after the first sensual contact with the wrist, the editor-in-chief is enraptured. The thousand sparkles of the gold bracelet with its polished links with satin-finished edges shine with the promise of daily complicity for the rest of my life, compatible with the fine and timeless silhouette of the self-winding Nautilus with chocolate dial. Champagne!

Montre-reve-Patek-Philippe-Nautilus

Paul O’Neil – Bovet Amadeo® Fleurier Braveheart® Tourbillon
It’s nice to be allowed to publish our dreams from time to time, especially since they are probably destined to remain just that. My wife fell in love at first sight with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon (oblivious to the fact that it is most definitely a gent’s watch) but she is highly unlikely to find one under the Christmas tree. My dream watch follows along similar lines and, even in the unlikely event that one fell down my chimney this year, would probably spend very little time on my wrist. After a presentation from a watchmaker lasting nearly an hour I was totally captivated by the Bovet Braveheart. There are too many reasons to list why I love this watch, but here are six very good ones. It is the perfect concentration of innovation, technical prowess, watchmaking art and practicality. For the Bovet Amadeo® Fleurier Braveheart® Tourbillon, I would happily make an exception to my usual rule of regularly wearing all the watches I own.

bovet-amadeo-fleurier-braveheart

Camille Gendre – Piaget Altiplano Chronographe
When we first spoke about this “Watch of our dreams” article in the office, several models sprang to mind. Two selection criteria guided my choice: an elegant but contemporary design and a certain technical sophistication. With this in mind, the watch I would like to find under the Christmas tree is the Piaget Altiplano Chronograph. Its ultra-thin case houses a flyback chronograph movement with a second time zone function. It won the chronograph category at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2015 and is a double record holder: for world’s thinnest flyback chronograph movement and watch. Added to the technical prowess is a fine and understated design that I particularly like. Father Christmas, if you are reading this, I’m counting on you!

Piaget Altiplano Chrono

Isabelle Guignet – Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Black Enamel
There is something magical about Christmas and it is that we are allowed to dream and to see our dreams come true. My dream is to have a Jaquet Droz watch on my wrist. The Grande Seconde in black grand feu enamel, with an 18-carat red-gold dial. The off-centre hour and minute dial forms a figure of eight together with the large seconds subdial, a distinctive signature of the brand. The self-winding mechanical movement has a power reserve of 68 hours. The exceptional design of this watch and the expertise it contains underscore the refinement of horological mechanics.

jaquet droz grande seconde email noir

Michèle Brunner - A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual
What a poisoned chalice from our editor-in-chief! It would have taken me less time to find a gift for somebody else than for myself. Among all the watches launched in 2015 I found it extremely difficult to find the one that I could dream of receiving from Father Christmas. After eliminating all of the watches that were too feminine in my eyes – too much mother-of-pearl, diamonds or pastel colours – I finally opted for the white gold Datograph Perpetual. Why a gent’s model? Because it is an A. Lange & Söhne, a watch of the utmost quality, with a design that is indeed sober, but also harmonious and pure, and because its movement is splendid and bewildering. I would love to have it on my wrist… but I am dreaming. I’m sure if Father Christmas had it in his sack, he would keep it for himself!

A.Lange&Sohne Datograph






 

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