Established in 1854, Gübelin is a family-owned company that specialises in jewellery, watches and luxury good. Today, the family owns nine stores in Switzerland and two points of sale in Asia. The company regularly stages temporary exhibitions on the themes of watchmaking and jewellery for its customers, watch lovers or passers-by. The recent exhibition dedicated to exceptional chronographs at the company’s Geneva store was one such event. It brought together eleven different luxury watch brands – Bédat & Co., Breitling, Corum, Chronoswiss, Glashütte Original, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Roger Dubuis, TAG Heuer, Zenith. Some forty chronographs were on show, of which four were historical pieces on loan from the participating brands.
Bédat & Co. – No.8 Collection Ref. 830
Bédat & Co. is today the only watch brand that offers watches exclusively for ladies. Both elegant and sporty at the same time, the reference 830 chronograph is available in a number of different versions to satisfy any taste. The case, in stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold, extends on the right-hand side because of the crown protector that is typical of the collection. The polished and hand-brushed is set with diamonds. It has a self-winding ETA movement and is available with either two or three counters.
Chronoswiss – Sirius Chronograph Skeleton
In 1995, Chronoswiss launched its Opus model, followed by the Grand Opus Chronograph. Known today under the Sirius name, the Sirius Chronograph Skeleton is a descendant of the first series-produced self-winding skeletonised chronograph. Its open-worked dial in sterling silver reveals the gear train for the hour and minute counters as well as the date and small seconds mechanisms. The Sirius Chronograph Skeleton uses the familiar design codes of Chronoswiss: semi-grooved case and “onion” crown, a characteristic found on all models of the brand.
Roger Dubuis – Black DLC Titanium Pulsion Chronograph
Established only 20 years ago, Roger Dubuis offers the very best in high-end watchmaking with its own extravagant and singular designs. The Black DLC Titanium Pulsion Chronograph is a fine example of the brand’s excellence and creativity. What is surprising about this model is the sapphire crystal that is screwed directly on to the case and stretches right up to the edges. The ground-breaking procedure used to do this makes it a distinctive sign of the collection and allows the Arabic numerals to be engraved on the underside of the crystal and filled with luminous material. The partially open-worked dial reveals the finish of the RD680 chronograph calibre, whose quality of execution is confirmed by the prestigious Geneva Hallmark.
TAG Heuer – Carrera
1963 was a key moment in watchmaking history. It saw the launch of a legendary chronograph: the Heuer Carrera. As the first chronograph developed for professional racing drivers, it took its name from the mythical Mexican “Carrera Panamericana” rally. Designed by Jack Heuer, this watch aimed to meet the specific needs of racing drivers with an open and easy-to-read dial and a water-resistant case that could withstand the shocks of motor racing. Since the 1960s, the collection has been constantly reinvented and reinterpreted and is now one of the brand’s best sellers. This year the line is enhanced with two new models, each with a vintage sporty look and the iconic Heuer logo.
Click on the image at the top of the page to see more exceptional chronographs on show at the Gübelin store in Geneva.
