Endless summer
The summer may have overstayed its welcome, but autumn is finally here. But not at Richard Mille! The brand continues to celebrate endless summer, inspired by the Memphis Group, a post-modernist art and architecture movement that emerged in Italy in the 1980s. The idea is the brainchild of Cécile Guenat, head of creation and development, whose father was the technical genius behind Richard Mille (the founder also passed the baton to the next generation). “The main idea behind the design process for this collection was the juxtaposition of colours that change depending on the materials used,” Cécile Guenat explains. The names of the three pieces evoke the colours of late summer: Pastel Pink, Pastel Lavender and Pastel Blue. You can almost taste the summer breeze!
Flower power
There’s nothing like going back to nature to really disconnect from everyday life. Jaeger-LeCoultre is your guide, with the assistance of artist and designer Brendi Wedinger. Based in Los Angeles, Wedinger creates 3D digital masterpieces that delicately balance reality and fantasy. Her main inspiration is nature, which she renders in digital imagery. She visited the Joux Valley to immerse herself in the local landscape. The outcome? A mystery – possibly a Reverso in the works. To truly disconnect, you also have to be extremely patient. Admire the flower and the watch will (probably) follow.
Flower power, part deux
At Chopard, dawn has broken and the flower has opened its petals. It is both beautiful and rare – only 25 of these stunning Impériale watches, celebrating the lotus flower, will be produced. This poetic and intricate timepiece is an ode to serenity and the power of the imagination, marking the hours against a sapphire- and diamond-studded sky. The floral motif is framed against a sky that changes as the day passes, thanks to a special mechanism that differentiates daytime hours from night. This reminder of the ever-changing present comes from a collection that will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year (1994–2024).
Morning mist
Have you ever felt that foggy feeling – a state of disorientation where you momentarily lose your sense of time and place? With an intriguing offering from the Nuit Fantastique collection, appropriately named “Brume” (“mist” in French), Trilobe invites you to linger in that moment. The elegant mouse-grey dial features a delicate barleycorn motif. The guilloché is intentionally placed off-centre using the minutes indicator as its focal point rather than the axis of the three hands – which of course do not exist in the Trilobe universe. This journey out of time is an invitation to misty ambivalence.
Breaking the mould
Audemars Piguet cherishes tradition, and yet is not afraid to explore alternatives when the time is right. In collaboration with 1017 ALYX 9SM, Matthew Williams’ innovative brand, they have breathed new life into two Royal Oak and two Royal Oak Offshore models by removing all the indexes. It’s a clever, playful way of keeping up with the times, while rebelling against the tyranny of timekeeping.
Domestic harmony
Balancing the household budget when both partners are passionate about fine watchmaking can be a delicate dance. Which watch? For whom? When, and with what budget? Parmigiani Fleurier is a champion of domestic harmony. The latest Tonda PF Automatic is designed to fit both male and female wrists. With its 36mm diameter, it strikes the perfect balance between discretion and elegance.
Tuning into time
One other solution to finding inner peace is to stop looking at the time and simply listen. H. Moser & Cie has created an exclusive two-piece limited edition for Bucherer, featuring a minute repeater with a tourbillon and an aventurine dial, housed in a compact 40 mm case. It’s a masterpiece of serenity, as lustrous as a summer evening, that will keep your feet on the ground and your head in the stars.
A minimalist heart
The true road to Zen is characterised by minimalism and by simplicity. In the spartan school of Zen Buddhism, less is more. Inner peace is achieved by rigorously removing all extraneous frippery from your outer life. What better to represent this philosophy than the purity of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R? Its bezel is distinguished by its classic clous-de-Paris guillochage — not an additive but a reductive decorative technique, formed by removing material to create texture and depth. The round case and slim lugs are pared-down perfection, and the calming ecru dial displays only the most essential indications (hours, minutes, seconds).
A meditative harmony
When looking for a timepiece that will bring a sense of tranquillity to your life, balance and symmetry are key factors. The Armin Strom Minute Repeater Resonance embodies this down to the very last detail, with its twin oscillators beating in phase, an apt analogy for the synchronised rhythms and measured beats of a truly harmonious life. The movement itself is highly complex — like the world we live in — but the open dial allows us to observe it with clarity and detachment. Activate the minute repeater and let its dulcet chimes echo like a temple bell… Serenity reigns supreme.
