Editorial - Starry Nights - Editorial

Over the next few days, we’ll be experiencing the Geminid meteor shower, the night skies will come alive with the stunning natural phenomena of shooting stars, a sight made all the more awe-inspiring in the Northern Hemisphere by the crisp cold air and clear skies of winter. This astronomical event actually began a few weeks ago, on November 19, and will last until December 24, Christmas Eve. However, the meteor shower will peak between December 13–15, so if you want to maximise your meteor viewing, these are the nights to find a dark spot out of the city for some exceptional stargazing.

While you’re settling down for a night out in the open (the best time to view the Geminids is around 2 in the morning, when the Gemini constellation is highest in the sky), you’ll want to have the appropriate wrist gear on. Here are our recommendations for the perfect horological companion on this occasion

Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Dazzling Star

Launched this year at Watches And Wonders, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Dazzling Star comes from the maison’s most romantic collection, the Rendez-Vous. A combination of mechanical and decorative artistry, the watch features a comet streaking across a sparkling night sky at random, thanks to an innovative system exclusive to Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Rendez-vous Dazzling Star © Jaeger-LeCoultre

Zenith Defy Midnight

We can expect no less from the brand with a star in its logo. The Zenith Defy Midnight was designed for the independent modern woman, one who shines as brightly as any constellation in the night sky. Its diamond-set dial comes in a gradient of dark blues, echoing the colour palette of the firmament.

Defy Midnight © Zenith

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Monobalancier

The Geneva brand known for its daring designs and complications has recently taken to artist collaborations, and the Excalibur Sorayama Monobalancier is the latest (and one of the most appealing, in my opinion) releases from Roger Dubuis this year. The titanium case and bracelet frames the polished star on the dial, an ode to mechanical imagination.

Excalibur Sorayama Monobalancier © Roger Dubuis

Omega Constellation

The “It” watch of the 1990s has lost none of its brilliance in the 21^st century. This new version, with sunray-brushed green dial in subtle hues and diamond hour markers is the epitome of contemporary sports elegance that Omega possesses. Just like the night skies this week, the dial is surrounded by sparkling stones, evocative and eternal.

Richard Mille RM 07-01 Intergalactic

They say that wishing on a shooting star will result in your wish coming true, and for many of us, that wish would be to have an RM 07-01 Intergalactic, the new series of four diamond-set carbon TPT watches from Richard Mille. Each of the watches has its own undeniable attraction, but the RM 07-01 Starry Night is the one to wear this week as the cosmos shows off its stellar splendour.