We all know that we are going to see some incredibly complex watches at the world’s first watch exhibition of the year, but sometimes, there are also some beautiful watches without complications that offer affordable luxury for every day wear. Here we take a look at the tip five watches from SIHH that offer simple elegance.
Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic
It was only a year ago that Baume & Mercier unveiled its Baumatic movement to the world. Created with the Richemont Group’s R&D team, the Baumatic has so much to offer in an everyday watch, including five days of power reserve, anti-magnetism above and beyond the norm, and more. This year, the brand releases a host of new Baumatic timepieces, including a perpetual calendar. However, it is the scintillating blue COSC-certified Baumatic that has us reeling. The dial of this watch features a gradient color pattern that moves from blue in the center to almost black at the edges of the dial – a perfect match for the blue/black strap it is equipped with, or the stainless steel bracelet version. The 40mm watch is crafted in stainless steel and retails for approximately $2,600- $2,800.
Cartier Santos-Dumont
It was in 1904 that Louis Cartier created a watch for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont to use while flying his dirigibles around Paris. It was easier than using a pocket watch that he had to pull out of a breast pocket while trying to maneuver the flying machine. While the first Santos-Dumont watches didn’t go into serial production for another seven years, the collection has always been an iconic one. Now, Cartier slenderizes and simplifies the Santos-Dumont with new quartz-powered versions in steel, steel and gold, and gold. It is the two tone and steel models that captured our eyes, and hearts. Incredibly affordable for a Cartier, the new watches are slimmer in height, boast Roman numerals, visible screws and a larger blue cabochon crown. High-efficiency batteries that should last up to six years power the watches. The stainless steel models retail for $xx, while the two-tone versions are also very approachable at $xx.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire
Recalling its rich roots in the world of aviation watches, IWC this year unveils a host of new timepieces revolving around the Spitfire, Top Gun and other pilot watch collections. It is the Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire, though, that grabbed my attention, especially the bronze-cased one with an olive green dial and gold-plated hands. On a brown calf leather strap, this watch three-hand watch exudes both vintage appeal and classic aviation style. Powered by the newly created IWC-manufacture movement, Caliber 32110, the watch boasts 72 hours o power reserve and features the brand’s beloved pawl-winding system. To render it anti-magnetic, IWC builds in a soft iron inner cage around the movement of this 39mm watch. The bronze timepiece retails for $4,900. (It is also available in a steel case with black dial and green fabric strap for $4,350.)
Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic Date
This year Montblanc further rounds out its beloved Star Legacy collection that it re-introduced last year in updated format. The newest pieces include several automatic watches inspired by the rich history and hand craftsmanship inherent in the Minerva workshops – a company that Montblanc owns. The simplest of the newest pieces, and still a beautifully elegant presentation, is the Star Legacy Automatic Date watch. The classic watch features Roman numerals in midnight blue against a clean white dial with an outer minute track and blued steel hands. The center of the dial boasts a stunning hand guilloche pattern in silver and the date is prominent at 6 o’clock on the dial. The watch is offered in stainless steel in both a 39mm size ($3,050) and a 42mm size that retails for $3,160 – a veritable steal.
Ulysse Nardin Diver
This year Ulysse Nardin has redesigned its Diver watch and is offering versions in a scaled down 42mm case. The new Ulysse Nardin Diver watches feature a clean, uncluttered look that make them incredibly wearable even out of the water. They feature vintage details such as beige numerals and one version even boasts a stunning stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet. Each of the three-hand watches is COSC certified and water resistant to 300 meters. Still, thanks to the concave bezel, the domed sapphire glass, the clean dial and the smaller diameter, the watches are incredibly versatile. The 42mm diver watches retail for $5,800 to $6,500. There is also a limited edition (300 pieces) of the Diver Blue Shark with PVD blue bezel and blue dial that retails slightly higher at $6,800.
