Continuing the Cartier love, another major reveal at this month’s Watches & Wonders was the magnificent Reflection de Cartier bangle watch (above). In sleek yellow gold with its sculptural cuff form, it’s giving 1970s Andrew Grima for Omega (below) and I’m not complaining. Launch date and price are TBC, but let’s just say it’s likely a look-but-don’t-touch affair for most of us. (more…)
It feels like we’re officially in our ‘small watch era’. After what feels like decades – scratch that, it was decades – of ginormous, chestbeating steel watches, we’re seeing the return of dainty, Deco-era watch cases on chic leather straps.
I’m attributing part of the shift to the affluent, small-wristed Asian customer, and possibly the wave of Chinese celebs being co-opted by luxury brands hoping to entice the next generation of watch enthusiasts. Also to note: the insatiable appetite for vintage watches. (more…)
‘Secret’ watches are my thing. The Hermès Medor is my favourite, but the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso* is the gold standard.
The story goes that a 1930s businessman and watch collector was tasked with creating a watch for polo players to wear that would withstand the rough and tumble of the game. The result was the sleek JLC Reverso whose case was engineered to flip over to protect the watch face – and back again after the game. 90 years later, there’s a market for mind-bendingly intricate paintings on that smaller-than-postage-stamp caseback, with limited editions models selling for €80,000. (more…)
I very nearly missed this memo.
Swatch just dropped three Basquiat collaboration watches as part of its Art Journey line. The turquoise ‘Ishtar’ one is very clever with its number placement, while the yellow ‘Hollywood Africans’ is also very cool, and the crown design has a certain IYKYK appeal.
Part of me thinks, what the fuck took you so long Swatch? (more…)
