15 minute read
NEWS
WHAT’S GOING ON
IN THE LUXURY WORLD
CHRISTABEL’S LAUNCH AVANT GARDE MEMBER’S CLUB
Christabel’s is almost impossible to describe accurately – it’s part social club, part art installation, part immersive theatre experience and part music festival. It’s launching as an Avant Garde event taking place in Fulham Town Hall for three weeks at the end of May and early June, where people are invited to join an alternative to London’s affluent private member’s clubs and engage in music, poetry, art and drinking, set in a prohibition era style venue with plenty of rock and roll attitude. It’s the ideal way to loosen up post-lockdown and get back into the swing of London nightlife.
More information at christabels.uk
It’s the ideal way to loosen up postlockdown
SIR MATTHEW BOURNE’S THE MIDNIGHT BELL
Sir Matthew Bourne and New Adventures have announced their latest theatre project, a new ballet called The Midnight Bell which will open later this year in September – it’s the first time Bourne and New Adventures have worked together since their landmark Cinderella in 2019. The theme of the ballet is the exploration of London’s underbelly, set in a 1930s Soho pub, recounting the hopes, frustrations and betrayals of a lonely-hearts club. With Bourne at the helm, it’s sure to be a visual feast and a storytelling masterclass, albeit a departure from his usual muses of fairy tales and horror stories like Sleeping Beauty and Edward Scissorhands.
You can book now at new-adventures.net/the-midnightbell#overview
JEAN ROUSSEAU RELEASE ATLANTIS STRAP
These days, most watches are water resistant to some degree even if it’s only 30 metre washing up bowl protection. But many timepieces are capable of 100m depths or more, so it makes sense for their straps to be wearable both on land and in the wet stuff. That’s exactly what the Atlantis straps from Jean Rousseau are designed to do, bringing high-end leather to the waters. The alligator straps have been developed to retain their colour, maintain their shape and have a low water-absorption so they dry quickly. They’re available in a number of styles and colour options.
£270 from jean-rousseau.com
GREY GOOSE X THE CONNAUGHT BAR COCKTAIL KIT
The Connaught Bar is one of the most renowned venues, famous for its artistic approach to drinks with the Jackson Pollock inspired No.11 being one of their signatures. Grey Goose has launched a limited edition cocktail kit in collaboration with the bar that allows you to make the No.11 from the comfort of your own home. Excitingly the kit comes with its own Jackson Pollock drip glasses, which is the first time they’ll be made available to the public outside of The Connaught. All proceeds from the limited edition kit will go to the Saatchi Gallery’s Learning Programme, which seeks to make contemporary art accessible for all.
£100 from saatchistore.saatchigallery.com
RICHARD MILLE MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL
One of the most exciting partnerships in recent years has been Richard Mille and McLaren, now in its fifth year and looking stronger than ever. In celebration they’ve announced their most ambitious timepiece to date, the RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail, inspired by McLaren’s futuristic Speedtail hypercar.
Considering that this is one of McLaren’s most advanced road-going vehicles, Richard Mille has stepped up their game with three new in-house complications that they’ve never produced on an automatic tourbillon movement before: a power reserve indicator, oversize date and function selector. The timepiece will be limited to 106 pieces to match the 106 Speedtails that have been built by McLaren.
Find out more at richardmille.com
BUGATTI CHIRON HABILLÉ PAR HERMÈS
A unique Bugatti Chiron has been revealed in collaboration with luxury manufacturer and watchmaker Hermès. The hypercar was commissioned by Manny Khoshbin, who was one of the first people to order one when the car was launched in 2015, but who has waited six years to receive it so that it could be fully kitted out in sumptuous luxury by Hermès. The chalk-coloured vehicle has a matching interior with Crale leather seats, mid-console, lining and panelling. There is also plenty of colour-matched Ecru leather around the centre console and dashboard, a material developed by Bugatti with a safety focus.
You can read more about it here, bugatti.com
JAEGER-LECOULTRE OPENS DISCOVERY WORKSHOPS
The Swiss watchmaking titan Jaeger-LeCoultre has begun letting people see behind the curtain at their Atelier d’Antoine with a new series of Discovery Workshops open to the public. The workshops will delve into the details of watchmaking and are suitable for watch experts and novices alike, available in English and French. Led by a master watchmaker, the three hour course combines academic and hands-on learning so you can really get to grips with watch mechanics. The first series of workshops, which began in May, are on the topic of The Sound Maker.
Book now at online-booking.jaeger-lecoultre.com
IWC AND AMG LAUNCH PERFORMANCE CHRONOGRAPH
IWC has long been a master of the skies with more than a few of their pilots’ chronographs becoming classics, which makes their longstanding partnership with performance car manufacturer Mercedes-AMG all the more special. Together they are giants of the skies and the ground, which is emphasised by the release of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition ‘AMG’ (Ref. IW377903), a performance orientated chrono with a titanium case and carbon fibre dial – two materials frequently used in aviation and motorsport. Under the hood is the IWC manufactured calibre 69385, an automatic chronograph movement with a 46-hour power reserve.
Find out more at iwc.com
LONDON CONCOURS 2021 SUPERCAR DAY
London Concours, London’s premier car show, has released more details about Supercar Day, the final day of the three-day event taking place 8 to 10 June. In association with the exclusive owner’s club Drivers Union, 60 of the finest supercars from the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin and McLaren will descend upon
the capital alongside 100 rare and collectible cars. Leading the supercar charge is the stunning limited edition Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Spitfire edition along with cars that starred in Bond films like the BMW Z8. The show will take place on the grounds of The Honourable Artillery Club in London. Morning/afternoon tickets are £25, full
day tickets £40, from londonconcours.co.uk/tickets/
GUESS T H E W ATC H
If you didn’t recognise the almost absurd shield shape of the Hamilton Ventura you’ve obviously never seen Blue Haiwaii, where The King’s favourite electric watch had a starring role alongside Elvis himself. It was futuristic at the time and even now is a modernist icon.
With our Nautical issue full steam ahead however, let’s turn our attention not to yet another diving watch but one better suited to teak decks and boat-based cocktails. Still, while this watch may be a flashy combination of metals, it’s still a superlative timekeeper and its 100m waterproofness is plenty, provided you don’t fall in. What is the watch?
what is the WATCH ?
CHECK BACK NEXT ISSUE FOR THE ANSWER
Any ideas? Let our editor know at sam.kessler@opulentmedia.co.uk and you may have a free subscription on your hands.
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BREITLING
Super Chronomat Chronograph
Just when we began to think that the watch world had given up the ‘bigger is better’ state of mind, Breitling has decided to take a break from the vintage elegance of their Premier Heritage Collection to show off the proportions of their new, 44mm Super Chronomat. It’s big, bold and pure 80s Breitling – especially the version with a UTC module embedded in the classic Rouleaux bracelet. It’s just the right side of kitsch and we can’t help but love it.
NEWS
INTRO DUCING
IN DETAIL
• 44mm stainless steel or red gold case with 200m water resistance • Breitling Calibre 01 automatic movement with 70hour power reserve • From £6,750, breitling.com
GRAND SEIKO
Quartz GMT 140th Anniversary Sport Collection
IN DETAIL
• 40mm stainless steel case with 200m water resistance • In-House 9F86 quartz movement • £4,000 (red and blue), £4,800, limited to 2,021 pieces (yellow), seikoboutique.co.uk
Seiko is forging on with their anniversary celebrations with yet another limited edition Grand Seiko. This time however, they’ve leant on the sports angle with an incredibly accurate 9F86 quartz movement, the very top end of battery-powered horology. Paired with a trio of handsome GMT colourways – red, blue and yellow – and the exquisite finishing typical of Grand Seiko, this capsule collection is yet another winner from the Japanese watchmaking giants.
IN DETAIL
• 55mm x 44mm white gold case with 30m water resistance • Jacob & Co. calibre JCAM37 manual-wind movement with 60-hour power reserve • $560,000 (approx. £400,000), unique piece, jacobandco.com
MICHEL HERBELIN
Art Déco Manual
As last issue’s style shoot showed, Art Deco is very much in vogue a century after the original roaring 20s, and the latest from Michel Herbelin taps into that hedonistic movement nicely. The slightly curved case offers a more casual take on the classic rectangular watch, with the roman numerals and rail track typical of the era. Add in a nice touch of guilloche at the dial centre with inset small seconds and you have a stylistically lovely – yet surprisingly accessible – piece from a watchmaker known for both those things.
IN DETAIL • 41mm stainless steel case with 100m water resistance • Sellita SW510 BH Elaboré automatic movement with 58-hour power reserve • £1,680, farer.com
JACOB & CO.
Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Baguette Black and Orange Sapphires
Taste is of course subjective and we’re sure that someone out there will adore this, one of the flashiest new watches of 2021. Centred around a moving replica of a Bugatti Chiron engine and encased in 190 baguette diamonds, 109 black sapphires and 42 orange sapphires, it’s not exactly subtle. Look beyond the glitz though and there’s some serious watchmaking on display. You just might need to squint to see it.
MONDAINE
Evo2 Automatic
Finally, after outcry from fans and a campaign of furiously penned letters begging for a new movement, Mondaine have finally updated their railway clock-inspired Evo2 with an automatic movement. Now the beautifully clean, Bauhaus design has been equipped with the Sellita SW220-1 calibre workhorse movement, combining Swiss design and horology with Mondaine’s signature accessible price tag. An entry-level classic in the making.
IN DETAIL
• 35mm / 40mm stainless steel case with 100m water resistance • Sellita SW220-1 automatic movement with 38-hour power reserve • £549 (strap), £599 (mesh bracelet), uk.mondaine.com
YEMA
Navygraf Marine Nationale GMT Limited Edition
Any new release from Yema is enough for us to sit up and pay attention, but a model that’s not just inspired by the French Navy but one that the Marine Nationale will be using in action? That’s something to get excited about. Loosely based on examples from the 70s, this triple timezone piece is handsome in a utilitarian, tool watch way, with a fitting navy blue dial and the specs necessary to match the Marine Nationale’s stringent standards. It’s also pretty damn big.
IN DETAIL
• 49mm stainless steel case with 300m water resistance • Calibre YEMA3000 automatic movement with 42-hour power reserve • $1,049 (approx. £742), limited to 1,000 pieces, en.yema.com
THE EUROS OF WATCHES
FOR THE FIRST TIME since the pandemic hit, teams across Europe are gearing up to represent their country at a major tournament with an eye towards international footballing glory! But we’re less interested in that than we are in watchmaking. So, to get in on the fun, we decided to think about what the Euros of watchmaking would look like. Same format, but instead of each country being represented by a full team of skilled players, each is represented by a single timepiece, the one most symbolic of their style of watchmaking. Unfortunately, not all countries taking part in the Euros have a watch brand to speak of. So, rather than have it out through the group stages, we’re heading straight to the knockouts! It’s the best part anyway.
1A: SWITZERLAND
Rolex Explorer 36mm Bi-Colour It was always going to be Rolex. Switzerland has an advantage when it comes to watchmaking, and the new, downsized Explorer is a fitting tribute to the watch with the crown’s inimitable heritage.
1C: NETHERLANDS
Grönefeld 1941 Principia The brothers Grönefeld are no strangers to the world of haute horology; in fact, they’ve claimed many a GPHG prize over the years, including with the beautiful salmon dialled 1941 Principia.
2A: ITALY
Unimatic U2 F Florence’s watchmaking heyday has passed but Milan-based Unimatic’s emphasis on limited edition designs has made them a collector’s darling. Case in point, this sleek, monochrome take on the U2.
2C: AUSTRIA
Carl Suchy & Sohne WALTZ N°1 Not only does the name Carl Suchy & Sohne date back to the Austrian courts of the early 1800s, their signature Waltz No. 1, inspired by the modernist designs of Adolf Loos is unique Viennese.
1B: BELGIUM
Ressence Type 2 N One of the coolest independent watchmakers around right now, the unique style of Ressence watches combined with their oil-filled, carousel style have made them a modern icon, even in navy.
1D: ENGLAND
Vertex MP45 Arctic With a clutch of homegrown brands to choose from, Vertex’s military heritage is archetypal British watchmaking. This whitedialled MP45 is handsome and has an in-built stiff upper lip.
2B: RUSSIA
Vostok Nuclear Submarine Big, chunky and injected with a healthy dose of cold war machismo, Vostok’s timepieces are both ridiculous and hard not to love, even when they’re inspired by weapons of mass destruction.
2D: SCOTLAND
anOrdain Model 1 Green Fumé One of the most impressive exports out of Scotland other than whisky, anOrdain’s enamel dials are the kind even Swiss watchmakers get jealous of – just look at the Green Fumé Model 1. Stunning.
1E: SPAIN
Pita Barcelona Molinos Orbital ‘Classic Edition’ Pita Barcelona is as homegrown as they come. Better yet, their watches are extraordinary. The Molinos Orbital for example uses the gears of the movement as stand-ins for the hands.
2E: SLOVAKIA
Molnar Fabry Time Machine Regulator Molnar Fabry is a hidden gem of a watch studio. They take basic, stock movements and transform them into works of art such as in this superlative Time Machine Regulator unique piece.
1F: GERMANY
Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar Just as Switzerland was always going to be Rolex, Germany was invariably going to be A. Lange & Söhne. Just take a look at the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar. Enough said, really.
2F: FRANCE
Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale GMT Ltd Edition Yema has been going from strength to strength, and what better representative for France than the watchmaker that already represents their navy? Enter the Navygraf Marine Nationale.
RUNNER-UP 1: SWEDEN
GoS Norrsken
More Scandinavian than a gritty crime thriller, GoS combine Damascus steel, Viking heritage and Scandinavian inspiration, which is all epitomised in the borealis green dial of The Norrsken.
RUNNER-UP 2: DENMARK
Nordgreen Philosopher
Nordgreen win out by virtue of their pitch-perfect take on Danish and Scandinavian design paired with a socially positive outlook. The Philosopher is affordable, minimal and tactile in equal measure.
RUNNER-UP 3: PORTUGAL
Meia Lua Callisto Halfmoon Semi-Red
With their intriguingly coloured dials and uber-modern pilots’ watch aesthetic, Lisbon-based Meia Lua certainly stand out. The Callisto Halfmoon adds a red racing layout to the triple calendar.
RUNNER-UP 4: CROATIA
Marnaut Seascape 200R Taking their unique dial embellishments from the spines of sea anemones, Marnaut is a distinctly Adriatic watch brand. The Seascape’s compressoradjacent shape makes it a a dark (sea)horse.
