wE LOVE

HubloT

big bang Tourbillon auTomaTic PurPlE saPPHirE

Sharmila Bertin

Like a cloud that delicately kisses the soft amethyst-hued rays of a setting sun, the new Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Purple Sapphire is a liberated, ethereal watch that gives you wings. Life was breathed into this piece, issued in just 50 pieces, through the audacious mission that the highly-creative Hublot set itself over four decades ago when it chose to make the wildest dreams reality by whisking watchmaking off to another dimension and reinterpreting its traditional codes. It embodies the firm’s modern-day vision to merge yesterday and tomorrow, to combine the regulator, i.e. the tourbillon, that’s admittedly complicated but classical with an upto-the-minute material that it has been focusing its research and development on for some fifteen years now: synthetic sapphire. Its impressive 40 mm-diameter case adorns a consistent translucent violet colour, with its bezel centre staging the six iconic titanium “H” screws. This crystalclear dial showcases the HUB6035 manufacture calibre, a 3 Hz automatic motor that delivers a power reserve of 72 hours and drives the hours, minutes and skeletonized tourbillon. The latter, twirling at 6 o’clock, flirts symmetrically with the dancing Hublot-logoed microrotor poised on its weight at 12 o’clock. The silvered-edged indexes, Arabic numerals and baton-style hand, fringed by a white minute tracker on the flange, are harmoniously enhanced with plumshaded luminescent material. A matching ribbed rubber strap, attached by a titanium folding clasp and equipped with the One Click fast change system, wraps this dazzling watch around the wrist elegantly.

VacHEron consTanTin HisToriquEs 222

Sharmila Bertin

So, no point in beating about the bush: the Historiques 222 watch, modern-day reinterpretation of Jorg Hysek’s 1977 creation for Vacheron Constantin’s 222nd anniversary, is without a doubt one of the most exquisite pieces showcased during Watches and Wonders. “It reiterates the flamboyant spirit of the 70s” explains Christian Selmoni, Style and Heritage Director of the Genevabased brand, “and we decided to include the yellow gold model, known as ‘Jumbo’ in the Historiques collection”. This reference 44018 is the rarest of all as it was produced in just a hundred pieces between 1977 and 1985 and is the most sought-after for collectors. The 2022 version remains faithful to the assets of its elder sibling’s personality, such as the 37 mm diameter, the fluted bezel, the golden dial, the central baton-shaped hour and minute hands, the integrated bracelet with hexagonal links and the white-gold Maltese Cross – Vacheron Constantin’s emblem – set at 5 o’clock on the case. Nonetheless, it also boasts elements in tune with its generation: the automatic manufacture 2455/2 calibre that beats at a frequency of 4 Hz, delivers a power reserve of 40 hours and displays an exclusive oscillating weight visible through the transparent caseback, finishes and adornments on the case and movement, a date aperture at 3 o’clock slightly offset towards the centre, green-glowing ivory Super-LumiNova® “to enhance the vintage style” states Christian Selmoni, and a triple-blade folding clasp to emphasize the bracelet that’s been reworked and is now sleeker. A pure wonder!