This January in Geneva, the famed Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) watch show opened its doors to the public for the first time in its 27 years of presenting the year’s newest and hottest innovations in fine watch trends.
Among the 30 exhibitors who came together to present the latest and greatest in watchmaking were a few of our #atMDD favorites. From a watch that can time the speed of your Bugatti to one that helps you chart the stars, these timepieces are more than just pretty arm candy. We’ve rounded up the five coolest watches that the connoisseurs and the press couldn’t stop raving about.
Vacheron Constantin Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600
As interested in the stars as in time, the Celestia is a state of the art watch for the astronomer at heart. With a whopping 23 complications -- meaning any function other than telling time -- the piece has two faces: the front can tell you anything from what time the sun rises, the length of day, season, moon phase, age of the moon, tide level indicator and way, way more. The back shows a tourbillon, rotating celestial chart and a power reserve indicator. The timepiece was in development for five years and only one was made.
Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Aerolithe Performance
Want to track the speed of your Bugatti? The Parmigiani Fleurier Bugattie Aerolithe Performance watch will do just that. You can also compare it simultaneously to your own running pace if you like by using the small tachometer -- as one does. The case is made entirely of titanium and the styling of the calfskin strap calls to mind the embossed pattern of the Bugatti’s interior car seats.
A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpetual Pour Le Mérite
The limited edition watch is both classic and technologically advanced. When the Tourbillon ‘Pour le Merit’ watch debuted in 1994, it was groundbreaking for being the first wristwatch to use a fusee-and-chain transmission, which is hailed as the most accurate timekeeping transmission available. The 2017 update on the classic style adds a tourbillon, chronograph and rattrapante function(aka a double stopwatch) and perpetual calendar with only 50 being made.
Cartier Panthere Joueuse de Cartier
Who needs hands on a watch? The Panthere Joueuse face shows a diamond encrusted panther seemingly peeking its head out of the dial and chasing a ball with its paws, as if pouncing. Want to know what time it is? The ball is the hour while the paw is the minutes. The iconic panther’s head rotates along with the ball and paw. The case is set with 320 brilliant cut diamonds and the panther is set with 254. Opt for either a white alligator strap or go big for the six carat diamond strap. (With the diamond strap, the watch clocks in at 17.80 carats!)
Officine Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days
Dubbed the 50-50-50 because of its limited run of only 50 pieces, for 50,000 euros, guaranteed for 50 years, the sleek and sporty watch is impressively innovative. Every LAB-ID watch has a unique texture, a result of the carbotech material it is made of that when cut displays an uneven black finish. The watch dial is truly one-of-a-kind, made of a special coating of carbon nanotubes, a first for a display dial, that absorbs light, completely removing glare and resulting in a deep matte black, darker than any other watch face. Because off the watch face’s chemical composite, printing or stamping on the face are impossible and all figures are put directly on the dial’s crystal. The carbon also renders the need for lubrication for the mechanism unnecessary, making the watch truly unique and groundbreaking.
