For the first time in the last ten years, a fine watchmaking salon does not take place in windy January Geneva. SIHH moved the deadline to the end of April - and at the same time changed its name to Watches & Wonders. But the participants of the program parallel to Palexpo - and above all the Swiss watchmakers from the LVMH group - preferred to keep the tradition of presenting new products at the beginning of the year, so they changed the shores of Lake Geneva on the coast of the Persian Gulf, where they organized their salon LVMH Watch Week, which was held at the Dubai Bvlgari Hotel …
Hublot
15 years ago, the brand made a big bang when it launched the Big Bang and proclaimed the Art of Fusion concept, according to which one watch could combine gold and rubber. Today, for the first time, Hublot's most recognizable flagship has received a bracelet with three rows of links integrated into the case. The silhouette of the Big Bang Integral has been transformed but retained its signature architecture and 42mm diameter. Arabic numerals have been replaced by indexes, and the design of the chronograph buttons is modeled on the very first Big Bangs of 2005. The trio of novelties is made of titanium, King Gold and black ceramics (500 pieces), and the case does not have composite side inserts. The in-house automatic chronograph caliber HUB1280 provides a three-day power reserve.
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Another Big Bang dazzles with the bright red Red Magic ceramic used in the case and bezel. Hublot specialists discovered the secret of obtaining a rich red hue of high-tech ceramics in 2018. The Big Bang MP-11 Red Magic contrasts bright red with black titanium screws, a raised crown, and a black rubber strap. The spectacular appearance of the watch is partially hidden by the powerful manual-winding caliber HUB9011: seven barrels connected in pairs provide a two-week power reserve - the drum indicator is visible at the bottom of the dial. The helical gear train and balance wheel are symmetrically positioned through the sapphire crystal on both sides of the dial with red indices and hands. The series is limited to 100 pieces.
Bvlgari
Over the past ten years, the Italian jewelry house has been successfully developing the watchmaking trend, conquering new heights in the field of ultra-thin modern elegant watches. The main heroes of the Dubai Bvlgari week are the recognizable icons of watch design - womens Serpenti and mens Octo Finissimo.
The Serpenti Seduttori Tourbillon is the smallest women's tourbillon watch on the market today. The compact gravity-compensating mechanism has been specially designed for the snake-head body. After all, the technical component of Bvlgari is always subordinate to design. The in-house caliber BVL150 can be viewed both from the side set with diamonds and from the back of the case in white or rose gold through a transparent sapphire window.
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In the men's segment, there are five new Octo Finissimos, among which the minute repeater in a sandblasted rose gold case holds a special place. The hand-wound, ultra-thin in-house caliber BVL 362 is only 3.12 mm thick, but at the same time provides up to 42 hours of uninterrupted operation of three hands, as well as a complex “sounding time” module. The minute repeater function is activated by a button at 9 o'clock, while slotted hour markers and a small second window amplify the resonance inside the case.
Zenith
In 2019, the brand celebrated the anniversary of its legendary El Primero caliber. And the new year opened with a special women's line, Defy Midnight. As the name suggests, the watch is inspired by the endless starry sky. However, in addition to the classic dark blue sky with a scattering of stars, of which the star Zenith shines brightest, the brand offered two additional interpretations: a gray dial with a degradation effect and a snow-white mother-of-pearl, as if flooded with moonlight. The in-house caliber Elite, enclosed in a steel case, operates the time and date display at the 3 o'clock position.
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Another Zenith premiere was created in partnership with the British automobile concern Land Rover. The DEFY 21 Land Rover chronograph is dedicated to the new generation Land Rover Defender SUV. The sandblasted titanium body mimics the matte car body, with a special surface finish that absorbs light from any angle and enhances the silhouette's geometry. The color scheme is supported by a minimalistic gray solid color dial and gray rubber strap. The in-house caliber El Primero 9004 ensures accurate measurements, measuring hundredths of a second. The watch is released in a limited edition of 250 pieces.
TAG Heuer
The Saint-Imier-based avant-garde technology manufactory is preparing to celebrate its 160th anniversary. The TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Silver Limited Edition, unveiled in Dubai, unites 1960s design with 21st century technology. The novelty is inspired by a historic 1964 chronograph model with a silver dial and three azurage counters. Modern watches have changed the diameter (39 mm versus 36 mm), the position of the seconds counter and, of course, the caliber: instead of the Valjoux 72, the case houses a modern high-precision Caliber Heuer 02 with an 80-hour power reserve. The self-winding rotor is decorated with a commemorative inscription “160th anniversary”, and the serial number from the limited edition of 160 pieces is engraved on the case back.
