Since 2009, SIHH traditionally opens the watch new year and gives a countdown to important events in the industry (until 2009 the event was held in April, right after the Baselworld fair). This year, there are pavilions of 18 brands at the exhibition, and almost the same number of brands are located in the so-called “Square of watchmakers” (Carré des Horlogers). Many participants in SIHH -2018 presented some of their new products at the end of 2017, thereby fueling the interest of the press and the public in the upcoming event. We have selected 10 important watch brands, some of which are celebrating anniversaries in the coming year.
The IWC manufactory celebrates its 150th anniversary. Exactly one and a half centuries ago, American Florentin Ariosto Jones founded a company for the production and sale of pocket watches in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. In this anniversary year, the brand presents 27 limited edition models from the Portugieser, Portofino, Da Vinci and Pilot's Watches families with special lacquered dials. Of particular note is the platinum Portugieser Constant-Force Tourbillon Edition "150 Years".
© IWC press service
For the first time, its caliber combines a tourbillon of constant force and a high-precision indicator of the moon phases (an error in one day will accumulate only after 577 and a half years). The original IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition "150 Years" is a reminder of the revolutionary digital (non-hand) time indication developed by the Austrian engineer Joseph Pollweber and successfully used by IWC masters in pocket watches in 1884.
© IWC press service
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore line celebrates its quarter-century anniversary - at that time a sportier and more brutal version of the classic Royal Oak. Since 1993, more than 120 articles of this model have been released from different materials with a wide variety of functionality. Two new items have been prepared for the 25th anniversary. The first is an automatic steel chronograph with a blue signature Petite Tapisserie dial. The second is a tourbillon chronograph in a steel and rose gold version. The watch has an unusual dial with architectural details and accentuated screws on the bezel.
1 of 3 © Press Office Audemars Piguet © Press Office Audemars Piguet © Press Office Audemars Piguet
160 years ago, the Minerva manufactory appeared in the city of Villers, which quickly gained a reputation as a manufacturer of the most accurate gold pocket watches, and since the 1880s, high-precision stopwatches with a convenient crown instead of a key. The manufactory's legacy is embodied in the exquisite Montblanc S tar Legacy collection (the Star line turns 20 this year). In addition to the classic automatic chronograph, the aesthetic Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph with an impressive guilloche dial is also available. His system reproduces the original time-keeping device invented by the French master Nicolas Riessek. Another novelty is a stylish sporty TimeWalker chronograph with a panda-style dial (contrasting chronograph counters on a white background).
1 of 2 © Montblanc Press Department © Montblanc Press Department
The German house A. Lange & Sohne marks a sad anniversary - exactly a year has passed since Walter Lange, the founder of the modern watch company, passed away. It was decided to supplement the iconic collection of 1815 with a special watch 1815 "Homage to Walter Lange" with the so-called fading central second hand (the design was invented 150 years ago by Walter's great-grandfather Ferdinand Adolf Lange). The new watch presents two ways of measuring seconds: the classic “creeping” hand is located at “6 o'clock”, and the central one measures the seconds in intermittent jumps. In addition to models made of three types of gold with a silvered dial, a unique steel watch with a black mourning "face" has been released.
1 of 2 © Press Office A. Lange & Sohne © Press Office A. Lange & Sohne
Another anniversary celebrates the newcomer to the SIHH parade - the Hermes brand. One of the brand's iconic models, the round Arceau watch with oblique numerals and an asymmetric stirrup strap was invented 40 years ago by the designer Henri d'Origny. This time the watch is presented in the form of a chronograph in a matte titanium case on a strap made of excellent Barenia calf leather.
© Hermes Press Service
Jaeger-LeCoultre also received a special attention and awe for the strap. The new Reverso Tribute Duoface watch has a branded strap from the Argentinean brand Casa Fagliano, which specializes in the production of leather shoes. It is curious that both companies historically have a common interest in the game of polo and they already had an experience of cooperation: the straps adorned the limited edition Reverso Tribute to 1931 models with a simple hour indication. This time on the second guilloche-covered dial, there are indicators of the second time zone and "day-night". The series is still limited to 100 pieces.
1 of 3 © Press Office Jaeger-LeCoultre © Press Office Jaeger-LeCoultre © Press Office Jaeger-LeCoultre
House Piaget celebrated anniversary of the legendary thin caliber 9P last year, and started with the come another record in his favorite field of ultra-thin watches. This time the automatic watch Piaget Altiplano Ultimate 910P became the champion. As in Piaget 's thinnest mechanical watch, the case and the caliber are one unit: the case back serves as a plate to hold the movement parts, which are no thicker than the height of the balance wheel. Thus, the total height of the watch case turned out to be 4.3 mm with a diameter of 41 mm. For comparison: last year's record holder Octo Finissimo Bulgari had a case with a diameter of 40 mm and a thickness of 5.15 mm.
1 of 2 © Piaget Press Service © Piaget Press Service
Sophisticated, elegant timepieces can always be found on the Vacheron Constantin stand. This time the world's oldest watch manufacturer is showing the Traditionnelle collectible watch with a complete calendar function.
© Vacheron Constantin Press Service
All time indicators and calendar functions are located on the laconic dial, for which the in-house caliber is responsible. The case is made of platinum, and the strap is also made of this noble metal. The edition is limited to 100 pieces. The second novelty is the well-known Overseas watch for travelers with a second time zone function.
© Vacheron Constantin Press Service
The direction of Cartier the Fine Watchmaking under the leadership of Carole Forestier-kazape expanding collection of refined and elegant ultra-complex watch. Both new items are released in a round Rotonde de Cartier case. The first is a platinum skeleton with a double flying tourbillon and the famous "mysterious" movement, developed back in 1912. In the second model, this mechanism of time indication is combined with a "day-night" indicator: in the upper part of the dial, the sun and the moon move alternately, showing the current hour with its ray, in the lower half, a single retrograde hand is responsible for the indication of minutes.
1 of 2 © Press Office Cartier © Press Office Cartier
Brand Roger Dubuis continues to cooperate with the companies Pirelli and the Lamborghini Squadra Corse, while maintaining the aesthetics of the avant-garde skeletons. The design of the Excalibur Aventador S caliber follows the engine details of the iconic Lamborghini Aventador S. It is housed in a high-tech multi-layer carbon fiber case with a rose gold bezel. The Excalibur Spider Pirelli automatic watch has a black rubber strap with a rubber insert made from race-winning Pirelli tires (produced in 88 pieces).
1 of 2 © Press Office Roger Dubuis © Press Office Roger Dubuis>
