You’ll find everything from rainbow-hued gemstones and flying tourbillons to cool limited editions and three-dimensional watch art
There just something about the festive period that triggers our impulse to go luxury shopping. Maybe it’s the Christmas jingles being played on loop everywhere, or maybe it’s the need to congratulate ourselves for having made it this far. Usually we’d be jet-setting off someplace gorgeous by now, but as we’re all staying put in the ol’ +65 this year, maybe it’s the perfect excuse to look at shopping for new timepieces – something about turning lemons into lemonade… And there are options aplenty this year, with new watch drops happening as often as once every few days, so here is a nifty round-up of all the latest timepieces Robb Report Singapore will be dreaming of this Christmas.
Breitling Chronomat 36
How much: S$6,690
Breitling refreshes the ladies Chronomat collection with a host of dial colours, including very aptly this mint green model accompanied by steel case and bracelet. The Chronomat is also known for its Rouleaux bracelet design, which is as comfortable as it is beautiful.
Louis Vuitton Tambour Damier Graphite Race
How much: S$7,850
The latest model to join Louis Vuitton’s Tambour family, this sporty piece channels Virgil Abloh’s penchant for neon hues, while the signature Damier print covers the entire dial. Sandblasted steel with anthracite PVD coating gives the dial a contemporary spirit.
Hermès Arceau Soleil
How much: S$14,430
With its case by Henri d’Origny, and a dial inspired by a silk scarf created by Swiss artist Fred Rawyler, this exquisite jewellery watch brings sunshine to wherever it goes. With subtle gradations of blue radiating from its heart, it’s one you’d appreciate even more up close.
Panerai Luminor GMT ION Special Edition PAM1177
How much: S$13,850
Dedicated to the ION boutique which reopened in November, this 100-piece limited edition sports a red rubber coated crown as a nod to our Little Red Dot. Cased in steel with a satiné soleil dial, it comes with a super striking red rubber strap, too.
Bell & Ross BR01 Cyber Skull
How much: S$16,700
Memento mori at its most avant-garde. Bell & Ross continually creates skull art in its timepieces but this has to be the most futuristic one yet. Inspired by stealth planes, it has a matte black ceramic case facetted to reflect the aesthetic of the skeletonised movement.
Blancpain Villeret Extraplate Boutique Edition
How much: S$24,700
Who knew that yellow gold and green is such a winning combination that it also works with classic watches like the Villeret? Here we have a 40mm extra-thin self-winding model that would definitely put you in the mood for Christmas.
Zenith Defy Classic Carbon
How much: S$28,300 (bracelet) or S$16,900 (rubber strap)
One of the few carbon fibre timepieces with an integrated bracelet in a matching material, this ground-breaking timepiece demonstrating the watchmaking mastery at Zenith weighs a mere 65 grams. Incredibly, it’s not a limited edition and available for purchase online.
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin “Black Gold Flux”
How much: S$37,000
Slim and elegant, this festive piece is enlivened by a unique dial coated with black gold flux which shimmers with tiny copper-coloured flecks. A 50-piece limited edition, it’s cased in white gold and runs on a manually wound movement.
Piaget Altiplano Tourbillon 38mm
How much: S$176,000
Extra-thin tourbillons are hard enough to find, much less one sized at a dainty 38mm, but of course as masters of ultra-thin watchmaking, Piaget has done it. And added a sprinkling of diamonds to boot, so how could we say no?
MB&F HM3 Frog X
How much: S$212,000
The most widely adored of all MB&F horological machines, the HM3 Frog re-emerges with a crystal clear case and a trio of exciting colours: green, purple and blue. A secret message hidden on the crown gives you something extra fun to play with no matter where you are.
Richard Mille RM72-01 Lifestyle In-House Chronograph
How much: Price upon request
As the first fully in-house manufactured Richard Mille chronograph, the RM72-01 comes with an innovative double-clutch mechanism which makes it slimmer and run more efficiently. Well-suited for men as well as women, it signifies a coming of age for the young watch company.
Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Flying Tourbillon
How much: CHF133,000 (S$200,184)
The case’s complex form is offset by the elemental beauty of its dial, here made using a blend of crushed aventurine glass on grand feu enamel, evoking the infinite cosmos where the flying tourbillon is like a scintillating meteor hurtling through space.
Bvlgari Serpenti Incantati Rainbow
How much: Price upon request
Featuring the boldest use of gemstones ever in a Bvlgari timepiece, this glamorous ladies watch is made for the spotlight. In a 33mm yellow gold case, it’s a festival of colours with green tsavorites, yellow and orange sapphires, garnets, spinels, rubies and diamonds.
