Hot releases from TAG Heuer, Zenith, Hublot and Bulgari
Three years after its inception, the LVMH Watch Week has taken up the mantle as a season opener for the new horological year. The 2023 edition is held in Singapore for the first time, after Dubai in 2020 and an online showcase in 2021, and it stars the luxury conglomerate’s top watchmaking marques. From TAG Heuer’s vintage-inspired chronograph and Zenith’s stunning skeleton watch, to Bulgari’s sensuous bejewelled creation and Hublot’s cutting-edge sapphire tourbillon, here are the watches to get excited about from LVMH Watch Week 2023.
ZENITH
Defy Skyline Skeleton
A follow-up to the Defy Skyline collection that debuted last year, the Defy Skyline Skeleton presents a decorative take on its predecessor’s no-frills, sportive luxury. Encased in 41mm steel and framed by a facetted octagonal bezel, the watch, as its name suggests, is anchored by an open-worked dial. A skeletonised frame bearing a star-shaped motif offers a peek at the Defy Skyline Skeleton’s inner workings – the formidable high-frequency automatic El Primero calibre 3620 SK, which beats at 5Hz (in comparison, most regular movements beat at 4Hz) that allows the watch to display time accurate to 1/10th of a second.
TAG HEUER
Carrera Chronograph 60th Anniversary Edition
Designed by Jack Heuer, the great-grandson of the original founder of TAG Heuer, the Carrera is one of the most iconic modern chronographs. Named after the Carrera Panamericana rally of the 1960s, the watch was made for race car drivers in mind and loved for its elegance, reliability, and fuss-free practicality. This 600-piece limited edition commemorate the 60th anniversary of the watch by paying homage to the first-generation Carrera model, the reference 2447 SN. The original’s design accents, such as the ‘panda’-style dial, vintage Heuer logo and black stripes on the central hands and hour markers are faithfully replicated. Housed in a 39mm steel case to suit contemporary tastes, the anniversary edition runs on an equally modern movement: the automatic Heuer 02 with 80-hour power reserve.
HUBLOT
Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Neon Yellow SAXEM
Hublot is a brand that goes to extreme lengths to achieve its horological ambitions. The Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Neon Yellow SAXEM, in particular, demonstrates its obsession with transparency and toughness for watch cases. The watch is crafted from SAXEM (short for ‘Sapphire Aluminium oXide and rare Earth Mineral’), a sapphire-based alloy comprising aluminium oxide and rare earth elements like thulium, holmium, and chromium originally developed for use in satellite technology. In Hublot’s hands, the material has been shaped and infused with colour – previously in emerald green and now in neon yellow – to be used in a watch case that boasts ultra-resistance and a sheen that is unlike other sapphire watches. The cutting-edge technology extents to the inside of the timepiece. The watch driven by Hublot’s proprietary automatic tourbillon movement, which features sapphire bridges and skeletonised components that accentuate its fascinating transparency.
BVLGARI
Divas’ Dream Mosaica Pink Sapphire
A dazzling assortment of jewellery watches spanning dainty wrist statements to new models from iconic Serpenti collection dominate Bulgari’s glittery LVMH 2023 showcase. The watch that stands out for us is the high-wattage Divas’ Dream Mosaica Pink Sapphire, a resplendent automatic watch that radiates unbridled colour and glamour. Making no apologies for flamboyance, the 37mm rose gold watch is entirely paved with white diamonds and pink sapphires totalling about 3.8 carats and 3.5 carats, respectively. The gems are set in fan-shaped motifs on the dial and lugs – a signature of the Divas’ Dream Mosaica collection that is inspired by the patterned mosaic floors of the Baths of Caracalla, an ancient Roman public bath complex that dates to 216 A.D.
