Baselworld 2017 My five faves Five watches that impressed me (for different reasons) at Baselworld 2017

  • WatchEast
  • June 12, 2017
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I have always been reluctant to single out individual brands and models at the major watch shows for fear of sidelining other brands and watches that may be just as interesting. I consider it my job to present the facts about new watches and let the reader decide for themselves. But at Baselworld this year I couldn’t help but notice the amount of times that other people wanted to hear my opinion, whether fellow journalists or brand representatives (who often have no time to check out what is going on around the cavernous halls of the show). So for a change, I have selected five watches that impressed me at Baselworld 2017. Each did so for different reasons and some of these timepieces were already the talk of Baselworld before I saw them for myself. Here they are in alphabetical order.

Anonimo Nautilo
It’s a good sign when you see three new models during a brand presentation, each of which you are seriously considering buying, but you can’t make your mind up. This was the case on the Anonimo stand, where a split decision left me hesitating between the new Nautilo model with a bronze case and blue dial with blue ceramic bezel or the same model with the steel case and either the blue or black dial. The brand’s CEO Julien Haenny was keen to sell me all three, of course, but let slip that I may want to choose one and wait for the models to be presented for the brand’s 20th anniversary later this year before buying another. After a sneak preview I can see why, and my definitive choice would be for the bronze model with the blue dial.
Price: 2,790 Swiss francs

My five faves

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic
The new Bulgari Octo Finissimo automatic was the talk of the show from the very first day, because there is nothing better to get people talking than a new world record. In this case it is the world’s thinnest self-winding wristwatch, but the new Octo Finissimo is so much more. Its octagonal design has already proved itself in numerous iterations but the combination of matte grey on the titanium case and dial of this new model, which is available with a matching ultra-thin titanium bracelet, is simply sublime. It weighs in at just 42 grammes with the leather strap or 62.7 grammes with the bracelet.
Price: 11,900 Swiss francs on black leather strap, 12,900 on titanium bracelet.

My five faves

Fabergé Visionnaire Chronograph
I already wrote about the new Fabergé Visionnaire Chronograph at length just before Baselworld, having been treated to an in-depth explanation by the movement’s inventor Jean-Marc Wiederrecht of Agenhor. But I had yet to see the finished watch in real life. The black ceramic and titanium version is my clear favourite. A slight optical illusion makes it look smaller than its gold and titanium equivalent, but in both cases I am more interested in admiring the precise instant jumps on the chronograph scale, which is clearly readable at the centre of the dial.
Price (black ceramic and titanium version): 39,000 Swiss francs

My five faves

 

Kerbedanz Maximus
I had a short phone call from the folks at Kerbedanz before Baselworld to inform me that the brand would be launching the world’s biggest tourbillon on Saturday. This was impressive in itself, but the significant piece of information that was not communicated at the time was that this was a central tourbillon. Not only is this therefore quite a rare watchmaking complication, it also sets a new record with a tourbillon carriage that measures 27mm in diameter. But more importantly than that, when I discovered the new watch, which is being produced as a limited edition of 99, I found the design and the giant tourbillon (which revolves around the dial every six minutes), quite simply mesmerising.
Price (titanium version): 165,000 Swiss francs

My five faves

 

Seiko – Grand Seiko Hi-Beat Professional Diver
My weakness for a fine diver’s watch shows through here, but as with Anonimo, there were three models presented by Seiko this year that caught my eye, from the top-of-the-range Grand Seiko Hi-Beat Professional Diver to the re-edition of the first-ever Seiko diver’s watch from 1960 and a new Prospex diver. Seiko announced that it was henceforth positioning Grand Seiko as an autonomous brand, aiming for greater global awareness. The products deserve it, but at prices in excess of €12,000 the brand is clearly encroaching on the hallowed green turf of Rolex. Out of the limited edition in steel with blue dial (500 pieces) and the standard black model, my preference is for the limited edition.
Price (limited edition in steel with blue dial): €12,300

 

My five faves

SOURCE:http://en.worldtempus.com/article/baselworld-2017-my-five-faves-23725.html