Luxury Watches

Since its inception, Piaget's savoir-faire is often defined by their daring creativity. In the late '50s, it announced its reintroduction to the world in the form of the first ultra-thin clockwork: the Altiplano collection. The Maison's groundbreaking new movement remains one of the most historically significant innovations in the 20th century, blurring the distinction between art and timepiece.

In only about a decade since its debut, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller has quickly transformed itself into one of the most revered watches in recent memory. It's one of the most complicated watches released under the Rolex name in the modern age, combining the perks of the annual calendar and GMT functions. If the beloved GMT-Master was built for the pilot, then this timepiece is handcrafted with the traveller in mind.

It was only two decades ago when Ulysse Nardin introduced an unorthodox timepiece in the face of 'Freak.' At the time, it was heralded for breaking the rules of traditional watchmaking: no dial, no hands and no crown. It was a risk when it was released but has since proven to be a groundbreaking timepiece with a deconstruction concept ahead of its time.

When Caroline Murat, Napoleon Bonaparte's younger sister, imagined Breguet's first wristwatch in 1810, she had Abraham-Louis Breguet create a timepiece worthy of her pedigree. Thus, the introduction of a series that would culminate in the world-famous Reine de Naples line. In honor of Women's Month, Breguet debuts a fresh new silhouette in the 8918.

When Franck Muller's Long Island watch first hit the market in 2000, it was revered for being a true homage to the Art Deco movement, with its curved rectangular case and rectilinear, arched numerals. It was a tasteful, innovative rendition of the Novecento style. More than two decades later, the renowned series gets reconfigured and revitalised with the Franck Muller Long Island Evolution.

It's easy to forget how transformative the first release of the Hublot Big Bang was in 2005. It was a timepiece that paved the way for steel, ceramic and rubber to be seen as opulence redefined. From the "sandwich" construction and 44-mm case to the large pushers and skeleton dial and strap, it has since become one of the most recognisable watches in the world.

It wasn't so long ago that Audemars Piguet’s first Royal Oak concept for women made quite a splash. Launched in 2018, the 18-carat white-gold timepiece featured a flying tourbillon and an array of brilliant or baguette-cut diamonds. At the time, it completely disrupted ideas of what a women’s wristwatch should be

Much like other Maisons around the world, Franck Muller joins the Lunar New Year festivities with its own reinterpretation of the revered Wood Dragon. Through its varied skeletonisation techniques, the Master of Complications managed to come up with a dazzling collection that mirrors the complexities of Chinese tradition. Hence, the arrival of the new Vanguard Dragon Slim Skeleton Limited Edition and the Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon Limited Edition.

When Hublot first came to Richard Orlinski, the Swiss luxury watchmaker wanted a watch that had the makings of a contemporary piece of art. The collaboration ended up producing the coveted Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Orlinsk, mirroring the celebrated artist's stylised geometric subjects. Now, they've linked up again to create another stunning timepiece in the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski.

The Year of Dragon only comes around once every 12 years. In Chinese tradition, the revered celestial creature remains an icon of life and immortality. With it comes an abundance of luck, wisdom, and strength, inspiring the world's greatest Maisons to partake in the Wood Dragon tradition. Here, Boulevard looks into some recent limited-edition watches that typify the Lunar New Year spirit.

Girard-Perregaux gained the reputation of being an iconoclast in watchmaking with the introduction of the Constant Escapement in 2013. A winner of the Aiguille D'Or at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève, the timepiece was a masterclass in chronometry and mechanical depth. It was a holographic revelation in many ways, addressing the fundamental concern of amplitude drops in watches.

If there's one thing that IWC Schaffhausen is known for, it's the brilliance of its mechanical depth. The Swiss luxury watchmaker has a penchant for coming up with bold instrument watches and functional complications, most evident in its coloured ceramic and titanium aluminide pieces.

With the Dakar Rally arguably being the ultimate endurance race, it found a worthy partner in Rebellion. The most daring drivers and riders, after all, traverse through sand dunes, rock canyons, and everything else in between. With them should come a timepiece just as hardy and ambitious. For this reiteration of the rally, Rebellion introduces the Predator Chrono Dakar 2024, a watch that captures the relentless nature of the pursuit.

It was in the early 20th century that Blancpain became a standard-bearer for the feminine wristwatch. Betty Fiechter, who would become the first woman to lead a watchmaking company in 1933, had a vision for self-winding timepieces that would be appreciated by women. Hence, the creation of the smallest round movement of the time, the Ladybird model, which offered horological complications once reserved only for masculine watches.

Most have come to associate Jacob & Co with lavishly radical watchmaking. Each piece is an exercise in bold complications using traditional methods. Its Opera Godfather Musical Watch is no different. This limited-edition release, with its mechanical musical box and triple-axis gravitational tourbillon, enjoys the quintessential features of a definitive Jacob & Co classic.

There's a certain poetic touch that characterises Breguet's Reine de Naples. It's a collection rooted in royalty, a historic piece first designed for the Queen of Naples, Napoleon Bonaparte's younger sister, Caroline Murat. This watch is a cornerstone of femininity and refinement. Throughout her lifetime, Murat would come to own more than 30 Breguet watches and clocks herself and this was the collection that stared it all.

Around the turn of the century, Art Deco would come to define a new age. It blended modernity and industrialisation, with machine-like elements elevated to high art. The movement would materialise at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris and would eventually take the United States, as well. Soon, it was a style that would be reflected in architecture, design, furniture, fashion, jewellery and, yes, watches.

For about three decades, François-Henry Bennahmias transformed Audemars Piguet into one of the most dynamic names in high watchmaking. He brought the AP House to life, and would successfully bridge athletics, street culture and the tradition of Le Brassus craftsmanship together. Even as he leaves the brand, Bennahmias isn't done forging daring alliances just yet.

When one thinks of Franck Muller's famed Vanguard series, one can't help but picture its self-winding mechanical movements, edgier exterior and exquisite Cintree Curvex case. The Vanguard, in many ways, has become a blueprint for sportive luxury watchmaking that way.

Only a handful of watchmakers focus on the thrills of mechanical depth like Rebellion. Its translucent skeletonised cases and elegantly sportier character are indicative of a passion for motorsport. The spirit of the brand's timepieces is synonymous with that of a sportscar: light, stylishly bold, high octane and visually stunning.

The world is changing fast, but for a name that has been around since 1755, honouring a rich tradition is the only key to writing one’s future. 

Leica is a name forged in the history books of photography – with a reputation for precision imaging tools dating back to its foundation as Ernst Leitz Optische Werke in 1869. So what happens when a legendary German camera maker applies its philosophy of fine engineering to an entirely new discipline?

The elegant hue of pink gold finally makes its way onto one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most innovative timepieces. The Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon is the latest creation from the Swiss luxury watchmaker to receive the pink gold treatment - a fine aesthetic touch inspired by the Maison’s first tourbillon wristwatch, the Reverso Tourbillon, introduced 30 years ago.

Skeleton timepieces represent a statement of engineering excellence for the world’s finest luxury watchmakers. For the house of Cartier, watchmaking often incorporates rich elements of art and breathtaking jewellery design.

The house of Jacob & Co. is synonymous with breathtaking timepieces featuring some of the world’s most complicated movements. Each Jacob & Co. creation is immediately recognisable due to its often extravagant and striking design unlike anything else on the market. This reputation has seen Jacob & Co. pieces grace the wrists of celebrities from Conor McGregor to Elton John to Rihanna and Cristiano Ronaldo.  

Classicism is a concept best served with style and provenance. Swiss luxury watchmaker Breguet delivers both in 2023 with the arrival of the Classique collection, a timeless reinterpretation of the perpetual calendar in two striking gold variants.

The legend of a Swiss timing icon not only lives on, but is seeing a bold revival like no other in 2023 - the 60th anniversary of its debut. Rolex has pulled the covers off its next generation Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, a model made famous on the wrist of bonafide American actor and racer, Paul Newman. The model which has since graced the wrists of similar high-profile figures from Michael Jordan to Victoria Beckham continues to garner the respect and affection of watch aficionados the world over.

When you've mastered the full suite of mechanical complications – including an extraordinary phases of the moon dial complete with orbiting satellite – where to next? For Bovet 1822, it was a step back from engineering, and into art.

De Bethune is among the most innovative watchmakers in operation today. So it seems apt to ask the company’s CEO, Pierre Jacques, how he drives his team to remain inventive and inspired. Jacques deflects all praise in this regard to his partner in the business, De Bethune cofounder and master watchmaker, Denis Flageollet.

A name that can stand the true test of time is worthy of a fitting homage. That name today is the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms timepiece, the world’s first modern diver’s watch which debuted in 1953 to become an icon for its pioneering underwater exploits.

There’s a first for everything and for Audemars Piguet, 2023 delivers the Swiss luxury watchmaker’s first ever Royal Oak Offshore finished in striking black ceramic for fans of understated chic.

Over the years, watchmakers have regaled us with ingenious timepieces that look like spaceships or boast complications that chime out the time or bring the galaxy to our wrists. But rarely do we see a watch that completely turns our perception of traditional horology upside down.