As another week drew to a close and as we draw a week closer to Baselworld 2019 we are starting to see some new releases early so as to avoid the collective press madness and over reporting, us included, that will accompany whatever Rolex and Tudor release and whatever Omega try to do at the same time in Zurich to distract everyone.
So this week we have new releases from a number of brands varying wildly in price points.
First out the gate on Monday was Breguet with a Classique Grand Feu Blue Enamel ref. 5177
With a dial to die for in an appealing 38mm size and also water resistant to 30m this 18K White Gold watch with Gold rotor will scratch any dress watch itch you possess.
On Monday H.Moser also decided to get in on the act with a pair of Pioneers a Tourbillon and a center seconds 3 hander.
An interesting combination of 18Kt red gold with DLC- finished titanium case and a full fume dial that you could dive into using the full 120m water resistance.
This is a pair of watches with top-notch dress credentials but with sports rigor and materials.
Breitling followed H.Moser with three new watches 2 Chronographs and a 3 hander. The Breitling Aviator 8 Curtiss Warhawk Collection.
These look like great releases from Breitling and personally, I am particularly impressed with how the watches look on straps. Certainly, a watch to look out for when they arrive in AD’s.
Edox followed Breitling with an association product, this time with FIA World RallyCross Championship and the release of the Chronorally.
One of the largest watches released for a while at 48mm and with a bright orange strap wrist presence is guaranteed.
De Bethune went ultra limited edition with a release of 10 for USA markets only of the De Bethune DB28 Kind of Gold.
A corker of a watch and a brand for me along with H.Moser which is one of my personal favorites and has a place on my grail list.
Zenith then popped their head over the parapet with what I hope is just the lead up to the Zenith Defy Inventor release at Basel, which I hope will blow the socks off everyone with a large Sterling silver number.
The Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Silver
Reminiscent of the rivet work on the side of mid 20th Century Aircraft this Sterling Silver piece looks the part but how will Sterling Silver age? Answers on a postcard to Scottish Watches.
Not to be outdone by Zenith, Glashutte Original produced what may turn out to be the best looking and certainly most striking watch face of 2019 so far.
The Glashütte Original Annual Edition Sixties Orange available with or without date, but with a dial that just demands you buy a loop at the same time to inspect the construction of the dial. Magnificent.
As the week drew to a close the first new diver of the week appeared on the scene from Maurice Lacroix in the form of the Aikon Venturer Diver.
Tough as nails and definitely in the more affordable bracket of the launches of the week at $2190 this does everything the Subby will do for a lot less dosh and manages not to look like a complete rip off of the design tropes of Rolex.
And finally, to round the week off we goto Jaquet Droz a brand that continues to produce great looking watches but has still not quite found its feet among some more nimble competitors.
Its Grande Seconde Moon Serpentinite limited to 88 pieces whose rocky looking dial is supposed to resemble the Matterhorn base camp looks good, but the “origin story” does seem a bit shoe”horned” in and probably reflects some of the issues Jaquet Droz continues to wrestle with in market positioning.
Some impressive watches this week, from all ends of the market spectrum, but for that dial my release of the week goes to Glashutte Original
That’s it for week 8 2019, bring on week 9.
