This summer was a little slow in the watch world, but that doesn’t mean nothing happened. After Baselworld watch companies like Bremont announced the launch of completely new models, while most like Arnold & Son worked off of already-released models. Take a look at some of iW's favorites.
Bremont DH-88
Like all of Bremont’s limited edition collections, this one is sure to go out of stock quickly. The watch is handcrafted in the company’s workshops in England and contains the beautifully finished BE-54AE chronometer-rated chronograph movement with GMT function. Each watch incorporates original spruce plywood from the undercarriage assembly of this winning aircraft.
This limited edition comprises 282 stainless steel-cased watches and 82 rose gold pieces. The movement is visible through an intricately designed and engraved caseback, and the watch is placed on an alligator strap with a pin buckle to complement the case material.
Breitling for Bentley B06 Midnight Carbon
Breitling for Bentley introduces a new limited edition in the Bentley B06 collection: the Midnight Carbon. The watch is powered by its Manufacture Breitling Caliber B06, with an exclusive 30-second chronograph system.
Both the satin-brushed steel case and the bezel feature a motif inspired by the Bentley radiator grilles that are coated with a black high-resistance carbon-based treatment.
The “30-second chronograph” system, inspired by a Breitling patent dating from 1926, is distinguished by its central hand performing a full sweep of the dial in half a minute. This insures extremely accurate 1/8th of a second time readings. Design-wise, the dark blue dial complements the black strap and red numerals nicely.
The dial also displays another world-exclusive feature of Breitling for Bentley: a “variable tachymeter,” based on a circular slide rule. The watch is a 500-piece limited edition.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute 39mm
Gray, violet and blue are the three main colors in the Petite Heure Minute 39mm, while the pocket watch is in blue or red (pictured above). These colors evoke the spirit and visual identity of the Renaissance (think da Vinci and rich fabric patterns), but modern technology transforms the timepieces into something much more.
Zenith Pilot Type 20 GMT
The Zenith Pilot Type 20 GMT is a part of the watchmaker’s new Pilot North America Special Editions that display the defining characteristics of Zenith aviator watches. The high-precision mechanism, a large case-size at 45mm, luminescent Arabic numerals and stylized hands are a part of this 50-piece limited edition.
The GMT model features a blue, white and red color scheme, perfect for America’s last holiday, Independence Day. The watches are descendants of the onboard instruments developed by the Manufacture in the early days of aviation and these watches are finally available to consumers.
Arnold & Son Golden Wheel
Building on the success of last year’s Golden Wheel, Arnold & Son is releasing a new version of its wandering hours and true beats seconds watch. The Arnold & Son Golden Wheel was initially launched at Baselworld 2015. This new version features sapphire disks with black figures, a redesigned outer ring and a black ADLC-treated dial plate to further increase contrast and thus readability.
What draws people to this watch is the wandering hour complication. The mother-of-pearl arc displays the current hour, as the sapphire disks with the black hour numerals float over the white arc, creating a fantastic visual display. This also makes it easier to tell the actual time, a problem with the historic pocket watches.
The design is kept simple. The movement powering this timepiece, the self-winding A&S6018, took about three years of research and development. The watch is a limited edition of 125 timepieces.