IWC’s Aquatimer Chronograph Edition “Expedition Charles Darwin” dive watch ($11,100, IWC boutiques in NY/LA) pays tribute to the father of evolution and his pivotal trip to the Galapagos with a distinctive case made of bronze, an alloy commonly used in shipbuilding in his day.
A. Lange & Söhne’s Richard Lange Perpetual Calendar Terraluna ($229,200) separates hours, minutes and seconds in interlocking circular regulator displays, while calendar indications appear in apertures. The case back reveals a patent-pending orbital moon phase display that accurately depicts the moon’s position relative to the earth and sun. At Wempe New York and Chong Hing in L.A.
DeBethune’s DB28 Digitale ($105,000) merges multiple display modes—digital jumping hour, analog minutes, and a spherical moon phase—for an elegant expression of time that is at once modern and classical. At Cellini and Westime.
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Ultra Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon (price upon request) deftly masters the challenge of packaging two of watchmaking’s most daunting complications—the musical minute repeater and the mesmerizing tourbillon—in a case measuring only 7.9mm thick, capturing the record for the thinnest minute repeater. At JLC boutique in Beverly Hills.
Panerai’s Radiomir 1940 Chronographs recall the brand’s handsome vintage pieces with three limited editions in red gold, white gold, and platinum with varying dial designs, including a California version ($58,500) that mixes Roman and Arabic numerals. The OP XXV movement was developed on a base by Minerva (now incorporated into sister-brand Montblanc), a legendary chronograph producer that once supplied the original Florentine house.
Cartier’s Tank Louis Cartier Sapphire Skeleton (price upon request) lays the delicate framework of its movement bare in the center of the dial, thanks to a sapphire crystal baseplate and patent-pending integrated construction.
Richard Mille’s Natalie Portman RM 19-01 Tourbillon Spider ($525,000 in white gold) was designed in collaboration with the actress to depict a diamond-studded spider with the abdomen supporting the tourbillon bridges and the legs supporting the two winding barrels. At 222 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.
F.P. Journe’s “élégante” (from $11,000 in titanium), the Geneva master’s first women’s collection, surprises his purist devotees with a long-lasting electromechanical movement that goes to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity to preserve energy. Pick it up, and the hands automatically reset to the correct time. At F.P. Journe boutiques in NY, 721 Madison Ave. and L.A., 8608 W. Sunset Blvd.
Parmigiani’s Tonda Metropolitaine ($11,500, as shown in steel with mother-of-pearl dial and diamond-set bezel) represents the feminine side of the new Metro collection aimed at sophisticated urbanites with sleek style and the brand’s most affordable collection ever. At David Orgell in Beverly Hills and Cellini in New York.
Audemars Piguet’s Ladies Royal Oak Chronograph in 18-karat pink gold ($147,600) dazzles with 966 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling nearly eight carats on the case, bezel, dial, and bracelet. AtWestime Beverly Hills and in New York, Audemars Piguet www.audemarspiguet.com or 888-214-6858.
Vacheron Constantin’s limited-edition Métiers d’Art Fabuleux Ornements collection merges watchmaking’s traditional decorative arts and the age-old craft of movement skeletonization to express the delicate beauty of Ottoman architecture (shown, $147,600), Chinese embroidery, Indian manuscripts, and French lacework. At Vacheron Constantin boutiques in New York and Beverly Hills. Call 877-701-1755 or visit www.vacheron-constantin.com