The 2015 Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture Ladies FC-703VD3SD4 is one of the finest timekeepers introduced by the brand so far. It is also one of their (still precious few) models powered not by a slightly redecorated version of a run-off-the-mill blank movement made either by ETA or Sellita, but by a new caliber developed and built by Frederique Constant on their own production facilities. That says something, right?
Swiss Brands
Monk Always Know: Oris Thelonious Monk 733 7712 4085
Known for its love for music (among others, its limited editions include homages to such legends as Frank Sinatra, John Coltrane, and Dexter Gordon) Oris has recently introduced its limited-edition Thelonious Monk (ref. 733 7712 4085). Although in certain respects this new model may look unfamiliar to a person who usually associates the brand with its gorgeous chronographs and bulky divers, it is, in fact, deeply rooted in the Manufacture’s philosophy of industrial design. As the legendary sculptor of the past, they took a piece of metal and removed everything that didn’t belong there leaving only the essential elements that make an ordinary accessory a masterpiece.
Succumbing to Nostalgia: Perrelet First Class Double Rotor Skeleton 20th Anniversary
The self-winding Perrelet First Class Double Rotor Skeleton 20th Anniversary pays tribute to the Dipteros 1777 model that the brand issued back in 1995.
We Need a Doctor! Longines Pulsometer Chronograph
At Baselworld 2015, Longines has expanded its line of vintage-styled timekeepers. Besides the gorgeous 2012 Tachymeter and Telemeter models, the brand will also soon start selling their new Longines Pulsometer Chronograph (ref. L2.801.4.23.2).
Alpina Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph 760SB5AQ6
The Alpina Alpiner 4 Manufacture Flyback Chronograph (ref. AL-760SB5AQ6) is not just another handsome wristwatch from just another second-tier brand. Besides featuring a distinct and interesting exterior, it is also one of the few relatively affordable chronographs powered by an in-house caliber. Developed by the brand’s parent company Frederique Constant, it sports an unusual design feature: instead of the tried and true cam-and-lever or a more precise column-wheel, its chronograph module has a star-shaped gear that makes it easier to produce on an industrial scale without sacrificing much in the precision department.
This Breitling Galactic Unitime SleekT is For A Traveler, Not A Hitchhiker
The 2015 Breitling Galactic Unitime SleekT 44 may be not as advanced as a GPS-capable Seiko Astron, yet it has a mojo similar to the Swiss brand’s most iconic “aviators” issued in the 1950s. What is even more surprising is that all this mojo trickles out of this beautiful timekeeper in a subtle, deliciously refined way: something that we have rarely seen from Breitling during the last decade or two.