The hand-wound Panerai Radiomir 8 Days (PAM 346) combines the titanium alloy of its mildly oversized case with the 18-karat rose gold of its three hands in something that some may feel like an ugly mix of difficult-to-match metals.
45 mm
Maurice Lacroix Pontos Decentrique Phases de Lune
Okay, that’s the last one for today. Also featuring a moon-phase complication the 2010 Maurice Lacroix Pontos Decentrique Phases de Lune (ref. PT6218-TT031-330) speaks a completely different design language with a strong German accent. Just like the other models in the Decentrique collection, the watch sports an off-centered main dial moved in the north-west direction. Still, what is particularly interesting about this one is the time display interface.
Ebel Classic Hexagon Retrograde Power Reserve
Previously sold only in an impressively oversized stainless steel case more than 45 millimeters in diameter and over 11 millimeters thick, the 2010 Ebel Classic Hexagon Retrograde Power Reserve is finally available in a lot more expensive 18-karat rose gold body of the same dimensions. From where I sit, the move seems risky given the relatively low market strength of Ebel as a brand (I wonder how many wealthy customers will be ready to part with more than €15,000 to get one of these,) but something tells me that the decision-makers at the Swiss watchmaking brand probably have a dissenting opinion on this matter.
All Hands on Deck: Breguet Marine Royale 5847 with Mechanical Alarm
Breguet, a watchmaking brand that was established in Paris, France back in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet himself and is now a part of The Swatch Group, has released a rose gold version of its Marine Royale 5847 collection that features a mechanical alarm system. Soon to come to a boutique near you, the new timekeeper costs almost €30,000 and makes a strange, yet painfully powerful first impression.
Vintage-Styled Archimede Pilot XL Automatic
If you have a body (or at least wrists) of heroic proportions and are not willing to pay thousands of dollars for ridiculously overpriced timepieces like, say, IWC Doppel-Chronograph Top Gun, then you may want to check out the vintage-styled Archimede Pilot XL , which is both ruggedly-classy and, priced well below the €500 mark, surprisingly affordable.
Victorinox Swiss Army Airboss Mach 4 “Aviator”
First unveiled at the Baselworld 2009 and going on sale at the beginning of October of the same year, the Victorinox Swiss Army Airboss Mach 4 (ref. 241381) featured a “love it or hate it, we don’t care” layout of its huge dial, but had at least one advantage over competitors that you just could’t deny: it was powered by an almost legendary Unitas 6497 hand-wound movement known for its impressive power reserve, the decent ability for keeping good time, as well as that old-school charisma that more modern mechanisms simply don’t have.