What makes a collectable watch? Any piece that is trailblazing, unique, high-performing and limited – and these watches tick all the boxes.
Richard Mille RM 61-01 Ultimate Edition
First released in 2014, Richard Mille RM 61-01 – the younger sibling of the tourbillon RM59-01 worn by Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake – earned the moniker “Baby Blake”. Two years later, a version featuring a black case and, black and white dial was unveiled. And now, the latest issue of the model – the RM 61-01 Ultimate Edition – comes in Carbon TPT and Quartz TPT.
On top of elongations between 2 and 5 o’clock which eliminate all possible rubbing against the wrist, the crown protector in Carbon TPT ensures that the crown is safe during active activities. Expertly skeletonised, the PVD-treated grade 5 titanium bridges and plates are further darkened by a PVD treatment. Oscillating at a frequency of 4Hz, it guarantees best of the best performance thanks to a 55-hour power reserve and impact resistance tested for impacts of over 5,000Gs.
Bell & Ross BR V2-92 Military Green
The new Bell & Ross BR V2-92 Military Green is what you call a no-nonsense watch. Designed to be practical and perfectly suited to all purposes, the adventurous and urban model stays faithful to the military technical specifications with an anti-reflective matte khaki dial treated with Super-LumiNova to ensure optimal legibility, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a reliable Swiss mechanical movement.
The characteristic Vintage series 41mm round steel case includes an integrated protection of a crown guard, and a black bi-directional rotating bezel in anodised aluminium to measure short periods. Aesthetic wise, the date is displayed in a round window between 4 and 5 o’clock – one of the brand’s signature features – on a disc of the same colour as the dial.
Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition
The Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition is a meticulously crafted re-edition of the legendary Co- Pilot launched some 60 years ago. With its superior legibility and rugged construction, it is a reliable companion in the most extreme of circumstances. It comes in two striking precious-metal versions: 18-carat red gold with a black dial and a brown vintage-inspired leather strap with “ONE OF 253” engraved on its case-back and platinum with a blue dial and a gold vintage-inspired leather strap with “ONE OF 153” engraved on the back.
The watch is powered by the in-house B09 calibre based on the brand’s celebrated Calibre 01. Other highlights include water resistance to 30 metres and hand-applied Super-LumiNova, the colour of which calls to mind the luminescent material of its predecessor.
Hublot Big Bang Integral All Black
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Hublot introduces the first-ever Big Bang with an integrated metal bracelet, with the first link fused with the case. The aesthetic is instantly recognisable to that of the Big Bang. The sharp style of the bracelet takes on the codes of the case, with edges that not only enhance the sleek silhouette of the pushers but also the structure of the middle its cut-outs. The polished and satin-finished surfaces, and the bevelling and chamfering of the links, give similar effect of depth and contrast as between the case and the bezel lug. You can find it in three materials associated to the history of Hublot: lightweight titanium, hard-wearing, scratch-proof ceramic and King Gold, a unique alloy of gold, copper and platinum.
Montblanc Heritage Pulsograph Limited Edition
The Montblanc Heritage Pulsograph Limited Edition 100 takes its cue from traditional doctor’s watches. First there was the model with a salmon-coloured dial, and now, the Maison launches this brand spanking new one in a 40mm-wide 18-carat rose gold case with a one-of-a-kind tobacco-brown dial and matching Sfumato alligator strap.
Besides the “grainé” hour ring and sunray finish dial, the other vintage design codes include luminescent Arabic numerals and dots for indexes, luminescent dauphine hour and minute hands and baton-shaped hands for the seconds and the chronograph indications (all coated in 18-carat rose gold), rack minuterie, and old school international payphone indications of 3, 6 and 9 minutes on the chronograph’s minutes counter.
This story first appeared in the April 2020 issue of Men’s Folio Malaysia.
