With its sporty, nautical notes, the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club collection has always offered versatile watches capable enough for your sailing trip as they are for a casual cocktail by the beach. The new Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide is encased in a large 44.6mm case crafted in 18-carat rose gold. Instead of your usual chronograph, the dial features a novel indication based on two sub-counters. The one at 6 o’clock displays the expected times for the next high and low tide, while the other at 12 o’clock – indicating the Northern and Southern Hemisphere – showcasing the moon phase that also provides information about the strength of the current tides. The watch is further enhanced with the classic leaf-shaped Portugieser hands and gold-applied Arabic numerals as well as a matching blue rubber strap.
Discreet and well-proportioned with a right dose of elegance, Omega’s De Ville Prestige isn’t a collection about making a statement. This year, new colour combinations are added to the range. The silvery or black dial with a honeycomb pattern dial is linked to an outer railroad track that keeps an accurate check on time. Each dial is also decorated with the collection’s classic hour-markers, a combination of rounded Roman numerals and dots, in rhodium-plated on black dial, grey-coated on white dial in steel or goldplated to match the two-tone case. It is finished off with newly designed leaf-shaped hands and a date window at 6 o’clock.
The Zenith Chronomaster Revival “Shadow”, a revival of a 1970s chronograph model that was never serially produced, is a reimagining (as opposed to “reproducing”) of a historical Zenith watch. It is housed in a 37mm case, which has opted for microblasted titanium over PVD-coated steel used in the original prototype that enhances the dark nuances with a completely matte finish. The black dial contrasts with the three counters and tachymeter scale close in hue to the case colour. The hands and applied markers are coated with white SuperLuminova that emits a bright green glow in the dark. If you’re trying to figure out where the date window placed, don’t – because there isn’t one. Despite the vintage inspiration, the Chronomaster Revival “Shadow” feels fresh, which we believe that it is probably due to the case material.
Known for anchoring firmly in tradition, the Blancpain Villeret collection keeps getting reinterpreted (subtly) with contemporary aesthetics while reaffirming the faith of the brand to the values of traditional watchmaking values. This year, Blancpain revisits one of its famous families: the Villeret Ultraplate 38mm watch. Whether in a steel or a red gold case, the opaline dial shines bright with gold appliques carefully affixed to form the Roman numerals and enhanced with a date aperture at 3 o’clock. A detail that we like is the initials of the founder, Jehan- Jacques Blancpain, on the seconds hands. Equipped with the 1150 movement with generous power reserves, the watch is easily recognisable for its slender double-stepped case, understated dial, applied gold hourmarkers and sage leaf-shaped hands.
Last but not least, though featuring elements of the Longines heritage of air, land and sea, the new Spirit collection is anything but a re-edition. The two variants – a time-and-date and an automatic chronograph – boasting historical references such as a bold and sturdy case, a clearly legible dial and an oversized crown, are met with present-day mechanics and aesthetic codes. The satin and polished stainless steel case of the classic three-hand and calendar model houses an exclusive self-winding movement. A domed sapphire glass sets atop a black dial with indexes and hands coated with Super-LumiNova. The stylish yet practical watch is completed with an attractive brown leather strap.
This story first appeared in the August 2020 issue of Men’s Folio Malaysia.
