Lucky Thirteen

All of the brands presented their latest collections, most of which should be arriving soon in Hong Kong boutiques. Some of the maisons certainly wanted to give the show a bit more pizzazz by presenting never-before-seen models.

Vacheron Constantin launched its Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 at Watches & Wonders. Named after its founder, Jean Marc Vacheron’s year of birth, this minute repeater follows the brand’s signature of understated elegance matched with impressive finishing. Made of pink gold, the watch features a flying strike governor within its 41mm joint-free case, which together create the optimal chime. The watch also breaks two records, being the thinnest handwound minute repeater movement at 3.9mm, and the thinnest minute repeater watch at 8.9mm.

Another chiming model that deserves attention is Audemars Piguet’s Millenary Minute Repeater in rose gold. Also debuting at Watches & Wonders, the handwound timepiece has a threedimensional architecture with off-centre hours and minutes, plus small seconds in a 47x42mm pink gold oval case. The blued hands and gongs offer a striking contrast, complemented by a full view of the more efficient, shock-resistant AP escapement and double balance-spring.

Also on display was the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph LeBron James Limited Edition, a special 600-piece model co-designed by the basketball star himself. The selfwinding chronograph comes in 18k rose gold, offset with a titanium bezel. The grey theme is a first for the Royal Oak, and is echoed in the megatapisserie dial and counters, the outsized, rubber-clad pushers and the hand-stitched crocodile strap (which James insisted on). The watch comes with James’ signature engraved in blue on the sapphire caseback.