Opus Dakar Sundown

The 41.5 mm diameter Constant Force Tourbillon 11 watch in 18-carat yellow gold, released by Arnold & Son as a limited edition of 11, is driven by a hand-wound mechanical movement. Equipped with two barrels to give a 100-hour power reserve, this timepiece was entirely developed and built at the manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is fitted with a constant force mechanism visible on the enamel dial and is regulated by a tourbillon that can be seen on the back. The architecture of this calibre is inspired by that of the timekeeping instrument driven by the first tourbillon created by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1808, based on a chronometer movement designed by John Arnold. This first tourbillon regulator, now in the British Museum, was given to John Roger Arnold by the Paris-based watchmaker in honour of his scientific collaboration and friendship with his father. The Constant Force Tourbillon 11 timepiece, designed to mark the end of the 260th anniversary celebrations of John Arnold’s legacy, pays tribute to the watchmaker’s ingenuity and his close association with Abraham-Louis Breguet.

The greatest watchmakers of the Age of Enlightenment often knew each other. Some of them exchanged views and appreciated each other despite language barriers and political obstacles. And this was the case with John Arnold and Abraham-Louis Breguet. These two watchmakers, undoubtedly the most productive of the second half of the 18th century, forged a friendship that nothing could shake, not even the throes of war between the two countries or the French Revolution. Aware of their respective talents, during Abraham-Louis Breguet’s frequent trips to London between 1789 and 1791, they shared their views and knowledge of the principles of timekeeping, furthering the science of timekeeping, which in their eyes definitely knew no frontiers.

Black is the absence of light. This is the physical definition of a colour that is synonymous with classicism and elegance. At Moritz Grossmann, black is used to form stylish contrasts and also serves as a testament to the highest standards of craftsmanship. The limited-edition ENAMEL ROMAN Vintage, for example, has an enamel dial whose manufacture presents multiple challenges. With this, Moritz Grossmann has chosen the occasion of its 16th birthday to once again shine the spotlight on the expertise of the ateliers and workshops in Glashütte.

Tradition requires renewal, otherwise it remains stagnant in the past and cannot survive. This is an approach that Moritz Grossmann has embodied since 2008: the manufactory opened 16 years ago as a tribute to one of the most exceptional personalities in the history of watchmaking in Glashütte. Moritz Grossmann was an innovative watchmaker and, with the founding of the German Watchmaking School in Glashütte, influenced a generation of artisans.

His values and vision now live on in the Moritz Grossmann manufactory, which crafts a small but exquisite collection of sophisticated watches that always remain true to the standards of the man who gave the manufactory its name. Characteristics of these timepieces include exclusive manufactory movements with innovative details that are designed, made and finely decorated in-house in the company’s own workshops. The highest of standards also come into play when finishing the watches, as impressively demonstrated by the special model marking the 16th anniversary of the manufactory.
 

Swiss Prestige, the Hong Kong distributor for Chronoswiss, transformed the XX bar of Rosewood Hotel into a kaleidoscope of horological wonder on June 20th. The exclusive cocktail event, themed "Into the Modern Mechanical with Colors," brought Chronoswiss's "Modern Mechanical" philosophy to life in a multisensory experience.

This year, Angelus is releasing the Chronographe Télémètre as a limited edition of two sets of 25 steel timepieces and a further 15 in 18-carat yellow gold. Measuring 37 mm in diameter, with a vintage-inspired dial and a mono-pusher set into the winding crown, this short-interval timekeeping instrument contains countless tributes to Angelus’ rich history and particularly its speciality in crafting chronographs. Its noble hand-wound mechanism, historical roots and superior finishes give this chronograph a wildly elegant retro aesthetic.

After the Instrument de Vitesse and the Chronographe Médical, the La Fabrique collection welcomes a new masterpiece that recalls the functional and aesthetic history of Angelus. Founded in 1891 in Le Locle by the Stolz brothers, Angelus quickly specialised in alarm clocks, minute repeaters and, above all, chronographs. One of its iconic models already inspired the revival of the Chronodate collection 80 years later.

Waxing, gibbous, blue: the power of the moon imposes itself on the Earth and even more so, on the seas. Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide celebrates the fluctuating pull of this celestial body on the water. A large moon disc appears over vast waves. Made of mother-of-pearl and ruthenium, they rise one after the other in a cascade of soft curves. This scene, illuminated by diamonds, celebrates the femininity, elegance and evocative power of Arnold & Son’s watchmaking.

Powerful and plentiful, the waves of Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide herald heavy seas. In the blue of the night, the tide is at its highest, and so are the rollers. The moon, capricious and triumphant, imposes its will. The gradations of the water are topped with a sparkling foam. Beneath the peaceful light of Selene, the ocean rages on.

Arnold & Son interprets this powerfully symbolic scene through mechanisms and minerals. The astronomical moon complication of Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide is adorned in mother-of-pearl and ruthenium: a delicate, evocative composition that fully expresses the dial-makers’ expertise. The mother-of-pearl marquetry, ruthenium crystal inlays and abundance of diamonds symbolise the painstaking care lavished on the women's collections of Switzerland’s most English brand.