Today, it is my turn to select my top 3 watches from the recently concluded Baselworld 2018. When it comes to watches, people who know me, know that I have a soft spot for timepieces that are simple and yet aesthetically pleasing. That will be the basis behind my armchair picks for the novelties today.
Over the last few weeks, there were certainly some interesting pieces that have caught my eye. The stainless-steel version of Vianney Halter’s Classic, for instance, is certainly one. Maisons, such as Patek Philippe and Grand Seiko, had also continued to impress many with their new offerings. However, amongst which, there are three particular pieces that had caught my eye (and captured my heart). What were the pieces? Let’s find out!
Tissot Heritage 2018
The Tissot Heritage 2018 “Antimagnétique”. A simple but visually-arresting piece.
We kick start the selection with a brilliantly simple watch: the Tissot Heritage 2018 “Antimagnétique”.
The watch derives its design and concept from the “Antimagnétique” collection that debuted in the 1930s. It is one of the nicer vintage-inspired pieces from this year’s Baselworld. While this is a simple time-only watch, it exudes a certainly kind of elegance with the way it looks. The vintage touches, such as the domed silver dial and the “box” type anti-reflective sapphire glass, definitely adds a nice touch to the watch itself.
In addition, the 42mm watch is powered by the ETA 6498-1 movement. This is a manually-wound movement, with a power reserve of approximately 46 hours. The finishing is pretty normal, but with a price point of around US$995 (approximately S$1,310), it is certainly something that is worth a look.
NOMOS Tangente neomatik 41
The new interpretation of the Tangente neomatik, with an interesting date indicator.
NOMOS is a brand that have constantly fascinated us. Based in Glashütte, amongst the likes of Glashütte Original and A. Lange & Söhne, NOMOS has managed to carve a niche for itself by offering well-made and good-looking timepieces at an attractive price point. The new Tangente neomatik is a good example of that.
The updated version of the Tangente neomatik is certainly a beautiful piece. The watch, which is Bauhaus-inspired in terms of its design, features a new way of indicating the date. The date window is now replaced by a maker visible through slit apertures around the minute chapter ring. The date is indicated by the two red markers, one on the left and the other on the right side flanking the date numeral itself. We think that this is a nice addition to the dial, as compared to the usual date windows which might have broken flow of the dial design.
As usual, the watch is powered by an in-house movement. The Tangente neomatik is fitted with their Calibre DUW 6101, which is a self-winding movement that boasts a power reserve of up to 42 hours. The finishing is rather nice on this one as well, with the use of finishing techniques such as anglage, tempered screws, and Glashütte ribbing.
The 41mm timepiece is priced at S$5,570. There aren’t many watchmakers who can offer as much as NOMOS at this price point, and NOMOS had certainly upped the ante with this timepiece.
Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi”
The new Rolex GMT-Master II is certainly a handsome-looking piece.
The new Rolex GMT-Master II is probably an obvious choice, at least for me personally. The “Pepsi” bezel insert is a perennial favourite of many, and the previous offering in ceramic was only available for the white gold model. The other alternatives are the previous iterations with the aluminium bezel insert (or even the Bakelite ones), but the classic/vintage Rolex pieces have been steadily increasing in prices over the last few years as well.
Besides offering the GMT-Master II with the “Pepsi” ceramic bezel insert, the other interesting bit that caught my attention was the use of Jubilee bracelet for this particular model. While there are differing views on this, I feel that the combination is rather interesting. It is more unusual as well, as we often associate such sports models like the GMT-Master II with the Oyster bracelet.
The 40mm timepiece is priced at S$12,430. However, given its hype and popularity, it is safe to say that there will be a long waiting list for this highly antiicpated timepiece.
Concluding Thoughts
The selection, in retrospect, is rather interesting. These three pieces cover three different price points, mainly the (i) entry-level, (ii) middle tier, and (iii) luxury watches. Of course, the selection is limited to this three price points, as I felt that I would prefer choosing something that is attainable.
What are your thoughts on our selection? Are there any pieces, in the same price point, that you think deserves a spot in this list? Let us know in the comments section below!
2 Comments
I think you should have included a Grand Seiko; I think that the Rolex Pepsi GMT was a rather conservative choice; nevertheless, it was a good one.
I would have loved to see the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Bronze as one of the surprises of BaselWorld 2018.