Baselworld 2018 Preview: The Most Anticipated New Watches
Another year, another Baselworld – it’s the world’s biggest horology love-in, where luxury watch brands unveil their latest timepieces (and flash their chequebooks) from gold-plated booths with a purpose-built aquarium inside. No, the watch world’s biggest trade fair hasn’t mellowed in recent years – and nor have the wares on offer. As watch nerds of every kind prepare for the onslaught of free champagne and back-to-back meetings, we’ve got an early look at some of the big releases at Baselworld 2018 from the world’s biggest marques.
Agonium ‘In Memoriam H.R. Giger’
Though sadly passing away in 2014, H.R. Giger – the Swiss painter responsible for the iconic design work of Alien – remains relevant today. In addition to an enduring impact upon the film and video game industry, his signature style can now be found on Agonium’s commemorative piece: a beautifully grim automatic hand-worked and casted in silver. Attractive, especially if you like your ticker equal parts robust and terrifying.
Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique 5367
Legendary watchmaker Louis Breguet arguably made his most accomplished piece way back in 1827: the famed Marie-Antoinette pocket watch. Still, 2018’s Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique 5367 from the brand that still bears his name comes close. This impressive piece has placed a complex self-winding mechanism on a diet, losing so many inches as to be housed in a svelte 3mm case. Don’t worry, though: Breguet’s trademark classicism is still very much full fat.
TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 02
TAG Heuer shouldn’t be confined to city graduates. Sure, they cater to that man extremely well, but the brand is also adept at finely-tuned, highly-engineered watches. Case in point: the Carrera Heuer 02. As an update of a chronograph first devised in 1963, this mechanical watch will be made available in 13 different variants, including steel, carbon, ceramic or gold with a multitude of straps and bracelets. Think CEO, not lowly desk jockey.
