Best Watches of 2013
From understated classics to sporty suave to outright rebellious, here’s a list of 2013’s best watches to complement every shade of your personality
1/14
JAEGER LECOULTRE DUOMÈTRE À SPHÈROTOURBILLON
Jaeger LeCoultre’s ‘The Sphérotourbillon’ is one of the most talked-about timepieces to be launched this year. It features Duométre’s signature dual-wing concept that provides two separate power sources for time-keeping and complications. This ensures that the additional functions performed by the watch do not affect its accuracy in timekeeping. With the Duométre à Sphérotourbillon being hailed as the most precise tourbillon setting ever, JLC has set a new paradigm in high-complication pieces. The watchmaker has limited the platinum version to 75 pieces while the version in rose gold is non-limited.
Price: $262,000 (rose gold)
2/14
BREGUET LA CLASSIQUE CHRONOMÉTRIE REF 7727 10HZ
Breguet’s La Classique Chronométrie is widely regarded as the most precise mechanical watch of all time. The watchmaking house that virtually shaped the industry with its groundbreaking inventions for over two-and-a-half centuries continues to focus on research and development, with over 100 patents filed in the past decade alone. This watch is a tribute to this tradition, incorporating Breguet’s much lauded magnetic pivot that uses magnetism to set a new standard in accuracy and reliability (-1/+3 seconds a day). The gold exterior is equipped with silicon double balance-spring, pallet lever and escape wheel, with a power reserve of 60 hours.
Price: $44,500
3/14
PATEK PHILIPPE CALATRAVA REF 5227
Patek Philippe’s iconic creation, the Calatrava, has served as the prototype for classic round watches for decades. The new Calatrava Ref 5227 builds on this legacy and incorporates the trend of bigger watches (even in the formal dress variety) with a wider 39 mm, 18K gold (rose, white or yellow) dial showcasing the immaculately designed dauphine style hands. The increase in diameter is balanced by the watch’s thinness. In signature tradition, the case back can be popped open to see the movement. This design is a testament to the company’s legendary craftsmanship and ingenuity.
Price: $35,400 (yellow gold) / $37,300 (rose gold and white gold)
4/14
GIRARD-PERREGAUX 1966 COLUMN-WHEEL CHRONOGRAPH
The latest expression of Girard-Perregaux’s celebra-ted chronograph tradition, this integrated chronograph is the culmination of five years of research that went into developing the new calibre GP03800. One look at its back is all it takes to appreciate the technical expertise and discreet elegance of this timepiece. The integrated chronograph design offers an unobstructed view of the GP03800 movement with its 312 components working in perfect harmony. This movement is fitted in a 40 mm gold (pink) case designed in Girard-Perreguax’s 1966 family tradition with a bi-compass dial featuring a tachymeter scale.
Price: $37,400
5/14
HARRY WINSTON OPUS XIII
While most watches have a single hour hand, the Harry Winston Opus XIII has 11 rotating triangles to clock hours. Also, most watches have one minute hand, while this one has 59 pivoting minute hands. A sliding trapdoor serves as a magical vortex from which the minutes and hours come up or vanish into. Brainchild of eccentric watchmaker Ludovic Ballouard, this has been released in a 130-piece limited edition series.
Price: $300,000
6/14
RESSENCE TYPE 3
This may look like a concept watch, but the Ressence Type 3 actually redefines the way watches have been built. Instead of a dial with hands encased in a crystal, this mechanical watch features an assembly of rotating discs—indicating hours, minutes, seconds and days—that glow in the dark. It is a limited edition watch and is targeted at the gizmo freak.
Price: $30,000
7/14
HYT H2
Following up their hugely popular H1, The Hydro Mechanical Horologists, aka HYT, released 50 pieces of its limited edition H2 watch this year. Enclosed in a black DLC titanium case are the bellows and the system
of feelers, cams and pistons that are key components of H2’s intricately designed system.
Price: $90,000 (estimated)
8/14
TAG HEUER CARERRA JACK HEUER EDITION
Launched in 1963, Tag Heuer’s Carerra line of watches is the first sports chronograph designed specifically for profe-ssional drivers and sportscar enthusiasts. The Jack Heuer Edition—a limited edition chronograph that is a follow-up of last year’s Jack Heuer 80th Birthday Carerra—is a worthy tribute to this designer of iconic timepieces (including the original Carerra). The watch sits at a slight tilt on the wrist in keeping with the Mikrogirder inspiration.
Price: $7,800
9/14
ROLEX GMT MASTER II DAY/NIGHT
The latest in Rolex’s series of Oyster Perpetual GMT Master watches sports a two-tone Cerachrom bezel in black/blue. The dual tone bi-directional rotatable 24-hour graduated bezel is the result of a process developed and patented by Rolex. Its proprietary calibre 3186 self-winding mechanical movement adds to the precision.
Price: $9,000
10/14
RADO HYPERCHROME GLAM SLAM
This is for those who’re not averse to a little bling. Rado, the pioneers of scratch-resistant watches, adds the lustre of gold and diamond to its time-tested expertise of crafting high tech materials into classics. The guiding philosophy for this collection is ‘unrestricted glamour’. Constructed from high-tech ceramic, the mono-bloc case ensures lightness and Rado’s signature scratch-resistance.
Price: On request
11/14
OMEGA SPEEDMASTER DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
Omega unleashes its darker side with a cool variation of its classic Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph. Sculpted in black zirconium oxide (ceramic), brushed and polished to mimic the feel of traditional steel casing, with 18K white gold hands, The Dark Side of the Moon has a distinctly stealthy appeal and the swagger of a rock star.
Price: $12,000
12/14
MOUAWAD’s SNOW WHITE PRINCESS DIAMOND WATCH
If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, Mouawad’s Snow White Princess Diamond Watch makes sure that she is surrounded by at least 233 of them. This also makes it one of the most expensive watches in the world.
Price: $6,800,000
13/14
LOUIS MOINET METEORIS
‘Other-worldly’ takes on a whole new meaning with watch designer Louis Moinet’s Meteoris series that features only four tourbillon watches, each made of a different extra-terrestrial material.
Price: $4,599,487
14/14
HUBLOT BIG BANG $5 MILLION
Beyond the 1,282 diamonds clocking over 100 carats, there are14 months of hard work by 12 diamond cutters, five setters and a team of watchmakers. Beyoncé bought one of these for Jay Z. Enough said!
Price: $5,000,000
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