Baselworld 2013…

 Patek Philippe’s 5170J (yellow gold) was introduced in 2010.  With an in-house caliber (replacing the Ref 5070′s Lemania caliber), it was a worthy addition to the list of manually wound, two-register chronographs from Patek.  This year, Patek has rolled out the 5170 in white gold.  It is essentially the same as the 5170J, same movement and 39mm case size, though there has been a subtle dial revision.

Like the 5170J, the 5170 in white gold is powered by the hand-wound Caliber CH 29-535 PS, a double register column-wheel chronograph with 65 hours power reserve and bearing the PP seal of excellence.  The big change here is the dial.  It has a silvery-white dial with a full set of Breguet numerals (save for the where the chrono registers sit).  This is significant because the prior model had two roman numerals XII and VI and stick baton hour markers. See here:

I really like the revision, being a fan of Breguet style numerals.   What say you?

Pricing on the Patek Philippe 5170G will be $87,100.  Full specs at Patek.com>>>

Baselworld 2013…

Overall this year Patek does not have many “new new” models, instead it seems they have focused on offering existing models in new case metals, and some other smaller details, such as minor case changes and also dials.  Though some of these will be meaningful changes for Patek collectors — for example the Ref 5170 two-register chronograph is now offered in white gold with silvery-white dial and a full Breguet numeral layout.  This is significant because the prior model had two roman numerals XII and VI and stick baton hour markers.  Being a fan of Breguet numerals, I really like the new style of the 5170 — but I digress — more on this later.

Patek Philippe’s new Ref. 5200 Gondolo 8 Days, Day & Date is offered in sunburst blue and silvery white versions.  It is set in a contoured, rectangular Art Deco case with two tiered sides, and a newly developed, manually wound form movement with silicon components. Case dimensions are 37.4mm × 46.9mm x 10.4mm thick.
Click through for full det’s on the new Gondolo 8 Days

Baselworld 2013…

The new Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Regulator unites the classic regulator display (minute display at center, other indicators positioned as subsidiary) with an officially certified manual winding chronometer movement in manner that epitomizes German watchmaking, at least for me.  The lacquered silver-grainé dial goes perfectly with the blue hands.  That slender, shaped minute hand is particularly elegant.  On the central axis above and below the minute indicator are the subsidiary hour and seconds displays.  Power reserve and date panorama display round it out.  It will be offered in red and white gold, both pictured.
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Baselworld 2013…

Since their debut in 2007 the Sixties models from Glashütte Original have proven very popular, and not only with fans of “vintage” trends.  They are great looking watches.  For 2013 the Saxon watchmaker (A. Lange’s next door neighbor) introduces the Sixties in a nice midnight blue color, with sunburst finish, both for the date (“Panorama Date”) and no-date models.  The Sixties is presented in a 39 mm polished stainless steel case, while the Sixties Panorama Date has a 42 mm case.  The Panorama Date window is on a blue background — a thoughtful details.  However I’ve always found the contrast between the retro numerals on the dial and the standard sans-serif font of the date window to be a bit at odds with each other.  For this reason I strongly prefer the Sixties, sans date.

The watches both have a sapphire display back.  The movements are automatic mechanical, Caliber 39 series. Characteristic  features of Glashütte movement finishing are the bevelled edges, polished steel  components, a swan neck fine adjustment, Glashütte three-quarter plate with Glashütte ribbing and a skeletonized rotor with oscillating mass in 21-carat gold.   They do a nice job with their movements even for more entry-level production models such as these.

Baselworld 2013…

The Senator Tourbillon, one of two tourbillons presented this year by Glashutte Original, is presented in a white gold, 42mm case, with beautiful gray grained dial.   It features a somewhat slimmer bezel than previous Senator models, framing the dial which is set with fine Roman numerals and a classic railroad chapter ring and slender, elegant hands crafted of white gold.

Taking pride of place on the dial is the superb and beautiful Flying Tourbillon with seconds indicator, positioned at six o’clock in harmonious counterpoint to the Panorama Date window up top.  Automatic caliber 94-03, manufacture made as are all of GO’s movements.

A very classically styled watch, I like it.

Baselworld 2013…

A number of models in Glashütte Original’s Pano line were presented at Baselworld 2012 in a contemporary reinterpretation that saw a larger cylindrical case and enhanced dial visuals framed by a slim, elegant bezel.   For 2013 GO builds on the contemporary look with the PanoLunarTourbillon, in a 40mm red gold case and a warm silver dial.   The characteristic  asymmetric design of the Pano timepieces puts the large hour/minute dial positioned to the left of centre, in alignment with the Flying Tourbillon that is centered at seven.  This is one of two tourbillons that GO will present for 2013.
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Baselworld 2013…

Quick look!

Baselworld 2013…

Breitling fans have been waiting for this one, and it is now here:  the new Breitling Emergency II.  It has some new features including a rechargeable battery, a dual frequency transmitter, and an integrated antenna system.  The original Breitling Emergency first debuted in 1995 and operated on the 121.5 MHz international air distress frequency.  The Emergency II is the big release from Breitling this year, though they do have some other pieces you’ll want to see, including a gorgeous Transocean Chronograph Perpetual Calendar (I’ll get to that soon).
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Baselworld 2013…

For the first time, the Rolex Daytona is cased in platinum.  Diameter is 40mm.  It will carry Reference number 116506 and be powered by Rolex caliber 4130.  The watch has a bezel of Cerachrom, brown color, and a blue glacier dial.  This is the “celebration” piece for 50 years of the Daytona.  It looks nice but I think Rolex missed a real opportunity to celebrate such a milestone:  the 50th Anniversary Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference 116506 will have a retail price of $75,000 when it hits stores later this year.  In other words, unless you are at the extreme right tail of the Bell Curve, you may step down now.

I’m not a Rolex guy, so if you are please drop a comment let me know what you think.

Baselworld 2013…

Drawing on its extensive in-house watchmaking expertise, Hublot today unveiled “La Ferrari”, a boasting among many features a world record power reserve for a hand-wound vertical tourbillon wristwatch — 50-day power reserve, thanks to a whopping 11 barrels!!!  It is also the watch with the most watchmaking components created to date by Hublot, with 637. The watch is wound with a drill-like device that plugs into the top of the watch.  It’s a crazy watch, totally over the top.
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