The Baselworld Watch and Jewellry Show is an international trade show of the watch and jewelry industry, organized every spring in the city of Basel in Switzerland.
The show started out in 1917 and is now a strong tradition and one of the most important events of this type.
It comprises around 1500 exhibitors that come to Basel from over 40 countries. The pieces presented during the exhibition, which include all of the best watches and precious gems attract over 145 000 participants.
The 2016 edition of Baselworld just wrapped up and we have made a selection of some of the finest watches presented during the show, with more to come in the next issue of the InCompany magazine.
Here is our roundup featuring the watches creators' descriptions:
The MasterGraff Perpetual Calendar is a Grand Complication skeleton watch that, like all Graff Diamonds timepieces, pushes the boundaries of horological innovation. Intricacy and transparency characterise the movement and the entire watch to ensure a powerful visual impact. The skeletonised Calibre 7 allows the automatic winding system with micro-rotor to be clearly viewed. The dial alternates openwork and translucent windows to create an even more powerful aesthetic. Indications for the perpetual calendar with large date are displayed on discs created using an electroforming process for a skeletonised effect. Day and month are spelled out. At 6 o'clock, a one-minute tourbillon with three Icon-inspired spokes introduces a new design for Graff. This three-lobed motif is a signature of Graff Diamonds, and now part of its spectacular horological creations.
Movement
Mechanical automatic with 22K gold micro-rotor, 07 calibre, 31 jewels, tourbillon regulator.
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, perpetual calendar with day, date, month and leap year.
Case
Platinum, 46 mm. Sapphire crystals, front and back. Water-resistant to 30 metres (3 bar/100 ft).
Dial
Skeleton.
Bracelet/strap
Black alligator.
As a tribute to one of its finest historic creations, and to celebrate the 225th anniversary of its founding, Girard-Perregaux presents La Esmeralda Tourbillon. Distinguished by a Gold Medal at the Paris World Fair in 1889, the La Esmeralda pocket chronometer secured a place in watchmaking history for the refinement of its architecture, its precision, and for the incomparable quality of its finishing. The La Esmeralda Tourbillon transposes these qualities to the wrist, as a version of the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges which has come to represent the extraordinary expertise cultivated by the Manufacture Girard-Perregaux. It has no dial, revealing instead its three large, arrow-shaped bridges, with their jewel settings, in solid gold. They are rounded-off, chamfered and polished entirely by hand. These three bridges carry the wheels, the barrel and the tourbillon inside its lyre-shaped cage. They are set against the backdrop of a silvered and engraved plate which brings a striking sense of depth to this exceptional timepiece.
Movement
Mechanical automatic with micro-rotor, GP09400-0004 calibre with tourbillon regulator, 27 jewels, 21,600 vib/h, 60-hour power reserve.
Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon.
Case
18K pink gold, 44 mm. Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, sapphire back. Water-resistant to 30 metres (3 bar/100 ft).
Dial
No dial, hands carried by one of the three bridges in 18K solid gold.
Bracelet/strap
Hand-stitched black alligator, 18K pink gold triple folding clasp.
The Slim d'Hermès collection epitomises finely balanced proportions, striking the perfect balance between form and function. With the new Email Grand Feu model, the Maison achieves the impressive feat of offering a timepiece with an aesthetic that can genuinely be defined as essential. The well-established Hermès penchant for the graphic arts is illustrated through the typographic sophistication of the Arabic numerals. Designed by the artist Philippe Apeloig as geometrical shapes freed from any superfluous elements, these figures mark off time with refined elegance, admirably offset by the elegantly understated Grand Feu enamelled dial. In the Hermès workshops, the quest for purity extends to the pink gold case whose slim frame houses the ultra-thin Manufacture Hermès H1950 movement. This fascinating horological composition is issued in a 100-piece limited edition.
Movement
Mechanical automatic, ultra-thin Manufacture Hermès H1950 movement; micro-rotor, 29 jewels, 21,600 vib/h, special Hermès decoration (H symbols), hand-chamfered bridges, 42-hour power reserve.
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds.
Case
18K pink gold, 39.5 mm. Anti-reflective sapphire crystals, front and back. Caseback engraved with the limited-edition number. Water-resistant to 30 metres (3 bar/100 ft).
Dial
White Grand Feu enamelled dial, black enamelled transferred minutes track and Arabic numerals. Small seconds at 6 o'clock.
Bracelet/strap
Matt havana alligator, 18K pink gold buckle.
Urban Jürgensen is introducing a new model, Reference 1741 Platinum with perpetual calendar, leap year indicator and moon phases. This timepiece showcases an almost forgotten traditional technique called grenage admirably revived by the brand. It is hand-crafted, delicate and time-consuming, but the final result justifies the difficulties in creating such intricate dial finishing. The hand-made grenage dial is fitted with the white gold applied Arabic numerals. The moon disc involves more than 20 different operations required to create a unique miniature marvel of classic workmanship such as is rarely found in timepieces nowadays. The reference 1741 caliber is based on the P4 in-house movement. The elegant case profile featuring convex and concave curves consists of 3 main parts: the middle fitted with individually soldered teardrop lugs; the top bezel featuring a domed sapphire crystal, and the screw-in back equipped with flat sapphire crystal.
Movement
Hand-wound mechanical, UJS.P4 calibre, 24 jewels, 21,600 vib/h, twin barrels and Swiss lever escapement, 60-hour power reserve.
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, moon phases and perpetual calendar (day, date, month, leap year).
Case
Platinum, 41 mm. Domed sapphire crystal. Sapphire back. Water resistance to 30 metres (3 ATM/100 ft).
Dial
Solid silver with hand finished grenage, white gold 18K applied Arabic numerals. Hand made in thermally blued steel and 18K yellow gold.
Bracelet/strap
Black, brown or blue alligator with platinum buckle, optional folding clasp.
In stating the importance of being "large enough to be strong... and small enough to be free", Carlo Sarzano, the founder of SARCAR Genève in 1948, was to carve out the trail for his brand over the coming years. Dedicated to cultivating superlative craftsmanship, it has made a speciality of prestigious limited editions. This Royal Stallion from The Treasure collection is no exception: the magnificent stallion sculpted in 18K gold and adorning the dial pays tribute to man's oldest friend, without which the world would not be what it now is. For centuries, the horse has facilitated countless conquests and the economic development of many regions. Today, its natural nobility remains as admirable as ever, whether in the field of sport such as polo, or in magnificent ceremonies. 9-piece limited edition.
Movement
Mechanical automatic, Frédéric Piguet.
Functions
Hours, minutes.
Case
18K 5N pink gold, 40 mm. Bezel adorned with 18K gold gemset horseshoes and 18K gold horse head. Gemset crown. Sapphire crystal.
Dial
18K 5N pink gold paved with diamonds. One-carat solitaire diamond revolving around a pavé dial. 314 brilliant-cut diamonds - 3.94 cts (including the solitaire).
Bracelet/strap
Black alligator. Gemset 18K pink gold folding clasp.
A sleeping beauty returns to the fore. A pioneer from the time of its creation in the late nineteenth century, Angelus has set numerous milestones in the history of Swiss watchmaking, such as its famous travel clocks that display their various indications on multiple dials. The brand now draws on this heritage, together with 1960s-70s industrial design, to deliver an avant-garde wristwatch. Proposed as a 25-piece limited series, U10 Tourbillon Lumière presents a flying tourbillon, distinct from the time display including deadbeat seconds, combined with a linear power-reserve indicator on the side of the case. Seven sapphire crystals, including four that frame the flying tourbillon, allow light to flood this mechanical marvel to create three-dimensional effects.
Movement
Mechanical hand-wound, Angelus A100 calibre with flying tourbillon, 38 jewels, 18,000 vib/h, twin barrels, 90-hour power reserve.
Functions
Hours, minutes, deadbeat seconds, linear power-reserve indicator, one-minute flying tourbillon.
Case
BO-988 stainless steel, 62.75 x 38 mm. 7 bevelled sapphire crystals. Water-resistant to 30 metres (3 bar/100 ft).
Dial
Concave, translucent grey sapphire. Luminescent hands and hour-markers.
Bracelet/strap
Alligator with stainless steel folding clasp.
Watches are great style statements. They indicate the wearer's personality and style in a way that very subtle, classic and always timeless. We believe that these watches were truly outstanding and are looking forward to seeing what our favorite watch brands will do next.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. We want to hear from you! Which was your favorite watch from Baselworld? What type of watch do you like to wear? Why? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
