Geneva Watch Days 2023: Episode #1
Between the 29th of August and the 2nd of September, the Geneva Watch Days 2023 took place, and it is THE event of the end of summer you cannot miss. For the occasion, Frank Sans C took his mic and his film crew along for exclusive interviews and jaw-dropping novelties. The programme of this first episode includes Breitling, Bvlgari, Girard-Perregaux and Frederique Constant.
BREITLING, Navitimer 36 et 32
First created for pilots in 1952, the Navitimer became an emblematic collection for the watchmaking brand Breitling. Available in many different models, this sporty and chic instrument was updated to fit the smaller wrists. Now available in 36 and 32 mm, this watch has soft pastel colours such as mint, silver, or a slightly sun-brushed anthracite. This collection also gives prominence to mother-of-pearls.
White, pink, or light blue, the colours of the dial smoothly blend with steel and red gold, a precious metal made with traceable gold extracted from mines that meet the Swiss Better Gold Association’s criteria for social and environmental impact. Easily identifiable, the Navitimer 36 has a beaded bezel and a circular slide rule, unlike its little sister, which prefers displaying superfluous elements. They each know how to stand out.
Indeed, the 36 mm steel and red gold versions both have a white mother-of-pearls dial bearing lab-grown diamonds (traceable as well) which confers them an undeniable preciousness. Which is also present in the 32 mm models. These are powered with a SuperQuartz™ COSC-certified movement. This significant certification is awarded to 36 mm models with an automatic calibre offering an up to 38 hours power reserve. Frank Sans C’s ultimate and eternal idol Charlize Theron is the face of these new Navitimer. Coming soon: an interview with our tick-tock lover?
Starting from €4 100
Click here to read the new Breitling Navitimer 36 and Navitimer 32 mm full technical sheets.
BVLGARI, Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Automatic and Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Perpetual Calendar
It is at times platinum, pink or yellow gold, it can be titanium, ceramic, tantalum or sometimes steel, the iconic Octo Finissimo by Bvlgari once again surprises us with its splendid carbon and gold style. After breaking the 2017 and 2021 World Record for Thinness (read our article Three world records), the Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Automatic and the Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Perpetual Calendar created a sensation with the new moiré and anthracite shades of this high-tech material.
Bvlgari became a master in the ways and means of watches, and they offer us today two brand-new looks for the emblematic watch. In a small seconds version or in a perpetual calendar version, the watches both play with the aesthetic codes of the collection: thinness, octagonal structure, and round bezel.
Water-resistant up to 100 metres, the 40 mm case has a carbon dial with contrasting golden elements – counters, hands, indices – which bring coherence and harmony to the whole thing. Visible through the transparent caseback, the verso of the watch also deserves some attention.
Decorated with Côtes de Genève, the bridges are made of pink gold and the oscillating weight is made of pink gold-coated titanium. As for the mechanics, there is nothing to add. The first watch is endowed with an extra-flat automatic manufacture calibre with small seconds and the second watch has a perpetual calendar (with the day, the month, retrograde leap year), and both benefit from a 60-hour power reserve. True editorial board favourites!
Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Automatic – €29 000
Click here to read the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Carbongold Automatic full technical sheet.
Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Perpetual Calendar – €100 000
Click here to read the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Carbongold Perpetual Calendar full technical sheet.
GIRARD-PERREGAUX – Laureato Absolute Chronograph 8Tech
A novelty by Girard-Perregaux, the Laureato Absolute Chronograph 8Tech makes a true statement with its 44 mm diameter. Although it also stands out by its low weight. Indeed, the piece is made of a carbon/titanium composite that stems from an innovative process. Combined with titanium powder, the carbon fibres form extremely thin layers, which are superimposed upon one another and each orientated differently. This creates a unique bloc which is then cut into octagons – a watchmaking first – then placed into a mould and subjected to heat and extreme pressure. The high-technology case has a “sandwich-type” dial. With a gradient grey finish, the upper surface is carefully sandblasted to match the case and the bezel.
On the other hand, the Grade 5 titanium lower layer has arrow-tipped apertures in lieu of indices, which are completed by small rectangular luminescent markings. The dial has three chronograph counters along with a date display positioned between 4 and 5 o’clock. Offering a good visibility, the titanium baton hands are covered in luminescent coating. The instrument is powered by a Manufacture self-winding movement with finely embellished gears (beading, Côtes de Genève…) that are visible through the sapphire caseback. The whole thing is completed by a black rubber strap that gives a fabric effect and that is integrated to the case.
€28 200
Click here to read the Laureato Absolute Chronograph 8Tech by Girard-Perregaux full technical sheet.
FREDERIQUE CONSTANT – Classic Power Reserve Big Date Manufacture
The Swiss watchmaking brand Frederique Constant certainly seems to be celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. This time, the Geneva Watch Days 2023 were the perfect occasion for the manufacture to present four new versions of the Classic Power Reserve Big Date Manufacture with the brand-new FC-735 calibre – the 31st of the maison.
This movement powers the big date, positioned between 2 and 3 o’clock – click here to read the article “The Big date? A great idea!” – a double window, a moon phase – at 6 o’clock – that appears on a starry blue background, and an up to 50 hours power reserve – at 9 o’clock. These three complications share the stage on a blue or silver dial for the regular collection; a grey sunray dial for the pink gold 350 copies limited edition; and a meteorite navy blue dial for the platinum version released in limited edition of 35 pieces.
The 40 mm case is ideally sized for all wrists, and it contains a calibre visible through the transparent caseback, which also shows the decorations – beading and Côtes de Genève – and the delicate openwork oscillating weight. Depending on the model, the alligator leather strap is available in navy blue or dark brown.
Steel, blue, or silver dial – €4 795
Pink gold limited edition, grey sunray dial – €17 995
Platinum limited edition, meteorite dial – €25 995
FREDERIQUE CONSTANT WATCHES WEBSITE