Watches and Wonders 2024: Episode #2
World record of thinness for Piaget, snorkelling for Zenith and rejuvenation cure for one of the iconic Oris watch, a colourful program for the episode 2 of Watches and Wonders 2024.
In watchmaking and in life no breakthrough can be made without energy. For some, to take on the challenge of battling against the elements from the deep sea to the highest mountains will set their accomplishments in motion. For others, a small tic will launch them in competition and to win they will demonstrate all of their skills with marvels and wonders and thus write among the most beautiful pages of their story. Here is the amazing program of episode 2 of the Watches and Wonders 2024 special.
PIAGET, Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon 150th Anniversary
To celebrate its 150th birthday Piaget choose to push once more the boundaries of ultra-thin mastery with the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon. The case has a 41.5 mm diameter and a blue PVD-treated cobalt alloy and possesses all the feature of an everyday watch. The achievement is extraordinary for the case is as fit as a coin – only 2 mm thick and not a micron more. It’s flying tourbillon fit into a space that is only 1.49 mm wide regulated by a tourbillon held in place by a miniature ceramic ball bearing.
Visible on each side of the case, this body of advanced regulation disturbs the traditional craft principles and makes this watch an outstanding marvel of watchmaking. With a water resistance to a depth of 20 meters, this mechanical jewel has to be rewind with a dedicated tool due to the peculiar shape of the crown integrated to the case band. Sober and svelte with its strap as thin as the case, the watch carries on its back the brand’s motto: “Always do better than necessary”.
Price upon request.
Click here to read the full Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon 150th Anniversary technical sheet.
ZENITH
Defy Extreme Diver, going deeper
Zenith Manufacture introduced the Defy Extreme Diver. This piece inspired from the original of 1969 retains the distinctive design of the collection with its angular case and dodecagonal bezel. Created to resist extreme conditions, the watch displays a 42.5 titanium case with a helium escape valve meeting the ISO 6245 (for professional diver watches) and ISO 1413 (for shock-resistance).
The case features a fixed dodecagonal bezel and a unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel with numbers engraved and filled with Super-LumiNova®. The ceramic bezel displays grooved edges for a better grip even with gloves on. The water resistance up to 600 meters is guaranteed by the oversized screw-down crown topped by a titanium crown-guard. Like on every other Defy, dials are available in black or blue with matching bezel and display a geometric pattern of engraved four-pointed stars and a date aperture at 3 o’clock. To improve the reading under extreme conditions hands are oversized and the applied hour markers emit different colours in darkness (blue, green and orange), allowing the bearer to easily distinguish the functions (hours, minutes and seconds).
The Defy Extreme Diver is powered by the El Primero 3620-SC automatic high-frequency manufacture calibre with a paramagnetic escapement in non-metallic silicon. The calibre is visible through a sapphire display-back and equipped with a 60 hours power reserve. The model can be fitted on a titanium three-link bracelet and delivered with two additional bracelets in FKM rubber matching the colour of the dial. One of the rubber straps, meant to be worn over a wetsuit, is extra-long and equipped with specific end pieces to pass the single-piece strap through and under the case.
€11,800
Click here to read the full Zenith Defy Extreme Diver technical sheet.
Defy Skyline Chronograph, always stronger
Natural extension of Zenith avant-garde line, the new Defy Skyline Chronograph displays a vessel with a powerful design. Architectural, geometrical and with complex features, the 41 mm stainless steel case is a modernized version of the first Defy’s octagonal case. Yet, it retains the robustness and the durability of its predecessors.
Graphically audacious, this contemporary tool crafted for challenges is equipped with shaped pushers and a screw-down crown guarantying a water-resistance of 100 meters emblazoned with the star emblem. Available in metallic black, blue or silver, the dial pairs with the collection’s signature sky-pattern and adorns itself of three overlapping counters slightly oversized that show the constant running seconds (at 9 o’clock) and the elapsed minutes (at 3 o’clock) and the hours of the chronograph (at 12 o’clock).
The date aperture at 4:30 matches the dial. The flange ring with the 1/10th of second dial has twelve facets and follows the form of the dodecagonal bezel and serves as an extension of the hour markers.
This model powered by the El Primero calibre visible through the display back has an oscillating weight rate of 36 000 vibrations per hours (5 Hertz) and offers a 1/10th of a second precision.
The open star-shaped oscillating weight with bidirectional winding provides a power reserve of 60 hours. Polyvalent, this chronograph is equipped with a quick strap-change mechanism integrated directly into the case. With the simple push of a button, the three-link bracelet is effortlessly swapped with the rubber strap fastened by a steel folding buckle.
€13,900
Click here to read the full Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph technical sheet.
ORIS
Aquis Date Calibre 400, the elegant diver
Iconic watch of the Oris’ collections, the Aquis Date comes back in strength and numbers with a new generation of athletics and efficient models. The Aquis Calibre 400 is the perfect illustration with a water resistance up to 300 meters and a 43.5 stainless steel case which design went under some major modifications.
Indeed, as illustrated by the blocs protecting the crown the watch seems to be slimer. The Alpha hands and the blazon-shaped luminescent hour markers were reimagined, the well named character font on the dial was modified to harmonize the whole. Finally, the bracelet features brushed central links that are more salient and the innovative and patented quick release folding clasp. Powered by the famous 400 calibre equipped with a comfortable power reserve of 120 hours, the variations of Aquis Date come in green or blue with a stainless-steel bracelet or a rubber strap of matching colours.
The watch is available with a dial made of a recycled PET plastic which takes its righteous place in Oris’ “Change for the Better” mission. In this desire to protect the environment a new blue packaging “Oris Sustainable Watch Box” is henceforth made in cardboard and paper which half of it is recycled and the other half comes from FSC certified sources.
€3,700 with steel bracelet
€3,600 with rubber strap
€3,750 upcycled version
The Aquis Date is also available with the automatic 733 calibre of excellent Swiss manufacturing with a 38 hours power reserve.
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