With scores of brands and thousands of watches on show, Baselworld is an overwhelming experience. It takes a concerted effort to analyse and digest the many fascinating and innovative pieces presented, and there are always a few that create extra buzz. Here are four of them.
Globetrotter
Patek Philippe’s headliner at Baselworld was easily the World Time Chronograph Ref 5930G. It is the first time the watchmaker has combined a world timer and chronograph in a single timepiece since 1940 (that watch, referred to as No. 862 442, now resides in the Patek Philippe museum). The 5930G features 24 time zones, a day/night indicator, and a 30-minute chronograph counter.
Daytona Daze
Rolex has finally refreshed the steel Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona after more than a decade. The biggest change for the 2016 Cosmograph Daytona is its black Cerachrom bezel. The size remains 40mm and the movement Calibre 4130.
Making History
Harry Winston is not quite done impressing the high watchmaking gods, as we see in the Histoire de Tourbillon 7 watch. This tour de force features two bi-axial tourbillons and a power reserve counter at 6 o’clock. The crown bears the Harry Winston logo—three arches representing the entrance to the maison’s Fifth Avenue headquarters.
Wearing Thin
Bulgari’s big announcement turned out to be a very slim one: the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater. With a movement a mere 3.12mm thick—and a scant 6.85mm cased up—this timepiece breaks the record for thinnest minute repeater in the world set by Piaget in 2013.