FX.co ★ Watches & Wonders top 8 unorthodox timepieces

Complexity extraordinaire

Jaeger-LeCoultre of Switzerland has been making the Reverso for 90 years. This time around, they outdid almost a hundred years of their history in watch-making as far as complexity goes. Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 is the first wristwatch ever with four hinged dials. This engineering masterpiece took six years to develop. It packs 11 mechanical complications, among which are a perpetual calendar and a solar and lunar eclipse prediction indicator.

Thin as air

The Italian Bvlgari keeps churning out world records by updating its Octo Finissimo collection. For seven years, the Roman watchmakers have been outdoing the competition – and themselves – by releasing timepieces that kept growing slimmer. Their new piece is officially the world’s thinnest perpetual calendar watch. The automatic movement is only 2.75 mm thick, with the whole titanium case tipping in at just 5.8 mm. This is fantastically miniscule, considering the fact that the piece packs more than 400 parts.

Crystal-clear

Watchmaking by the Swiss Hublot is nothing short of magic. For there is no one else in the world who managed to make a watch entirely out of such capricious and tricky material as monocrystalline aluminum. It is widely known to the public as sapphire crystal. Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Full Sapphire features an all-out sapphire case and bracelet, which makes it appear transparent, almost ethereal.

Nature’s best friend

The Italian Panerai has long been known for its “green” agenda. This year, the eco-ambassador decided to launch a watch made almost entirely of reused materials. The titanium body, sapphire hands, wristband, movement parts, and even the luminous backlight have been recycled. Submersible eLAB-ID is 98% reprocessed. The only reason this figure is not 100% is that recycling some of the components would have required more energy than making new ones.

Extreme and beyond

It took International Watch Company of Switzerland eight years to develop its super shock-resistant watch. During crash tests, the movement of Big Pilot's Watch Shock Absorber XPL survived 30,000 G. This was made possible by suspending the movement from a special cantilever-based spring, while the case was made of a durable titanium alloy. This new reveal is highly labor-intensive, so production is limited to no more than ten per year.

Glowing success

The new Roger Dubuis timepiece is the absolute lightshow champion when darkness falls. The fantastic multi-colored luminescence of Excalibur Glow Me Up is achieved with special luminous paint applied to the bridge, tourbillon carriage, indices and even the grooves under 60 baguette-cut diamonds.

Going deeper

It took the Swiss Oris more than 5 years to present a new watch with a five-day power reserve and a ten-year warranty. Aquis Date Calibre 400 is the diver’s delight among all Watches & Wonders 2021 novelties. The piece dives to 1 km with impunity. Such water resistance is ensured by the 49.5 mm hardened titanium case with black PVD coating. The dive watch also features rubberized parts that make it easier to operate in wet gloves.

Glitzy piece

Caroline Scheufele, co-president and artistic director of Chopard, knows where to find the most beautiful gems on earth – and how to showcase them. The latest novelty by this Swiss watch and jewelry maker is no exception. Haute Joaillerie is made of 18 carat white gold and features 5 spinning diamonds, as well as a crown of precious pink or blue marquise-cut sapphires.