Neat styling, in-house technology and perfect proportions ensure that this Girard-Perregaux Stradale would make a fine acquisition if you are in the market for a classic sporty timer this year.  It forms part of the company’s new Sports Competizione collection of which there are two models, the Stradale and its honey-comb dialled brother the Circuito.

The detailing is subtle, but effective.  Slightly recessed snailed counters rest on satin-brushed dials, hints of scarlet  enable quick time-reading and a sneaky little date window has been slipped in at 4 o’clock.  The 42mm cases have each been given a mirror-polished bezel, long curvy lugs, piston-pushers and just a hint of satin-brushing on the band.  It is ultimately functional, but also incredibly stylish.

The Girard-Perregaux Stradale is available with silvered or black dial and with a choice of brown alligator strap or steel bracelet.

Inside, beats GP’s in-house GP03300 giving a power reserve of 46 hours.

More details at Girard-Perregaux here.

More Girard-Perregaux from us here.

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The “Kind of Blue” collection has been created to honour the colour which has been a signature feature of De Bethune since they began their watchmaking adventure and indeed, these new pieces are almost entirely Cerulean in appearance, with Grade 5 titanium cases and a good deal of the movements having been treated using traditional hand and heat methods to give them an other-worldly character.

The DB28 model features the brand’s precision spherical moon-phase so therefore wins me over.   It also packs in an innovative high-precision escapement and a host of De Bethune extras. Although it is the least exclusive of the two, just 10 pieces will be made this year so it’s likely that yours will be the only one you’ll ever see.

Add a “T” to the title and you get the same lust-worthy case plus a tourbillon – the lightest in the world they say – the ultra-limited DB28T model of which just 5 pieces will be made available this year.

More information at De Bethune here.

More De Bethune from us here.

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In order to showcase this brilliant-blue fumé sunburst dial Moser have removed everything you would normally expect to find on this model, leaving only the big date window, the hour and minute hands and the stubby little arrow-shaped hand which serves (- or rather did serve) to indicate the months via the now departed indices.  

Although this piece is bereft of its seconds, power reserve and even its Moser name, you do however still get the unique and brilliant calendar window which displays a perfectly postitioned instantaneously jumping date,  A little star indication on the movement side of the piece displays the leap years – hence the perfectly timed product placement.

This steel edition H. Moser Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Concept Funky Blue will be limited to just 10 pieces. Shame. Clever.

Want to see the un-stripped version in gold?  My review here.

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As a follow-up piece to the 2013 H11 Central Balance Pure, this model adds an indication for the seconds – it does nothing to clutter the pristine characteristics of the dial which can, and should still be described as “pure”, but its inclusion does however add a further  degree of difficulty to this tricky and unique central balance arrangement.

Just like the first H11, this one presents itself with a strong sense of duplicity.  The white rhodium-plated dial is all innocence, with diminutive numerals and seductive little hands -  but turn it over and you are confronted with a movement whose industrial plainness will take you completely by surprise, with a unique centred arrangement showcased on a white rhodium-plated mainplate.  There isn’t so much as a hint of the complex nature of its creation or its assembly  but then that is how the Haldimann family have done it for generations.

The Beat Haldimann H11 Central Balance Three Hands model has a 39mm platinum case and is powered by their in-house Calibre H-ZEN.K.H11 manual-wind movement.

More details at their official website here.

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It is difficult not to sit up and take notice when there is a new Grönefeld watch. And it is equally difficult not to be caught up in the enthusiasm which these two watchmaking brothers bring to the industry – anyone who met them in the days and weeks after they scooped their GPHG award will attest to the fact that they were as giddy as two schoolboys, and certainly they are an endearing pair. Their latest piece not only represents the Grönefeld watchmaking dynasty, it is also a legacy of this family’s horological mastery.

A “Remontoire” is one of watchmaking’s more romantic inclusions. It is not essential, but rather it denotes the essentia of high-end horology – a layman would not give a hoot for its accuracy-boosting capabilities, nor the tricky nature of its assembly, but produce one at a gathering of watch aficionados and you will enjoy an immediate and hushed reverence.

The new Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire pays a tribute to Johan, the boys grandfather and their father, Sjef, but it also recalls halcyon childhood days playing to the sounds of their local church clock, which was maintained by Johan and later by Sjef.  The Saint Plechelmus clock had, by necessity, a remontoire to prevent its escapement shattering under the force of its movement arrangement, so this piece is not simply a tribute, it also marks a very authentic continuum.

….. And it is beautiful – an uncluttered case, grainy silver dial with slightly recessed indications and bevelled edges and meticulous finishing throughout. Inside the 39.5mm case, the Swiss manual-wind Grönefeld in-house calibre G-05 will keep perfect time right to the end of its 36 hour reserve of power thanks to the remontoire, and there are subtle and very unique references to the watchmakers homeland in the finishing of the bridges.

The case of the “1941”, which is a new design, is named to mark the year of their father’s birth and if this watch has also been made in recognition of the hours spent gazing over his  shoulder as he worked at his bench, then I can think of no finer compliment.

The Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire will be available with 18kt White gold or red gold case options, limited to 188 pieces.

More details at Grönefeld  here.

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