Of Moons & Deserts

It’s that time of the year when watches come to the fore of the discussion Ð for men and women. We list two beauties, which may not only make the perfect gift this February, but a wonderful addition to your watch closet.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Moon

The new Rendez-Vous Moon by JLC presents an entirely reworked moon phase that showcases the expertise of the brand’s Rare Handcrafts “Métiers Rares”. In a disc at 6 o’clock, a brilliant polished moon cycles through its phases against a lacquered blue starry sky, enhanced to stunning effect by a sea of clouds. The bezel is set with 60 brilliant-cut diamonds blended into a seamless border. The watch’s inner dial is studded with 47 smaller diamonds in perfect symmetry. The textured effect of the guilloché dial completes the harmonious marriage of materials and precious stones. In both its pink gold and steel versions, the Rendez-Vous Moon watch is powered by the Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 925A, which provides a 40-hour power reserve. Its interchangeable bracelets make this elegant model suited to accompanying women anywhere, for any occasion.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Mojave Desert”

Creating a new line with new materials, IWC Schaffhausen creates a first where the watch has a case made from sand-coloured ceramic. Limited to 500 pieces, a dark brown dial, sand-coloured hands, sand-coloured rubber strap with textile inlay accompany the 69380 IWC-manufactured caliber. The chronograph movement with a classic column wheel design has both a chronograph function and a display for the day and date. The pawl-winding system, which winds up on both sides, boasts a power reserve of 46 hours. In case you are wondering about the unusual color, it is inspired by the Mojave Desert, home to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Ð the largest land area of the U.S. Navy. The colour perfectly matches the uniforms worn by Navy pilots and is the result of a combination of zirconium oxide with other metallic oxides.

MB&F Legacy Machine No2 White Gold Purple

Do men wear purple? Not till yet. But then, like we said, it’s about breaking stereotypes. This phenomenal timepiece from an extraordinary brand is limited to just 12 pieces, and for good reason. Leaders are different. The Legacy Machine No2 offers a more elegant take on the original industrial aesthetic of the first Legacy Machine (LM). The ‘Machine’ traces its lineage back over 250 years to three of the greatest watchmakers: Abraham-Louis Breguet, Ferdinand Berthoud and Antide Janvier. Oscillating on high, the exalted double balance wheels of LM2 were inspired by, and pay homage to, one of the rarest mechanisms in the history of watchmaking: the dual regulator. And rarer still, the average rates of LM2’s dual regulators are transmitted by a differential to a single gear train, where the majority had two separate movements. While the levitated oscillating balance wheels of the binary regulators hold your gaze, it is the large planetary differential sitting proud on the dial that is the real heart of LM2, which has three roles: transferring power to each of the regulators; receiving the individual timing rates from each balance; and transmitting the average rate of the two regulators to the gear train, where it finally manifests itself as the displayed time. Elegant, classy, strong.

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Huracàn Performante

Madness, shattering the limits. This is what Lamborghini and Roger Dubuis live by. Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse motorsport department, therefore, and Roger Dubuis pooled their knowledge and expertise. Exemplifying the characters of Lamborghini’s Huracán Performante, the watchmakers have developed a timepiece brimming with racing design codes. Lamborghini’s favorite hexagon shape and signature yellow feature lavishly in the timepiece. The watch’s RD630 movement with its 12¡ inclined balance wheel represents the calibre signature associated with Lamborghini. The new crown of the watch is inspired by racing nuts on supercar wheels. Viewed from the back, the automatic movement of the watch emulates the design of the wheel rims of Lamborghini’s Huracán family. Can’t be better blend of superior design and technology.