The watch industry is awash with too much news to cover. Each week, we’ll break down everything worth knowing. This week: Zenith and Land Rover collaborate on a new chronograph, Vacheron unveils 10 new watches and Patek Philippe celebrates 40 years of the Nautilus.
Zenith X Range Rover
Often, partnerships between watch brands and car brands feel like half-assed attempts to throw a logo on a dial, but credit where credit is due: Zenith’s new partnership with Land Rover has yielded a special-edition El Primero that actually looks special. Naturally, the watch utilizes the 36,000 vph high-beat chronograph movement of the standard El Primero, housed inside a stealthy black 42mm case made from ceramic and aluminum (meant to evoke the aluminum body of the Range Rover). The black case pairs well with the dark, brushed dial and a navy or beige perforated leather strap, mimicking the seats in the hoity-toity Range Rover Autobiography.
10 Watches in Perfect Harmony
Vacheron released not one, not two, but ten new additions to the Harmony collection. While most are modest dial design changes, the most exciting news is the addition of a “complete calendar” complication (essentially an annual calendar) with a brand-new movement, and a pink gold version of VC’s monopusher tourbillon chronograph, previously only available in platinum.
Bell & Ross’s Maritime Watches
Bell & Ross’s famous BR01 borrowed its square case design from the instrument panels of old aircraft. Now the brand has reworked the design to mimic marine instruments of the 17th century. What that entails is the use of Indian rosewood, pink gold and bronze in the case construction, along with traditional-looking dial elements. Three iterations are available: a manually wound time-only watch with a small seconds hand, a skeletonized automatic and a tourbillon chronograph.
Patek Unveils Two Heavy-Hitting Nautilus Special Editions
Patek’s iconic luxury sports watch from the ’70s gets a makeover in white gold and platinum to celebrate its 40th birthday.
An American Watch Brand Gets a Flagship Store
Kansas City-based watchmaker Niall has opened its first retail location this week on Country Club Plaza in the brand’s home city. The 800-square-foot space will not only display Niall’s watches for sale, but allow visitors to look through a window at Niall’s watchmaking process as well.
On Bronze Watches
Alex Williams over at The New York Times‘s Style Desk wrote on the bronze watch trend, and quoted our very own Eric Yang.
Found: 1969 Zenith El Primero
A gorgeous Zenith El Primero from the model’s first year. Aside from the excellent condition of the case and the movement, the “tropical” aging of the black sundials and chapter ring on the watch’s face really sweeten the deal.
