Five stand-out watches from Geneva's SIHH 2017 show
By David Flynn, January 26 2017
The SIHH watch fair, held each January in Geneva, kicks off the new year with a wave of timepieces from historic power brands and noteworthy independents.
Here are our picks of five stylish stars from SIHH 2017.
Baume & Mercier Clifton Club
A sports-minded spin on the Clifton dress watch, the Clifton Club (from $2,750) introduces a casual vibe with eye-catching colour across multiple versions.
The 42mm steel case is relatively conservative in shape, but given a lift by the black, white and blue faces with orange accents and a range of straps.
While water-resistant to 100 metres the Clifton Club is more of a dress driver that’ll do for both working days and weekends.
IWC Da Vinci Automatic
IWC’s elegant 2017 Da Vinci Automatic ($7,700) is a classic yet discrete three-hander with lancet-shaped hands on a minimalist dial (silver-plated against a black Santoni leather strap, or slate-coloured on a stainless- steel bracelet).
Clever articulated lugs flanking the 40mm case ensure snug fit on even slim wrists.
Montblanc TimeWalker Chronograph UTC
Montblanc is unleashing its inner boy-racer with the revamped and revved-up TimeWalker collection, including the Chronograph UTC ($7,460).
The new Chronograph range takes its design and material cues from motor racing and precision time-keeping at the track, and are cast in a black 43mm case that’s masculine without being brutishly overbearing.
A ceramic uni-directional rotating bezel with 24-hour markers is the primary means to read the time in a second location on the UTC variant.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Date
The uncluttered vintage-inspired look of JLC’s 25th anniversary Master Control collection is a perfect match for the slim 39mm Master Control Date ($8,300).
There’s almost an art deco simplicity to the dial with its elegant markings, open ‘skeletonised’ hands, two-tone fascia and unexpected blue accents at the hour markers and date window.
Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture Grand Feu
Ulysse Nardin looked to the high seas for inspiration for the Classico Manufacture Grand Feu ($12,900).
The crisp ocean blue of the dial taps into one of current trends in watchmaking, with elongated numerals which manage to avoid crowding the 40mm face, while the date window is sensibly undersized and parked out of the way within the small seconds dial.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.