Singer Reimagined Track 1 Hong Kong Edition
Singer Reimagined’s Track 1 Hong Kong edition was undoubtedly the hottest chronograph released this year, at least the GPHG Jury thought so. It features a new aluminum ceramic case and is limited to just 50 pieces. For their third model, the brand worked with technical partner DelWest to create the aluminum-ceramic case.
The 43 mm barrel-shaped case is created by a process called electro-plasma oxidation wherein the surface layer of a special, aerospace-grade aluminum alloy is transformed into ceramic. The result is a matte-black case combining exceptional scratch, wear and corrosion resistance with the lightness of its aluminum core. It is powered by the Agengraphe, created by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht of Agenhor. For pricing and details, read more about this watch here.
A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split
A. Lange & Söhne set SIHH watch salon alight again this year with the introduction of the Triple Split, the world’s first mechanical split-seconds chronograph that can perform multi-hour comparative time measurements. The watch — whose ability to measure both additive and comparative times up to an astounding 12 hours is achieved by additional rattrapante hands on both the minutes and hours-totalizing subdials — represents the next step up in stopwatch complexity from Lange’s Double Split model, introduced back in 2004.
That timepiece could make comparative measurements with an aggregate duration of 30 minutes — already an impressive technical feat, which this new watch multiplies by a factor of 24 with its precisely jumping rattrapante minutes counter and a continuous rattrapante hour counter. For pricing and more details, read our report here or watch our 1-Minute Review here.
Omega Speedmaster CK2998 Limited Edition
Omega introduced a new Speedmaster limited edition based on a popular vintage Omega model at Baselworld this year. The new CK2998 Limited Edition is based on the original model from 1959 and employs the popular panda dial configuration with a pulsometer scale bezel.
The original CK 2998 was released in 1959 and is a much sought-after piece in the vintage market today. It came fitted with the characteristic Alpha hands and a dark bezel (the original Speedmaster sported a steel bezel) fitted on a symmetrical case. This model’s stock rose in 1962 when US astronaut Walter Schirra wore his personal CK 2998 during a Sigma 7 mission of NASA’s Mercury program. Read more about this watch here.
Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph
The Aquanaut collection – the most affordable of Patek Philippe’s watches for men - welcomed its first chronograph at Baselworld this year. The Ref 5968A-001 in steel is an automatic flyback chronograph that retains the casual elegant tone of the Aquanaut line. This is clearly a watch aimed at a younger, more casual Patek customer.
The new chronograph uses a 42.2 mm stainless steel case that is 11.9 mm thin and has a mix of satin-finished and polished surfaces. The gently-rounded octagonal bezel is brushed and has chamfered edges. Thanks to its screw-down crown, the case is water resistant to 120 m and is fitted with an exhibition caseback that offers views of the self-winding CH 28-520C. Read more here.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph
The Le-Sentier brand brought in its 185th year at SIHH by introducing a new Polaris collection inspired by the memorable Memovox Polaris, a diving watch that it launched in 1968. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph is the sportiest of the collection, as well as the only model offered in a precious metal case. Featuring a 42-mm-wide-case, with an inner rotating bezel, the dial has a racing-inspired tachymeter scale, and the chronograph pushers have been engineered to ensure an ideal grip.
The classic bi-compax dial features a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and small seconds at 9 o’clock. The watch is powered by the manufacture Caliber 751 visible through a sapphire caseback and holds a 65-hour power reserve. More about the Polaris collection here.
Habring² Doppel-Felix
The Petite Aiguille award at this year’s GPHG Awards was bagged by the Habring² Doppel-Felix, a cam-operated split-seconds chronograph from the Austrian watchmaker. Richard Habring famously built the split-seconds movement as a module on the ETA 7750 for IWC on the Doppelchronograph in 1983 before he launched his own brand in 2004.
However, the rattrapante movement on the Doppel-Felix, is the A11R movement developed and produced in-house. The date is indicated by means of a hand (the fifth hand of the Doppel) pointing from the center outwards to clearly discernible, large date digits located on the on a raised date ring on the periphery of the dial. This combined the cool and timeless aesthetic of the Felix line makes this watch one of the 2018’s best.
Speake-Marin London Chronograph Valjoux 92
Speake-Marin combines modern and vintage elements in a standout (and very British) chronograph introduced at SIHH 2018: the London Chronograph Valjoux 92. The historical, manually winding movement has been sourced from the late ’50s/early ’60s, a time before the Quartz Crisis disrupted the Swiss watch industry.
Speake-Marin’s watchmakers discovered just a handful of examples of the Valjoux 92 caliber tucked away in a safe for the past six decades, and meticulously repaired 15 of them to make them fit for contemporary usage in the new watch’s 42-mm titanium case, distinctly modern with its hallmark Speake-Marin “Picadilly” design. The dial has a 45-minute chronograph subdial at 3 o’clock and a running seconds subdial at 9 o’clock; both appear to be “floating” over the central rotor element, shaped like a watchmaker’s topping tool, that rotates with the hours.
