Related: The 10 best luxury watch brands every collector should know about and where to get them
Regarding Luxury will spend the next few days going over some of the new releases from that show, including a few here today. Also just this morning, a new release from Omega – the Seamaster Diver 300m Tokyo 2020 Olympic Edition. Today marks 100 days from the opening of the Games. Omega, the Official Timekeeper of the Summer Olympics, unveils this special timepiece to mark the occasion. And we can all use some sunny news right about now.
Luxury watch: Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Olympic Edition
Even amid Covid-19 variants, more lockdowns, and vaccine delays, it’s still possible to feel optimistic about the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. Who knows how the event will look and feel? I don’t think anyone is going to be complaining, once the Opening Ceremony hits.
Omega today marked 100 days until the start of the sporting event with a special Seamaster Diver 300M Tokyo 2020. It combines a unique colour scheme, inspired by the Games emblem, with a celebrated luxury watch technology. Tokyo 2020 marks the 29th time Omega has been the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games (1932).
Features of the new watch include: 42 mm case, stainless steel, mounted with a blue ceramic bezel ring, filled with a white enamel diving scale. There’s a date window at 6 o’clock and the famous “Seamaster” name inscribed in red. Blued hands and indexes complete the luxury watch dial design, and there’s a sapphire crystal caseback. On the inside is the high-performance Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8800, certified by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology.
Canadian MRSP is $7,650.
Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight models and Black Bay Chrono
At Watches and Wonders, Tudor released two new Black Bay Fifty-Eight models and a new Black Bay Chrono, as well as updates to the 1926 line and the Black Bay 41-36-32 collection.
Tudor is re-launching the Black Bay Chrono model in steel with a reworked case, and two dial options with contrasting sub-counters, to mark 50 years of making premium watches. Satin-brushed, 41 mm in diameter, it’s a watch that captures the traditions of a true sports chronograph. And it has “Snowflake” hands, one of the hallmarks of Tudor divers’ watches since 1969.
Aesthetics meets Substance
The popular Black Bay Fifty-Eight is out in 18 ct yellow gold with an open case back, a first in a Tudor divers’ watch. Aesthetics meets substance – 1958 was the year in which the first Tudor divers’ watch waterproofed to 200 meters. Ideal for vintage enthusiasts. Satin finish case, 39 mm in diameter, open case back, dial matt “golden green” in tone with hour markers in 18 ct yellow gold.
The Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 has an open case back and comes in 925 silver – two firsts for a Tudor divers’ watch. Both new Fifty-Eight models feature Manufacture Calibre MT5400, certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) with a hairspring in silicon and a 70-hour power reserve.
Sporty and chic, the Black Bay 41-36-32 is designed for both men and women, and has those characteristic, angular “Snowflake” hands. Comes in 41, 36 and 32 mm 316L steel case with polished and satin finish. Three bracelet options – Jacquard fabric, leather strap or 316L steel bracelet. Elegant and timeless, the Tudor 1926 comes in polished steel or steel and rose gold, with domed dials and smooth minute scale. Swiss self-winding mechanical Calibre T601, or T201 for the 28 mm model (41, 39, 36, or 28 mm models). The line 1926 is named after the year “The Tudor” was registered as a brand.
Luxury watch: Breitling Premier Heritage collection
Breitling announced a new set of Premier Heritage watches. The collection features six watches divided in three categories – the Premier Heritage Chronograph 40, the Premier Heritage Duograph 42, and the Premier Heritage Datora 42. They’re elegant and refined, an extension of a gentleman’s dress watch from decades ago. And they all feature Arabic numerals, vintage-inspired hands and semi-shiny alligator straps with tone-on-tone stitching. Every watch is a COSC-certified chronometer and water-resistant up to 100 meters.
The 40 mm Premier Heritage Chronograph is manually wound like it 1940s predecessors, and is powered by the Breitling Manufacturer Caliber B09. The Premier Heritage Duograph measures 42 mm, with stainless steel and 18k red gold cases. Its sophisticated rattrapante functions allows the wearer to measure two elapsed times simultaneously via two superimposed chronograph hands. The 42 mm Premier Heritage Datora luxury watch stands out for its highly visible and complex functions – day, date, and moon-phase displays.
Breitling adeptly reaches beyond its aviation roots with these. Eye-catching is the Premier B09 Chronograph 40 with its unusual pistachio green dial (40 mm case in either stainless steel or 18k rose gold).
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Collection
Also introduced at Watches and Wonders was the latest Rolex creations in its Oyster Perpetual collection. The Explorer comes out in a 36 mm case. That’s the same size as the original model in 1953. Yellow Rolesor version, combining Oystersteel and 18 ct yellow gold, lacquered, black dial are other features. The hour markers and hands emit an intense blue glow with Explorer’s Chromalight display. The Explorer is equipped with calibre 3230, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex.
The Explorer II’s case and bracelet has been re-designed. It’s fitted with the new generation calibre 3285 and also has the Chromalight display. White lacquer dial, black hour markers and hands stand out, making this watch a true statement-maker. The striking Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 in Oystersteel and in yellow or Everose Rolesor shows off olive green, golden or silver dials. There’s some truly unique designs here, like a palm motif, inspired by tropical forests.
Born to race
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was launched in 1963, designed to meet the needs of race car drivers. They’re presenting three new versions of the iconic watch, all three featuring a dial made of metallic meteorite. That’s a rare, natural material from outer space. Yes, you read that right.
The version in 18 ct white gold is fitted with a monobloc Cerachrom bezel in black ceramic with a tachymetric scale. That one is fitted with an Oysterflex bracelet. The other two watches, one in 18 ct yellow gold and the other in 18 ct Everose gold, have a metal bezel with a tachymetric scale and are on an Oyster bracelet.
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com
