This year, watchmakers brought their A-game to Baselworld, the largest watch show of the season. These showstopping wristwatches serve as a testament to the finest in haute horology.
01/ Porsche Design 1919 Globetimer UTC
Like the sports cars that inspire the watches Porsche Design creates, the new 1919 Globetimer UTC is, aesthetically, a clean machine: The display is simple, with a central date hand and central 24-hour hand for the GMT function, an unobtrusive day-night indicator at 9 o’clock and generous amounts of Super-LumiNova for optimal legibility. The brushed titanium case is only 15 mm thick, and by using two chronograph-style pushers on either side of the crown, you can easily jump the local hour hand in whole-hour increments as you switch time zones. $6,900, Porsche Design, Porsche Experience Center Atlanta, @porschedesignofficial
02/ Breitling Navitimer 1 BO1 Chronograph 43 Airline Editions
Inspired by the livery of Swiss Air, TWA and Pan Am (shown), Breitling’s colorful capsule collection of Navitimers recalls all the cool of 1960s and ’70s travel. Their retro appeal is further reinforced by the choice of straps. You can choose from a stainless steel mesh bracelet (shown) or a brown vintagelike leather strap with either a pin buckle or a folding clasp for the TWA edition. $8,275-$9,225, Mayors, Phipps Plaza; Tourneau, Lenox Square; and Brown & Co. Jewelers; @breitling
03/ Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Black Manta Special Edition
The Patravi ScubaTec Black Manta from Carl F. Bucherer is a COSC-certified chronometer committed to conservation in two ways: Proceeds from sales of the stylish timepiece will be donated to the Manta Trust charity, and the sporty black and bronze textile strap is mostly composed of recycled plastic bottles. Equipped with a helium-release valve and water resistance of up to 50 bars (more than 1,500 feet), this timepiece was made to protect and explore the oceans. Super-LumiNova adorns the indices and hands, which frame the shapes of two manta rays swimming in the center of the dial. $7,200, Tourneau, Lenox Square; @carlfbucherer
04/ Hublot Classic Fusion Ferrari GT
While Hublot and Ferrari have collaborated since 2011, this year, the two brands have managed to break new ground with the limited-edition Classic Fusion Ferrari GT—a bold piece that draws inspiration from the automaker’s classic Gran Turismo family. Ferrari designed the sculpted body and Hublot made the motor—a new Unico manufacture self-winding flyback chronograph movement with a thickness of only 6.75 mm. That’s pretty skinny, even for Hublot’s elegant Classic Fusion line. $22,000-$38,800, @hublot
05/ Tudor Black Bay P01
Based on a prototype design filed for the U.S. Navy in the 1960s, the new Tudor Black Bay P01 still feels futuristic in its long-awaited fully constructed form. Code named “Commando,” the design features a unique locking mechanism that clamps down on the bidirectional bezel to hold it in place. With its offset crown and fixed end pieces, this timepiece is pure old-school dive watch. And for many collectors, the fact that it’s a bit of an oddball is a plus. $3,950, Tourneau, Lenox Square and Brown & Co. Jewelers; @tudorwatch
Photography by: Photos courtesy of: baselworld
