WATCHES – DIAL IT UP
Created for an Only Watch auction, the DC7 Genesis features a striking hand-painted dial.
Watchmaker David Candaux has teamed up with artist Mikki Saturno on the DC7 Genesis for Only Watch, with the former creating the timepiece and the latter hand painting the dial inspired by the first part of the Bible; Genesis 3:15, the Seed of the Woman.
The two initially met a met a while ago when Candaux told Saturno about his work on the DC7 Genesis. They started to exchange their ideas and knowledge about Genesis and combined all their knowledge for this project to create a masterpiece for Only Watch to support its charity auction, with Candaux developing the watch mechanisms and Saturno designing the dial.
Whether viewed from the front or the rear, the DC7 is probably the only timepiece in the world to be perfectly symmetrical along the vertical axis running from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock. The watch also features a biplanar tourbillon at 12 o’clock, set at a three-degree angle to the case. Inside the unique purple tourbillon cage, the balance wheel is inclined by a further 30°, reducing timekeeping drift caused by impacts and motion. The whole structure is housed within a dial that is itself inclined at a threedegree angle to the case to provide optimum readability.
Candaux has designed a movement that is also perfectly symmetrical around the same 12 o’clock – 6 o’clock axis. To do so, the watchmaker has produced a completely new movement: the calibre 1700. Made from titanium, it has 189 components and 28 olive-domed jewels and weighs just 24 grams.
The DC7 Genesis by D.Candaux & Saturno is waterproof to 50m and comes with a high-end rubber strap fitted with a Velcro band. The extraordinary dial will ensure this watch will doubtless be a talking point for years to come.
SWISS STYLE
IWC complements its Portofino line with 39 mm chrono.
Combining a classic Portofino design with a touch of sportiness in a compact case size of 39mm, the Portofino Chronograph 39 is the latest addition to the ever-growing Portofino collection.
Since 1984, the Portofino has been one of IWC’s most successful collections. Its timeless, elegant and original design, minimalist round case, Roman numerals and simple hour markers have held huge appeal among men and women.
Chronographs have formed an integral part of the collection, lending it a subtle, sporty touch. To complement the existing 42-millimetre Portofino Chronograph, IWC Schaffhausen has introduced the Portofino Chronograph 39 (Ref. IW3914) in a wearable case size of 39mm.
Featuring a chronograph movement and stopwatch function with minutes and seconds, the Portofino Chronograph 39 is available in three stainless steel references, with either a black, green or silver-plated dial. The two totalisers at 6 and 12 o’clock ensure thelayout of the dial is balanced, and a final flourish is added with an alligator leather strap. Cool or what? iwc.com
ADD SPARKLE
Audemars Piguet dazzles with a trio of diamond-set Royal Oak Jumbo Extra Thin watches.
Audemars Piguet has debuted three new diamond-set versions of the Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin. Each example is housed in a 39mm case in 18-carat pink or white gold, and the case, bezel and bracelet are dressed with 1,102 brilliant-cut diamonds for a dash of sparkle and glam.
The dial is enriched with a petite tapisserie pattern and incorporates baguette-cut diamond hour-markers. A light blue dial option is available in a choice of 18-carat pink gold or white gold with colour co-ordinated Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. The third option pairs a black dial with an 18-carat white gold case and hands. In addition to the brand’s name positioned below noon, an “AP” logo is located in the lower portion of the dial, consistent with “Jumbo” convention.
At the heart of this watch is the Manufacture Calibre 2121, visible via the glareproofed sapphire caseback. This movement is equipped with an openworked, bidirectional 22-carat gold oscillating weight, and harnesses wrist motion to power the watch. The oscillating weight is hand finished, encompassing both Clous de Paris and satin-brushing. In a further demonstration of supreme craftsmanship, the movement incorporates hand finishing on the bridges and mainplate. This includes the “Côtes de Genève,” polished bevels, satin-brushed edges and circular graining on the recesses. audemarspiguet.com
THE RUSH OF THE RACE
The RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic is the eighth model created to honour this iconic race.
All has been quiet round the racetrack at Le Mans over the past two years – but there’s good news for petrol heads as the legendary Le Mans Classic will return not only in 2022 but also in 2023 to mark the centenary of the very first race on the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit.
Richard Mille has partnered with Le Mans since its inception in 2002 and has launched the eighth model dedicated specifically to this event, the RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic, which is limited to just 150 timepieces.
With its striking green and orange colour scheme, this is a watch that’s sure to turn heads. It has a caseband milled from a solid block of white Quartz TPT that’s offset by front and back bezels in green quartz TPT. These were created from separate pieces of white quartz TPT inlaid into the green quartz TPT bezel at 12 and 6 o’clock, which is a first for the brand.
The skeletonised grade 5 titanium calibre RMAS7 movement with its oversize date window at 4 o’clock and variable geometry rotor system driving double winding barrels forms the heart of this new piece. A finely detailed 24-hour counter at 2 o’clock pays fitting homage not only to the event itself but also the hundreds of cars and drivers who relay over the 24 hours. Day or night, this limited edition gets fans and drivers alike back where they belong – out on the circuit, crossing the legendary Le Mans black and white chequered flag. richardmille.com
