What a huge couple of weeks it has been for watch enthusiasts. The recently concluded Watches and Wonders 2023 in Geneva yields an amazing slew of new watches that will leave you spoilt for choice. But we are not done yet. Away from the exposition, Franck Muller, Bvlgari, and Breitling have also marched out hot new releases worthy of your attention. Here are six new watches to check out from the lauded watchmaking houses.
Bvlgari Octo Roma Striking Tourbillon Sapphire
The Octo Roma collection, recognised by its trademark octagonal case and round bezel, takes centerstage at Bvlgari this year. While there are new Octo Roma dress watches that will catch your fancy, we’d like to direct you to two spectacular complications: the Octo Roma Striking Tourbillon Sapphire and Octo Roma Precious Tourbillon Lumiere.
Bvlgari’s Octo Roma Striking Tourbillon Sapphire imbues contemporary watchmaking with age-old aesthetic and technical codes.
The Octo Roma Striking Tourbillon Sapphire showcases the tourbillon – an invention from 1801 – in a new light. Employing transparency and luminosity to brilliant effect, the watch’s 44mm titanium case is crafted with a clear sapphire case middle and transparent caseback to grant you full view of the watch’s innerworkings.
Taking things up a notch is its skeletonised hand-wound movement. The sculptural artistry not only intrigues the wearer, but accentuates the watch’s mechanical beauty. Amid the visual spectacle, the showpiece flying tourbillon takes its rightful place at six o’clock. Making one rotation every minute, it is set against neon green Super-LumiNova hour markers—a look that melds the past and future with panache.
Bvlgari Octo Roma Precious Tourbillon Lumiere
The Octo Roma Precious Tourbillon Lumiere, on the other hand, is a wholly different proposition. Here, Bvlgari flexes its jewellery-making expertise, lavishing the watch with characteristic glamour.
Bvlgari’s Octo Roma Precious Tourbillon Lumiere is a bejewelled masterpiece with its case and skeletonised movement fully paved with diamonds and rubies.
Like the Octo Roma Striking Tourbillon Sapphire, the Octo Roma Precious Tourbillon Lumiere features a skeletonised movement and a tourbillon at six o’clock. But the similarities end there. The 38mm rose gold watch demands attention its own way—with full-on sparkle courtesy of 315 brilliant-cut diamonds on the case and bezel, a cabochon-cut ruby on the crown, and more diamonds and rubies on the skeletonised hand-wound movement. Look no further for a red carpet-ready stunner with both beauty and brains.
Breitling Top Time B01 Ford Mustang
Breitling has been on a hot streak in recent years, revitalised with fresh new collections that express an unmistakable “modern-retro” spirit. The Top Time is one such example. Having debuted in the 1960s as a range of entry-level chronographs, the Top Time was reintroduced in 2020 as a collection of stylish, nostalgia-inducing timepieces. The collection was further enlivened by the Top Time Classic Cars models, comprising chronographs that take inspiration from legendary cars like the Ford Thunderbird, and Chevrolet Corvette.
The design of Breitling’s nostalgia-inducing Top Time B01 Ford Mustang evokes the first-generation Ford Mustangs produced from 1964 to 1974.
Encased in 41mm steel, the Top Time B01 Ford Mustang drips with throwback allure. Modelled after the first-generation Ford Mustang, the watch sports a lovely green dial with black cushion-shaped chronograph counters. But what completes the look is its black tachymeter scale, spiked with red and yellow accents that evoke the car’s speedometer. Under the hood, Breitling fits the watch with its in-house B01 automatic chronograph movement, displayed via an open caseback.
Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42
Another Breitling collection that has undergone a modern makeover is the Premier. Introduced in the 1940s, the Premier was Breitling’s take on dressy and elegant chronographs. When the collection was relaunched in 2021, the brand decided to stick to this aesthetic vision.
Fans of refined chronographs are in for a treat, as Breitling updates the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 collection with new models brandishing an array of coloured dials.
For 2023, Breitling adds six new Premier B01 Chronograph 42 to the line-up. All models come in 42mm stainless steel, and are driven by the brand’s in-house B01 automatic chronograph movement, which is COSC-certified and promises 70 hours of power reserve. Like before, the watches endow a touch of sophistication on the sporty chronograph, featuring designs hewn from vintage Premier models, such as a smooth fixed bezel, twin-register dial, streamlined rectangular pushers, and applied Arabic numerals. Bearing a variety of coloured dials spanning royal navy to classic black to vintage cream, these new additions will pose a happy conundrum for watch lovers who desire a combination of sportiness and elegance.
Franck Muller Curvex CX Flash Grand Central Tourbillon
Having created some of the most fascinating tourbillon wristwatches in modern history, Franck Muller demonstrates its expertise yet again with the new Curvex CX Flash Grand Central Tourbillon. Introduced in 2021, the Grand Central Tourbillon features an elevated and centrally placed tourbillon in the middle of the dial. By bestowing it pride of place on the watch, Franck Muller amplifies the revered mechanism’s theatrical spirit and mechanical gravitas.
Franck Muller’s Curvex CX Flash Grand Central Tourbillon goes futuristic with newly designed and colourful hour markers that encircle the dramatic tourbillon display.
On the new Curvex CX Flash Grand Central Tourbillon, the brand heightens the drama with a riot of fluorescent colours. The model is housed in Franck Muller’s iconic tonneau-shaped Curvex case, which was redesigned to feature an extended sapphire crystal running through to the bracelet to accord the dial greater visibility. Inspired by futuristic cars, the dial is paired with a choice of colourful fluorescent hour markers, along with matching arrow seconds hand, and rubber straps.
Franck Muller Curvex CX Lady
Echoing a similar knack for show-stopping design is the new Curvex CX Lady. Oozing sensual femininity, the collection is available in new colours and case sizes to suit different moods and occasions.
The Franck Muller Curvex CX Lady comes in 30mm and 33mm cases that promise a snug fit for slender wrists.
The watches are offered in 30mm and 33mm rose gold cases. Within this selection, you can choose to go vivacious with striking green or red numerals, or invoke cuteness with options in pastel blue and pink. All options come with matching straps. Regardless of your preference, the Curvex CX Lady guarantees unmistakable allure by way of its distinctive profile and lovely ornamental touches courtesy of its Clous de Paris-style guilloche dial and refined finishing.
Come discover the best of contemporary horology at our boutiques. Check out the watch collections from Bvlgari, Franck Muller and Breitling at Cortina Watch today.
