Goldarth's Review

Audemars Piguet has garnered a loyal following with their iconic Royal Oak range. The collection is broad, and appeals to both men and women, with its multitude of distinctive variants. From slick, racecar-inspired pieces, to tributes to the rugged sportsmanship of championship sailing in the form of the Royal Oak Alinghi series, Audemars Piguet's watches have certainly hit the big time.

One of the world's oldest and most venerated watch brands, Geneva-based Vacheron Constantin has a number of elegant watch lines that keep alive its watchmaking traditions. The 2007 debuts include new complications in its Patrimony range, including a tourbillon perpetual calendar, as well as a skeletonized perpetual calendar.

F.P. Journe is a watchmaker with a unique aesthetic and an inventive philosophy. Journe’s controversial and inspired Chronomètre à Résonance of some years ago sparked debate, but looked superb and had a number of innovations to its name – and put this independent watchmaker firmly on the horological map. This year, the distinctive F.P. Journe collection is joined by a new Centigraphe Souverain, as well as a couple of new additions to the Octa range.

The Opus line of ultra-limited edition concept watches from Harry Winston has gained a fanatical cult following, with enthusiasts awaiting each new installment with baited breath. The Opus 7, after the long wait, does not disappoint.

Breguet's show at the 2007 Baselworld exhibition was headlined by the Classique 5335 Grande Complication Tourbillon Messidor. The tourbillon regulator was one of legendary watchmaker A. L. Breguet's most significant inventions, which is still regarded to this day as one of the most coveted complications in haute horlogerie. The new-for-2007 Classique Tourbillon Messidor from Breguet pays tribute to the man and his wonderful invention.

Characterized by elegant, distinctive watches with an extraordinary level of movement finish, A. Lange & Söhne is a brand admired by enthusiasts for their attention to detail. This year, they impressed the crowd at SIHH with their 2007 novelties, which include a watch with an astounding month-long power reserve.

There was a number of great new watches from prolific and innovative Jaeger-LeCoultre. A dual-power reserve chronograph watch, a watch that needs no lubricant, and a range of extreme diver's watches were the highlights from Geneva's SIHH show of haute horlogerie.

Hublot’s watches are distinctive and handsome; in particular their successful Big Bang models. This year, there is a bumper crop of novelties to suit every taste, from a skeletonized tourbillon with chronograph, to a range of matt-finished sports watches.

Bulgari first showed their own mechanical watch calibers last year, and now, at Baselworld 2007 comes the new Bulgari Assioma Multicomplication Squelette. It has an automatic-winding movement linked to a tourbillon, as well as a perpetual calendar; both are much-admired grand complications of the highest order. These are beautifully highlighted by the intricate, skeletonized dial which was developed in-house using four superimposed layers, each of which has its own unique finish. Limited to just 20 pieces, the watch also features a 64-hour power reserve from its movement, which is housed in a platinum case.

At Baselworld 2007, the Henry Double Hairspring from H. Moser & Cie. was revealed. Tonneau-shaped and elegant, the Henry Double Hairspring features an innovative new oscillating system, which is the most complicated component of the mechanical watch.

Jaquet Droz is a watchmaker with extremely distinctive pieces. Their uncluttered, sophisticated designs blend modernity with heritage, and it shows in this year’s crop of watches shown at Baselworld 2007. From simple, elegant timepieces to complex, grand complication models, the characteristic Jaquet Droz themes of slim cases, legible dials, and the boldness of black and enamel dials are all there, reinforcing the brand’s inimitable style.

For decades now, Omega has been admired for its blend of sportive timepieces and its finer watches as well. In 2007, this reputation is unchanged, with its latest range of Seamaster 50th Anniversary editions as well as its classy De Ville collection.

Glashutte Original watches are renowned for their high standards of finish, as well as their Germanic elegance and style. For 2007, the Saxony-based company has a range of new watches to tempt every collector, and we bring you the lowdown from Basel direct.

Chopard is a brand with an invaluable reputation for making both fine mechanical and jewelry watches. This year's crop of premieres from Chopard are exciting new refinements of existing ranges, all of whom are destined for success.

Innovation and audacity are at the core of DeWitt's 2007 premieres. In just four years, the brand has established itself as a player in the luxury watch market, and this year sees a turning point for the company. A bigger manufacturing space and the use of new materials in their distinctive watches mark out a new direction for DeWitt, and this is evident in their new-for-2007 Academia model, the Silicium Grande Date, Silicium Hora Mundi, the Triple Complication GMT, and the Tourbillon à Force Constante.

2006 was a great year for Patek Philippe, with their Ref. 5960 and Nautilus models being met with much adulation, and their 2007 debuts are set to further the brand's strong position. This year, Patek have expanded their vast collection with refined new versions of classic models as well as new debuts in the Gondolo range.

Twenty years ago, IWC released a perpetual calendar timepiece named Da Vinci – for the mechanical genius who pioneered the Leonardic principle of continuing to improve that which already exists – which they regard as one of their most successful watches ever. This year, the Schaffhausen-based watchmaker has renewed the Da Vinci line with a new tonneau-shaped case, as well as mechanical internal workings that correspond to the previous Da Vinci watch. An Automatic, a Chronograph, and a Perpetual Calendar Special Edition “Kurt Klaus” have been released.

New for this year, the RM 011 Felipe Massa Flyback Chronograph watch from Richard Mille follows the handsome, racecar-inspired style of its brethren. Behind the sapphire crystal dial, the automatic winding, skeletonized movement powers a new, aeronautical-inspired flyback chronograph that can be reset without first having to stop the mechanism, as well as an annular calendar function. As always, one of the biggest draws of the RM 011 is Richard Mille’s extensive use of advanced materials such as titanium and palladium, which lend this, much like the brand’s other new premieres the RM 015 and RM016, a uniquely technical character. Click on "Read more" for pictures and information on the latest additions to the Richard Mille range.

The Happy Sport model from renowned jewelers and makers of fine Swiss timepieces, Chopard, has been a distinctive and luxurious addition to the brand's illustrious range since 1993. Now, the Happy Sport collection welcomes the latest Happy Sport Chrono at a time that finds women going for technical models more and more. The delightful pink gold case encases five mobile diamonds between its rotating bezel and the dial, while the strap is made of brightly-colored crocodile skin.

While the worldwide community of watch enthusiasts awaits the new Opus 7 concept watch at this year's Baselworld fair with baited breath, Harry Winston Rare Timepieces has also launched its third “Superwatch” of 2006/2007, the self-winding Tourbillon Glissiere. Conceived by the same team led by Hamdi Chatti that created the Opus 6, the Tourbillon Glissiere was inspired by the wheels, pistons, and rails of a steam locomotive. Click "Read more" for pictures and more information on the Harry Winston Tourbillon Glissiere.