Luxury Insider

The highlight of this year's Baselworld exposition for Jaeger-LeCoultre was its Duomètre à Chronographe “micro-mechanical masterpiece”. The “Dual-Wing” Caliber 380 has two power reserves independent from each other, with one powering the normal timekeeping functions of the watch while the other is dedicated to the chronograph function. It is the first chronograph mechanism with no coupling-clutch, enhancing accuracy to the nearest one-sixth of a second. Both the timekeeping function and the chronograph mechanism have a 50-hour power reserve while both barrels are wound by the same crown, though in opposing directions. Available in both pink gold and platinum, the 42mm diameter Duomètre à Chronographe will be followed by a yellow gold edition, limited to 300 pieces.

“Observatory” watches were once made in the name of ultimate accuracy. Independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen was lucky enough to come across several unused examples of these watch movements, and decided to create a limited run of watches using these Peseux base calibers. Each of these Voutilainen Observatoire watches showcases the man's expert finishing skills, as well as a special feature on the movement's balance spring called the Grosmann curve, which gives the internal curve of the spring as much attention as the external curve. The 38mm case is made of gold, and frames an engine-turned gold dial with Arabic numerals and gold hands.

Omega launched new in-house manufactured calibers this year: the 8500/8501 movements. These will find their way into the De Ville range, and the watches that will house them are called the Hour Vision by Omega. Once more, Omega's Co-Axial escapement technology improves precision over long periods, while the balance bridge and the rotor are fashioned from 18K red gold, following the Omega tradition. The 41mm red gold case is waterproof to 100 meters, and shock-resistant to 5000 G.