How about offering a moment of eternity?
As the festive season approaches, some people give chocolates, others champagne or books... and then there are those who aim a little higher — sometimes even very high: a fine watch. An exceptional gift that stands out when the fairy lights come on and gift ideas are in high demand. Cartier, Dior, Hublot and IWC: four major watchmakers that caught our attention with models as unique as they are desirable.
CARTIER, Santos de Cartier
In 1904, Louis Cartier responded to a somewhat crazy challenge from an equally daring friend: to enable aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont to read the time without letting go of the controls of his aeroplane. From this simple wish was born one of the very first wristwatches, an object designed for the skies before becoming an icon on the ground.
More than a century later, the Santos has lost none of its pioneering spirit. If anything, it has honed it further. The latest version, crafted in titanium, takes this idea of elegant functionality even further. The overall look remains the same.
Beneath its rounded contours lies a large case with perfectly balanced proportions: 47 mm high, 39.8 mm wide and just 9.4 mm thick. The light, matte titanium enhances the technical and contemporary aesthetic, while the seven-sided crown is adorned with a black faceted synthetic spinel, an almost subtle yet irresistibly graphic detail. Behind the sapphire crystal, the silver opaline dial captures the light. The blued steel sword hands, railway minute track, Roman numerals (with a secret signature) and date at 6 o’clock ensure optimal readability.
This timepiece is undeniably versatile. Cartier equips it with a titanium strap and a second one in nubuck alligator, each featuring the “QuickSwitch” system. With a simple gesture, without tools, the watch transforms: technical in the morning, sophisticated in the evening. The interchangeable steel folding clasp completes this ingenious system designed for a fluid, almost ethereal everyday experience.
€11,400
Consult the technical details of the Santos de Cartier in titanium.
DIOR, Chiffre Rouge
Twenty years after its launch, the Chiffre Rouge continues to embody the idea of a watch where couture engages in a dialogue with mechanics. Last year, Dior unveiled the Chiffre Rouge Chronograph Grey Ultramatte, a model that extends the collection’s original audacity while offering a more architectural interpretation than ever before.
The eye is first drawn to the iconic asymmetry of the 41mm bipartite case, a signature of the collection. Crafted from matte gray steel and enhanced with a polished bumper, the design plays with contrasts of materials and volumes. Between 9 and 12 o’clock, the notched bezel makes a statement, while the red chronograph pusher—positioned at 4 o’clock—evokes Monsieur Dior’s favourite colour.
But it is perhaps the dial that best expresses the couture DNA of the piece. Crafted in gray brass, it features the Cannage motif, one of the Maison’s most iconic codes. The silvered hour and minute hands and hour markers exude understated elegance, allowing the red chronograph hand to infuse the whole with a sporty pulse. Beneath the translucent red sapphire crystal, the automatic movement beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour—a frequency of 5 Hz inherent to the Zenith El Primero calibre—and boasts a 48-hour power reserve.
Water-resistant to 100 meters, the Grey Ultramatte is fitted with a rubber strap featuring a micro-cannage pattern, an extension of the one on the dial. Its interchangeable system allows for various looks in the different colours available: grey, black, and red, of course.
This colour is also found on the three-hand version of the 38mm diameter Chiffre Rouge Ultramatte, which displays the same aesthetic codes as its counterpart.
View the technical specifications of the Chiffre Rouge Chronograph Grey Ultramatte – €15,000.
View the technical specifications of the 38mm Red Chiffre Grey Ultramatte – €9,400.
HUBLOT, Big Bang MECA-10 Frosted Carbon
Always ready to shake things up, Hublot is bringing back into the spotlight one of its most audacious creations: the Big Bang MECA-10. Presented in 2016 as a horological UFO, it returns almost ten years later with a revised, more compact calibre, housed in a 42 mm case available – among other options – in frosted carbon.
Upon its release, the first MECA-10 surprised everyone with its ring-shaped main plate and suspended bridges. For this 2.0 version, the manufacture was keen to retain this visual language while redesigning the movement. The result: a more coherent, more open, more refined skeletonized movement, enhanced by satin finishes and polished bevels.
The calibre has also been redesigned: three linear bridges, enhanced surfaces, and electroplated movements to ensure a chromatic match with the case. And of course, the signature MECA-10: a 10-day power reserve, displayed using an unusual rack and pinion system. A pair of counter-rotating discs, connected by a helical spring reminiscent of a miniature barrel, creates a differential display that is as surprising as it is intuitive.
Each piece of matte black frosted carbon features a unique pattern, the very essence of this unaltered material. The 42mm case maintains the look of the Big Bang line and comes with a highly technical Velcro® strap. And, of course, the essential One Click system allows you to change the strap in a single motion.
€28,500
Consult the technical data sheet for the Big Bang MECA-10 Frosted Carbon.
IWC, Portugieser Automatic
Born in Schaffhausen, the IWC Portugieser has established itself as one of the manufacture’s great classics. In this current version, the 41 mm diameter steel reference 3716 perpetuates this now-signature design: a silver dial with a wide opening, a slim bezel that allows the whole to breathe, and applied blue Arabic numerals recognizable at first glance.
Positioned vertically, two azure counters mark the 6 and 12 o’clock positions, while the quarter-second graduated flange offers a precision that underscores the chronograph’s more than just elegance. Behind this apparent continuity, however, lies a major change. The manufacture has integrated its in-house automatic calibre, a chronograph movement with a column wheel, renowned for its reliability and precision.
The transparent sapphire crystal case back allows you to admire its architecture, and the automatic ratchet-driven winding system ensures a 46-hour power reserve. Water-resistant to 30 meters, the watch comes on a blue leather strap with a butterfly folding clasp, designed for enhanced comfort.
This model is also available in a wide selection of dials, like this steel model with a blue dial.
€9,000
Consult the technical details of the Portugieser Chronograph reference IW371605.
ON FRANK SANS C’S WRIST
€9,000
Consult the technical specifications of the Portugieser Chronograph IW371620.
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