Lassaussois x Frank Sans C: Seasonal tips and timepieces
Seawater, sand, travel, and sunshine: summer really puts our timepieces to the test. Jean Lassaussois and Frank Sans C look at the best habits to pick up while on holiday, while showcasing a selection of models built for the season.
CHANEL
J12 Superleggera Calibre 12.1 Timepiece
Two decades on from its launch, the Chanel J12 Superleggera makes a major comeback with a look which leans heavily into its sporty credentials while honouring the lineup’s hallmark style. This new 42 mm edition pairs matte black ceramic with black-treated steel, highlighting a handful of distinct details that set it apart from the rest of the J12 lineup.
The case is crafted from matte black highly resistant ceramic — a material that has become one of the manufacture’s technical hallmarks. It is paired with black-coated steel elements, such as the unidirectional rotating bezel. The timepiece showcases a satin-finished hardened steel ring set into a blackened steel base. The gripping notches have also been redesigned to soften the edges.
The dial features a two-tier finish. Its circular satin-brushed center is constrated by its snailed outer rim. The display retains a traditional layout with hours, minutes, seconds and date. The date window is positioned at 4 o’clock and indicated by a red arrow, one of the few coloured elements on the timepiece. The screw-down crown is crafted in steel and fitted with a matte black ceramic cabochon. On the wrist, the J12 Superleggera sits on a high-resistance ceramic bracelet whose central links alternate between vertically satin-brushed surfaces and polished bevels. The whole assembly is secured by a triple-folding steel clasp.
Inside sits the Calibre 12.1, a COSC-certified self-winding in-house movement. Produced by the Swiss manufacture Kenissi, of which Chanel is a co-owner, it delivers a power reserve of roughly 70 hours. Visible through the sapphire case back, the movement stands out thanks to its openworked tungsten oscillating weight coated in black. With a 42 mm case diameter and water resistance to 200 metres, the J12 Superleggera preserves the hallmarks of a sports watch while drawing on Chanel’s two decades of expertise in ceramic watchmaking.
€12,900
Click here for the J12 Superleggera Calibre 12.1, 42 MM spec sheet
TIP N°1:
At the beach or by the pool
– Check water resistance before setting off, especially if the timepiece is a few years old.
– Rinse the watch in fresh water after swimming in the sea or pool to remove salt and chlorine.
– Do not operate pushers or the crown underwater unless the manufacturer explicitly allows it.
– Avoid sudden temperature changes to reduce the risk of condensation and oxidation.
TISSOT
Seastar 1000 40 MM and Seastar 1000 36 MM Quartz
Some colours have the power to bring you to your dream place. It is exactly the case with the shade chosen by Tissot for the new Seastar 1000 Quartz models in 36 mm and 40 mm. Somewhere between lagoon turquoise and sunlit shallow-sea green, this new dial brings quite a summer feel to one of the Swiss brand’s most iconic lineups. What immediately draw our attention is the way that the colour shifts with the light. Sometimes blue, sometimes green: it adds depth to the dial.
Available in both 36 mm and 40 mm sizes, the Seastar also taps into a broader trend in contemporary watchmaking: a return to well-balanced proportions. The 36 mm version wins people over with its understated elegance, while the 40 mm brings a more assertive, sporty presence. Two different takes, but one unique spirit. Make no mistake, though: behind that azure appearance lies an authentic dive watch at heart. Water resistant to 300 metres, fitted with a unidirectional rotating bezel and enhanced with Super-LumiNova® for improved legibility, the Seastar 1000 hasn’t lost any of its nautical DNA.
Powered by a Swiss Quartz movement with an end-of-life (EOL) battery indicator, its priority is the ease of use and everyday reliability. A philosophy that aligns perfectly with the spirit of the lineup: a timepiece designed to be worn whether you are on a seaside terrace, away for a weekend, or simply looking to add a fresh touch to a summer outfit.
Click here for the Tissot Seastar 1000 in 40 mm diameter spec sheet – €495
Click here for the Tissot Seastar 1000 in 36 mm diameter spec sheet – €475
TIP N°2:
Impacts and activities
– Remove your watch for high-impact sports (tennis, golf, mountain biking, combat sports), especially if it is a mechanical timepiece.
– Beware of rocks – they are one of the most common causes of scratches while on holiday.
On the wrist of Frank Sans C
OMEGA, Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M
Twenty years after the launch of the first Planet Ocean, Omega unveiled a fourth-generation model last year, one of the most significant evolutions in the line-up. Far more than an aesthetic update, the new version reimagines the watch’s architecture while preserving the key design cues that have shaped the lineup since 2005.
The most immediately noticeable change is in the proportions. All models in this new generation measure 42 mm in diameter, in line with the original timepieces. Above all, however, the case is now considerably slimmer. Whereas third-generation Planet Ocean models stood at 16.1 mm thick, the new models come in at 13.79 mm. This refinement has been made possible by the introduction of a flat sapphire crystal, a redesigned bezel, and a global rethink of the case construction. The case middle design is, in fact, one of the most immediately noticeable changes. Omega turned the softer forms of the previous generation into sharper lines and more pronounced angles. Drawing inspiration from some Seamaster models of the 1980s and 1990s, this architecture is based on a two-part construction combining a main body with an inner titanium ring. Based on improvements developed for the Ultra Deep, this solution enhances the timepiece’s durability while still offering water resistance to 600 metres.
Another departure from the Planet Ocean models produced over the past two decades is the removal of the helium escape valve. A long-standing hallmark of the lineup, it now gives way to a more streamlined case design. The see-through sapphire case back has also been discontinued and replaced by a screwed grade 5 titanium case back, which is lighter and more compact, further reducing overall thickness. Omega has also redesigned the metal bracelet. Now more seamlessly built in the case, it highlights a flat-link construction with brushed outer rows and a polished centre link. Thinner than the previous generation, it preserves a six-position adjustment system as well as a diving extension.
On the dial side, the changes are more subtle. The arrow-shaped hands, raised luminous hour markers and overall layout stay the same, but the Arabic numerals now showcase a new openworked, more angular typeface. All models come with a matte black dial, paired with ceramic bezels available in black, blue or orange. The latter colour — hallmark of the Planet Ocean lineup since 2005 — benefits from a new ceramic formulation developed in-house.
Click here for the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M steel with an orange rubber strap spec sheet – €8,700
TIP N°3:
Security
– If it is a valuable timepiece, it is best not to wear it too conspicuously in busy tourist areas.
– Use the hotel safe when you are not wearing it.
– Keep a picture of the timepiece, together with its serial number, for reference.
– Avoid travelling with your entire watch collection; instead, consider swapping straps to change the look.
BREITLING
Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42 et Chronomat B31 Automatic 40
Breitling continues to evolve its Chronomat line with a refined approach to both proportions and overall aesthetics. While remaining faithful to the design cues that made the lineup a success, the timepieces now highlight a slimmer case, a fully built-in construction, and a series of technical improvements aimed at enhancing comfort and legibility.
Among the new releases is the Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42, featuring an anthracite dial and a black rubber strap. The model preserves Breitling’s in-house calibre 01, a COSC-certified self-winding chronograph, fitted with a column wheel and vertical clutch. Operating at 4 Hz, it delivers a power reserve of roughly 70 hours. The movement drives hours, minutes, seconds and date indications, along with a chronograph function which showcases 30-minute and 12-hour counters.
This latest generation chiefly features more refined proportions. Case thickness has been reduced from 15.1mm to 13.77mm, while the removal of the 1/100 scale on the rehaut improves dial legibility. Breitling has also slimmed down the crown guards, making winding and setting easier. The 42mm 18-carat red gold case still offers water resistance to 200 metres, along with a unidirectional rider-tab bezel. The whole assembly comes on a Rouleaux-style rubber strap, secured by an 18-carat red gold folding clasp.
Alongside it, the Chronomat B31 Automatic 40 offers a more streamlined take on the lineup. It is powered by the in-house B31 calibre, unveiled last year by the manufacture. COSC-certified, this self-winding movement comprising 181 components, boasts a 78-hour power reserve and beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Its more compact architecture allows the movement to be housed in a case measuring just 10.99mm thick.
This blue-dial version also marks the introduction of a three-hand date configuration housed in a 40 mm Chronomat case. Like the chronograph, it features the new built-in construction between the case and the Rouleaux bracelet. The steel bracelet is fitted with a micro-adjustment system, allowing quick and easy sizing without taking the watch off the wrist. With water resistance to 200 metres, its in-house calibre and adjusted proportions, this Chronomat B31 Automatic 40 stands out as the most versatile take on the lineup.
Click here for the Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42 spec sheet – €11,200
Click here for the Chronomat B31 Automatic 40 spec sheet – €6,400
TIP N°4:
Security gates and airport scanners
– Beware of the magnetic fields generated by metal detectors and body scanners at airports, even though they are generally weak and exposure is brief.
– If security staff ask you to remove your watch, place it in a separate tray to prevent it from rubbing against keys, belts or laptops.
– If a mechanical timepiece suddenly starts gaining several minutes a day after a trip, a quick demagnetisation by a watchmaker will often resolve the issue within minutes.
HUBLOT
Big Bang Original Titanium Coal Blue
Hublot expands its Big Bang Original Unico lineup with a new Titanium Coal Blue edition. This model introduces a completely new shade to the manufacture’s catalogue: a blue-grey hue that adorns both the dial and the strap.
The model preserves the architecture that defines the current generation of the Big Bang Original Unico. Its 43mm case is crafted from polished and satin-finished titanium and measures 13.2mm thick. The bezel, also made of titanium, showcases the lineup’s visual hallmark: six H-shaped screws. The whole assembly is water resistant to 100 metres. The timepiece is also fitted with Hublot’s One-Click system, allowing the strap to be changed quickly and easily.
The most notable evolution in this Coal Blue edition lies in its aesthetic execution. The dial is adorned with a stamped motif inspired by carbon fibre, reimagined as a geometric relief which alternates between satin-brushed and polished surfaces. The result is a subtle interplay of light that accentuates the richness of the charcoal-blue tone. Matching the dial, the textured rubber strap preserves this hue as well and continues the design established by the first-generation Big Bang models featuring the One-Click system.
From a mechanical perspective, this model is powered by Hublot’s in-house HUB1280 Unico calibre. This self-winding flyback chronograph movement is fitted with a column wheel and a silicon escapement. It delivers a power reserve of roughly 72 hours and operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour). The movement is made of 354 components and 43 rubies. Functions include the chronograph, hours, minutes and seconds, together with a date window positioned at 4:30. Visible through the sapphire case back, it is distinguished by anthracite ruthenium-coated bridges and mainplate. The oscillating weight receives the same treatment and is finished with micro-blasted and circular satin-brushed surfaces, in line with the tones of both dial and case.
€20,000
Click here for the Big Bang Original Titanium Coal Blue timepiece spec sheet
TIP N°5 :
Customs
– If you are travelling with a timepiece you already own, there is generally nothing to worry about.
– For a high-value timepiece, it is advisable to keep:
· the original purchase invoice;
· a picture of the watch;
· where applicable, the certificate or warranty card.
– These documents may prove useful, should customs officials wish to verify that the watch was not purchased abroad without being declared.
TAG HEUER
Formula 1 Solargraph
For further information on the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph lineup, please refer to the following article:
Click here for Formula 1 Solargraph in red bio-polyamide spec sheet – €1,950
Click here for the Formula 1 Solargraph in steel with blue bio-polyamide bezel spec sheet – €2,050
TIP N°6:
After-Swim Care
– Clean the bracelet and case with a soft cloth.
– For steel or rubber straps, a quick rinse in lukewarm water followed by thorough drying is usually sufficient.
– If you regularly swim with your timepiece, have the water-resistance seals checked periodically.
TUDOR
Tudor Monarch
Click here for the Tudor Monarch timepiece spec sheet – €5,400
For further information on the Tudor Monarch, have a look at the article and show dedicated to Watches and Wonders:
On Jean Lassaussois’s wrist
ROLEX, Land-Dweller
For further information about the Land-Dweller, have a look at our dedicated article and show:
Click here for the Land-Dweller in Oystersteel and white gold spec sheet – €15,950
LASSAUSSOIS LES MONTRES – LES BIJOUX BOUTIQUE
58 Rue de Rennes, Paris 6th arrondissement
+33 (0)1 46 34 71 38
LASSAUSSOIS WEBSITE
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