A Christmas selection from Jean Lassaussois and Frank Sans C
Frank Sans C and his pal Jean Lassaussois, from the luxury boutique Lassaussois in Paris, went for another round this year with their Christmas selection of watches. Great maisons and excellent pieces, hand-picked by two experts. These two must have had lunch with Santa...
The date is now set every year with Jean Lassaussois. He is the owner of several boutiques in Paris, but above all, he is a watchmaking aficionado. Together with Frank, he unveiled his Christmas wish list, delighting all of us “tick-tock fana-ticks”.
BAUME ET MERCIER – Riviera Baumatic
A lovely way to start the show: the Riviera Baumatic edition, from the collection of the same name by Baume et Mercier. The line was launched in 1973 and rejuvenated in 2021 by the manufacture. This latest interpretation has a tighter, purer design, but some important details were kept, such as the iconic twelve-sided bezel, a reminder of the twelve hours displayed on the dial. This unique shape makes it easily identifiable. The case is 42mm in steel, alternating polished and satined finishes. The watch stands out with its transparent smokey grey sapphire dial, delicately adorned and subtly revealing a finely crafted Swiss-made automatic calibre, with a comfortable 5-day power reserve. The dial features Dauphine hands and a date aperture at 3 o’clock. The interchangeable steel bracelet of this sporty watch and its manufacture Fast Strap system allows the wearer to match the watch to any outfit or occasion.
Price: €3,900
Technical specifications:
Power reserve: 120 hours
Water resistance: 10 ATM (approx. 100m)
Date
Screwed-down sapphire crystal case back
Swiss-made Baumatic BM13-1975A movement
Automatic, self-winding
Frequency: 28800.0 VpH/4Hz
21 rubies
42mm steel case
Thickness: 10.66mm
Polished and satin-finished
Sapphire grey dial
Riveted Roman numerals
Riveted indices
Rhodium-plated Dauphine hands
Steel polished/satin-finished bracelet
Triple unfolding clasp with security, steel, polished
BLANCPAIN – Villeret Quantième Complet
The Quantième Complet with moon phases is a complication exclusive to the Blancpain Manufacture. It comes to life in this 38mm watchmaking piece. The red gold version boasts a signature Villeret double-stepped bezel, set in diamonds. This mechanical marvel displays the day of the week, indicated by an extra hand with a red counterweight in the shape of a moon. Poetic, down to the smallest detail. The moon phase appears at 6 o’clock in its dedicated aperture. The whole thing is powered by a manufacture automatic calibre, adorned with Côtes-de-Genève. It also contains a delicately adorned red gold oscillating weight and an anti-magnetic silicone balance spring. This elegant watch is offered on a leather strap, in trendy chocolate brown.
Price: €21,690
Technical specifications:
Quantième complet with moon phases
Small seconds
Opaline, diamond-set dial
Self-winding movement
Red gold 38mm case
Water resistant to 30 meters
Sapphire case back
CHANEL – Montre Première Rock
This prized piece is a testament to the excellent tastes of Jean Lassaussois. With its unapologetically modern design, it is the ladies’ watch par excellence. The Première was created for Chanel by famous designer Jacques Helleu in 1987. From that moment on, it became an icon of the maison and a collectors’ favourite. Its steel case takes inspiration from the eight-sided shape of the stopper of the N°5 fragrance bottle, as well as the legendary Place Vendôme. The watch displays a black lacquer dial and a cabochon crown in onyx, and houses a high-precision quartz movement. Last but not least: the triple row steel bracelet, interwoven with black leather, is a nod to the straps of the brand’s handbags. For a chic yet rock’n’roll look.
Price: €5,250
Technical specifications:
Steel case
Black lacquer dial
Onyx cabochon crown
Triple row steel bracelet interwoven with black leather
Buckle clasp with cover
High-precision quartz movement
See all our technical specifications for the Première from Chanel.
HUBLOT – Big Bang One Click Steel White Pavé
Why “One Click”? Well, the pieces from this collection are equipped with an exclusive, Hublot-patented, interchangeable strap system. With one click, the watch takes on a new look, matching the outfit and the mood of its owner. This 39mm jewellery version is made in 316L steel: a durable, corrosion-resistant material. With 118 diamonds adorning the case and 42 on the signature bezel, featuring six H-shaped titanium screws, this watch is simply dazzling. Luxurious, yet surprisingly sporty, it is associated with a structured, lined white rubber strap, ensuring a comfortable fit. The purity of its design is evoked in its white matte dial, displaying a date aperture at 3 o’clock.
Price: €23,000
Technical specifications:
Case: 39mm in polished stainless steel set with 118 diamonds totalling 0.84ct.
Bezel: polished stainless steel set with 42 diamonds totalling ~1.00ct and 6 H-shaped titanium screws
Water resistance: 100m
Crystal: sapphire with anti-glare coating
Dial: matte white
Movement: HUB1710 self-winding automatic calibre
Power reserve: 50 hours
Structured and lined white rubber strap
Stainless steel unfolding buckle clasp
HUBLOT – Big Bang E Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022™
Hublot is the Official Timekeeper of the FIFA 2022 Football World Cup. This connected watch blends high tech and high performance. Dedicated to football fans, this 44mm-diameter instrument is made of high-tech ceramic. It was designed to be the companion to any self-respecting athlete: heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gyroscope, low latency off body sensor, microphone, speaker, etc. This connected marvel can also alert its owner of goals scored during matches.
The initial version evokes the colours of the flag of Qatar. It displays a burgundy dial, with a rubber strap in black and burgundy. However, supporters from various participating countries will be happy to know that the watch can be customised according to the colours of their favourite team.
Price: €6,000
Technical specifications:
Case: Microblasted and polished black ceramic
Water resistance: 30m
Hublot digital dial
Movement: Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear™ 4100+
1-day power reserve
Black and burgundy lined rubber strap
Composite black unfolding clasp
Resolution: 454×454 pixels, 327ppp
In-cell AMOLED screen technology
Android 11.0 (except for the GO edition)
iOS 15.0+
OMEGA – De Ville Prestige
We have recently reported on the latest De Ville Prestige from Omega, in an article dedicated to their remarkable dials.
Jean Lassaussois chose their 41mm Co-Axial Master Chronometer. This steel variation stands out with its slightly domed dial in light blue PVD, created with Omega’s signature 2-in-1 finish: a random vertical pattern with finely executed radiant sun-brushing, for a captivating result.
The watch displays a 270-degree power reserve indicator, illustrated by 4 cut-outs, as well as the date, located at 6 o’clock. On to the mechanical side of things: the watch is certified Master Chronometer and houses an Omega Master Co-Axial 8810 calibre and an anti-magnetic balance spring.
Price: €5,800
Technical specifications:
Master Chronometer certification
Anti-magnetic
Chronometer
Transparent crystal caseback
Small seconds
Date
Power reserve indicator
41mm steel case
Water resistant to 30 meters
Scratch-resistant sapphire with anti-glare treatment on the inside
Blue leather strap
Pin buckle
RESERVOIR – SONOMASTER CHRONOGRAPH
The Sonomaster Chronograph from Reservoir is now available on a steel bracelet. This 2022 exclusive sports an appealing vintage design, inspired by old-school sound measuring devices. The two retrograde hands evoke those of the recording level gauges of retro stereo amplifiers. The date and seconds are displayed in two black apertures at 120 degrees. The bi-retrograde watch in 316L steel is powered by a manufacture self-winding chronograph calibre and a column wheel. Another nod to the world of hi-fi: the crown borrows its design from amplifier control buttons.
Frank Sans C highlighted the black leather strap version in this video: À toute vitesse : quatre chronos dans la course !
Price: €6,150
See our technical specifications for the Reservoir Sonomaster Chronograph on steel bracelet
TAG Heuer Monaco Heuer 02
The Monaco was created in 1969 by Jack Heuer passed into legend when it was worn by Steve McQueen in the film Le Mans (1971). Jean Lassaussois presents a true collector’s item here. Our team had outlined a previous model in this article: 2019, the year of the TAG Heuer Monaco .
Price: €6,850
See our technical specifications for the TAG Heuer Monaco Heuer 02.
TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Red Bull Racing
Calling total fans of Red Bull Racing: this 43mm piece from TAG Heuer in steel is in the starting block with Jean Lassaussois. The dial of this sleek chronograph evokes the famous racing team at every turn, with every detail: blue dial with red accents, black counters, and a yellow central hand. To measure speed, the high-performance quartz instrument has a tachometric scale in blue aluminium. This sports watch is in pole position to make a thoughtful Christmas gift.
Price: €2,150
Technical specifications:
Case: 43mm, satined/polished steel
Steel case back
Water resistant to 200 meters
Fixed bezel coated in aluminium
Blue dial
Quartz movement
Hours, minutes, seconds
Chronograph: seconds, 30-minute counter, date
Steel bracelet, satin finish
Unfolding buckle with push-buttons
TUDOR – Black Bay Bronze
The Black Bay Bronze is faithful to the Tudor diving watches from the 1950s to 1970s, but it is also a modern classic in its own right. It features an oversized crown, a unidirectional rotating bezel, snowflake luminescent hands and water resistance up to 200 meters.
This video from Frank Sans C, “When dive watches go bronze” introduces us to the universe of this iconic vintage collection.
Price: €3,990
See our technical specifications for the Tudor Black Bay Bronze.
ZENITH – Chronomaster Open
The Chronomaster Open from Zenith, as the name suggests, is an open book. The bottom plate and the bridge of the latest generation, high-frequency El Primero calibre housed in this watch are openworked. This meticulously chiselled opening provides a stunning view of the escapement, with its blue silicone pallet and escape wheel. This model selected by Jean Lassaussois has a sporty spirit. It boasts a silver-coloured dial and a matching steel bracelet. Last but not least, this ultra-precise chronograph measures and displays 1/10th of a second, with a centre second hand that makes a full revolution in only 10 seconds.
Price: €9,700
Technical specifications:
Movement: El Primero 3604 automatic
Frequency: 36.000 VpH (5Hz)
Power reserve: approx. 60 hours
Functions: 1/10th second chronograph; centre hours and minutes; small seconds at 9 o’clock; chronograph centre second; 60-minute counter at 6 o’clock; 60-second counter at 3 o’clock.
Finishes: new star-shaped oscillating weight
Water resistance: 100m
Case material: stainless steel
Dial: matte silver with two coloured counters & one Hesalite counter
Indices: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1
Hands: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1
Bracelet: steel with double unfolding clasp
LONGINES – Hydroconquest
It is a well-known fact that Longines has intimate links to aviation, but it has also been a strong ally to divers. As soon as around 1942-43, the prestigious Swiss maison was providing wristwatches to divers in the British Royal Navy. Today, Longines diving watches are more efficient than ever. The HydroConquest collection includes a model with a green ceramic satin-finished dial and a bezel with a matching ceramic insert.
This highly appealing model is available in a 41mm diameter, which is sure to suit either gender, and 43mm diameter. The watch is powered by an automatic movement and sports all the attributes of a diving instrument: unidirectional rotating bezel, screwed crown and back, crown protection, double security unfolding clasp with integrated diving extension, hour markers and hands coated in luminescent material, and water resistance up to 300 meters.
Available on a steel bracelet or a khaki green rubber strap.
See our technical specifications for the LONGINES – HydroConquest on green strap.
BRETILING – Super Chronomat Automatic 38
In an effort to be fair to everyone, Jean Lassaussois picked the ladies’ version of the Super Chronomat Automatic. This delicate jewellery version boasts an oversized steel bezel, set with lab-grown diamonds. It is impeccably complemented by its ice-blue dial, displaying a date aperture at 6 o’clock. This model is powered by an automatic movement. Its navy blue rubber “rouleaux” bracelet gives it a sporty look. And here’s a detail women will love: the bracelets are interchangeable, to match any outfit – day or night.
Price: €9,450
Technical specifications:
Case: 38mm in steel
Bracelet: blue rubber strap
Self-winding mechanical movement
38-hour power reserve
Vibration: 28,800 VpH
Screwed-in caseback
Water resistance: 100m
Unidirectional ratcheted bezel
Crown: non screw-locked, two gaskets
Convex sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides
Pre-loved wonders:
Just in case you didn’t know: Jean Lassaussois’ boutique offers a wide range of pre-loved timepieces. A great way to stay within budget this Christmas. Here is a taste, with these two models, hand-picked by our “tick-tock fanatics”.
La IWC Portugieser Chronographe Automatic
This Portugieser Chronograph Automatic from 2015 is in prime condition and sold in its original box. It also comes with a certificate of origin. This steel watch has a 40.9mm case and houses an automatic calibre, equipped with a 44-hour power reserve. Among its functions are a 30-minute counter and a small seconds hand. This refined chronograph is water resistant to 30 meters and comes on a black leather strap.
Price: €5,100
See our technical specifications for the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Automatic.
La Breguet Type XX
This Type XX chronograph from Breguet, dated 2008, is a reinterpretation from the original model, designed in the 1950s by the manufacture for the French air force. At the time, the watches were first delivered to the air force, between 1955 and 1959. Then to the Centre d’Essais en Vol (flight test centre) in 1956-57, and to the Aéronautique Navale (naval aviation) in 1960. They went on to be given to pilots as part of their equipment. As state property, they were not intended for civilians. However, they were so popular that Breguet launched a model for the public. As a point of interest, the military versions are covered by the term “Type 20”, while the civilian versions were named “Type XX”, in Roman numerals. This steel version houses a chronograph with Flyback function, a distinctive feature of pilot watches. It is still in great condition, on a black leather strap and in its original box.
Prix : 6 900 euros
See our technical specifications for the Breguet Type XX.
Boutique Rennes – 58, rue de Rennes, Paris 6e – 01 46 34 71 38 – Tuesday-Saturday, 10:30am to 7pm.
Boutique Passy – 40, rue de Passy, Paris 16e – 01 53 92 51 61 – Tuesday-Saturday, 10:30am to 7pm.
Boutique Rolex Saint-Germain – 56, rue de Rennes, Paris 6e – 01 53 63 00 50 – Monday-Saturday, 10:30am to 7pm.
And the new Breitling boutique – 51, rue de Rennes, Paris 6e – 01 45 38 90 84 – Monday-Saturday, 10:30am to 7pm.
THE LASSAUSSOIS WEBSITE – LA BOUTIQUE LES MONTRES-LES BIJOUX
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