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Every year, Geneva SIHH gathers some of the most iconic and beautiful watchmakers in the world. The Richemont group as well as some invited brands reveal their new creations to an audience of professionals buyers and the press. The next edition will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the trade show. 40’000m2 and 16 watchmakers will constitute the 25th SIHH in January 2015. Here is a sneak peak of what await us next january.

Cartier, no Skeletons in the closet.

Cartier has developed since the 60’s a true know-how in Skeleton watches. The concept of a Skeleton watch is an interesting challenge for watchmakers. All of the moving parts are visible through either the front of the watch, the back of the watch or a small cut outlining the dial. True ‘skeletonization’ also includes the trimming away of any non-essential metal on the bridge, plate, wheel train or any other mechanical part of the watch, leaving only a minimalist ‘bare’ skeleton of the movement required for functionality. Often, the remaining thinned movement is decorated with engraving. This can be with or without a dial face that allows the user to see through to the movement. Next January, Cartier is going to present 2 amazing and unique models: The Skeleton crash and the Rotonde AstroTourbillon Skeleton.

Cartier Skeleton Crash

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A Skeleton watch is already a true challenge for a watchmaker, so imagine a “crashed version”. The Crash here translates the irregular shape of the watch that requires a different distributions of the different elements in order t allow the mechanism of the watch to work. This 950/1000 Platinum case limited edition will be presented at the 2015 SIHH by Cartier and will be available only in 67 units for a Recommended retail price of $62’500.

The Cartier Rotonde Astrotourbillon skeleton

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Launched in 2010, the Cartier Rotonde Astrotourbillon was an amazing launch as Cartier brought a strong innovation in watchmaking with its’s tourbillon that made a complete revolution around the dial. Next January, Cartier will explore a level further by adding a skeleton version to the Astrotourbillon. In a very elegant white-gold version, only 100 units were produced for this outstanding piece. Visit the official website of Cartier to learn more about Cartier watchmaking know-how:
http://www.cartier.com/collections/watches

Piaget, slim is the new black

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Piaget next January will introduce an amazing timepiece called the Altiplano Chronograph. After the revelation of the Altiplano mechanical with the outstanding movement of 3.65mm (the thinnest movement ever made), Piaget proves once again its mastery in such thin movements by launching the Altiplano Chronograph. With its 4.65mm movement, it is the thinnest chronograph ever made. Visit the Piaget official website here for more information about this amazing brand: http:www.piaget.com.

Baume & Mercier, 20 years in the Hampton

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Celebrating the 20th anniversary if its iconic line Hampton, Baume & Mercier is adding a new timepiece to the famous collection. The new Hampton Automatic models differ for the dial: blued hands and silver numerals for reference M0A10155 or gilt hands and gilt numerals for reference M0A10156. In both cases, the sword-shaped hands stand out very clearly against the off-white background. You can visit the website of Baume & Mercier for more details on the brand unique universe: http://www.baume-et-mercier.ch

Officine Panerai, black ceramic is chic

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Officine Panerai always distinguished itself from competition thanks to an unique design and mastery in watch-making. With the new Luminor 1950 that will be presented next January, The Swiss brand has come to an outstanding combination between the P.9100 manufacture chronograph movement and a high-tech Ceramic watch case. The overall look of the watch is very subtle with different elegant elements displayed in a very precautions way. Visit the brand official website for more information:
http://www.panerai.com

Audemars Piguet, pushing the boundaries of watchmaking.

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Audemars Piguet will present next January a 8 years long project called the Royal Oak Concept Acoustic Reseach. The idea behind this new timepiece is to achieve the perfect minute repeater sound. The volume of the sound should the the perfect one. The new generation of minute repeater has the interesting capability to be shared with others. The entire watch case is made of Titanium which gives a very modern and edgy look. Visit the brand official  website for more information about Audemars Piguet:
http://www.audemarspiguet.com

Ralph Lauren passion for Automobiles

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In the next SIHH, Ralph Lauren will present a very interesting piece called The Ralph Lauren Automotive Chronograph. This new watch is completely inspired by the instrument panel of Ralph Lauren’s legendary 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe, the Automotive Chronograph represents the height of legibility and beauty cars. The movement, self-winding caliber RL751A/1, runs in 39 jewels, beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, and offers a 65-hour power reserve. The Côtes de Genève and perlage movement finishing is a special decoration exclusive to Ralph Lauren. Visit the brand website for more information about the amazing universe of Ralph Lauren Timepieces:
http://www.ralphlaurenwatches.com 

 Parmigiani Fleurier, nothing to hide.

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Parmigiani Fleurier will present in the next 2015 SIHH a new transparent version, skeleton, of its iconic Tonda 1950. The masculine version has a pure transparent dial with a perfect sapphire dial. Its metallic edge allows to hide the different attachment points  between the movement and the case. The feminine model is equipped with a translucent Sapphire glass dial. This veil reminds the white grained dial of the iconic original watch.
The PF705 caliber animates this new Tonda 1950 and it is also equipped with a micro-rotor plate visible from both sides of the watch. It has been decorated on the dial side with a clean iconic Parmigiani Fleurier motif. Please visit the brand official website for more information about the amazing elegant Parmigiani Fleurier universe: http://www.parmigiani.ch

 A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia

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The SIHH 2015 will be an opportunity for A. Lange & Söhne to unveil three new versions of classic watches from the Saxonia range whose dial was redesigned for the Geneva show. Saxonia is the iconic line of the brand and this time will seduce new customers thanks to the different variations.
Discover more about the brand universe by visiting the official website:
http://www.alange-soehne.com

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Calendar

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Jaeger-LeCoultre is launching an astonishing watch in which the dial is made of meteorite! This is a new addition in its Master calendar collection. Here with the display of the moon phases. According to the Swiss manufacture, the meteorite comes from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Particularly difficult to work because of its iron content, each reference will thus have a dial unique design carved from a meteorite block. Inside the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 866. You can visit the brand official website here:
http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

Vacheron Constantin, Maître Cabinotier Astronomica. A blast!

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Vacheron Constantin is one of the most wonderful brands of Swiss Watchmaking. Proudly based in Geneva since 1755. Based on the caliber 2755-B1, this new Maître Cabinotier Astronomica offers 15 complications thanks to its 839 different pieces. On the dial side, in addition of hours and minutes, Vacheron Constantin proposes 11 complications  including minute repeater, tourbillon, equation of time (which measures the difference in minutes between solar time and legal and universal time), perpetual calendar (change of date each 400 years), date, day of the week, month, leap year, power reserve, indication of sunrise and sunset. In the back side, this amazing timepiece has 7 functions: sky map, solstice, equinox, sidereal time, age and phases of the moon, the seasons and the zodiac signs. You can discover more about Vacheron Constantin here:
http://www.vacheron-constantin.com

IWC, overseas with the Portugaise Yacht Club Chronographe Ocean Racer

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IWC, the watchmaker from Schaffhausen in Switzerland will present during the 2015 SIHH a new version of its iconic Portugaise: the Yacht Club Chronographe Ocean Racer. The Luxury watch brand is for the 2nd year the official timekeeper of the Volvo Ocean Race regatta. For this occasion, IWC will launch in 2015 a Flyback chronograph as a limited edition. See more about IWC by visiting the brand official website here:
http://www.iwc.com.

Montblanc Meisterstück Heritage Date Automatic, less is more.

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Montblanc is a beautiful brand. One of the rarest multi-product manufacturer that reached an amazing watchmaking legitimacy. Everything is about elegance and luxury details. Completely inspired by its  writing Instruments collection, Montblanc unveiled on the occasion of his 90th birthday a range of classic and elegant watches bearing the evocative name of Meisterstück Heritage. This elegant and minimalist collection was firstly revealed during SIHH 2014 and now the collection increases towards some specific functions. Within the collection we can find a perpetual calendar, moon phase indicator and even “monopoussoirs” chronographs. You can discover more about the amazing world of Montblanc by visiting the website here: http://www.montblanc.com

Richard Mille, the RM 33-01, Richard Mille at its best.

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Richard Mille is revealing a new chronograph called the RM 33-01. We have written a specific review about it. You can read all details here:
https://luxuryactivist.com/watches/richard-mille-pre-sihh-2015-rm-33-01-automatic-watch

 Van Cleef & Arpels, poetry in watchmaking

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From all the brands presented at SIHH, Van Cleef & Arpels is probably the most romantic and poetic one. Every watch has a story and every watch is manufactured with a high quality of details. We look forward to see what Van Cleef and Arpels have to present us as we are all going to be seduced as each year. Like as with the Poetic Astronomy, which we might see more development in 2015. To see more about Van Cleef and Arpels you can check its official website here: http://www.vancleefarpels.com

The list above is not completely extensive but it gives already what await us in 2015. When talent meets passion only great things can be accomplish. Next stop: Geneva.

LA

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Info sourced at the Pre-SIHH official communication release, thewatchobserver.ch, cartier.com, parmigiani.ch, timeandwatches.com, wikipedia, SIHH.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.