I was going to write a post about another sick vintage Breitling I recently came across this week, but I feel like it is only fitting that I comment on some of the watches that have been released at this week’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie. SIHH is a trade fair that is open only to the people who have been invited by the exhibiting brands. Nineteen different brands are currently showcasing their product at this year’s event held in Geneva.
One of the most talked about pieces of the 2011 show thus far has been the IWC Portofino Hand-Wound 8 Days. It is a really sharp looking piece with a power reserve indicator at nine o’clock, the date at three o’clock and a seconds subdial at six o’clock. The watch houses the IWC in-house 59210 caliber movement that is the same size as a pocket watch movement. It is supposed to be a large and reliable movement.
Unfortunately, one of the watches that has caught my eye the most is apparently not even going to be available for the American market! The Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox Tribute to Deep Sea looks to be absolutely awesome. The original Memovox Deep Sea was JLC’s first ever dive watch and was produced in two versions back in 1959. One was for the European market, while the other was for the American market. The Memovox Tribute to Deep Sea is consequently offered in both a European version and an American version.
I am in love with the European version! This bad boy is right up my alley. The watch is extremely simplistic in its design with a matte black dial and luminescent hour-markers. The model uses the JLC Caliber 956 movement and has an alarm that is indicated by a triangle with a luminescent center. It is designed after the “Jaeger LeCoultre Classique 1959.”
It is a bummer that the 959 pieces that are going to be made will only be available for the European Market. The American version looks to be pretty cool as well, but the dial is definitely busier than the European version with “DeepSea Alarm Authentic” written on it and a track design. The American version is inspired by the “LeCoultre Spécial Amérique 1959” and 359 pieces of it will be made.
Zenith, while not an official exhibitor at the SIHH show, has been meeting with various retailers and the press in Geneva this week and has come out with some sweet watches. They are a brand that has really emerged back onto the scene over the last year or two by making smaller and thinner watches. Their movements are some of the best in the business. Other brands such as A. Lange & Sohne and Audemars Piguet look to be backing up their stellar images by respectively refining their classic, signature models. I cannot wait for the BaselWorld Fair!
The Hourology Report 