SIHH 2019, Final Day: The watches that made the cut

It’s our last day here at SIHH and here are the watches that finally made the cut for us.

Ulysee Nardin’s Classico Manara

For Ulysse Nardin, 2019 is the year of the X Factor, when their work is characterised by that extra something. The watchmaker highlighted two of their lines – one, the iconic Freak, which now sees the addition of the new Freak X, and the other, the artistic Classico Manara series.

Created in collaboration with Italian graphic artist Milo Manara, who is known for his erotic illustrations, the watchmaker unveiled 10 timepieces, each of whose dials feature Manara’s paintings that show the love between a woman and a mermaid. Manara created the original watercolour paintings, which were then painstakingly recreated using micro painting by Ulysse Nardin’s artisans on the dials. Each piece is available in a limited edition of 20, 10 each in steel and rose gold.

Hermès Arceau L’heure de la Lune

Hermès is synonymous with elegance, and though not yet in the league of haute horologists, the brand is fast making strides towards being known as one. This year’s Arceau L’heure de la lune is proof. The timepiece goes beyond the regular moonphase complication to showcase a simultaneous display of moonphases in both northern and southern hemispheres, with the two mobile counters gravitating on a meteorite or aventurine dial. This is the original functional interpretation of the double moonphase complication, an exclusive development for Hermès.

Bovet’s Virtuoso IX

The beauty of the Virtuoso IX begins at it being a multipurpose piece – it can be worn as a wristwatch, a pocketwatch, a pendant, or kept by your bedside as a table clock. Plus, its caseback can be opened to reveal its beautiful workings. While one side has a second timezone, a big date, and flying tourbillon, the reverse shows hour and minute hands atop the mechanism instead of a dial, and spherical differential winding system (at 12 o’ clock). Also noteworthy is its engraved, sparkling ‘bris de verre’ motif.

All images: Courtesy brands