Like concept cars, concept watches are many things folded into one seductive and highly publicized object. They are life-sized laboratories for the public to see; showcases for future implementations of technology and style, and intended to be as desirable as they are unavailable. Unlike concept cars, though, their watch equivalents have been awfully scarce, especially in an industry where a set of key players pride themselves on innovating. In the past 20 years, arguably the most exciting, stimulating, and innovative era in watchmaking history, there have been but a handful. Which makes them all the more significant. Some have been introduced as such, near prototypes introducing many new features, sprucing up the brand's profile. Others have denied being such creatures and released as products, only for the community to find out they were not ready to be mass produced. And some others still, shown under the shroud of secrecy, were never released. After the glamorous presentations are over, a concept watch can have various destinies. It sometimes becomes a product, which includes some degree of the original's technical creativity. Or it can be so advanced its author brand ends up being unable to materialize it in enduring form, especially as far as reliability is concerned. This is the story of a handful of these projects, with outcomes as diverse as the technologies and achievements they introduced.
LOW RISKS, HIGH REWARDS
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Denne historien er fra Issue 70-utgaven av WOW Singapore.
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Hand-Finished Ceramic
Once thought impossible, Blancpain demonstrates how to bring handcraftsmanship to ceramic cases and bracelets with the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet Phases de lune 5054
Quanta Of Time
Just as hours, minutes and seconds are quanta of time, so too are days, weeks, months and years. We finally explore the story of the perpetual calendar in particular, in a year that invites such ruminations
Twice Upon A Time
The world's greatest double tourbillon wristwatch, the Breguet Classique 5345 Quai de L'horloge is back, with new hand-finishing touches
Coming In Thin
Bvigari’s releases for 2024 continue to stun the watch world with its trail-blazing innovation and sublime artistry
Light The Night
Luminox celebrates 35 years of existence by drawing on its heritage in the realms of the air, land and sea
New Frontiers
The outgoing CEO of TAG Heuer Julien Tornare shares his management style and values. No doubt these will remain consistent in his new role as Hublot CEO, just as they were in his Zenith tenure
Delighting To Surprise
Tissot CEO Sylvain Dolla weighs in on the novelties of 2024
Machine Learning
The mechanical calendar has been perfected over the last 100 years; it remains a challenge that invites multiple watchmaking and engineering approaches. We get into the nuts and bolts of how the perpetual calendar gets the job done
Expedition Hublot
A peek into the manufacture at Hublot reveals the amount of intricacies and technology behind the often quirky watches
STRUCTURAL STYLE
Parmigiani Fleurier CEO Guido Terreni explains the logic of the new Toric collection and takes us through his thoughts on style and elegance
