Reinventing Our Perception of Time

From October 17 to 19, the eleventh edition of El Salón Internacional Alta Relojería México 2017 (SIAR) took place in The St. Regis Mexico City. More than 30 brands –including Girard-Perregaux, Greubel Forsey, Baume & Mercier, Bulgari, Chanel, Chopard, Jacob & Co, Louis Moinet, Romain Jerome, Urban Jurgensen, Urwerk, Zenith and more– were present with their unique pieces that took the breath away from every spectator in the room.

SIAR is the most important haute horlogerie event in Latin America, where countless personalities in the industry gather to present more than 1,000 new releases, to unveil new trends, and interact with the public, media and connoisseurs from all over the world. The event also presented the exceptional opportunity to admire the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Gèneve Exhibition—a selection of 72 pieces competing for the title of best watche of the year in 12 different categories.

 

 

The event also offered an opportunity for the world to show solidarity to Mexico after the natural disasters that stroke some central and southern states on September. SIAR donated the equivalent sum raised by admission tickets to the cause during the closing ceremony, and was delivered  to the Red Cross. SIAR always fulfills expectations as one of the most exclusive events of the year.  O

 

These are some of the most praised timepieces at El Salón Internacional Alta Relojería México 2017 (SIAR):

 

BVLGARI Octo Finissimo Automatique

Bulgari’s new release is an award-winning, record-holding timepiece that has captivated watchmaking experts all over the world with its sophistication, elegance and innovation. The new Octo Finissimo Automatique is the slimmest automatic self-winding watch on the market, only 2.23mm thick for a 40mm diameter. To accomplish extreme thinness—a horological complication in itself—each element, from the parts of the mechanical movement to the elements comprising the case, had to be designed and created especially with this purpose in mind. The timepiece beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and has a 60-hour power reserve.

 

 

CHANEL Première Camélia Skeleton

Swiss manufacturer Châtelain, in collaboration with the prestigious watchmaker Romain Gauthier, was inspired by the beautiful Camellia, Coco Chanel’s favorite flower, to create the new manual-winding Caliber 2: the Première Camélia Skeleton. One of its most praised complications is the skeletal floral motif comprised of the movement itself. The design is intricate and yet minimalistic, with diamond incrusted bezel and white gold case.

 

 

HUBLOT Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph

Ferrari and Hublot partnered to celebrate the Italian carmaker’s 70th anniversary with the creation of the new Techframe Ferrari 70 years Tourbillon Chronograph. The timepiece was designed by Ferrari with the same creative process that goes into creating a new supercar, and manufactured by Hublot’s expert engineering. The result is an extraordinary watch that emphasizes Ferrari’s trademark strength, performance and agility. It is powered by the new HUB6311 manual-winding caliber and offers days of power reserve. It comes in three versions: King Gold, PEEK Carbon, and Titanium, each with only 70 pieces available.

 

 

ROGER DUBUIS Excalibur Aventador S

 

Roger Dubuis partnered with Lamborghini to create a timepiece that would captivate both watch enthusiasts and supercar connoisseurs with their natural competitive spirit looking for perfection in their performativity. It’s safe to say fans weren’t disappointed. The Excalibur Aventador S has a sporty look that evokes the essence of the Italian carmaker and the intricate sophistication that characterizes the Swiss watchmaker. It features a Duotor caliber, created especially for this model, a 45 mm case made of carbon fiber and titanium, and works at a 2 x 4 hz frequency, offering higher precision.

 

 

RICHARD MILLE RM 50-03 Tourbillon Split Seconds Chronograph Ultralight McLaren F1

Watchmaker Richard Mille dedicated the RM 50-03 Tourbillon Split Seconds Chronograph Ultralight McLaren F1 to the biggest event in the sports car industry: Formula One. The watch was conceived in collaboration with McLaren-Honda to break the boundaries of performance and resistance, using titanium, carbon TPT and grapheme to reduce weight. The movement is comprised by the split-second chronograph, the tourbillon, plus the 70-hour power reserve and torque sensors. The RM 50-03 is only 40g, making it the lightest split-seconds chronograph in existence.

 

 

ZENITH Defy Lab

The Zenith Defy Lab is a well-executed combination of classical watchmaking and innovation. The movement, made of 148 components that offer 60 hours of power reserve, features Zenith’s five-pointed star and is powered by the revolutionary oscillator of the ZO 342 caliber, which combines high frequency at 15Hz with low amplitude. The monolithic oscillator is 0.5mm thick, made of monocrystalline silicon with a layer of silicon oxide; it allows precision and efficiency with +/- 0.5 seconds per day from 0 to 48 hours. It comes in a 14.5mm thick case and is water resistant up to 50m.

 

Texto: Ashanti Rojano ± Photo: Bulgari / IMGIX / CHANEL / LUXURY / HublotHublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph / HUBLOT / HD23 / DYLER / ROGER DUBUIS / THE HOROLOGIUM / Zenith Defy Lab / ARES