LVMH Watch Week ran from January 24 2022. This was an opportunity for watchmakers Bulgari, Zenith and Hublot to showcase their latest technical magic in their horological wares. Taking place digitally, it marks the beginning of a new year in watchmaking. Which means new models to look out for and new developments to get excited about. Here, some of the talking points.
Bulgari:
Touching on a theme of “Time is a jewel”, the luxury maison introduced new models including: a revisit of its Serpenti with its multiple faces, and added a new and small mechanical calibre; the LVCEA, which explores ways to play with light via its new pink mother-of-pearl and aventurine dials; plus the new Octo Roma Grande Sonnerie and the Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon.
With new 2022 models come new colours to the Bulgari palette. Pink mother-of-pearl and aventurine combine for the two new LVCEA shades, which brings a jewellery touch to the design. Meanwhile, each of the dials is assembled using the marquetry technique in a pattern called Intarsio.
The Grande Sonnerie features a four-gong mechanism and a dial and case that are now set with shimmering baguette-cut emeralds and diamonds. The idea is that Haute Horlogerie and Haute Joaillerie have come together here.
For something modern, the two traditional complications of the tourbillon feature alongside a striking mechanism.
Three new models complete the Seduttori timepiece line, which is very confident in style.
Four new Serpenti secret watches revisit the iconic design from the 1950s, and are all equipped with the new Piccolissimo mechanical movement, which is one of the smallest in the world. It is entirely conceived and produced within the Bulgari Manufacture in Le Sentier.
Zenith:
The Defy collection took a leading role in the grand reveals for Zenith this year with Defy Skyline a collection that builds upon the legacy of Zenith’s robust nature and performance, something that has defined the line since its earliest incarnations.
“After a lot of time spent perfecting the design, proportions and precision, my team and I are extremely proud of the way the Defy Skyline turned out,” said Zenith CEO Julien Tornare. “It’s the purest expression of the modernistic Defy line that stands out without ever feeling out of place, and really solidifies the Defy’s position at the forefront of the future of watchmaking.”
But there’s more.
Limited to 200 pieces, the Defy 21 Chroma demonstrates a mastery of the high-frequency automatic 1/100th of a second chronograph, and adds a vibrant and fresh palette of colours to the mix.
The Defy Midnight was launched in 2020 and was done so to be the first Zenith Defy collection tailored specifically for women. A versatile sporty timepiece, the collection now welcomes two new additions inspired by a central theme in Zenith lore – the starry night sky: the Defy Midnight Sunset and Defy Midnight Borealis.
You can also now shop an exclusive collection of sustainably made straps made in partnership with Nona Source, a start-up incubated by LVMH that uses dead-stock fabrics from the group’s most prestigious fashion and leather goods maisons. These are upcycled and transformed into handmade “haute couture” straps.
The Defy Skyline comes on a steel bracelet with a satin-brushed surface with chamfered and polished edges, following the contours of the faceted case.
There is now also the Defy Extreme Carbon and a reproduced limited edition of 250 pieces of the Defy Revival A3642, which uses original accurate details.
Hublot:
The Big Bang Unico Golf is back, but this time in orange carbon; a reconnection with the house’s founding spirit via well-known but revamped models; a focus on yellow gold; and a sleek new “Time Only” collection are among the grand unveilings at Hublot.
Sporty but smart, six pieces rekindle Hublot’s sport-chic aesthetic in rubber and gold, which combine the essence of Hublot’s past and future.
The Hublot X Sang Bleu story continues and there are three new iterations: green, black, black and gold. Marking the seventh year of collaborating, Maxime Plescia-Buchi, the Swiss tattoo artist, creative director and founder of Sang Bleu magazine, applied his ink to two of Hublot’s iconic materials, Magic Gold and ceramic.
It was in 2017 that a partnership between Hublot and the golfer Dustin Johnson introduced the world’s first mechanical golf watch with aperture display, the Big Bang Unico Golf. This Swiss Made watch brought the world of watchmaking mechanics to golfers’ wrists, where often it is digital. Now, the Big Bang Unico Golf Orange Carbon continues this story with the Hublot MHUB1580 automatic movement in a vibrant, lightweight orange carbon.
Available in King Gold or steel, partially or fully set, the Big Bang One Click 33s cases feature black or white polished dials, around which the hours are arranged. Twelve soft touch calf leather straps produce subtle changes on the wrist and the straps are also available for the 39mm Big Bang One click and the 42mm Big Bang Unico.
This is a first for the Big Bang Integral: now fitted into a slim-fitting outfit and thinner than ever, in a case of yellow gold, titanium or “All Black” ceramic. This new collection, named simply “Time Only”, refocuses on the core of watchmaking: hours, minutes, seconds and the date. There are: three pieces, three hands, three materials, but just one diameter: 40 mm.
