Ian’s Prime 10 Watches Of 2021 Plus 2 Honorable Mentions (Spoiler Alert: No Rolexes, However A Couple Of Enjoyable Watches)

By no means let it’s mentioned that there was a bandwagon I didn’t bounce on. It appears to be like prefer it’s the season for everybody to be sharing their favourite watches of 2021 so listed here are my horological highlights of the final 12 months in no specific order.

De Bethune Sort of Two Tourbillon

I like De Bethune’s eye-catching, space-age dials, however there are occasions when the event requires one thing tamer and fewer obtrusive. Till now, that meant having two completely different watches. However the Sort of Two Tourbillon offers you two very completely different wanting watches in a single.

One watch, two faces: De Bethune DB Sort of Two Tourbillon

A five-day energy reserve with a 30-second tourbillon is spectacular, however much more so is its sub-ten-millimeter thickness. A 43 mm case would usually be on the large aspect for my small wrists, however I can attest to the truth that De Bethune’s wrist-wrapping floating lugs are an absolute dream to put on, even on smaller wrists.

The De Bethune DB Sort of Two Tourbillon was my runaway choose to win the 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève Tourbillon class. And I’m happy to say that it did!

For extra, see: De Bethune DB Form Of Two Tourbillon: Two Dials Means Double The Pleasure (Plus Video)

Urwerk UR-111C

The Urwerk UR-111C is every thing that makes Urwerk nice. It’s acquired wild curler shows that includes leaping hours and retrograde linear minutes, digital seconds, a pull-out lever within the case band to set the time, and appears prefer it’s come from area.

Urwerk UR-111C

The 111C is pure Urwerk, a wonderfully engineered machine for the wrist and completely exterior the conventional realm of horology.

For extra, see: Urwerk UR-111C: A New Titan Amongst Titans (Plus Video)

Greubel Forsey GMT Sport Restricted Version

The GMT Sport was launched in late 2019, making waves with a form so in contrast to any Greubel Forsey earlier than it. With its high-legibility indications, peerless hand-finishing, three-dimensional GMT globe, and 24-second inclined tourbillon, there’s quite a bit to love.

Greubel Forsey GMT Sport Restricted Version

However the 2021 GMT Sport Restricted Version is even higher because of its completely gorgeous metallic bracelet.

For extra, see: Greubel Forsey GMT Sport: Object Of Need and 5 New Watches From Impartial Watchmakers At Watches & Wonders 2021

Bernhard Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer

Whereas this watch launched final yr, I’m together with the Bernhard Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer right here as a result of the 2020 mannequin was actually a prototype. And nearly as good as that early model was, the up to date model Lederer launched in 2021 was so a lot better. Whereas the 2 spherical openings on the in any other case subdued dial provide a robust trace that one thing particular lies inside, the view of motion in the back of the watch is simply sensational.

Bernhard Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer

Our Joshua Munchow wrote a good overview of the unique watch questioning calling it a chronometer when it hadn’t been formally licensed as such. However as Lederer revealed to us at Geneva Watch Days 2021, he first didn’t know {that a} chronometer must be licensed to hold the moniker after which when he tried to have that achieved, realized that the timing machines (which work from the sound of the regulator) couldn’t deal with the relative cacophony coming from the twin pure escapements. However that certification course of is seemingly ongoing.

For extra, see Joshua’s publish: Bernhard Lederer Central Impulse Chronometer*: A Superlative Watch However Is It Actually A Chronometer?

Miki Eleta Svemir

How Miki Eleta’s Svemir didn’t take the prize for Mechanical Exception on the 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève nonetheless has me shaking my head, however that doesn’t reduce the superlative nature of this unbelievable clock.

Miki Eleta Svemir

And seeing it within the flesh (metallic?) at Dubai Watch Week 2021 simply put me in awe.

For extra, see: Our Predictions In The Mechanical Exception Class Of The 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG): Clocks Rock! However Ought to They Even Be In This Class?

Vianney Halter’s Deep House Resonance

Age doesn’t appear to only enhance nice wines; in Vianney Halter’s case it improves nice watchmakers as nicely. Halter’s triple-axis Deep House Tourbillon was an actual eye-opener in 2013.

Vianney Halter Deep House Resonance Prototype (photograph courtesy Vianney Halter/Man Lucas de Peslouan)

He adopted up the theme in 2021 with the unbelievable Deep House Resonance that includes a triple tourbillon and twin balances, proving that this grasp hasn’t misplaced his contact. Impartial watchmaking doesn’t get a lot better than this.

For extra, see Vianney Halter Deep House Resonance Triple-Axis Tourbillon: Even Gravity Gained’t Convey It Down!

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadryptique

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 was THE watch of 2021. With its 12 patents, 11 issues, together with a number of I’d by no means heard of (synodic, draconic, and anomalistic lunar cycles, anybody?), 4 show faces, flying tourbillon, and seamless minute repeater chimes, you possibly can solely be impressed.

JLC Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 on the wrist

However on high of all of that, it was the truth that this ultra-complication is so wearable that basically blew me away.

For extra, see Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque: 11 Issues (Plus Flying Tourbillon) Are Spectacular, However The Reality That It’s So Wearable Is The Actual Magic

Bulgari Gérald Genta Area Retro Mickey Mouse

At Geneva Watch Days 2021 there have been two watches that made me smile, one in all which was the brand new Bulgari/Gérald Genta Area Retro Mickey Mouse.

Bulgari Gérald Genta Mickey Mouse

Leaping hours and retrograde minutes present horological heft, but it surely’s the colourful Mickey Mouse together with his arm and finger pointing to the minutes that provides the enjoyable.

For extra, see Gérald Genta Retro Traditional: The Definitive Genta Masterpiece?

Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein La Semaine

The second watch that made me smile at Geneva Watch Days 2021 was the La Semaine Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein. And I wasn’t the one one: Quill & Pad’s editor-in-chief Elizabeth Doerr appreciated it a lot she purchased one!

I suppose it’s Monday: La Semaine Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein on the wrist

For extra, see Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein x Manuel Emch x A Solid Of Visitor Artists = Wonderful (And Inexpensive) Watches

MB&F x Bulgari Legacy Machine Flying T Allegra

The MB&F x Bulgari Legacy Machine Flying T Allegra is just not a watch I’d ever put on, however I adore it! Not just for the unbelievable horological and jewellery craft concerned, however for what it says in regards to the state of fantastic watchmaking immediately. This collaboration between MB&F and Bulgari is the primary time a miniscule unbiased watch model has partnered with a behemoth like Bulgari. Indies are area of interest no extra!

MB&F x Bulgari Legacy Machine Flying T Allegra

The MB&F x Bulgari Legacy Machine Flying T Allegra each brings large worldwide recognition to MB&F and boosts Bulgari’s popularity as a boundary-pushing watch model. And by all studies by each events, the collaboration was an absolute pleasure.

For extra info, please go to www.mbandf.com/en/machines/performance-art/lmflyingtallegra-mbandf-bulgari

Honorable mentions

Armin Strom Tribute 1

Maybe essentially the most troublesome factor for any model to drag off is making a brand new costume watch that provides one thing completely different that hasn’t already been achieved, and that’s even more durable for a small model with comparatively restricted sources.

Armin Strom Tribute 1

So a tip of the hat to Armin Strom for its Tribute 1: it’s each a particular new fashion of costume watch and distinctively Armin Strom.

For extra, see: Tribute 1 By Armin Strom: Redefining The Up to date Gown Watch

Louis Vuitton Tambour Avenue Diver

Whereas I assumed it a stretch that the Louis Vuitton Tambour Avenue Diver was nominated – and received! – the 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève’s Diver’s Watch class, what I wrote about it then nonetheless stands true immediately.

Louis Vuitton Tambour Avenue Diver Skyline Blue

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Avenue Diver Skyline Blue is a great-looking watch from above, however that small motion says to me that it’s extra in regards to the appears to be like (and value) than the mechanics. Nonetheless, I tip my hat to Louis Vuitton for designing such an incredible new up to date dive watch look.

Most dive watch designs are all variations on a (Submariner) theme, and I like this contemporary take: it appears to be like trendy however sacrifices nothing in practicality. The indications are all extremely legible and the rotating internal bezel is safe. I might have most well-liked a bigger motion, however suspect consumers will respect the lower cost the smaller motion permits. I don’t suppose it should win due to its probably decisive (you want otherwise you don’t) up to date design, however I price it extremely.

For extra, see Louis Vuitton Tambour Avenue Diver: All Killer, No Filler?

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