Categories
Vacheron Constantin Replica

Replica VACHERON CONSTANTIN : Historiques Cornes de vache1955

One of my favourite releases of 2015 has been from luxury replica Vacheron Constantin – the Historiques Cornes de vache 1955 chronograph. Given that I saw it during the same few days (in Hong Kong) as I did the A.Lange & Söhne 1815 Boutique-only Chronograph, it was great opportunity to be able to see and compare two such stunning (front and back sides) old-school chronographs. Although the Harmony chronographs released by Vacheron Constantin this year have been rather splendid, this Cornes de Vache probably just pips it at the post for me, in part due to how it wears.

The Historiques Cornes de vache 1955 has been inspired by, as the name aptly states, a classic 1955 chronograph with ‘cow horn’ lugs, the Reference 6087. The original on which this new release is based was 18 carat yellow gold, 35mm in size, and contained the manual-wind Calibre 492.

The new one, however, is a very comfortable 38.50mm diametre (making it arguably more wearable for more people as a dress replica watch if we compare it with the Harmony Chronograph’s 42mm x 52mm) and 10.9mm thick in a 950 Pt case with the same ‘cow horn’ lugs. Visible through an open case back is the manual-wind Calibre 1142, with a forty-eight hour power reserve and 21,600VPH.

This is a faithful modernisation of a classic Vacheron Constantin piece. As well as keeping the same lugs and being restrained with regards to size, they have kept with the original bi-compax layout of the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small seconds at 9 o’clock. A slightly larger size compared to the original has meant some more space on the dial  and increased legibility. The dial itself is silvered opaline with a brushed minute track and tachymeter scale. The indices are white gold. A mix of Roman numerals and applied indices, a tachymeter scale, bi-compax layout…the whole replica watch screams vintage Vacheron chronograph design.

This new Vacheron Constantin has a presence; when you handle it you want to put it on your wrist. It really is an extremely elegant replica watch from a Manufacture with a very long and significant history of making chronographs. As I mentioned at the outset, the Harmony Chronograph range is rather beautiful and has a buttery smooth  chronograph pusher, but they have a stronger wrist presence because of their size; this new Cornes de vache 1955 gives a smaller (and round) option for someone looking for a modern chronograph dress replica watch from the brand.

Do you know what? So what if its name is ‘cow horns’. It is matter of fact, you don’t have to remember too many reference numbers, and it is, as they say, what it says on the packet. With their tapering curves it is the lugs that give the replica watch that extra bit of character.

Its parent the Reference 6087 was apparently only produced in 36 pieces (28 in yellow gold, six in rose gold), but this one will be more easily obtained. The Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 will be limited in production but not number and price is 62,000 EUR. For a look at some vintage Vacheron Constantin chronograph, go to this post of our visit to their chronograph exhibition in January 2015.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Richard Mille Replica

Hands On Replica Richard Mille RM26-02 ‘EvilEye’

Intended less as a device to aim at those to whom you wish to give the ‘the eye’ and more as a talisman against bad luck, Richard Mille’s RM26-02 ‘Evil Eye’ was launched a couple of months ago, and we had the opportunity to spend a little bit of time with this striking replica watch.

The 48.15mm x 40.10mm x 13.10mm case has a TZP black ceramic bezel and caseback and is not just very light, but also very scratch-resistant. TZP black ceramic contains 95% ytria-stabilised zirconia (a ceramic in which the crystal structure of zirconium dioxide is made stable at room temperature by an addition of yttrium oxide) and makes for an interesting case texture, with an almost ‘grained’ look. The middle band of the Evil Eye tripartite case is 5N red gold, the replica watch has the Mille torque limiting crown to prevent over-winding, and water resistance is 50m. The red gold/ black theme is presumably to do with fire and darkness. It’s al about dial drama with this luxury replica watch.

The eye is red gold with grand feu enamel and lacquer by Olivier Vaucher. The flames and eye have been hand-carved using small custom-made chisels after the enamel firing process is completed.

Inside is the manual-wind Calibre RM26-2 with a power reserve of approximately fifty hours. The plate and bridges are PVD-coated Grade 5 Titanium and the tourbillon 3 Hz. To a large degree the tourbillon almost seems surplus to requirements on a replica watch with such a prominent design feature

This being a Mille replica watch there is, of course, skeletonisation; in this instance of the baseplate and visible through the open case back.

The RM 26-02 is produced in a limited edition of 25 timepieces which are available exclusively from Richard Mille boutiques. The price is USD575,000.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Montblanc Replica

Replica Montblanc Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphères NightSky

At SIHH 2015 Montblanc launched the red gold limited edition Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphères. At Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 in Hong Kong, they launched another limited edition version but this time in white gold. A version that to my mind, is even better looking that its predecessor.

One of the reasons for this is the upper part of the dial, with a very elegant dark sparkle of an Aventurine background to the cylindrique tourbillon. It is this effect that is the reason for the ‘Night Sky’ name for this new replica watch.

As you can see, the dial is multi-layered. Against the backdrop of the Aventurine sky sits the one-minute tourbillon with its distinctive infinity-loop bridge; it takes a replica watchmaker seven days to complete this alone.

The lower part of the dial is a dark grey, with two hand-painted fixed globes to illustrate each hemisphere (with day/ night indications and twenty-four time zones) and a home-time indication in the form of a three-dimensional compass rose. The indicator on this compass marks the hours, and is shaped like a fleur-de-lys.

Two synchronised discs with 24 time zones and day/ night indicator make one revolution per day around the two fixed globes; the one for the Northern Hemisphere turns clockwise and the Southern Hemisphere, anti-clockwise, letting the wearer view the current time in any part of the world. Without losing the minutes the local time can be adjusted with a pusher at 8 o’clock.

So how do you actually use these time zone functions? Well pulling the crown out lets you set all three – local time, home time and the world-time for the two hemispheres. At 4:30 on the side of the case you will find the small corrector for the home time compass rose at 6 o’clock. Once all these have been set, a new local time in a different time zone can be set simply by pressing the pusher at 8 o’clock, which advances the hour hand in hourly increments without affecting the minutes, nor does it alter the home time at 6 o’clock or the two displays along the globes.

The continually running and independently adjustable display for the home time at 6 o’clock is inspired by a marble compass rose at the base of the remarkable Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument in Belém, Portugal that commemorates renowned Portuguese explorers. I visited this monument a couple of years ago, and in a spot of happy coincidence for this post, took a photo of this very compass rose (see below), along with photos of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos.

Vasco da Gama, perhaps the most famous Portuguese explorer of them all, set sail from Lisbon’s Restelo harbour on 8 July 1497 with a fleet of four ships, with the goal of reaching the coast of India and in so doing, become the first to go by a southern sea route to India. This successful expedition, and those subsequent to this, have formed the basis for the Vasco da Gama commemorative pieces released by Montblanc this year.

With this expedition Vasco da Gama became the first European to establish a sustainable and safe way to travel from Europe to India (hence the two globes representing the bridging of hemispheres) and of the influence of Portuguese explorers to the southern hemisphere is perhaps most markedly noticeable in a modern sense in the city of Macau.

Inside the Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphères Night Sky is the manual-wind calibre MB M68.40 which has two hundred and eighty one parts, including ninety-one for the tourbillon alone. Power reserve is 48 hours and it beats at 18,000VPH.

The names of twenty-four cities in the Northern Hemisphere and two dozen in the Southern Hemisphere whose time can be told are engraved along with the matching time zones on the back of the case for reference – you add/ subtract the relevant number of UTC hours (-12:00 to +12:00), as is the limitation number.

To be honest in a practical sense the use of this replica watch as a world-timer is probably a little unwieldy, especially for those of us with diminishing eyesight (thank you, smartphones), but I don’t think that this detracts overly from the replica watch itself; treat it as the beautiful replica watch that it is, admire the hand-painted globes, the tourbillon and the Aventurine dial. Just enjoy it.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wondes 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
A. Lange & Söhne Replica

Replica A.Lange Söhne 1815 Boutique-onlyChronograph

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Officially launched at stylish Replica Watches & Wonders 2015, today’s stunning Pulsometer chronograph from A.Lange & Söhne may look familiar. Their 1815 chronograph on which this is based, and with which it shares the same manual-wind Calibre 951.5 movement has, since its introduction, become something of an emblematic replica watch for the brand, its movement a photographic star in particular. That the back of a replica watch ends up being photographed as much as its front, as the 1815 is (although this perhaps extends to quite a wide range of Lange’s pieces) is a testament to the beauty of their movements and finishing.

This new 18 carat white gold replica watch, honouring 200 years since the birth of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, features a solid silver argenté-coloured dial as per the 1815. As mentioned above, the key new distinguishing feature on the new piece is the presence of a pulsometer on the raised inner flage.

What is a pulsometer? It is where an activated chronograph, used in combination with the pulsometric scale, can measure a patient’s heart rate. You start the chronograph timer and count the (pulse) beats until you get to the number for which the scale is calibrated, in this instance, thirty pulsations. Stop the chronograph and read the heart rate in beats per minute – on the pulsometer scale, the chronograph sweep-seconds hand provides a direct reading of the number of beats per minute.

The hours and minutes hands are rhodiumed-gold. The chronograph sweep-seconds, minute counter and subsidiary seconds hands are blued steel. This is in contrast to the regular 1815 of just blued steel. In fact the liberal use of blue with the new dial and colour combination is vintage-inspired but seems to give it more lift and vibrancy than the regular production model.

Now to the column-wheel chronograph movement, visible through the open caseback. The 306-part Calibre L951.5 is hand-decorated, with plates and bridges made of untreated German silver, and a hand-engraved balance cock. It beats at 18,000VPH and has a power reserve of sixty hours.

In 39.5mm sized case and coming on a hand-stitched dark blue alligator strap with matching white gold buckle, this is a very good looking replica watch, well-sized, and beautifully made. For those who asked us about our personal highlights from Replica Watches & Wonders 2015, we both rated this one amongst our favourites and a replica watch that we would wear – these two things don’t necessarily always co-exist.

Unfortunately as a boutique-only model most of us will have to hunt one down; you can find the locations of the existing sixteen Lange boutiques at this link. The RRP is 49,000 EUR (including VAT).

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 at the invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Baume & Mercier Replica

Replica BAUME MERCIER : JadePromesse

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If we go back a bit over a year ago to elegant Replica Watches & Wonders 2014 Baume & Mercier launched a special edition of their sucessful Promesse line, with red lacquer, to mark the occasion. This year they followed up with another limited edition of eight pieces, this time with a jade bezel. It is the newest member of the pieces that they call Emblematic’ replica watches.

The new Jade Promesse is in the same 34mm case as its red predecessor, with sixty-one diamonds surrounding the oval stone bezel and silver-coloured guilloché dial in what they call a “drapé” design. With the use of jade perhaps more than with the use of red lacquer, Baume et Mercier have tapped into a stone that bears great sentimental and symbolic value to its intended audience. Not just this, but as Design Product Director Alexandre Peraldi told me during the fair, there was a lot of trial and error innvolved in finding the right jade and managing to cut a piece of jade into this shape. When you look at how thin it has to be in order to fit into this, you can completely understand what a difficult process this must have been.

Inside is a Swiss quartz movement, which is the only thing I’d have changed about this replica watch. Engraved on the back is “Limited Edition”. Coming on a glossy white alligator strap, the Jade Promesse is a rather attractive piece, it’s just a shame about the movement. It would have been fitting had something like jade, which is about longevity as much as many other things, been pared with a movement intended for longevity.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Panerai Replica

PHOTOS : Replica Panerai’s new Radiomir 1940s – PAM574, PAM575 andPAM620

At Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 Panerai officially launched new versions of the popular 42mm Radiomir 1940s that came out two years ago, containing the new manual-wind Calibre P.1000, replacing the P.999. The new movement has a seconds at 9 o’clock, a power reserve of three days (up from sixty hours, thanks to twin barrels versus single), beats at 28,800VPH versus 21,000VPH for its predecessor, and the most notable change, a seconds reset feature. For those who are unfamiliar with this, it stops the balance and ‘resets’ the seconds hand to zero when time-setting, to allow for perfect synchronisation with the reference time.

The PAM574 is the stainless steel model, and PAM575 the red gold. The former is water resistant to 100m and the latter, 50m.

The mainplate is brushed, and you will note some nice bevelling and polishing.

So. The green alligator strap.

Perhaps the most pronounced feature of the PAM00574 is this boldly coloured strap. However, if we hark back a little bit, it is not a new thing as such. This was part of a range of eight brightly coloured straps that were released last year (see this link) for the Radiomir 1940 (42mm), Luminor 1950 (42mm) and Luminor (40mm). The rose gold version comes on a more sober black strap. Panerai have simply chosen to put it on this new model as the default strap. It is certainly more likely to grab attention because of this.

There’s only one other dial design amendment to the earlier models. The Super-LumiNova has gone from the faux-vintage colour to green.

As well as these two new manual models, Panerai have released an automatic version of the Radiomir 1940 42mm. Available only in stainless steel, the PAM620 contains the Calibre P.4000. Superficially the dial only has the addition of ‘Automatic’. Power reserve is the same as for the PAM574 and PAM575 and there is again a micro-rotor, visible through an open caseback.

Each of these new Radiomirs will have limitations : 500 pieces for the PAM620, 1000 for the PAM574, and 200 for the PAM575. Prices in EUR are :

PAM00574 manual, steel: €7,400
PAM00575 manual, rose gold: €17,600
PAM00620 automatic, steel: €9,700

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Montblanc Replica

NEW : Replica Montblanc 1858 Collection Pilots’Watch

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[NOTE – You may find that this post sounds familiar. Unfortunately I did not know at the time of its original posting that there was a worldwide embargo on the new collection of which these form a part until its launch at SIAR in Mexico on October 20, 2015 so when I found out, I took it down. Said embargo has now been lifted.

For those in Sydney, the models in this post are available at the Montblanc King St boutique. Prices for Australia are $4,500 for the model on the brown leather strap and $4,970 for the Milanese model.]

A quick interstitial type of post of an unexpected thing that happened on my final day (the day after Replica Watches & Wonders 2015) in Hong Kong.

Although purportedly slated for a Mexico release and not on display in Montblanc’s booth at the fair, the new Montblanc 1858 Collection pilots’ replica watches (aka the 1858 Collection Small Seconds, of which there are limited and production models) which had already been seen by some turned out to be already available, in Hong Kong and Paris boutiques. Perhaps others in other countries as well?

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It was with some surprise that I saw them in the Pacific Place boutique’s window when I happened to be passing by (followed up by a second trip to their Time Square boutique, which also had them on display in the front window), so I popped in and snapped a few quick phone photos (apols for their quality) to share with you.

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With the old-style logo on the dial to reflect the vintage pilot look of the design, which features the classic hands (now white lumed in these pieces) and large clear numerals associated with such luxury replica watches, inside is what is marked as the ‘MB2320’ movement aka Unitas 6498. It’s more about utility rather than decoration for this replica watch, so a closed case back could have been an option perhaps.

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In a stainless steel case of 44mm (although it feels more like 42mm) with a onion-style crown typical of the replica watches it is recognising, it is available in both a strap and (nicely solid) Milanese version. They have apparently been selling like the proverbial hotcakes in Hong Kong since they became available almost two months ago, particularly the strap version, which costs HKD23,500.

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Simple, attractive and solidly built versions of this eternally popular replica watch style, they are boutique-only, so if you’re interested, you know where to go.

Categories
Piaget Replica

Replica WATCHES WONDERS 2015: Piaget LimelightStella

One of the foci of luxury Piaget’s Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 releases was that of their first automatic complication replica watch for their women’s collection in the form of the Limelight Stella replica watches. The complication in question? A moonphase, courtesy of the new automatic Calibre 584P.

Designed and developed in both of Piaget’s La Côte-aux-Fées and Geneva locations, its display of the lunar cycle is via a two large moons framed by a diamond-set v-shape opening at 12 o’clock. Surrounding the moons you will see the celestial features of Ursa Major and Minor.

The moon phases appear on a disc adorned with stars and two moons that is driven by a 135-toothed wheel that requires a correction only after 122 years, so don’t stress too much about it.

This new Calibre 584P has a 42-hour power reserve, is 21,600VPH, a circular-grained mainplate, bevelled bridges, blued screws, circular Côtes de Genève, and the Piaget coat-of-arms on the oscillating weight.

In terms of the exterior, it is a very nicely sized 36mm in diametre (thickness of 6mm), which is what gives it enough space to have such a prominent moon. It is of special note that the case design is that of an oval ‘inside’ the circular case. There are fourteen brilliant-cut diamonds accentuating the moonphase complication, with delicate applied hour-markers and a sunburst motif on the dial. There is also an added bit of charming whimsy via the star on the end of the seconds hand. Close-up, it really is a beautiful dial on an elegant replica watch.

For women who are used to wearing replica watches smaller than 36mm you will find that the lines, especially in terms of the ‘shape within a shape’, add a softness to the size, and the lugs are very short and snug, so it is far less likely to hang over your wrist. For those accustomed to replica watches of around 36mm and above, and this is an increasing number of women, then you will have a fair idea of how this might sit on your wrist.

Available in three versions, the pink gold Limelight Stella comes in polished or gem-set bezel verions, whilst the white gold version features a gem-set bezel. They all come on alligator straps with matching pin buckles.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 at the invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Cartier Replica

WATCHES WONDERS 2015 : Replica Cartier Clé de Cartier MysteriousHour

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The new Clé (key) shape was revealed by Cartier at SIHH 2015 and covered earlier by us at this link. There are two distinguishing features to this new collection – the ‘key’ of the name which refers to the new crown design, and the new case shape of a round shape within an ellipse.

At Fashion Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 Cartier expanded the Clé line with a number of new models, including a new ‘mysterious hour’, a complication most closely associated with Cartier. This new piece is a variation on one of the mystery replica watches featured at this link but in the new case rather than the Rotonde.

As you can see, the hands float ‘mysteriously’, mounted on two transparent discs of sapphire crystal, and ‘moved’ via the outer ring of the case. Inside is the Calibre 9981 MC manual-wind movement with a forty-eight hour power reserve that is visible through the open caseback. This is the same movement as in the Rotonde Mystery. Made from 158 parts, the 4.61mm thick 9981 MC movement operates at 4Hz.

The standard Cartier Clé ‘men’s’ replica watch is 40mm wide, but the Clé de Cartier Mysterious Hour is 41mm wide, with a thickness of 11.25mm. It will be available in 18k pink gold or 950 palladium. The dial is a partially skeletonised as is similar with the Rotonde model, with a brushed plate and Cartier Roman numerals.

I actually like the Clé case shape more than the Rotonde, and the blue sapphire of the ‘key’ more than the cabuchon of the Rotonde, but these are very personal preferences. With this and a new flying tourbillon model added to the existing pieces in this new line in less than twelve months, Cartier have released models at all ends of the horological spectrum in this new shape, so I guess in a few months we will find out what comes next, and whether it will be other Rotonde movements in this new case shape.

[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]

Categories
Jaeger-LeCoultre Replica

Replica WATCHES WONDERS 2015 : Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic True Second and Geophysic UniversalTime

When the talk started about the Geophysic 1958 model being not a one (or rather two) off but part of a new collection, people wondered a bit. The 1958 was a successful and well-received homage/ reissue for Jaeger-LeCoultre that could have sold out several times over, but to turn it into an entire collection? Would it dilute the original meaning? Would new models just, somehow, seem a bit ‘wrong’?

A quick recap.

In 1958 Jaeger-LeCoultre commemorated the International Geophysical Year by creating a robust utilitarian replica watch that was protected against magnetic fields (600 gauss), shock and water resistant, as well as extremely accurate. Fitted with Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 478b, the Geophysic chronometer was presented to the commanders of the Nautilus and Skate, the first atomic submarines to go under the North Pole, with a gold Geophysic chronometer specially engraved for the occasion. Only 1,290 of these were made, and it remains a highly desirable and sought after piece.

Watches & Wonders 2015 showed that there was no need to be overly concerned, although obviously any future models will again be subject to as much scrutiny as these new pieces have been already. Note that Jaeger-LeCoultre have already made these available in their boutiques and dealers, to coincide with their official launch.

First up is one of the most talked-about replica watches in Hong Kong, the True Second, which I keep on absent-mindedly calling it the ‘dead second’, but I am working on this, I promise. This replica watch has been buzzing around the online and offline replica watch worlds already. For those who wanted the Geophysic 1958 but didn’t mange to get it, this is not a bad alternative at all. If I dare say so, I prefer this to the Geophysic 1958.

Whilst the True Second and the more complicated Universal Time may appear at first glance to be pieces that could be at home in another collection line, with their movements they fit here, because of their emphasis on functionality but within the context of movement and precision being key. Precision was criticial to the original Geophysic and is the heart of these new models, through the use of a ‘true second’.

As mentioned, the original Geophysic was launched in 1958 to coincide with the International Geophysical Year, so it was always intended as a functional precision instrument with endurance and accuracy as key. This has again been reiterated with the True Second.

Available in either stainless steel or pink gold (the former is my pick), it has but the time and date. The seconds hand is what it’s all about, with the traditional smooth seconds hand of the mechanical replica watch swapped for the one second tick change that is common to true/ dead beat seconds replica watches (called as such because of the ‘dead’ space between seconds) and more familiarly seen in quartz replica watches. Dead/ true beat replica watches are something of an anomaly in mechanical replica watches, more commonly seen amongst smaller brands such as Arnold & Son, Habring2 and De Bethune. It is a sign of replica watch geekery for Jaeger-LeCoultre to have done this. A sign of replica watch geekery that has made people quite excited.

So, what’s it all about?

It’s about the Calibres 770/ 772, the movement at the base of the True Seconds and Universal Time respectively. Developed in-house to meet the historical expectations of its predecessor as mentioned above – precision, reliability and an automatic movement, both new movements contain the ‘true’ or ‘dead’ beat seconds. There are two gear trains : one for the escapement and one that releases every second for the dead beat – a second hair spring that releases every second.

The roots of this new movement are in the Gyrolab balance of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Compressor Extreme Lab 1, which had been produced to show off what they can do. Six patents and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 988C that is able to run for years without any wear or deterioration, purportedly even at -40°C.

What had been most discussed at the time of the Extreme Lab 1’s production was the lubrication-free escapement, which people wondered whether was going to make its way into other replica watches. The balance that looks like two arcs (or the Jaeger-LeCoultre logo) was apparently serendipity rather than by design, although it has been turned into as such. With less friction leading to better oscillation and no oil, they’re now calling the descendent the ‘Gyrolab balance’, and is in these replica watches.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s head replica watchmaker does a final check

But it’s not just about the technical aspects, it’s also about the dial, particularly for the True Seconds, which is a classic clean design.

Hour markers are silvered grained, appliqued, and the Super-LumiNova-filled baton hands are polished and faceted, something that features in other Jaeger-LeCoultre dress replica watches. In contrast, the sober dial is matte, giving it a very understated appearance. This replica watch is really not for show, it hides its achievements in a very conservative guise.

Finishing wise there is satin-brushed finishing for the side of the case, and polished finishing for the bezel and lugs. A really nice touch is the lumed hour marker dots around the chapter ring between the dial and the bezel, which adds a bit of visual interest as much as night time functionality.

Another precision point to note apart from the movement is that when the crown is pulled out you can set the hour hand independent of the minute hand, with the date adjusting as necessary. Good for travellers. Good for those who like exactitude.

The Universal Time shares the same basic movement (both with a 40-hour power reserve) and case design, but despite the added world time complication (making it Calibre 772, with a thickness of 7.13mm versus the 770’s 6.57mm height), the replica watch’s height is minimally larger, at 11.84mm as compared to 11.8mm for the True Second. The Universal Time case, however, is 1.5mm larger than the True Seconds, with 39.6mm for the True Second and 41.6mm for the Universal Time.

The elegant blue planisphere of the world (stamped, translucent lacquer, with the continents brushed for a matte finish) uses radiating lines indicating time zones, with Greenwich Mean Time indicated via a red dashed line. The line with an asterisk next to a city (and there are twenty-four cities in total) is a quick easy-to-read way of indicating winter and summer time. In fact you don’t have to re-synchronise cities, the earth and cities do not move. Once you set the world timer, that’s it. The time zones are always the same, all that changes is your reference time zone (the ring between the planisphere and the cities). Night is indicated by the dark blue half.

Comparison with the Memovox International

These new additions to the Geophysic Collection have already been much discussed in the last few days for their design and the ‘true seconds’ movement. Functional and yet with technical skill at their heart, they are available now, and are interesting and good looking ‘watchy’ replica watches that will no doubt have broad appeal.


[Horologium attended Replica Watches & Wonders 2015 by invitation of Richemont Australia]