Winged victory
Partnerships and collaborations are one of the best ways to get fun dial variations out of iconic pieces. Now that IWC is the official licensee of the “Blue Angels” U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, IWC’s Pilot’s Watch Chronograph is getting a fresh new face and strap. The sunray- brushed blue dial, yellow accents and blue calfskin strap with an underside in a lively yellow pay tribute to the squadron’s livery, while the rest of its construction stays true to the collection’s design codes: a black zirconium oxide ceramic case with contrasting steel pushers and crown, and large propeller-shaped hands that trace highly legible, white-lumed indexes.
Sunny side up
Jean-Claude Biver wasn’t kidding when he said Tag Heuer should be repositioned as an aff ordable luxury brand. Since his appointment as the brand’s CEO in 2014, Tag Heuer has rolled out models that look far more serious than their price tags suggest. But now that they’ve managed to establish themselves as being well-made with high-tech materials and complications, why not lighten up on the aesthetics? Retailer Cortina has commissioned a 10-piece limited edition of the Carrera Heuer-02 T, and its bright orange dial accents and matching orange calfskin over rubber strap give the tourbillon chronograph watch the visual impact it deserves. Available only on www.cortinawatch.online.
Faces in the dark
In a sea of trendy blue and green dials, it’s nice to see the always- classic, always-appropriate black-dialled watch appear in protest. Vacheron Constantin has released two: the Overseas dual time and the Overseas Lady quartz. Shrewd choices for a market that’s falling in love with the luxury sports watch category all over again, and these black lacquered dials — paired with red accents on the dual time, and diamonds on the Lady — give these everyday timepieces a slick and glamorous edge. The other highlight of the Overseas collection is its fantastically fuss-free strap change system, which will be handy when switching between the two extra straps (in black alligator and black rubber) both models come with.
(Related: Swiss watchmaker IWC holds retrospective in Singapore)