zelin0802 / December 12, 2022
Christmas gift guide 2022: Exclusive timepieces for that special someone
Thinking of gifting a unique timepiece to your loved one? Choosing the perfect watch may not be easy, but you can’t go wrong with these unique luxury timepieces.
Read on for our top picks for the perfect timepiece gift this Christmas (one watch might not be enough).
Jacob & Co. X Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon
The idea behind the Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon began with the idea of how to recreate the visceral feel of the iconic Bugatti W16 engine in a timepiece?
After a full year of development, the team has answered that question in the form of the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, a timepiece that pays homage to the car. First, the incredible flying tourbillon movement is a completely clean design. Jacob & Co. has been working with its movement suppliers for over a year to realize this spectacular creation. Inspired by the Chiron’s sleek lines and movement, or “engine block,” the case is designed to replicate a Bugatti engine, placed under a massive sapphire crystal for all to see.
The watch’s most striking action is when the wearer presses the crown on the right side of the timepiece, and the engine kicks in—the crankshaft turns and the pistons pump up and down, mimicking a real internal combustion engine. Two “turbochargers” on one side of the engine block (there are four in the actual Chiron engine) spin when the engine is running, adding to the visual impact. The crankshaft that drives it is just one of 578 parts and is one of the smallest and most complex watch parts ever built, made from a solid single piece of steel. The pistons themselves are difficult to manufacture, and they are mounted on the crankshaft at different angles for maximum effect. Forming the engine block are two “exhaust” ducts, further evidence of the design’s engine theme.
The groundbreaking Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon is also available in 18K rose gold – a real engine and an exclusive piece on the wrist.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph
Created exclusively for the 50th anniversary of the Cortina watch, TAG Heuer has launched a limited edition of 10 TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Cortina watches, inspired by the unique aesthetic ten years ago that first made the original The Carrera became a favorite track for on-and-off serious racing pilots.
Retaining the silhouette of the original Carrera, including the iconic lugs and buttons, it is now enlarged to a modern 42mm and housed in a solid gold case for an added touch of luxury. The hour and minute hands are polished in 18K 3N yellow gold and coated with Super-LumiNova to ensure optimum readability even in the darkest of nights. Beneath the domed sapphire crystal, the clearly visible dial features an elegant tri-compax layout in a new style, but in a lush shade of green. Although rarely known for using gemstones as dial materials, TAG Heuer decided to go the unorthodox route and use albite emerald (also known as maw setting) for the dial.
This bold move is a refreshing update to the Carrera collection and a tribute to Jack Heuer’s original 1963 design, retaining its finely balanced design, including the slim bezel, sloping lugs, classic pump design buttons , as well as a simple small seconds at 6 o’clock and a low-key date window.
Corum Admiral 45 Tourbillion
Corum Corum specially launches the Admiral 45 Tourbillon watch, limited to 10 pieces worldwide, this is a 45mm timepiece specially created for the 50th anniversary of Cortina Watch. Due to the limited number of individual models produced, no two of the iconic dodecagonal Admiral case are identical, a random result of the combination of undulating layers of carbon composite material with 18K gold. Each watch is thus unique, thanks to cutting-edge materials that further enhance the already striking gold elements, and the purity of the pure black sunray-finish dial, evoking and reflecting the wonder and mystery of the starry night sky – — a magical sight under the moonlight.
This watch is particularly noteworthy for its closed dial, which is unusual for Corum as their tourbillon watches usually have skeletonized dials. Uncommon on Corum watches, the sunray-finish dial has a subtle iridescence that exudes a magnetic aura and features a sunray-finish anthracite dial with a tourbillon aperture at 6 o’clock. Corum’s signature ‘upright key’ emblem, which alludes to the fortitude and perseverance required to master the craft of horology and watchmaking, has been painstakingly hand-set for added dimension and finesse for a finishing touch.