Watchmakers find inspiration in everything from nature to architecture in order to craft revolutionary timepieces sure to wow the Miami collector.
The art of watchmaking is a nearly 500-year-old tradition. Still, artisans continue to produce ever more beautiful, intricate, and mechanically innovative timepieces that are truly works of art. In the beginning, inspiration was drawn simply from the revolutionary ability—thanks to the development of the mainspring—to build these cutting-edge devices. But as time and technology progressed, watchmakers became more creative in their designs. Today inspiration can come from a host of sources: For some, it is architecture and design, for others, it is the heavenly skies and the natural world, the power of machines or the richness of history. Here, a look at several stunning creations where inspiration has been channeled into an artful wristwatch.
Inspired by Machines
From cars to planes, rocketry, and even high-tech bicycles, watch designers take a cue from the automated innovations that are among man’s greatest achievements.
FROM LEFT:
1. This Omega Speedmaster Mark II ($6,250) is a reissue of the original 1969 Mark II model, a prototype that was intended for NASA testing. This incarnation features a pilots case and offers an automatic movement and tachymetric scale on its sapphire crystal that is illuminated from beneath by an aluminum ring filled with SuperLuminova. It houses the coaxial caliber 3330 self-winding movement with a si14 silicon balance spring and column-wheel chronograph. Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd., 305-931-8788
2. As official timekeeper and sponsor of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique since 2002, Chopard takes inspiration from its deep association with classic auto racing. This Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Chrono ($7,640) is crafted in stainless steel with a 44.5mm titanium case. It features a silver dial with yellow racing accents and houses a mechanical self-winding movement. Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-868-8626
3. Hamilton first took to the air with the American airmail postal service in 1919 as its pilots flew their fledgling runs between New York and Washington. For nearly 100 years, the brand’s strong aviation involvement has shaped both form and function. Hamilton’s Khaki Skeleton watch ($1,295) features a skeletonized H2O movement with propeller-like accents that pay homage to this unique history and love of aviation. Watch Time, 139 E. Flagler St., Miami, 305-539-0515
4. From David Yurman, this Revolution Chronograph ($6,400) offers a design influenced by the world of muscle cars and auto racing. It is crafted in stainless steel with a bold 43.5mm case and steel bracelet and offers chronograph functions for split-second timing. Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-867-1772
History in the Making
Sometimes a look into the archives provides all the inspiration a watchmaker needs to create timepieces that take the best design elements from the past and blend them with the most up-to-date innovations.
FROM LEFT:
1. This Hermès Dressage L’Heure Masquee ($43,750) recalls the brand’s origins, when it created equestrian-inspired accessories. This new 18k rose-gold Dressage watch features an inventive complication that “hides” the time. The watch’s natural state only displays the hour hand, with the minute hand hidden behind it. With the push of a button on the side of the case, the minute hand moves to display the full time. The watch also features a dual time indicator. Only 500 pieces will be made. Miami Design District, 175 NE 40th St., 305-868-0118
2. From Rolex, the Oyster Perpetual Explorer watch ($6,550) is a nod to the brand’s adventures in the Himalayas and pays tribute to the first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary, who famously reached its summit in 1953 with a Rolex Oyster on his wrist. The watch is crafted in steel with a perpetual mechanical self-winding movement and is a COSC-certified chronometer that is fitted with a steel Oysterlock bracelet. Rolex Boutique Luxury Swiss, Miami Design District, 135 NE 39th St., 305-576-5391
3. Vacheron Constantin has the distinction of being the oldest Swiss watch brand continually in production. The company was founded in 1755 and is noted for excellence in its movements and craftsmanship. Today, the brand recalls its rich history with the American 1921 in 18k rose gold ($36,800). The watch is reminiscent of the Roaring Twenties with its cushion-shaped case, and it houses a manually wound movement with 127 components and 65 hours of power reserve. It holds the Hallmark of Geneva certification. Tourneau, Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-866-4312; Miami Design District (opening November), 140 NE 39th St., 877-701-1755
4. The new Montblanc Homage to Nicolas Rieussec Limited Edition ($11,500) honors the French watchmaker who patented the chronograph in 1821 as a means to precisely measure the running times of individual horses at a race. This rich history led the brand to create an entire collection with distinct manufacture movements. The watch’s unmistakable appearance combines an off-center hour circle in the upper part of the dial and the chronograph’s elapsed-time displays in the dial’s lower portion. As on the 1821 original, elapsed time is shown on two rotating discs, above each of which a motionless hand indicates the passing seconds and minutes. 7481 SW 88th St., #1940, Miami, 305-669-5152
5. Inspired by the peerless ultrathin watches it developed in the 1950s, Piaget returned to the drawing board and took three years to build this radical new Piaget Altiplano 38mm 900P ($27,800). The brand even named the new watch based on subtleties from the past (the original ultrathin caliber released in 1957 was called the Caliber 9P). This new 38mm white-gold watch is record-breakingly slim, just 3.65mm, with movement parts actually merged with the case in a revolutionary design. Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-861-5475
Heaven Sent
The sun, moon, stars, and planets have all exhilarated watchmakers differently, yielding a wealth of heavenly renditions. From moonphase timepieces to watches that depict the zodiac to those designed with global elements, this category is as vast as space itself.
FROM LEFT:
1. From Jaeger-LeCoultre, this Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire ($42,700) houses an extraordinary Dual-Wing movement that offers two independent power supplies. The watch displays the date and age of the moon for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, synchronized through the jumping seconds hand mechanism, which displays 1/6th of a second increments. 254 Worth Ave., Palm Beach, 561-833-0801
2. From Greubel Forsey, this platinum GMT watch ($630,000) depicts the Earth in all its glory, as seen from above. The watch, with rotating globe, offers a day/night indicator, world time display, and inclined tourbillon. The terrestrial globe completes each counterclockwise rotation in 24 hours. The complex caliber is comprised of 443 components. Les Bijoux, 306 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561-361-2311
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
1. The Moonstruck watch from Ulysse Nardin ($97,500) is an astronomical delight. It offers a second time zone adjuster and ultraprecise moonphase indicator. The handpainted dial features an Earth disk around which the outer moon disk revolves; additionally there is a sun disk. Together these three bodies enable the visual indication of time, moonphases, neap and spring tides, and more. The watch houses the in-house-made UN-106 caliber that is contained in an 18k red-gold and ceramic case. Just 500 pieces exist. Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd., 305-830-1786
2. A. Lange & Söhne’s Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase ($48,200) is crafted in 18k pink gold with a solid silver argenté dial. The moonphase indicator is made of solid gold and features a patented coating process. The watch also offers big date indication, up/down power reserve indication, and a subsidiary seconds dial with stop seconds. 252 Worth Ave., Palm Beach, 561-833-0803.
3. From Arnold & Son, this HM Perpetual Moon watch ($29,950) is crafted in 18k 5N rose gold. The 42mm watch features a guilloché blue lacquered dial and rose-gold perpetual moon indicator. The mechanical Caliber A&S1512 offers 80 hours of power reserve. East Coast Jewelry, 16810 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, 305-947-8883