CARL F. BUCHERER
MANERO PERIPHERAL LADIES
CARL F BUCHERER’ S SECOND-GENERATION IN-HOUSE CFB A2000 movement is a pleasure to observe in action, in part because the peripheral rotor never hides the bridges and gears within.
You may recall that last year Bucherer watchmakers enhanced the A2000 to include a new 4hz beat rate – up from 3hz in the earlier A1000. This meant greater precision. The new free-sprung balance increased resistance to shock-induced timing deviation. Indeed, CEO Sascha Moeri stressed to iW last year that the new caliber was designed with the goal of producing“ Ferrari performance with Mercedes reliability.”
In part because the peripheral concept enables a low case thickness, the new movement is perfect for the thin dimensions of ladies’ watches. Thus Carl F. Bucherer this year places that new movement within a 40mm Manero Peripheral, set with a diamondinbezel and a choice of mother-of-pearl dials. While not a traditional size for feminine wrists, the watch is being billed as a ladies model. I’ d argue for gender neutrality, especially with the brown-dialed model.
The layout offers a central hour and minute display accompanied by small seconds at 6 o’ clock and a date. A power reserve of 55 hours and a COSC chronometer rating only underscore this watch’ s serious specs. Alligator leather straps complete the overall look; the white variant features a contrasting black strap, while a leather strap accompanies the model with the velvet brown dial. Price: $ 9,800.
CHOPARD
HAPPY OCEAN
THIS EFFERVESCENT NEW take on Chopard’ s famed Happy Sport is said to showcase its dial-side floating diamonds like‘ the oxygen bubbles that accompany divers in their discoveries.’ OK. It is a deep diver, with 300 meters of water resistance, and it does sport a nice diver’ s bezel. The hands and hour-markers light up in various colors – green for the top dive mark and minute hand and blue for the remaining timing markers and hour hand. Powered by Chopard automatic movement 01.01-C, the 40mm Happy Ocean watch also introduces a NATO strap, a big first for Chopard’ s ladies’ watch collections. Price: $ 8,780 in steel. White gold & jewelled models: $ 49,980 and $ 61,130.
SUMMER 2017 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 131