Tag Heuer, meanwhile, has gone retro for this year’s Baselworld, paying respect to the company’s 150th year as watch designers with an update on the Tag Silverstone. Named after the Formula One track in the UK, this cool chronograph was first launched in 1974, and its distinctive squared case with rounded edges was inspired by Steve McQueen’s 1969 Monaco, the Tag timepiece he wore in the movie Le Mans. Now with a softer edge and colourful dial, it looks sure to capture the passions of a new generation of watch enthusiasts. The counters, pushbuttons and crown configuration are the same as the original, which is made possible by using the Calibre 11 with Dubois-Depraz module, the world’s first automatic chronograph movement with micro-rotor. Typical characteristics of the movement are the date counter at 6 o’clock and the two pushbuttons, placed across from the crown in two indentations.
The Silverstone became a defining symbol of the 1970s, and the top racing drivers of the era admired the chronograph for its name, unique shape and avant-garde look. Upon the watch’s launch, Clay Regazzoni and Emerson Fittipaldi became Tag Heuer ambassadors, and the two legendary drivers chose the chronograph as personal lucky charms. Fittipaldi won his second F1 World Championship that year driving for McLaren while Regazzoni won the Silverstone Grand Prix in 1979.
Finally, Ulysse Nardin has unveiled a perpetual calendar that it feels is the most user-friendly style of this watch ever produced, and the El Toro is the only perpetual calendar that adjusts forward and backward in seconds over the quick corrector position of a single crown. Its squeletted hands also make easy reading of all calendar functions. The hour hand, meanwhile, is adjusted instantly to a new local time with pushers (+) or (-) without taking the watch off the wrist or interfering with its time keeping, while the arrow keeps track of one’s home or reference time. The watch is available in a Limited Edition of 500 pieces.
Making improvements or adjustments to existing models, then, was the focus of this year’s event, particularly for the two
biggest names in the business, Patek and Rolex. - ER
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