Navigate the intriguing world of precious treasures with the new edition of our curated "Jewels & Watches" column as we explore recent releases that will make a perfect addition to any sophisticated collection. Check out this selection of men's watches that will surely help you stand out. The Arsham Droplet, Hublot
The first hero in our selection, the Arsham Droplet, is a multifunctional piece of art created by Hublot in collaboration with contemporary visionary Daniel Arsham. The unique timepiece inspired by fluid forms found in nature reimagines the concept of a classic pocket watch, marrying the antique form with futuristic materials and modern production techniques.
Crafted from the blend of titanium, rubber, and sapphire crystal, the Arsham Droplet is equipped with Meca-10 movement which provides a 10-day power reserve and can be used in three ways: as a pocket watch, table clock, or pendant. Limited to 99 examples, this is a true collector’s dream.
"This is the first full sapphire pocket watch as far as we can tell. So much of my work is about thinking about the past and connecting it with the future, it is like mixing times. This object looks like something with the past, it recalls this way of telling time that’s from another era, but it feels like a kind of technology of the future. In a way it has a lot of relationships with the other works that I make," says Daniel Arsham about this new piece.
[RE]Master02, Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet's new limited edition of 250 pieces pays homage to the manufacturer's heritage and celebrates brutalism. Between 1959 and 1963, the Swiss watchmaker created a series of asymmetrical models, with less than 10 examples of each, and the [RE]Master02 is a modern reinterpretation of one of them.
It is crafted in 18-carat sand gold alloy, a new material taking its name from sand dunes, and composed of gold, copper, and palladium for a warm appearance with a hue varying between white and pink gold depending on the light and the movement of the wrist.
The watch features a 41 mm rectangular case and one of Audemars Piguet’s latest self-winding movements — an extra-thin Calibre 7129.
The Ceralume Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41, IWC
If Audemars Piguet draws inspiration from the past, IWC is looking ahead to the future and introducing its first fully luminous ceramic concept watch made using Ceralume®. Based on a Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41, it features a white luminescent dial and a rubber strap both enriched with Super-LumiNova® pigments that make the ceramic cases glow blueish in the dark for more than 24 hours.
IWC doesn’t give us any hint on its plans for further commercial production of this particular model, but Ceralume®, the manufacturer’s latest material innovation, is claimed to become a foundation for the company’s future releases, so stay tuned!