Well known Swiss Watches For 2016
Omega retailers are preparing for a flurry following the latest Bond film, Spectre, in which Daniel Craig provides the Swiss brand with more invaluable advertising by sporting one of their Seamaster models. Limited editions for Bond fan boys are the Seamaster 300 Spectre, and one of the Seamaster Aqua Terra’s, which has the Bond family coat of arms on the blue dial and seconds hand. The visible self-winding weight takes the form of a gun barrel. The polished, black ceramic case of the latest version of Omega's Dark Side Of The Moon Speedmaster, together with its matt-black ceramic dial, blackened indexes and a black lacquered bezel with a tachymeter scale equates to one of the stealthiest watches ever produced. Powering the beast is Omega's supremely accurate Calibre 9300 C-Axial movement. NZ$16,0090 @ omegawatches.com
Oris Great Siwss watch manufactures make a lot of fuss about their ability to produce movements in-house and then charge a premium. Oris, does all this but leave the extra cost at the door. Following the launch of last year's LE Calibre 110 watch, powered by an in-house, ten-day mechanism, the brand has now unveiled the Calibre 111, available in four versions with a choice of steel or gold cases and grey or black dials. While being suitably impressed by the new Force Recon GMT model made in partnership with the US Marines, we can't help but favour the Divers Sixty-Five, which harks back to a piece from the Oris range of 50 years ago. Although up-sized to 40mm, the watch retains the vintage look with a bubble-curved crystal, buff-coloured hands and dial markings, and the same case-back emblem as used on the Sixties original. NZ$3,500 @ oris.ch
The leading sports watchmaker has been given a serious shake-up with the arrival in 2015 of watch industry veteran Jean-Claude Biver. The brains behind the revival of Blancpain and the stellar rise of Hublot is keen to re-assert TAG Heuer's position as a watch brand appealing to a younger generation of style warriors, and has appointed Cara Delevingne and David Guetta brand ambassadors, alongside its lordly clan of sporting superstars. The brand has also partnered with Google and Intel to develop its own connected watch, unveiled in New York this month.
If you always hankered after a tourbillon wrist watch but never thought you'd be able to afford one, TAG Heuer might change your mind with its new 45mm Calibre Heuer 02T - soon to become the most affordable tourbillon on the market when it launches next year at 12,100. Equally good value, meanwhile, is the new Calibre Heuer 01 chronograph, which features a titanium carbide-coated steel case, an openwork dial and an in-house movement, all for around 4,000, making it the least expensive Swiss-made manufacture chronograph money can buy. NZ$8,000 & tagheuer.com
