Luxury Watch of the Year 2015

WatchPro Luxury Watch of the Year 2015

Luxury means different things to different audiences. But the watches in this category should lift the spirits of anyone wearing them, through not only the materials involved but also the time and expertise involved in crafting them.

WINNER: Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Vasco Da Gama Limited Edition 60

The limited edition runs in celebration of explorer Vasco Da Gama added very little to Montblanc’s incredibly strong showing at SIHH 2015, with the extra flourishes often overcooking already well-balanced designs. But a VDG makeover transformed the Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph from something a little staid to a horological rock star.

The first thing that hits you is the shimmering Aventurine three quarter dial reflecting the night sky, which would have been vital for Da Gama’s celestial navigation of the oceans, and the single Montblanc-cut diamond star at the 12 o’clock. The deep midnight blue shade complements the watch’s 18ct white gold case beautifully. Also present is Montblanc’s ExoTourbillon, which, unconventionally, places the balance wheel outside of the tourbillon cage and features a complicated hand-bevelled and polished bridge.

The manufacture MB R230 movement also features a 30-minute chronograph displayed using two split-scale retrograde registers, one for minutes, the other for seconds. Just 60 examples have been produced, one representing each member of the crew of Da Gama’s Sào Gabriel, for £38,500, which actually represents outstanding value for a tourbillon at this level of watchmaking.

Highly Commended

Struthers London Struthers for Morgan II Aero 8 Edition
Chopard L.U.C XPS Fairmined
Laurent Ferrier Galet Square
Corum Heritage Bubble
Zenith Elite Chronograph Classic
Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1R
Bremont Jaguar MkI
A Lange & Sohne 1815 F.A. Lange Anniversary piece
Bell & Ross BR-X1 Tourbillon Rose Gold

James Buttery

Editor of WatchPro, the WatchPro Hot 100 and The Luxury Report.

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