This year, we have seen so many great sport timepieces. The jury of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève somehow managed to choose seven of them which make a distinction by their overall quality, style and sport watch performances. These pieces are Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th Chronograph, Chopard Superfast Power Control, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver, Habring Doppel 3, Tudor Pelagos, Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Regatta and Bell & Ross BR 126 Sport Heritage watch. At the GPHG Awards Ceremony to be held in Geneva, on November 15, we will find out which one of them will be announced as the Best Sport model in 2013. Last year, the winner was Habring2 Doppel 2.0 Chronograph.
Habring Doppel 3 Chronograph Watch
Let us start with the successor of the last year’s winner in the Best Sport Watch Category. This beautiful vintage style timepiece is the logical response of Maria & Richard Habring to the enormous popularity of their first split-seconds chronograph produced in the small family watch manufactory.
Habring Doppel 3 Chronograph Watch
The new Doppel 3 is another step further in both aesthetic and technological terms. If you compare two models, first that you will notice is the absence of the second chrono button on the right side of the case. That means that the new model is basically a mono-pusher chronograph which controls all (start-stop-reset) functions by a single button. The push button on the left side serves for the split-seconds performance. Produced in small series, a Calibre A08MR-MONO hand-winding mechanism guarantees an exceptional quality and precision. It beats at the frequency of 28,800 variations per hour and ensures about 48 hours of power-reserve.
Aesthetically, Habring Doppel 3 watch nicely recalls the vintage stop watches. The dial is remarkably designed. The central satin-finished gray pattern features two harmoniously arranged sub-dials in silver color. The one at the 9 0’clock position counts small seconds, while the counter at the 3 o’clock position serves as the 30-minute counter. They are surrounded with matt black ring, featuring applied hour markers. Finally, at the outer rim, there is a minute track.
A stainless steel case is crafted in the diameter of 42 mm and paired with an elegant brown leather strap. Just as the Doppel 2.0, this superb timepiece is produced in an ultra-limited edition of 20 pieces. It costs CHF 8,300 which is a pretty good price for such a great creation.
Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th Chronograph
For the second time in a row, Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th Chronograph entered the list of the top seven best sport watches. Considering its thrilling appearance and high-end performance, it totally deserves that privilege. Named after the brand’s legendary El Primero caliber which is one of the world’s first automatic chronographs, this striking timepiece houses a self-winding El Primero 4057B movement, which brings all the qualities of the original, additionally upgraded thanks to the advanced technology. Built of 326 parts, including 31 jewels, it beats at an extremely high frequency of 36,500 vibrations per hour (5 Hz), which means that the central seconds hand rotates 10 times per one second, allowing its flyback chronograh to be precise to 1/10th of a second. Its power-reserve goes up to 50 hours. For a decorative purpose, there is a “Cotes de Genève” motif on its oscillating mass.
Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th Chronograph Watch
From the aesthetical aspect, this is one of the most recognizable sport chronographs presently available on the market. Three sub-dials that come in different colors for higher readability and distinctive look will immediately pull your attention. They are positioned in the center of a gray dial with a sunray pattern and surrounded by highly legible applied hour markers and a black minute track. A striking black bezel also features minute indices and numerals. A masculine case has the diameter of 45.5 mm. It is made of stainless steel and covered with crystal sapphire with double glare-proof treatment, on both sides. Paired with a sporty rubber strap, this watch represents the perfect combination of contemporarily style and immense technology that long time ago found its place in the watchmaking history.
Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th Chronograph that is produced under the reference number 03.2062.4057/69.R515 costs about CHF 8,700.
Royal Oak Offshore Diver Watch
Completely crafted in cool looking and extremely durable black ceramic, new Audemars Piguet’s diving model is suitable for both professional divers and those who just want to make distinction by wearing this bold model. The Royal Oak Offshore Diver Watch features a characteristic black dial adorned with the brand’s iconic “mega tappissiere” motif. For a high legibility, its white gold applied markers and the hour hand are covered with bright luminescent material, while minute and second hands can be noticed in the most extreme conditions, thanks to their striking orange color.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Watch
A turning inner bezel ring that serves for counting of diving time features a luminescent white diving scale and a zone from 12 to 3 o’clock position, marked in orange. This bezel is controlled via the crown at the 10 o’clock position. A ceramic case with the diameter of 42 mm incorporates another brand’s trademark – an octagonal bezel, fixed with eight screws. It is made of the same material as the case. The dark appearance of the watch is rounded by a black vulcanized rubber strap with a titanium pin buckle.
Royal Oak Offshore Diver watch is powered by an in-house Calibre 3120 self-winding mechanism that oscillates at the frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and ensures 60 hours of power-reserve. Its beauty is revealed through a case-back which is made of ultra-light titanium and covered with sapphire crystal. Among others, the mechanism comprises a Monobloc oscillating weight in 22 karat gold with ceramic ball bearings, as well as diamond graved bevels of the bridges with inverted snailing and 40 jewels.
Royal Oak Offshore Diver watch is water-resistant up to 300 meters (990 feet) and it is available for CHF 20,000.
Chopard Superfast Power Control Watch
Inspired by the world of car racing, a Superfast Power Control watch brings an attractive contemporary sport style and high-end mechanics entirely designed, developed and assembled in the brand’s Fleurier Ebauches workshops. Together with two other novelties, this great model is the first timepiece from the Classic Racing collection to house an in-house movement. Aesthetically, the watch mimics a number of images from the world of car racing. The most noticeable are silver brushed vertical lines positioned against a black dial surface which recall air-cooled racing engines. The same effect is visible on case sides.
Chopard Superfast Power Control Watch
Furthermore, minute numerals inscribed on the inner bezel ring clearly imply the markers that decorate sports-car rev-counters and speedometers. At the 9 o’clock position, there is a sector-type power reserve indicator, while the white-on-black date window takes the 3 o’clock position. Finally, there is a small seconds sub-dial, located at the 6 o’clock position.
Hour numerals are replaced at a steel bezel which is adorned with 8 screws. Made of the same material, a robust case with a modern architecture comes with the diameter of 45 mm. On its back-side, through a sapphire crystal glass, it reveals a high- end Chopard Calibre 01.02-M. With open-worked bridges that feature thin parallel lines, this COSC certified self-winding movement mimics the style of cooling vents on sports cars. Besides, its main plate is decorated with circular-graining. The movement beats at the frequency of 28,800 alternations per hour (4Hz) and ensures 60 hours of power-reserve.
Chopard Superfast Power Control watch from the Classic Racing Collection costs CHF 9,200.
Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Regatta Watch
While preserving all distinctive elements of the brand’s renowned Admiral’s Cup Collection, the new model that comes under the AC-One line brings the advance set of yachting watch features, marking Corum’s long-lasting relationship with the world of regatta. Specially developed for the Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Regatta watch, a new in-house Caliber CO 040 features a jumping countdown timer adjustable from 0 to 10 minutes, a highly readable numerical aperture-type display, as well as a chronograph for counting regatta up to 12 hours.
Corum Admirals Cup AC-One Regatta Watch
When the timer starts the countdown to the beginning of the race, the wearer can hear a sound signal, as well as jumping minute indication at the 3 o’clock position. After the last signal to boats that they finally can cross the starting line, a “crazy” wheel blocks the countdown gear train. At the same moment, the chronograph is activated, measuring racing time with its 12- hour and 30-minute counters.
The Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Regatta watch features a characteristic robust case with the diameter of 45 mm, as well as an iconic twelve-sided bezel and the nautical pennants on the inner bezel ring. The case is crafted in Grade 5 titanium, while the bezel comes in black PVD. Between the case middle and back, as well as between the bezel and the case middle, there are black PVD-treated inserts. The same material is used for an oscillating weight, which is with other parts of the mechanism, visible through a transparent sapphire case-back.
Water-resistant up to 300 meters, this amazing yachting chronograph is available either with a titanium grade 5 bracelet or a crocodile leather strap. It costs CHF 10,700.
Tudor Pelagos Diving Watch
Tudor released a new bold looking diving watch, with the superb water resistance of up to 500 meters. Crafted completely in titanium, a 42 mm case features a helium valve on its side, as well as a unidirectional rotating bezel, covered with a matt black ceramic disc and inscribed with luminescent numerals, for the perfect readability during measurements of diving time.
Tudor Pelagos Diving Watch
A matt black dial of new Tudor Pelagos was crafted with the same idea – to provide high legibility and instant information even in the most extreme conditions. For that purpose, it features oversized hour markers and luminescent “snowflake” hands.
The Pelagos diving watch is available with both a titanium bracelet with a folding steel clasp fitted with a unique spring-loaded self-adjusting mechanism, and with a black rubber strap with an extension system to be suitable for wearing over a diving suit. The watch is powered by a Swiss made self-winding mechanism with the frequency of 28’800 variations per hours and the power-reserve of 38 hours. It is available for CHF 3,950.
Bell & Ross BR 126 Sport Heritage Watch
The newest model in the brand’s Vintage Collection recalls the spirit of the classic pilot and sport chronograph. Aesthetically, his particular model goes back to 1960s, presenting the characteristic look of vintage watch cases, bezels and dials. It features a round, classically shaped and polished stainless steel case with the diameter of 41.6 mm and two vintage look chrono pushers. Furthermore, its black bezel is marked with the characteristic 60-minute graduations.
Bell & Ross Vintage BR 126 Sport Heritage Watch
The black dial features sand-colored hands and numerals to mimic the aged look of vintage pilot timepieces. Two sub-dials are located at 3 and 9 o’clock positions, while the round date window takes the position between 4 and 5 o’clock. Although chrono counters come in the same color like the surface, they are distinguished by a beautiful pattern. The dial is protected by anti-reflective sapphire crystal which also covers the back-side of the case, revealing a mechanism. It is a Swiss-made self-winding chronograph movement with the power-reserve of 42 h and the frequency of 28’800 variations per hour.
