Fergus Nash
Gentle readers (and viewers), the gloves are now officially off. No more budget, no more “bang-for-buck”, and no more bargains. Chances are if you're about to buy one of these watches, you've got some serious cash to splash, and we're just here to show you where the deep end of the pool is. Stay tuned for Part Two if you want to see some really crazy stuff, but for now, here are seven of the best watches from last year above $20k.H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Perpetual CalendarMost perpetual calendars are an excuse to flaunt how complicated a company can produce a watch, with the dial merely serving as a translation of the intricate movement beneath. H. Moser & Cie. however use the complication to its maximum practicality, without sacrificing the ode to classical watchmaking that is the black orb fume dial. The date display at 4 o'clock is self-explanatory, while there's a power reserve metre at 10, and a tiny central hand which indicates the month.Bulgari Gerald Genta Mickey MouseAfter a rather gloomy year, this watch offers a welcome dose of fun. The Bulgari-owned Gerald Genta has introduced a modern re-interpretation of the 90s' Mickey Mouse watch from the original Disney collection. The watch injects playfulness with a jumping hour display and retrograde minute hand formed from Mickey's arm. Differentiating it from the original is its larger Arena retro case that caters to more modern tastes. ?Read moreHublot Big Bang Unico SummerWhen you think about a summer watch you may imagine a fun diver with some eccentric element, whether that be a brightly coloured dial, strap, or maybe even a painted tsunami. Hublot have taken this concept to the next level with their Big Bang UNICO Summer, with the aluminium case anodised in a saturated mint green. Not only is the turquoise timepiece perfect for those Miami Beach vibes, but the lightweight case and fabric strap keeps your wrist unencumbered. Read morePatek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001To be a Patek Philippe Calatrava is to be the very essence of a dress watch understated, simple, yet all of the existing aspects must be absolutely perfect. With the new 6119G-001, we see a truly modern dress watch, with a guilloched hobnail texture on the bezel and a vertical graining on the charcoal-grey dial to give just enough intrigue for your eyes to pour over it. Flip over to view the movement, and you'll be stunned again.Urban Jurgensen OneAs the culmination of an astonishing 245-year journey, the Urban Jurgensen One is a major departure from the brand's history of traditional watchmaking and classical design. Although hints of the old world remain in the skeletonised handset and the typeface on the date wheel, the rest of the One is an ode to the 1970s with it's faux-integrated bracelet, quasi-cushion case and a waterproof sturdy stainless steel case. Read moreAudemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Flyback ChronographThe Royal Oak Offshore in 2021 has nothing left to prove, yet Audemars Piguet take the design to the next level anyway. The mega tapestry dial in a smoked-beige colour scheme is Uber-masculine without losing any attention to detail, as is the contrasting brushed black ceramic bezel, pushers and crown. The applied AP logo is all the dial text needed, as if anyone could mistake this design for another manufacturer. Read moreVacheron Constantin Overseas Everest Dual TimeVacheron Constantin have released what could easily be the most enticing luxury sports watch of 2021, adopting the mountaineering spirit to create a perfect travelling watch with an easy-to-read yet intricately detailed dial. The grained blue-grey dial forms a rugged backdrop for the distinctive applied indices, as well as the burnt orange Dual Time hand and AM/PM display. It's a simple and effective solution to the fiddly 24h GMT hand which needed rethinking.
20.01.22