Dear Santa: Chester Makes His Christmas Wishlist for 2023

It’s the jolly time of the year when we get our hands on presents and wishful thinking. In the coming articles, our writers share their personal grails for the year end and their Christmas Wishlist. To start us off, here are three timepieces from Chester, befitting the wishfulness of the season.

Chester Makes His Christmas Wishlist for 2023

Cartier Crash in Platinum, London Bond Street Exclusive

The new Cartier Crash in platinum is a tribute to this legacy, and a rare opportunity to own a piece of horological history. Only available at the New Bond Street boutique in London, where the original Crash was born. It features a special engraving on the case back, and a ruby cabochon on the crown, adding a touch of elegance and exclusivity.

The platinum case enhances the brilliance and refinement of the watch, while also making it more durable and resistant to scratches. The grey calfskin strap complements the cool tone of the metal, and adds a touch of contrast to the dial. The dial itself is faithful to the original design, with stretched Roman numerals and blued-steel hands. The watch is powered by the in-house calibre 1917 MC, a hand-wound movement with a 38-hour power reserve.

The new edition will be available exclusively at Cartier New Bond Street, and is priced at £43,000 and will be produced in limited quantities.

Parmigiani Fleurier TONDA PF Xiali Complete Chinese Calendar

The highly complex Chinese calendar is a combination of a solar and a lunar calendar, calculated separately and then synchronised. How is this done? By adding an extra lunar month also called a leap or intercalary month. This 13^th month is added approximately every three years to bring the two cycles back in sync. Finally, the Chinese calendar divides the solar year into 24 terms, or breaths, which symbolise the agricultural calendar.

The intercalary or leap month appears according to precise rules and is assigned the number of the month that preceded it. The calculations are complex but serve to keep track of the seasons and to set the Chinese New Year at the arrival of spring, which varies between between 21 January and 19 February in the Gregorian calendar. Measuring 42mm by 12.2mm, the stainless steel calendar on a bracelet has more than enough novelty factor, with a rare dial color and just the right amount of information on the dial.

The Xiali is priced at CHF 59,000.

Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante

The Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante is a luxury stainless steel watch with a split seconds chronograph module, designed by Czapek in collaboration with Chronode. The watch has a 70s inspired angular case and a polished C-shaped bracelet. The dial is open worked to reveal the double column wheel mechanism and the split seconds module on the dial side. The movement is the caliber SHX6, with excellent finishing, automatic winding, and a rotor visible from the case back. The watch is placed inside of a streamlined 42.5mm case and paired with the now-signature Antarctique integrated bracelet. The Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante is priced at CHF50,000.