As the festive season approaches, it’s that delightful time of year when we exchange gifts and indulge in a bit of wishful thinking. In the upcoming articles, our writers will share their personal grails for the year-end, unveiling their Christmas wishlists.
Dear Santa: Chester makes his Christmas Wishlist for 2024
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Lumen in Honeygold

The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Lumen in Honeygold is a masterpiece that combines several high complications into one stunning watch. The Honeygold alloy, exclusive to Lange, offers a unique hue between yellow and rose gold, and is harder than standard 18k gold. The watch features a perpetual calendar, flyback chronograph, and a tourbillon, all visible through a semi-transparent, smoked sapphire crystal dial. The luminous elements add a modern touch to the otherwise classic design.

The combination of traditional watchmaking craftsmanship with modern materials and design elements makes this watch a standout. The complexity of the movement and the aesthetic appeal of the Honeygold case and luminous dial are truly impressive. A fun technical fact – the minute tourbillon can be stopped when the crown is pulled; like a hacking mechanism. Lange was the first brand to add this feature in 2008, some 200 years after Breguet invented the tourbillon.
Grand Seiko SLGW005
The Grand Seiko SLGW005 is a tribute to the 45GS model. It features a stainless steel case with Zaratsu polishing, giving it a mirror-like finish. The dial is a subtle off-white with diamond-cut indexes that sparkle in the light. This reissue is particularly meaningful because it not only brings back the original SEIKO logo on the dial, but also the factory sign and hi-beat inscription. The thin case and minutes track adjacent to the hour markers is also accurate to the original 45GS model. For fans of the 45GS, this is a really good modern reissue with a beautiful movement in tow.

Inside, it houses the manually wound 9SA4 caliber, a new high beat and thin movement with improved finishing. The SLGW005 exemplifies Grand Seiko’s dedication to precision and craftsmanship. The new caliber design and the thin case makes this an improved 3 hand watch over the previous generation timepieces.

Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine
The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph Collection Excellence Platine is a limited edition watch crafted entirely from platinum. It features a monopusher chronograph and a tourbillon, both housed in a 42.5mm case. The dial, also made of platinum, has a sand-blasted finish with a subtle “Pt950” hallmark. The movement, Caliber 3200, is manually wound and visible through the display caseback.

This watch represents Vacheron Constantin’s expertise in haute horlogerie. The use of platinum throughout the watch, combined with the intricate complications, makes it a luxurious and technically impressive timepiece. Despite its complications, the dial layout is decisively simple, with a minute counter and power reserve indicator; the focal point remains on the tourbillon display.