Yes, it is that time of the year again. The mercury hits a “balmy” 42°C in metropolitan Sydney, chestnuts roasting over an open fire – and sold to tourists at a 100% markup in Seoul night markets, and Michael Bublé is thawed from cryogenic sleep to grace department stores all over the world.
Here at Deployant, we like to take this time of festivity to reminisce over the watches we’ve reviewed in the year. Now, some of these watches are real nice and end up on my wishlist. Unlike previous years, my wishlist this year purely consists of watches that have brought me real joy. Something that isn’t necessarily the most complicated, or the most coveted, but really brought me inexplicable happiness and pleasure upon encounter. Christmas is, after all, a season of joy, right? Without further ado:
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin in Copper Blue
Indeed I could’ve easily picked the Triple Split, the reigning king of chronographs, or the 1815 “Homage to Walter Lange”, for its sentimental value and perceived collectibility. But neither inspired as much simple joy in me as the otherworldly beauty of the Saxonia Thin in Copper Blue and its goldstone dial. Multiple witnesses were onsite as I looked in awe upon being handed the watch for the first time. I’d like to think we’ve done a great job with the photography of the dial below, but truly, its aventurescent visage can only be fully appreciated in real life. The watch might lean towards the feminine, but this is one piece of art that I’d enjoy wearing the heck out of.
H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Vantablack
Now, everybody knows I am a big fan of Lange timepieces. What only a handful of people know of is my lukewarm reception towards Moser watches. Generally, I find the design of Moser watches to be vapid or boring. There are two recent exceptions to the rule, however. The first was the Venturer Swiss Mad watch with its striking red dial and white lacquered markers (resembling the Swiss flag), and its cowhide strap. It was a watch I loved so much, I gave it a place in my top SIHH 2017 picks. The next Moser to fill me with the same fascination is this year’s Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Vantablack. Looking at live photos of the watch for the first time back in September, I was reminded of one of Friedrich Nietzche’s quotes: “And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you”. Moser’s painfully minimalist approach to dial design serves as the perfect platform for Vantablack to shine – figuratively. It, coupled with an equally clean moon phase display, resulted in a dial that is exceedingly alluring. I would often find myself staring and getting lost in the deep nothingness of the dial. I recall telling people at the time when the watch was introduced, that “this is hands down the coolest timepiece of 2018”. I still stand by that statement.
Singer Track 1 Geneva Edition
The Singer Track 1 Geneva Edition wasn’t a watch I planned on putting on my Christmas wishlist. I recently had the pleasure of reviewing it and the deeper I went, the more enamoured I became, to the point I questioned: “what kind of watch enthusiast would not like this watch?!”. The beauty of the Track 1 Geneva Edition is the paradox that it is. It’s got the most charming vintage body, yet throttling inside is a movement so advanced it makes almost everything before it look neanderthalic. The perfect looks with peak function, just like the guy she told you not to worry about.
2 Comments
Thank you for the list, Frank. I think I like your list the most, actually. I’ve seen the Vantablack in the metal and it’s really gorgeous. I wish there was some way they could make the crystal completely non-reflective so the absence of any light makes a greater impact.
The copper blue is on my list, but it’s hard to find one to look at….
Happy to hear that you like my list. On the Saxonia, I did recently stumble upon one sitting in the Seoul boutique. I guess it’s all down to chance.