There are watches out there with so many hands, sub-dials, scales, and moonphases that they resemble the control panel of a nuclear submarine. Impressive? Yes. Useful? Only if you regularly need to time the rotation speed of a hamster. But then you have two-hand watches, drama-free, gloriously simple. They tell the time and do it with the smug confidence of a billionaire who doesn’t need to shout about his wealth. No seconds hand flickering about like a caffeinated squirrel, no date wheel reminding you of bills; just hours and minutes gliding in quiet sophistication. It’s horology boiled down to the bare essentials—and, ironically, it takes serious watchmaking muscle to look this effortless.
Cartier Tank Cintrée
This platinum model has a case that measures 46.3mm in length and is 6.03 mm thick. The most striking aspect of the watch is its elongated rectangular case. At 3 o’clock, the crown has a ruby cabochon, which, Cartier says, marks the 100th anniversary of the Tank Cintrée, produced in platinum. To ensure comfort on the wrist, the timepiece maintains a curved profile. Inside the case is calibre 9780 MC, known to be supplied by Jaeger-LeCoultre — just like the vintage editions of Cintrée. Delivering a 36-hour power reserve, calibre 9780 MC is based, with slight modifications, on calibre 849 and is a compact hand-wound ultra-thin movement that has enabled JLC to create its thinnest models, such as the Master Ultra Thin Kingsman Knife. It’s not the most high-tech movement available, but its 1.89 mm profile benefits the Cartier Tank Cintrée platinum.
Frederique Constant Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture
Housed within a 40mm stainless steel case, the timepiece sports a salmon-hued dial and is powered by a brand new movement Manufacture FC-776 calibre, the 34th one developed in-house by the brand with an impressive three-day power reserve.The two hand-assembled and hand-polished Dauphine hour, and minute hands add a refined touch as do the hour markers that are now more slender. The ‘sector dial’ minute track brings to mind the aesthetic choices of vintage timepieces from yesteryear. Devoid of hours and minutes numerals, the dial offers ample room for the three perpetual calendar displays set against the sunburst backdrop: months and leap years at 12 o’clock, days at 9 o’clock, and the date display at 3 o’clock. Each of the counters is very slightly stepped, thus adding a subtle texture. The salmon shade of the dial also acts as the perfect backdrop for the moonphase that appears at 6 o’clock.
Piaget Andy Warhol
This 45mm rhodium cushion shaped watch is finished 18K white gold, has a Tiger’s eye brown dial with dauphine hour, and minute hands. Powering the watch is a self-winding calibre 501P1 with a 40-hour power reserve. The movement has got circular Côtes de Genève, circular grained plate, bevelled bridge, blue coloured screws, slate grey coloured-tungsten oscillating weight.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Pf Micro-Rotor Stainless Steel And Rose Gold Stone Blue
This stainless steel and rose gold watch has a deep mineral “Stone Blue” dial brings a contemporary flair, revealing exceptional chromatic versatility as it shifts gracefully with the light; from soft grey undertones to luminous pale blues and intense darker shades—promising a living, ever-changing visual experience on the wrist. Upholding the artisanal spirit of the TONDA PF line, the watch features hand-guilloché decoration in the emblematic Grain d’Orge pattern, complemented by a finely knurled platinum bezel and applied rose gold indices that elevate its elegance. The bracelet continues this dialogue of craftsmanship through polished and satin-finished links, meticulously executed for visual depth and tactile refinement. Inside the 40mm case lies the ultra-slim automatic PF703 calibre, powered by a remarkable 22k rose gold micro-rotor seamlessly integrated into the main plate. Adorned with Grain d’Orge guilloché and supplying a 48-hour power reserve, this micro-rotor enables the timepiece to achieve slender proportions at just 7.8 mm thick, ensuring both high performance and discrete sophistication. The result embodies Parmigiani Fleurier’s ethos: silent excellence for true connoisseurs.
De Bethune DB25xs Starry Varius
The new DB25xs Starry Varius is a poetic 40.6 mm expression of De Bethune’s celestial artistry, crafted in polished Grade 5 titanium and measuring just 8.8 mm in thickness. Its spectacular dial presents a burgundy, polished titanium starry sky set with individually hand-fitted white gold pins, a detailed Milky Way created through laser micro-milling and enriched with 24-carat gold leaf, and a silver-toned hours and minutes ring framed by polished rose gold hour markers and matching hand-polished rose gold hands. The case features integrated hollowed lugs, sapphire crystals front and back with double anti-reflective coating, both boasting 1800 Vickers hardness. Inside, the manual-winding mechanical calibre DB2005 offers a six-day power reserve via a self-regulating twin barrel, while technical innovations include a titanium balance wheel with white gold inserts, De Bethune balance-spring, silicon escape wheel, and a patented triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system, completing an elegant, open-worked showcase of fine watchmaking.
