A Christmas showcase all about watches? Why not! Christmas is a magical time. To be savoured. In every moment. Yes because, and this is no coincidence, the time factor plays a central role. This is the occasion to be with loved ones, family. Catch up with old friends. But the festive season also allows you to fulfil a dream, to treat yourself or someone you care about to something special. Perhaps under the sign of the sea. Why not? It can be an idea to continue to nurture, even in the winter season, the passion for the sixth continent.
A way to keep sailing with the imagination. But there are many ways to sail. One sails on board a boat, or with the imagination, or again, in the boundless sea of the web. And that is where Pisa Circle comes in. The initiative promoted by Pisa Orologeria proposes itself as a true digital showcase thanks to which it is possible to view at any time, and with any device, a selection of 2,000 available products referring to more than 30 jewellery, accessories and haute horlogerie brands. A safe haven for those who, along with that for the marine element, nurture a great passion for the world of hands. And here, Pisa Circle turns into a precious compass to orient oneself in the boundless sea of proposals that boast a strong link with the sixth continent. And which in this case have the flavour of Christmas. (Here all our post about Pisa Orologeria)
Blancpain and a special timepiece for a unique Christmas
Next year will be a special year for the Swiss maison. The spotlight will be all on the Fifty Fathoms, which will cross the 70-year mark in 2023. A special anniversary for a timepiece that has contributed enormously to the development and popularisation of an activity such as scuba diving. Conceived to meet the needs of the special corps of numerous navies, starting with the French Navy, the Fifty Fathoms was first launched in 1953 and can be considered, to all intents and purposes, the first modern diver’s watch. A fascination and tradition that has remained unchanged to this day and which also lives on in the Fifty Fathoms Grande Date. Available within the Pisa Circle offer , it is distinguished by its 45mm case in titanium. A distinctive element is the double window at 6 o’clock of the grand in large evidence on the black dial. The Fifty Fathoms Grande Date model is equipped with Calibre 1315, entirely crafted in Blancpain’s workshops in the Vallée de Joux. The unidirectional rotating bezel is in sapphire crystal, a resistant material that only a diamond can scratch. Water resistance is guaranteed to a depth of 300 metres.
Christmas showcase: Breitling and Kelly Slater two legends and a common passion: the sea
At Christmas, there was no shortage of a timepiece that combined the quality of its technical and mechanical content – a Breitling trademark – with a story to tell. It stars Kelly Slater. Born in 1972, the Californian surfer has 11 world surfing titles under his belt. In short, no one has ever come as high as him in this sport. A sport that could not exist without the sea. Hence the decision, also shared with Breitling, to pursue the theme of raising awareness of the issues related to the protection and preservation of an environment that is increasingly threatened today.
A message that is also conveyed by the Superocean Outerknown reference that reinforces the partnership between Breitling and Outerknown, the sustainable clothing company of which Slater himself is a co-founder. The right choice for a Christmas dedicated to a good cause is the Superocean Outerknown model in the Pisa Circle offer. A distinctive feature is the khaki-green NATO Outerknown strap made of ECONYL® thread, an innovative material made from nylon waste, such as fishing nets recovered from oceans around the world.
The 44-millimetre stainless steel case is fitted with a unidirectional bezel and features a green dial and central hour, minute and seconds hands, as well as indices and numerals, coated with Super-LumiNova®. It is powered by Breitling Calibre 17, which guarantees a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. This COSC-certified chronometer is water-resistant to 100 bar/1000 metres, amply meeting the needs of all diving adventures. The screw-down stainless steel caseback is engraved with the Outerknown logo.
The Pasha de Cartier lights up Christmas
It ranks among the most popular novelties presented by the Maison this year. Officially launched at Watches & Wonders, the show dedicated to haute horlogerie, this new declination of the Pasha de Cartier is available in the Pisa Circle showcase. The most striking feature is the anthracite dial with flinqué workmanship on which the blued steel of the diamond-shaped hands create a pleasing contrast. The steel case has a diameter of 41 mm and is designed to be water-resistant to a depth of 100 metres. Housed inside is the Calibre 1847 MC, a self-winding mechanical movement that regulates the hours, minutes, seconds and date functions. Also noteworthy is the “QuickSwitch” interchangeability system that allows the wearer to switch from the steel bracelet to the second dark grey alligator strap in a matter of seconds, the latter being an ideal solution for more formal occasions.
Christmas showcase: the SeaQ from Glashütte Original colours the festive season green
The name is enough. The rest is history. A story that, if you look closely, began in 1969 when the Spezimatic Type RP TS 200 appeared on the watchmaking scene. A timepiece conceived at the time with the aim of meeting the demands of sporty divers and whose aesthetic codes proved to be a valuable source of inspiration for the new SeaQ collection. A vintage soul, reinterpreted in a modern key, now characterises the new family of watches and is also found in this reference on the Pisa Circle website. Most striking is the dial lit by a green hue enclosed within a 39.5 mm diameter steel case. Water-resistant to a depth of 200 metres, the SeaQ is combined with a steel bracelet. The hours, minutes, seconds and date functions are regulated by the 39-11 calibre, a self-winding mechanical movement.
Hamilton and the new Khaki Navy Frogman
It is a must-have as the Anglo-Saxons would say. The link between the watchmaker and the sea is represented by the Frogman, a term that brings to mind the frogmen of the US Navy for whom Hamilton supplied timepieces that became part of their equipment. A bond that has never been broken and which is now celebrated with the Khaki Navy Frogman Auto 46mm featured in the Pisa Circle showcase New this year in detail this timepiece is also available in a version with a 46mm steel case that frames a dial in the same shade on which the orange minute hand creates a pleasant chromatic contrast. Water resistance is guaranteed to a depth of 300 metres. Paired with a black rubber strap, the Khaki Navy Frogman Auto 46mm is equipped with the H-10 movement with Nivachron balance spring.
Christmas Showcase: IWC and the legend of the Portugieser
It needs no introduction. The name alone is enough. The Portugieser is not just an iconic collection. It is a piece of watchmaking history. It all began in the late 1930s. Two Portuguese entrepreneurs (hence the name) approached IWC for a watch that was practical, easy to read and accurate. At the time, the company had an agreement to supply navy watches to the Royal Navy. The intuition was to put this experience to good use by making a timekeeper inspired by the models used on British naval ships. The rest is history. A history that also bears the name of the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph. Present in the Pisa Circle offer, it is characterised by its 44.6 mm steel case enclosing a silver-toned dial on which the integrated chronograph time counter stands out at 12 o’clock, while at 6 o’clock the small seconds counter with the date window stands out. The functions of this timepiece, including the flyback function, are governed by the 89361 calibre, a self-winding mechanical movement whose architecture can be appreciated through the sapphire glass back.
Longines Ultra-Chron for a high-frequency Christmas
Presented this year, the Longines Ultra-Chron brings back the aesthetic codes and technical characteristics of the model presented in 1968. This reference that has written an important page in underwater watchmaking is part of the proposals on the Pisa Circle digital showcase. Water-resistant to 300 metres, it features a 43mm steel case with the unmistakable coussin shape that is a distinctive feature of this timepiece. The unidirectional bezel features a sapphire insert. The black grainé dial features a white minute track that alternates between baton hour markers coated with SuperLuminova and rhodium-plated appliques. The hour, minute (featuring a bright red hand), and seconds functions are handled by the L836.6 calibre, a high-frequency movement and a masterpiece of mechanical watchmaking.
Christmas Showcase: Panerai Luminor Marina Carbotech 44
A state-of-the-art watch to mark the festive season. This is the requirement that accompanies one of the most refined creations conceived by the Florentine maison onto the scene. Present among the proposals of Pisa Circle, this model displays an overall weight of only 96 grams despite its 44 mm case. This is due to the use of Carbotech, an innovative material conceived by the manufacture from carbon fibres. Another innovation adopted is the dial with its sandwich structure. The performance of the Luminor Marina Carbotch 44 is also driven by the P.9010 calibre, a latest-generation self-winding mechanical movement that regulates the hours, minutes, small seconds and date functions. The timepiece also comes with a brand new Super-Luminova in a light blue colour that gives it a new luminescent effect. Water-resistant to 30 bar (about 300 metres), the Luminor Marina Carbotech is fitted with a strap in Panerai Sportech, a rubberized, water-resistant, black material with light blue stitching. A second technical rubber strap, black, completes the equipment together with a special screwdriver for removing the buckle.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300 a tradition that smells of the sea
This iconic timepiece could not be missing from the wish list for this Christmas 2022. It represents the latest stage in a journey that the La Chaux-de-Fonds-based maison undertook more than 40 years ago. It was 1978 when TAG Heuer introduced the Heuer Ref.844, the progenitor of a collection of diver’s watches that immediately became a reference point for diving enthusiasts. A tradition that continues today under the banner of the Aquaracer Professional 300 family of timepieces featured in the Pisa Circle. The most interesting new features include the reduced profile of the case, bezel and bracelet intervention, which has made the look of this watch even more attractive. Water-resistant to a depth of 300 metres, the Aquaracer Porfessional 300 features a 43mm steel case combined with a bezel with a blue ceramic insert and minute scale engraved with a triangle at 12 o’clock in blue SuperLuminova. The dial, also blue with a sunburst effect, features a pattern of horizontal lines. The hours, minutes, seconds and date functions at 6 o’clock are handled by the Calibre 5 refined self-winding movement. A newly designed three-link steel bracelet completes the equipment.
Christmas showcase: Ulysse Nardin Marine – Torpilleur Moonphase
A limited edition for true connoisseurs. This is how one might sum up this reference conceived by the Le Locle-based maison whose link with the world of the sea dates back to the 19th century. Those were the days when marine watches represented an extraordinarily important measuring instrument for calculating position at sea. A history that saw the technical skills expressed by Ulysse Nardin rise to prominence. The same tradition can be found today in the Marine Torpilleur Moonphase featured in the Pisa Circle. The steel case has a diameter of 42 mm and frames an elegant white enamel dial on which two counters stand out. The one positioned at 12 o’clock shows the power reserve indications while at 6 o’clock appears the counter for the small seconds and moon phases. Handling all the functions of this timepiece, including the hours and minutes, is the calibre UN-119, a small mechanical prodigy whose refined architecture can be appreciated through the sapphire glass back.
Matteo Zaccagnino