Pisa 1940. I don’t know if you have ever noticed but usually the best memories are always linked to a particular time of the year. And there are many reasons that contribute to making it so special. Usually for those who study it coincides with the time to take a break from books, the longed-for holidays. It is a time to recharge your batteries from work, to share the company of family and close friends. In some cases, it is an opportunity to make new acquaintances, new friendships, or new life experiences.
Summer is not just a season
In short, to claim that summer is just a season is reductive. It can be defined as an emotional state in which the presence of the sea, we would add, makes it even more exhilarating and intense. Weather, summer and sea. A perfect combination. The latter is the ingredient that makes all the difference. It gives us that feeling of freedom that we would otherwise not be able to experience. Thanks to its presence, emotions take over, punctuating every single moment, hour, day.
Time dilates, we wish it would not end. Although we perceive its existence, we are unable to give it a physical, real, tangible representation. A solution exists, however, and it is at hand, or rather on our wrist. Yes, because the sea still continues to be, for the industry of the time, an extraordinary source of inspiration. Sometimes it is the materials, sometimes the colours, on other occasions it is the technique. The great thing is that each Maison has given the sixth continent its own interpretation. A creative fertility from which have sprung extraordinary collections that have now become a point of reference for watch enthusiasts and others.
The Pisa 1940 offer
Not to mention that finding the right route to take in an offer that has become boundless has now become even easier thanks to Pisa 1940. All it takes is a click to satisfy one’s thirst for knowledge or to make an appointment directly in the flagship store at 7 Via Verri in Milan. A safe landing place for those who nurture a passion for hands and, above all, a precious compass to find the best proposals boasting a strong link with the sixth continent. Below is a selection of 10 models in the Pisa 1940 showcase for a summer to love and, above all, to experience on the wrist.
Hublot: Big Bang Integrated Time Only
Blue like the sea. This is the shade that characterises one of the most popular novelties presented by Hublot this year. The 38mm case is made of ceramic. Its compact dimensions make it the ideal timepiece for a feminine wrist. Another distinctive element is the integrated bracelet, also made of ceramic, in the same colour shade, which, embellished with soleil finishes, characterises the dial on which the hour, minute and seconds hands and date window stand out.
Regulating the functions of this Big Bang Integrated Time Only reference is the calibre MHUB1115 Self-winding movement. Completing the watch’s equipment is its water resistance guaranteed to 100 metres. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
Pisa 1940: Baume& Mercier Riviera GMT
What defines a watchmaking classic? Certainly history. And in this case, the Riviera collection has plenty to tell, starting with the name itself, which evokes the beauty of the Côte d’Azur, one of the most glamorous seaside resorts in the Mediterranean. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, this watch family finds one of its most popular models in the GMT version.
A 12-sided dodecagonal bezel fitted with four screws, a steel case with a diameter of 42 mm and a Swiss Made automatic movement are the most distinctive elements of this timepiece. A travel watch, it allows the time in the second time zone to be read instantly thanks to a fourth hand. This fourth red central hand circles the dial in 24 hours and accurately indicates the local time at the travel destination via a smaller peripheral scale marking the hours.
The dial displays an elegant blue hue that is also echoed on the rubber strap. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is anti-reflective on both sides and the octagonal crown boasts the embossed Phi logo and a red line. The final detail is the guaranteed water resistance to 100 metres. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique
A watch that has become a legend. There is no better way to describe the Fifty Fathoms as the first true diving timepiece of the modern era. Launched in 1953, it first conquered the wrists of diving enthusiasts and, later, an ever-widening audience of watchmaking aficionados.
Today, a year after the 70th anniversary celebrations, the collection welcomes the arrival of a new version with a 42mm case in grade 23 titanium. The latter is the most distinctive element of the Fity Fathoms Automatique and is distinguished by its lightness and strong resistance to scratches and corrosion, not to mention its hypoallergenic properties. The bezel with a sapphire finish, a characteristic feature of the collection, offers infallible legibility. Regulating the functions of this timepiece is the calibre 1315, a robust and precise automatic movement offering a constant five-day power reserve thanks to its three barrels mounted in series
The architecture of the movement embellished by the red gold oscillating weight can be appreciated through the sapphire glass back. Water resistance is guaranteed up to 30 bar (300 metres). The bracelet in grade 23 titanium completes the equipment of this reference. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
Pisa 1940: Bulgari Aluminium White Automatic
There is no summer without Bulgari. Even for 2024, the maison has surprised everyone by presenting a new, unprecedented version of one of its great warhorses, the Bulgari Aluminium collection launched 26 years ago that revolutionised the watchmaking scene with its unique and distinctive style. Today, this family of timepieces welcomes a new monochrome version in all-white, an expression of its bold and electrifying character.
The bezel, decorated with the famous 14 letters of Bulgari Bulgari, is a tribute to that act of audacity carried out by the Maison in 1977, when the brand’s signature was used as a distinctive aesthetic element in reference to the coins of ancient Rome that bore the emperor’s name. Offered in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, it features a 40mm aluminium case that fits perfectly on both men’s and women’s wrists. The aluminium dial is combined with rhodium-plated indexes and hands with Super-LumiNova® inserts that add luminosity, while the date window at 3 o’clock combines functionality and aesthetic balance. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
Cartier Santos de Cartier ref. WSSA0064
They called it the year of the Santos. And there is some truth to that, at least if you look at the novelties unveiled by Cartier at the latest Watches and Wonders. It was here that the spotlight shone and greeted the arrival of a new and unprecedented version of the Santos de Cartier. What makes it unique is the shaded brown shade that lights up the dial embellished with satin-brushed soleil finishing.
Visually, the elegance is accentuated by the contrast generated by the steel material used for the 39.8 mm case and the steel bracelet, equipped with the innovative “SmartLink” size-adjustment system. The self-winding mechanical movement, Calibre 1847 MC regulates the seconds, minutes and hours functions. The indications of the latter two are entrusted to sword-shaped hands in polished rhodium-plated steel filled with luminescent material. Water resistance is guaranteed to a depth of 100 metres. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
Pisa 1940: Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman ref. H77825330
We are in the presence of a watch that has written glorious pages. And the name itself says a lot about the origins of this timepiece. Everything is encapsulated in that Frogman word referring to the “frogmen”, as the brave US Navy Special Forces soldiers who wore the original in World War II during their extreme missions were called.
The imposing 46 mm steel case is fitted with a crown-protecting bridge. The black dial is embellished with Super-LumiNova® for legibility in low light conditions, while orange touches on the minute sphere and the end of the seconds sphere ensure clarity at a glance. The operational reliability of the Khaki Navy Frogman is ensured by the H-10 automatic movement that guarantees absolute precision, an increased power reserve of 80 hours, and optimised performance thanks to the Nivachron™ balance spring.
It is a state-of-the-art alloy: its resistance to shocks, temperature changes and magnetic fields guarantees optimum performance, resulting in a watch built to withstand extreme conditions. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 Ref. IW328903
This new version was created with the aim of paying tribute to one of the undisputed icons of the watchmaking scene. First launched in 1955, the Ingenieur found its definitive consecration in the 1970s. The credit for this goes to Gérald Genta who signed the Ingenieur SL, Reference 1832, which has now become a cult object for many aficionados of the world of hands. It is from this version that the new Ingenieur Automatic 40 is inspired.
Also offered in an Aqua version, the new reference is completely renewed in many respects. The overall dimensions of the case have been carefully reworked and improved down to the smallest detail. The distance between the lugs of 45.7 millimetres guarantees perfect ergonomics and excellent comfort, even on the thinnest of wrists. Whereas the Ingenieur SL of the 1970s had prominent lugs, the new Ingenieur Automatic 40 has a newly developed centre link attachment. One of the most noticeable changes is the introduction of functional polygonal screws on the bezel.
In the Ingenieur SL, a bezel with five recesses was screwed onto the recessed ring. Consequently, the recesses always had different positions on each watch. In the Ingenieur Automatic 40, five screws fasten the bezel to the case. The screws fulfil a technical function and are therefore always in the same position. The dial also has a special ‘Tapisserie’ structure that creates balance with the technical and very sculptural case design. The Aqua version features a very intense aqua-green hue reminiscent of the shades the sea is tinged with. Water-resistant to 100 metres, the 40mm steel case houses the calibre 3211, a self-winding movement that regulates the hours, minutes, seconds and date functions. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
Pisa 1940: Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattroCarbotech Abyss Blue
Panerai could not be absent from this selection. The history of the Florentine maison was born from the sea and the sea continues to inspire it to this day. It represents an extraordinary source of inspiration that has made it possible to develop new solutions, especially in terms of increasingly innovative and high-performance materials.
Like that adopted by the Submersible QuarantaQuattroCarbotech Blu Abisso. Carbotech is a composite material based on carbon fibre, which is not only lighter than titanium, but also offers high resistance to corrosion and scratches. Moreover, its variegated black colouring ensures that no case will be identical to another. Despite the case size of 44mm, the fit on the wrist is, thanks to the properties of Carbotech, very comfortable and practical both at sea and in everyday life. Water-resistant to a depth of 300 metres, this timepiece also proves a reliable companion while diving thanks to the way the dial graphics have been designed, allowing information to be read at a glance even in conditions of poor visibility.
The movement regulating the hours, minutes, small seconds and date functions is the tried and tested P.900 with a 3-day power reserve. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 1000 Superdiver
The long, high-sounding name speaks volumes about the ambitions of this timepiece. One figure above all: 1,000 metres. This is the maximum depth that the Superdiver can reach. A timepiece that raises the bar even higher and brings the theme of performance back to centre stage, highlighting, if it were still needed, the technical and design skills of the Maison.
This is not an absolute first. Back in 1982, TAG Heuer touched the thousand-metre depth mark with the 1000m Diver watch designed for professional use. After that came the Super Professional 1000 and then, in 2003, the Aquagraph, two timepieces that left their mark on this market segment. Today, history repeats itself. The Superdiver is distinguished by a whole series of elements that make it the new benchmark for those in search of something truly unique.
The choice, in terms of materials, has fallen on grade 5 titanium with which the 45 mm diameter case and bracelet have been made. Performance and functionality are then the guidelines that inspired the approach of the team involved in the development of this veritable instrument. Starting with readability. The hour hand is oversized compared to the one on the Aquaracer 300 collection, and the minute and seconds indicators are orange to make them even more visible.
Orange is also found on the ceramic bezel to indicate the first quarter of an hour, the most commonly used interval for timing decompression times. Reading information is made even clearer and more immediate even in low light thanks to the use of SLN Grade X1, the highest grade of Super-LumiNova®. The helium release valve could not be missing. Rectangular in shape, it is finished with a black DLC coating to match the finish of the crown in the same colour. It is also engraved with the letters ‘He’, the symbol for helium in the periodic table of elements.
And, as if that were not enough, the timepiece has achieved ISO 6425:2018 certification for watches intended for saturation diving. The movement deserves a separate mention. COSC-certified (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) and manufactured by Kenissi Manufacture SA to TAG Heuer specifications, the Calibre TH30-00 has a 70-hour power reserve. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
Pisa 1940: Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition
From the Formula 1 of engines to the Formula 1 of sailing is a short step. Tudor is celebrating two firsts in 2024. A year to remember for the Swiss watchmaker, which took to the track in motorsport’s premier competition alongside the Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team while in sailing, and more precisely in the America’s Cup, Tudor will fly the AC75 Alinghi Red Bull Racing. An adventure that has the flavour of the sea marked for the occasion by the new Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition ref. M25707KN-0001. A real wristwatch extravaganza. Starting with the materials: a hi-tech carbon composite for the 42mm case and bezel disc.
For the bezel, crown and direct-action pushers, the choice fell on titanium. Initially developed in collaboration with divers and combat swimmers of the French Navy, the case of these models is water-resistant to 200 metres and features the emblematic “FXD” design, where the contraction of the English “fixed” alludes to the robust fixed bars for attaching the strap. The timepiece also features a bi-directional rotating bezel with 120 notches and Swiss Super-LumiNova® Grade X1 coating, a luminescent material that offers up to 60 per cent better performance after two hours than standard grades.
To easily monitor the countdown, a key moment before the start of each race, the bezels are graduated from 60 to 0. The subtle “Alinghi Red Bull Racing” inscription dominates the dial on the 45° flange between 10 and 2 o’clock. This link with the Swiss America’s Cup team is further emphasised by the blue shade of the dial, the official colour of the challenge. The “Snowflake” hands and square hour markers, emblematic elements of TUDOR since the 1960s designed to offer a larger luminous surface, are made of luminescent ceramic composite to ensure optimal readability even in the most difficult circumstances.
Animating this timepiece is the manufacture calibre MT5602 mechanical movement with COSC-certified automatic winding. Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition is combined with a “Team Blue” jacquard fabric strap with red touches, titanium “D” buckle. (Find more on Pisa 1940)
Matteo Zaccagnino