Buying Guide – The Best Dress Watches of 2017 to Prepare the Holiday Season – Part 2

With the holiday season approaching, it’s time for us to make our wish lists… We already started with a selection of the dress watches introduced in 2017 – part 1, with a focus on watches under CHF / EUR 20,000. Now we move up, with a selection of 6 of the best dress watches, for those with larger pockets.

Grand Seiko SBGW252

To celebrate the fact that Grand Seiko was becoming a brand in its own right (and not just one collection), the Japanese manufacturer has released three limited editions inspired from the very first Grand Seiko (in steel, yellow gold and platinum). An exquisite, superbly detailed watch with great pedigree – and that yellow gold version really is classy…

Quick facts: 38 mm yellow gold case – hand-wound movement calibre 9S64 with hours, minutes and seconds. Alligator leather strap with pin buckle – EUR 21,700 – limited edition of 353 pieces. For more information, please visit www.grand-seiko.com

A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Automatic Blue Dial

While being a classic from the brand for now several years (even after its facelift in 2015), the Lange Saxonia Automatic received a new colour recently (along with 3 other models of the brand), by now being available in galvanized blue. The result, combined with a white gold case, is lively and cold at the same time. Inside the 38.5mm case is a superbly finished in-house automatic L086.1 calibre, with a large gold rotor. The Lange attitude, with a twist.

Quick Facts: 38.5mm white gold case – automatic L086.1 calibre with hours, minutes and small second – Blue alligator strap with pin buckle – EUR 23,200 – For more information, please visit www.alange-soehne.com

Chopard L.U.C XPS edition 2017

Chopard has unveiled a tasteful redesign of its elegant LUC XPS, powered by their ultra-thin LUC calibre 96 with micro-rotor. The watch is presented in different materials which will suit every taste and pockets too. The superb blue-dialled platinum version comes with a version of the movement bearing the Geneva seal. Luxury, thinness and haute-Horlogerie in a single, discreet watch.

Quick facts: 40 mm platinum case – automatic movement calibre 96.01-L with hours, minutes and small seconds. Alligator strap with pin buckle – CHF 24,630 (CHF 7,900 in steel, CHF 15,160 in gold) – For more information, please visit www.chopard.com

Patek Philippe Calatrava 6006G

The reference 6006G was launched at Baselworld this year to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the calibre 240, the iconic Patek micro-rotor movement. Reminiscent of the 1991 ref. 5000 and 2005 ref. 6000, the reference 6006G features an offset small seconds and an analogue date display. It is presented in a 39 mm white gold case with a contemporary two-tone dial design with a rich dial finish. Flip the watch over and you get a view on the finely finished 191 part micro-rotor movement.

Quick facts: 39 mm white gold case – automatic (micro-rotor) movement calibre 240 PS C with hours, minutes, small seconds and date. Alligator leather strap with folding buckle – CHF 27,000 – For more information, please visit www.patek.com

Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 Mid-Size Model

While already available in a 40mm case (which was admittedly too large for many collectors), the Historiques American 1921 makes a comeback this year in a restrained, 36.5mm mid-size case. Still superbly designed, still fully vintage-inspired, still perfectly finished and decorated, the result is a watch that is now fully appropriate with an elegant attire. The in-house calibre 4400 bears the hallmark of Geneva.

Quick facts: 36.5mm pink gold case – hand-wound movement, calibre 4400, with hours, minutes, small second, Poinçon de Genève – alligator strap with pin buckle – EUR 30,300 – For more information, please visit www.vacheron-constantin.com

Urban Jürgensen 1140 platinum Blue Guilloché Dial

The Urban Jürgensen reference 1140 has been released in a blue-dialled platinum limited edition. Like all watches from the brand, it is a consummate example of expert craftsmanship. Underneath its dial patterned with grain d’orges and damier guilloche ticks the superb P4 hand-wound calibre. The distinction of a dress watch, the finishing of an artisan, the beauty of independent watchmaking.

Quick facts: 40 mm platinum case – manual movement calibre P4 with hours, minutes and small seconds. Alligator leather strap with folding buckle – CHF 49,650 – limited edition of 30 pieces – For more information, please visit www.urbanjurgensen.com