In four years' time, German watch brand Laco will celebrate its centenary. You can celebrate that then, but you can also start now. Laco is doing the latter with the introduction of this Edition 95. A classic marine watch in a contemporary design, focusing on precision, durability and functionality. Only 95 will be made, another limited series will follow next year with 96 copies and so on.... until 2025. Costs €1290 www.laco.de
ALWAYS BETTER
Oris exists by the grace of some critical questions this brand likes to ask of itself:
What should a mechanical timepiece do? How can it do it better? And for more people? How can we produce the best possible watch at the best possible price? Since this company was founded in 1904, these are the questions that have defined the brand's DNA. And it is these questions that resulted in the development of the new Calibre 400.
Calibre 400 sets the new standard for automatic mechanical timepieces. For several reasons. For instance, it contains more than 30 non-ferrous and anti-magnetic parts that provide unprecedented protection against magnetic fields. Also impressive is the 5-day power reserve, achieved with extra-long springs in two spring barrels. But what optimally sets the timepiece apart from competitors is the recommended maintenance interval of no less than ten (10!) years and the equally long-lasting warranty period Oris dares to give. This is partly due to a newly developed rotor system. Indeed, problems with automatic watches are often related to the ball bearing that allows the flywheel mass to rotate freely to generate energy for the main spring barrel. Oris has now replaced this ball bearing with a smooth-running friction bearing, in which a steel shaft rotates through a lubricated cuff. This is less complex, highly efficient and generates less wear and therefore fewer failures. The new movement was first installed in this Aquis Date Calibre 400, but will be used in other watches in the future and can also be extended with additional complications. Costs €3000 (metal strap) or €2900 (rubber strap). www.oris.ch
GOLD GOOD
The latest addition to the Bell&Ross collection is called BR 05 and stands out for its original design that balances beautifully between round and angular, tough and chic. The model shown here is the eye-catcher in the series, with its satinised and polished 18-carat rose gold case and strap, navy blue sunray dial, gold-plated appliqué numerals and indexes and hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova. An absolute statement around the wrist that should cost €29,900. Prefer something less eye-catching? An all-steel version is also available for over 25 grand less. www.bellross.com
PUUR HOLLANDS
At German company MeisterSinger, they love traditions. And so they have been making a special watch every year for 17 years that is exclusively marketed in the Netherlands. This is the NL Edition 2020 and it stands out from the 'normal' watches in the collection because of its different design. The colour combination on the 'sunray' dial, steel blue with overlaid hour markers, is unique to our country. The inscription 'NL Edition' on the dial underlines this. Also unique to the NL Edition is the crown, which sits on the left side of the case every year instead of the usual right. The case is stainless steel, with a total of 60 pieces available with a steel bezel and also 60 with a gold-plated bezel. Altogether, then, 120 pieces, with the 20 traditionally referring to the year. The MeisterSinger NL Edition 2020 measures 40 mm and comes with a kroko print leather strap. The Swiss movement is the flat automatic calibre Sellita SW300-1, seen through the sight bottom of the case that is water resistant to 50 metres. Costs € 1890 (steel bezel) or € 1990 (gold-plated bezel). www.meistersinger.com
BREAKING
Watches that have actually been worn in space; there are very few brands that can boast this. One of them comes from the Netherlands. R.O.Watches developed the R.O.1 SPACE for André Kuipers' trip to the International Space Station (ISS). With a unique Orbit counter that easily shows when the spacecraft has made one complete revolution around the earth. This is because 91 minutes and 59 seconds must then have elapsed. This may not be very useful in daily life. What does help is the unique SHOCK-SYSTEM, the extra-thick sapphire crystal and the reliable Valjoux 7750 movement, tuned to chronometer standards by Roland Oostwegel in his own workshop. This watch has been around for some time, and yet it is new. Because R.O. Watches allows you to personalise it completely according to your own wishes, so new versions are constantly emerging alongside the standard collection. Like this model. Costs from € 4350. www.ro-watches.nl
STRONG STORY
G-shock watches from Casio have always been known for their physical indestructibility. But Casio felt it could go a notch stronger and devised the Dual Core Guard Structure, a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic case surrounded by a metal frame, to give the watch a metallic look and feel in addition to resilience. Moreover, this new MTG-B2000 series is also equipped with Triple G Resist, for protection against drops, g-forces and vibrations. Fine features that allow you to enjoy worry-free features like automatic time zone adjustment as soon as you fly or drive into a new time zone, controlled either via radio signals or via your smartphone. Costs from €949 www.g-shock.eu
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