Watchworld reader awards 2013

[Megalos]

εγινε ο διαγωνισμος για τα καλυερα ρολογια του 2013 κατα τους αναγνωστες του Ολλανδικου περιοδικου 00/24 Horloges
και τα αποτελεσματα ειναι αρκετα ενδιαφεροντα

Category 1: Up to £2,500

Winner: Tudor Heritage Black Bay
category-1-Tudor-Heritage-Black-Bay

Case: 41mm, steel
Movement: Modified ETA 2824-2, mechanical
Power reserve: 38 hours
Functions: Diving watch to 200m
Price: £2,035
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The opening category came down to a classic watch industry contest: a small player with an ingenious idea versus a major brand with a particularly special watch. In the red corner was the UK's Christopher Ward with its monopusher chronograph, a watch that offers superb value on a complex, well-presented mechanism. In the blue: Rolex's little brother, Tudor, with its dive watch that some have declared a retro-modern classic. For its finishing and design, Tudor won on points.
SHORTLIST
Ball Watch – Fireman Racer DLC, Christopher Ward – C900 Harrison Single Pusher Chronograph, Montblanc – TimeWalker Voyager UTC, Tudor – Heritage Black Bay

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Category 2: £2,500 to £10,000

Winner: Zenith Pilot Doublematic

category-2-Zenith-Pilot-DoublematicCase: 45mm, steel
Movement: El Primero 4046, automatic
Power reserve: 50 hours
Functions: Chronograph, large date, alarm, alarm power reserve, world timer
Price: £9,500
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Once again, a very closely fought category in which value for money was everything. On that front, Frédérique Constant has made its name offering rare value for in-house movements, while the finishing and design complexity of Bulgari's watch was beyond question. Zenith's Doublematic, however, took the judges by surprise. What can in pictures look over-complicated is, on the wrist, a satisfying, stimulating watch with 439 parts, assembled by two watchmakers who normally work on Zenith's haute horlogerie.

SHORTLIST
Bulgari – Octo, Frédérique Constant – Classics Manufacture Worldtimer, Maurice Lacroix – Pontos S, Zenith – Pilot Doublematic,

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Category 3: £10,000 to £25,000

Winner: Chopard L.U.C 8HF

category-3-Chopard-L.U.C-8HFCase: 42mm, titanium
Movement: L.U.C 01.06-L, automatic
Power reserve: 60 hours
Functions: 8Hz movement with silicon escapement and chronometer certification
Price: £12,780
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Three highly contrasting watches made up this category. In Valbray's case, there is the "diaphragm" effect in which the dial of the watch peels back to reveal the movement beneath. Patek Philippe's Nautilus, of course, is a modern icon that speaks for itself. But Chopard's high-frequency piece, the first 8Hz chronometer, was a clear winner, being the equal of its peers for quality and beauty, but in a class apart for innovation.

SHORTLIST
Chopard – L.U.C 8HF, Patek Philippe – Nautilus, Valbray – Oculus V.01 Chrono - Argentique,

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Category 4: £25,000 to £100,000

Winner: Breguet Classique Chronométrie 7727

category-4-Breguet Classique-Chronometrie-7727BR 12 9WUCase: 41mm, rose gold
Movement: Calibre 574 DR, mechanical
Power reserve: 60 hours
Functions: 10Hz frequency, parachute, power reserve, 10th of a second indicator
Price: £28,900
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For the second time in the competition, a high-frequency watch – this time at 10Hz – won the day. The really remarkable thing about the Chronométrie 7727, however, is the use of magnets inside the movement, as a way aiding the stability of the balance and therefore the performance of the movement. Rather than concentrating on Grande Complications, Breguet has innovated dramatically in the context of a simple timekeeper, and at a very reasonable price point.

SHORTLIST
A. Lange & Söhne – Datograph Up/Down, Breguet – Classique Chronométrie 7727, Christiaan van der Klaauw – Real Moon Joure, IWC – Spitfire Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month

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Category 5: £100,000 and up

Winner: Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre à Sphérotourbillon

category-5-Jaeger-LeCoultre-Duometre-a-SpherotourbillonCase: 42mm, pink gold
Movement: Calibre 382, mechanical
Power reserve: 50 hours
Functions: Flyback seconds, date, 24-hour reference or second time zone, tourbillon, twin power reserve
Price: £
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This was easily the most controversial category, with each watch backed by various judges at different points in the discussion. Vacheron Constantin's 14-day tourbillon is a formidable achievement in an exquisite watch; TAG Heuer's MikrotourbillonS a groundbreaking work of complex horology. By complete contrast, Laurent Ferrier's understated two-spring tourbillon slayed the judges with its painstaking exhibition of the watchmaking craft. But it was Jaeger-LeCoultre's latest take on the multi-axis tourbillon that finally won out.

SHORTLIST
Jaeger-LeCoultre – Duomètre à Sphérotourbillon, Laurent Ferrier – Galet Classic Tourbillon Double Balance Spring, TAG Heuer – Carrera MikrotourbillonS, Vacheron Constantin – Patrimony Traditionelle 14-day Tourbillon

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Category 6: Women's watches

Winner: Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 Set

category-ladies-Parmigiani-Fleurier-Tonda-1950-SetCase: 39mm, white gold
Movement: PF701, automatic
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions: Central hours and minutes, small seconds at 6 o'clock
Price: £17,700
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The diamonds were on display in force as the ladies' watches were presented, with two pieces – Piaget's Précieuse Exceptional Cuff, and Cartier's Promenade d'une Panthère – giving ample demonstration of their respective producers' jewellery supremacy. The simple beauty of Parmigiani's piece – a watch adaptable for dressy or every-day occasions – matched with its horological excellence including a free-sprung balance and micro-rotor, saw it declared the winner.

SHORTLIST
Audemars Piguet – Royal Oak Chronograph, Cartier – Promenade d'une Panthère watch, Parmigiani Fleurier – Tonda 1950 Set, Piaget – Limelight Couture Précieuse Exceptional Cuff watch

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Technology Award:

Winner: TAG Heuer Carrera MikrotourbillonS

The MikrotourbillonS contains two tourbillons, one for timekeeping and one for its high-frequency chronograph. The latter is the fastest tourbillon in the world, making a rotation every 5 seconds that ensures chronometer accuracy while the chronograph is running. A dizzying achievement for TAG Heuer's technical team.

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Case: 45mm, titanium
Movement: MikrotourbillonS
Power reserve: 45 hours (watch), 60 minutes (chronograph)
Functions: Hours, minutes, central hand 1/100th of a second, chronograph, double tourbillon
Price: £185,000
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Arts & Crafts Award

Winner: Laurent Ferrier Galet Classic Tourbillon Double Balance Spring

For years Laurent Ferrier oversaw watchmaking at Patek Philippe. Now his team produces watches that are as discrete as they are exquisitely crafted and ingeniously conceived. The Galet Classic Tourbillon Double Balance Spring, with two balance springs and chronometer certification, is an achievement of meticulous classical skill and modern innovation.

category-arts-and-crafts-Laurent-Ferrier-Galet-Classic-Tourbillon-Double-Balance-SpringCase: 41mm, rose gold
Movement: Calibre 916.01, hand-wound
Power reserve: 80 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o'clock, tourbillon
Price: £137,600
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Reader's Award

Winner: Maurice Lacroix Pontos S

Thousands of readers of our magazines and of the London business newspaper City A.M. voted online to decide which watch would win the Reader's Award. Most of the votes went to the mid-class (category 2) Maurice Lacroix Pontos S. A chronograph with a striking nato strap. The watch shows you a 12-hour chronograph, an inner rotating bezel for elapsed time controlled by a stop/start push-button and the possibility to easily change the date.

category-readers-award-Maurice-Lacroix-Pontos-SCase: 43mm, steel
Movement: ML157 (based on a Valjoux 7753), automatic
Power reserve: 46 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds at 9 o'clock, chronograph, date
Price: £3,280
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[Megalos]

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