The Bovet monumental clock installed in the Asterium Tower in Seoul has received the A’ Design Award, which recognizes exceptional achievements in terms of architectural design worldwide. This new distinction perfectly embodies the personal view of Pascal Raffy, the owner of Bovet 1822, which is to never dissociate traditional fine watchmaking from art, design and architecture, so as to offer collectors and aficionados of fine timepieces the noblest expression of time.

Those who read WorldTempus in English might be less familiar with Serge Panczuk than our French-speaking readers. Serge first started writing for us back in 2012 and his articles in French, presenting watches from a collector’s point of view, have always been well-liked by our readers. As a frequent long-haul traveller, Serge often has periods of 15 hours on a plane when he is disconnected from the world, giving him plenty of time to delve deep into the story behind a watch. 

Instagram is full of videos of anonymous gloved hands ceremoniously opening up a watch box. What’s most striking is not the reverential way in which the task is accomplished, although there are probably brain surgeons who take less care when opening up a skull. What’s incredible is that, because of these videos, the general public can at long last see what watch boxes look like!

Modern watchmaking was born from the sea, on the first ships that set out to explore what was still a flat planet. 

On September 17th, Hublot opened its first directly operated London flagship boutique on New Bond Street, one of the most prestigious luxury shopping destinations in the world. The moment also marked the extension of the brand partnership with Chelsea FC for another three years – firmly establishing Hublot as the watch brand who loves football!

Corum is unveiling a new collection that is 100% dedicated to women: Eleganza. Its particularity: available both in casual chic and precious jewellery versions; as part of a strictly limited edition, these feminine models feature, for the first time in the brand’s history, an automatic regulator movement. 

Like the watch he’s wearing, Omega ambassador Daniel Craig is clearly at home in the water. Set to play 007 for the fifth time, the English actor looks every inch the gentleman, even when surfacing for air in a drenched tuxedo. The quintessentially-British Bond is a legendary character, so it’s only right that he gets to wear a legendary timepiece. Daniel Craig first wore an Omega on-screen in Casino Royale in 2006, but the actor was an avid watch fan long before he took on the iconic role. Though Bond is stoic, tough and even ruthless when required to be, Daniel Craig is a grounded English gent with an approachable style and commitment to social causes. He’s the face of the new Seamaster Diver 300M. A perfect choice. After all, how many underwater explorers can make a wet-suit look this stylish?

Ulysse Nardin brought the Marine Torpilleur Military US NAVY timepiece to Annapolis, an ideal ven-ue for the American launch, celebrating the ties between the brand and the United Stated Naval Academy since 1905.

Following on from the new Masterpiece Double Retrograde and Masterpiece Moon Retrograde, both unveiled in 2017, this year sees Maurice Lacroix revisit the Masterpiece Calendar Retrograde, returning to the past to offer updated versions of vintage models. Maurice Lacroix enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting this new version; in fact the Masterpiece Calendar Retrograde is historically an earlier piece than the other two, although its reinterpretation has come later. The launch has been highly anticipated also because of the pioneering status of the Masterpiece Calendar Retrograde. In 1999 it was the first retrograde display to be produced by the watchmaker from Switzerland’s Franches-Montagnes region; since then it has become a company speciality, and an extremely successful one.

The Pays de Gex region, which borders Switzerland and Geneva, reverberated with the sound of racing cars tackling the 6.4km course of the Montée des Légendes ("Legend Hill Climb") last weekend in the presence of champions like the double Le Mans 24 Hours winner Romain Dumas, 1981 world rally champion Ari Vatanen and his colleague Guy Fréquelin, Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean, two-time French hill climb champion Sébastien Petit, multiple European champion Simone Faggioli and the star among stars, nine-times world rally champion Sébastien Loeb. It was an exceptional line-up of drivers at the wheels of legendary cars from the world's of rallye, track, mountain and even Pikes Peak. 

1993 was the year Chopard embarked upon the creation of haute horlogerie movements. In 1996, the first model was launched from the company’s Fleurier premises (not quite yet a manufacture): this was the 1.96 micro-rotor calibre that equipped the first modern L.U.C watch, the 1860. In 2000, as mechanical watches were beginning to take off, the brand launched its second calibre, the manually wound 1.98 (which would later be renamed the 98.01). This time Chopard focused on a new feature, the long power reserve. With its four barrels stacked two by two in series, the calibre can achieve an autonomy of 216 hours, or 9 days. This was an innovative solution at the time, as it overcame the main problem afflicting watches with a particularly long power reserve – a lack of precision.

The Charming Bird by Jaquet Droz is the first and only wristwatch to feature a singing bird. Awarded the 2015 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix (Grand Prix d’horlogerie de Genève) in the year of its launch, this automaton embodies the genius of Pierre Jaquet-Droz. In 2018, the brand unveils two new editions in red gold and white gold with an ivory Grand Feu enamel dial and limited to only eight pieces each.

A new partner of Frieze Masters and Frieze London, Richard Mille began his eponymous brand at the start of the new millennium in 2001. Frieze is the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art for scholars, connoisseurs, collectors and the general public alike. Celebrating this vibrant, contemporary history, the brand’s presence at Frieze Masters has brought together, for the first time in the UK, a museum-level overview of some of the most exceptional, rare, and currently unavailable examples of timepieces generously loaned by private collectors. 

The HYT Skull 48.8 has carpe diem on its mind. This distinctive timepiece continually reminds us of the importance of seizing every second. Highlighting time’s passage using liquids, it focuses on the power of the present, the very elixir of life.

Between September 24 and 29, the French city of Cannes will be welcoming the imposing fleet of classic and vintage sailing vessels for the 40th edition of Les Régates Royales. Organised by the Yacht Club de Cannes, the event is also the fourth and final stage of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge Mediterranean circuit which is sponsored by the Florentine luxury sports watch maker. 

Three new Bucherer Blue Editions by Vacheron Constantin were presented at the sumptuous Hôtel Crillon in Paris on 26th September by Patrick Graf, Chief Commercial Officer at Bucherer, Laurent Perves, Chief Marketing Officer at Vacheron Constantin and Christian Selmoni, Style & Heritage Director at Vacheron Constantin. The location could scarcely have been more fitting for either name. The hotel building dates back to 1758, just three years after the foundation of Vacheron Constantin, and Paris is home to Bucherer’s – and the world’s – biggest multi-brand watch store.