6 over-the-top watches that dazzled Baselworld 2017

Mar 27 , 2017

Rolex Yacht-Master 40 features a gem-set bezel.

There are six timepieces at Baselworld that you don’t want to miss:

Jaquet Droz: Loving Butterfly Automaton

Known for its exquisite automaton works, Jaquet Droz surprised watch connoisseurs with a new launch this year. The Loving Butterfly Automaton features on the Petite Heure Minute dial a fluttering butterfly pulling a cherub in an animated chariot with its wheels, turning it into an optical illusion.

Jaquet Droz’s Loving Butterfly Automaton

The watch took three years to develop. Only 28 pieces available for either white or red gold version.

Hublot: MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis

Hublot’s proven again that it’s a serious player in luxury watchmaking with the new manufacture piece. The MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis boasts a five-day power reserve and is equipped with a bi-axial tourbillon that undertakes a complete rotation per minute for the first axis and a rotation every 30 seconds for the second axis.

Hublot’s MP-09 Bi-Axis Tourbillon launched at BaselWorld 2017

The piece is available in two versions: titanium (limited to 50 pieces) or King Gold (limited to 20 pieces).

Hublot delights collectors with Spirit of Big Bang Moonphase collection

Bulgari: Octo Finissimo

Bulgari broke the world record with the new ultra-thin Octo Finissimo Automatic. The piece is the slimmest ultra-thin self-winding watch on the market to date, measuring just 5.15mm in total thickness while its self-winding movement is only 2.23mm thick.

Bulgari launches slimmest self-winding watch on the market, the Octo Finissimo Automatic

Chanel: Mademoiselle J12

The iconic ceramic and steel J12 is updated with a tongue-in-cheek cartoon rendering of Coco Chanel, her arms indicating hours and minutes.

Oh la la, the new Mademoiselle J12 from @chanelofficial is tres #chic! #styletakesbaselworld #baselworld #baselworld2017 #luxury #luxurywatches #watchmaking #hautehorlogerie #horology #ootd #watchesofinstagram #instawatches #wristgame #timepiece #watchcollecting #watchcandy #watchoftheday #watchaddict #chanel #mademoiselle #j12

A post shared by Style_SCMP (@style_scmp) on

Rolex: Yacht-Master 40

If you are into rainbow gem-set watches, the updated Yacht-Master 40 is your dream come true. The watch, rendered in an 18 ct Everose gold case, is set with 32 sapphires, 8 tsavorites and one diamond.

Eight new Rolex watches just hit Baselworld 2017

MB&F & L’Epèe 1839: Destination Moon

Although not a watch, MB&F’s new timepiece deserves special mention. The 10th co-creation is a table clock – called Destination Moon – that is inspired by rockets.

The piece is available in four limited editions of 50 pieces each in black, green, blue PVD and palladium.

WATCH THIS SPACE

STYLE is on the ground at Baselworld, bringing you sneak previews, exclusive interviews and debut highlights.

Live Instagram updates from Baselworld

For more on Baselworld 2017, follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Baselworld 2017

Jaquet Droz, Hublot, Rolex, Bulgari, Chanel and MB&F launch eye-catching models