Watch News Briefing: Ressence, Blancpain, Louis Erard, and Arnold & Son
Four new releases feature bold design concepts: Ressence transforms the Type 9 into a kinetic work of art; Blancpain reinterprets the history of the Ladybird in a particularly compact automatic model; Louis Erard and Konstantin Chaykin bring back their frog; and Arnold & Son combines the moon phase with intricate craftsmanship.
Ressence Type 9 Jules Wittock Edition
Ressence has teamed up with Belgian artist Jules Wittock. His hand-drawn labyrinth spans the rotating discs of the Type 9 and comes to life as the watch displays the time. A hidden word or message becomes visible when the elements align at midnight.
The edition comprises a total of 60 watches, 30 in emerald green and 30 in black. The polished Grade 5 titanium case measures 39 millimeters in diameter and 11 millimeters in height. With the strap, the watch weighs 43 grams. Inside, the watch is powered by the automatic ROCS-9 movement. The price is 20,000 Swiss francs, excluding taxes.
Blancpain Lady B: 19-millimeter Automatic
To mark the 70th anniversary of the Ladybird, Blancpain is introducing the Lady B. Its spherical case, measuring just 19 millimeters in diameter, draws inspiration from the historic Ladybird Bullet from 1956. With a volume of 2.9 cubic centimeters, the design remains remarkably compact.
The watch combines an opaline dial with a leather strap that wraps twice around the wrist. It is powered by the in-house automatic Caliber 615. With this model, Blancpain builds on the pioneering work of Betty Fiechter.
Louis Erard × Konstantin Chaykin: The Frog Returns
Louis Erard and Konstantin Chaykin are reissuing their distinctive Regulator watch in turquoise and brown. The horizontally arranged dial defines the watch’s face: the hour markers are at 9 o’clock, the small seconds sub-dial is at 3 o’clock, and an arrow-shaped hand indicates the minutes.
The 40-millimeter case is made of Grade 5 titanium. The crown at 12 o’clock doubles as a small crown; both models are worn on Himeji-Kurozan leather straps finished with urushi lacquer. Each color is limited to 178 pieces.
Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon “Horse of the Dunes”
Arnold & Son sets a hand-engraved horse crafted from 18-karat white gold against a nocturnal dune landscape. The black aventurine glass dial is complemented by two mother-of-pearl discs indicating the moon phase; luminescent material makes the dunes and the moon stand out in the dark.
Inside the 41-millimeter platinum case is the hand-wound A&S1512 caliber, featuring two mainsprings and a 90-hour power reserve. The moon phase display deviates from the astronomical cycle by only one day after 122 years. This edition is limited to eight pieces.
