As mentioned in an earlier post here, the new Explorer II ref. 216570 was no surprise. Some of its features are notable. The press release explains:

“Its case, enlarged to 42 mm, houses the new calibre 3187… [which] includes… the PARAFLEX shock absorbers and the non-magnetic PARACHROM hairspring…

The bracelet is equipped with a new OYSTERLOCK clasp with safety catch and the EASYLINK comfort extension link.

On the dial, the 24-hour hand has returned to the arrow shape and the orange colour of the original 1971 model. The hour and minute hands are broader and more legible, and, on the black-dial version, their black base blends with the black dial to create a “phantom effect”. The luminescent sections of the hands seem to float over the dial –another nod to the historic model.”

Totally unexpected but causing quite a stir is the new Daytona in rose gold with ceramic bezel ref. 116515LN. The dial is brown and so is the alligator strap. Not my cup of tea but very striking. This watch has Rolex fans dreaming of a steel Daytona with ceramic bezel, or perhaps, maybe, a Daytona entirely in Cerachrom, the brand name for Rolex ceramic.

And the Yachtmaster is now available in two-tone Everose Rolesor (Everose is the proprietary Rolex rose gold alloy while Rolesor refers to steel and gold). Again not my cup of tea.

– SJX

Denis Giguet

Harry Winston just unveiled the Opus Eleven (why not 11 or XI?), which looks to be the coolest instalment in this series since the Opus V. Created together with Denis Giguet of MCT, who incidentally is an alumnus of Rolex and Harry Winston, the Opus 11 is easy to understand.

The hours are displayed in the centre of the case, while the running minutes are on the discs inside the bubble at two o’clock while the bubble at four o’clock exposes the balance wheel. 



The action takes place at the top of the hour, when the hour digit in the centre breaks apart into its four constituent discs, and the next hour is assembled in the centre by another four discs.





The Harry Winston Opus Eleven

There are 24 discs in total that revolve around the case – four satellites holding six discs each.

Since the Opus 6 I found the Opi (or Opuses or Opera?) rather lacklustre. The Opus Eleven turns it around completely. Bravo! On another note, the new Opus Eleven reminds me of the Vianney Halter Goldpfeil Satellarium with its “hidden Mickey”.

Vianney Halter Satellarium Photo credit Christie’s

Update: This video illustrates how the Opus Eleven functions.