Introduced in 1957 as a top of the line model, the Longines Flagship is now 60 years old. To mark the occasion Longines reached into its archives for a late 1950s specimen of the watch, which was then reproduced as the Flagship Heritage – 60th Anniversary 1957-2017.

Intriguingly, the historical watch that served as inspiration for the remake was the choice of brand ambassador Kate Winslet, the Oscar-winning British actress. Winslet, best known for her role as Rose in Titanic, picked out the watch during a visit to the Longines factory in St. Imier.

The remake is appealingly faithful to the original, featuring a two-tone silvered dial with applied hour markers that are either Arabic numerals or arrowheads – even the Longines logo is applied.

Both the hands and hour markers are plated in gold to match the case metal; and for the steel version they are plated rose gold.

While larger than the original at 38.5mm in diameter, the remake is nonetheless modestly sized by modern standards. The solid case back is stamped with a relief caravel, just as on the 1950s original. Inside is the automatic calibre L609, essentially a version of the ETA 2892.

Price and availability 

The Flagship Heritage 60th Anniversary is available in stainless steel (ref. L4.817.4.76.2), limited to 1957 pieces and priced at S$3040, or about US$2160.

It’s also available in yellow gold (ref. L4.817.6.76.2), or rose gold (ref. L4.817.8.76.2), with each of the gold models limited to 60 pieces each, priced at S$11,930, or about US$8490.

Update February 25, 2017: Pricing in Singapore dollars added.

Usually a modest 39mm in diameter, the Voutilainen Vingt-8 made an appearance at SIHH 2017 in an unusual guise – with a 44.5mm case of stainless steel.

While not the first extra-large Vingt-8 made – Voutilainen has made one each in white gold and platinum before – this is the only one in stainless steel. No more will be made in this metal. And in fact, Kari Voutilainen himself estimates only about 11 or so watches of his have been made in steel, including the GMT-6 “Only Watch” sold at the eponymous charity auction.

Regular 39mm (left) and the oversized 44.5mm

While the enlarged case is exactly the same style as the typical Voutilainen wristwatch, the size of the case renders it instantly different. The watch feels slimmer, because of the wider diameter, but a thin bezel and narrow lugs make it seem ever larger than it is. In fact, the lugs are the same width as that on the 39mm watch.

Fortunately being in steel the 44.5mm Vingt-8 is relatively lightweight so it does not feel unwieldy.

The size of the case means the dial is expansive, with moire guilloche radiating across the dial. And the engine-turning is on the same scale as that found on the smaller Vingt-8, it seems proportionately smaller, which gives it an extravagant but not overly busy look.

But the opposite is true for the hands, which are longer than normal but fitted with a pressed ring at the end that’s the same as that on the regular sized watch. This leaves them feeling a bit small.

Admirably the movement inside is not merely ported over from the ordinary Vingt-8. While the underlying mechanics are identical, the base plate and bridges have been widened to grow the diameter of the movement, to give it a better fit inside the large case.

The bridges have also been reshaped to pleasing effect, while the balance bridge is flat polished instead of rounded as is convention for the Vingt-8.

Price and availability 

The Vingt-8 44.5mm in steel is a unique piece, priced at SFr75,000.

Since 2006 IWC has unveiled an annual Laureus limited edition to support the eponymous charitable foundation. This year it’s the turn of the restyled Da Vinci to get a Laureus makeover. Like the earlier Laureus watches, the Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” has a metallic blue dial with a hint of red.

Stainless steel and 42mm in diameter, the Da Vinci Laureus is equipped with the calibre 89361, a self-winding chronograph movement with a flyback function and the efficient, proprietary Pellaton winding system. Importantly, the Da Vinci Laureus is the only chronograph in the new Da Vinci line without additional complications for now (but expect more in the future).

The case back features an engraving of a drawing done by a 12-year old Chinese boy, Hou Ye. A participant in the Special Olympics East Asia, Ye won the annual contest IWC holds to select a motif for the case back of the following year’s Laureus watch.

As is standard practice with the Laureus editions, part of the proceeds from the sale of the watches will go to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a non-profit set up by IWC’s parent Richemont and Daimler that aims to bring sport to disadvantaged children.

Price and availability 

Limited to 1500 pieces, the Da Vinci Chronograph “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” (ref. IW393402) is priced at US$12,700

Update January 30, 2017: Pricing added.