Haute Five: Best Pocket Watches In 2014

From Breguet and Vacheron Constantin to independent brands such as Urwerk, watchmakers have turned back the clock regarding design, by unveiling surprising pocket watches. We covered our favorites last year, and now we are back with a new selection:

Every year, there is great deal of anticipation around Panerai at SIHH, as Paneristis debate their favorite launch. While that conversation will go on until next year’s fair, most agreed with the design of the new Panerai Radiomir Pocket Watch 3 Days Oro Rosso. Inspired by pocket watches sold by the brand in the 1930s, it houses the hand-wound caliber P.3001/10, driven by two barrels for a 3-day power reserve. The watch has a hinged cover that can be personalized, and a sandwich dial that features a sun-brushed finish. For more, please visit our close-up.

For the very first time, Jaeger-LeCoultre has integrated a Sphérotourbillon into one of its pocket watches and the result is fantastic. Both the size of the case, which measures 48mm, and the sleek blue enamel bezel, draw the eye into the watch. This deep blue enriches both the white enamel of the three subdials and the hand-engraved main plate. Inside, it houses the hand-wound manual Jaeger-LeCoultre 382 movement. For more, please visit our close-up.

It’s two for the price of one! The impressive BOLT-68 disassembles from a wristwatch to a pocket watch, and attaches to a skull decorated chain. The BOLT-68 “Skull” features hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph counters. Since it has to adapt to the wrist, the BOLT-68 is one of the smaller pocket watches in the market today, at ‘only’ 47.50mm. The steel case is coated with black PVD, and houses an automatic Concepto 99001 movement. For more, please visit our close-up.

Jaquet Droz’s latest pocket watch, which it presented at BaselWorld 2014, combines the former timekeeping instrument with an enameled dial. The result is a showcase of the brand’s mastery of traditional craftsmanship. This 50mm Pocket Watch with Paillonné enameling marries azure and gold for a beautiful dial, which houses the calibre 2615, a hand-winding mechanical movement with 40 hours power reserve. For more, please visit our close-up.

Because this pocket watch was first revealed at the end of 2013, it didn’t make our list last year, but we will make an exception and retroactively take a look at it now. Breguet is one of the few brands that actually hand-made pocket watches back when they were in fashion, but its latest design shows the brand hasn’t lost its touch. The Classique « Grande Complication » is an 18-carat yellow gold pocket-watch measuring 56mm, featuring off-centred chapter ring, centre minute hand, on a silvered gold dial. Ref. 1907BA/12 houses a hand-wound and hand-engraved movement that also features a grande sonnerie, with the large hammers seen through the dial. For more, please visit Breguet.