Tick Talk: SG60 watches from Bvlgari and Audemars Piguet, horological marvel by Ulysse Nardin
Bvlgari Octo Roma Worldtimer SG60 Edition
Bvlgari is celebrating Singapore's 60th year of independence with some Italian chutzpah.
Limited to 60 pieces, the Octo Roma Worldtimer SG60 Edition sports a sculptural 41mm sandblasted stainless-steel case dressed up in sleek black DLC (diamond-like carbon).
The handsome matt-black dial is highlighted by luminous white indices and hands, and punctuated with a striking red lacquered seconds hand. Singapore features prominently in red on the 24-city ring, underscoring its standing among global metropolises.
The Octo Roma Worldtimer SG60 Edition is limited to 60 pieces.
PHOTO: BVLGARI
Powering this beauty is Bvlgari's in-house BVL257 calibre. Just 6.03mm thick, it beats at a robust 28,800vph and delivers a 42-hour power reserve. Water-resistant to 100m, the watch comes with two rubber straps – vivid red and classic black .
This $14,150 commemorative piece is on show at the maison's pop-up exhibition at the atrium of Paragon mall until Aug 10, alongside other Bvlgari record breakers. They include the Octo Finissimo Automatic (2017), the world's thinnest self-winding watch at launch; Tourbillon Chronograph (2020); and Perpetual Calendar (2021).
Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel
The Starwheel boasts a 'wandering hours' complication, a sophisticated mechanism that dates back to the 17th century.
PHOTO: AUDEMARS PIGUET
To mark the little red dot's 60th anniversary, Audemars Piguet is donating a one-of-a-kind Starwheel to the National Museum of Singapore Fundraising Dinner 2025 on Aug 15. The event, which includes a live auction, will raise funds for the museum's Life In Singapore galleries, set to reopen in 2026.
The Starwheel boasts a 'wandering hours' complication, a sophisticated mechanism that dates back to the 17th century. Three black-tinted, slightly domed discs elegantly swoop across a shimmering arc, each taking turns to display the hours via a captivating dance of satellites.
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Originally rediscovered and reimagined by Audemars Piguet in 1991, the movement is now housed in the contemporary Code 11.59 case, which blends a round bezel and sapphire caseback with a striking octagonal mid-case.
This unique Singapore edition has a case crafted from 18K white gold paired with sleek black ceramic. Its most stunning feature is the red lacquered dial, a bold nod to Singapore's national colour. Flip the watch over, and you will glimpse a 22K pink gold rotor, pierced with a commemorative 60th-anniversary motif.
It comes with two straps – black rubber and trendy denim with red stitching.
#Fr2nck Muller Vanguard Beach Limited Edition
The #Fr2nck Muller Vanguard Beach Limited Edition comes in three attention-grabbing hues: Surf Blue, Tropical Green and Heatwave Red.
PHOTO: FRANCK MULLER
The #Fr2nck Muller Vanguard Beach Limited Edition is the second partnership between the Swiss watchmaker and Tokyo's streetwear disruptor #FR2.
This sequel to their smash 2023 collaboration is crafted in three attention-grabbing hues: Heatwave Red, Surf Blue and Tropical Green. Limited to 300 pieces in each colourway, the models have ultra-lightweight glass fibre-composite cases where the glass is melted at 1,500 deg C, pulled into thread, cooled, dyed and compressed.
The dial features #FR2's signature rabbits lounging under parasols, catching waves or hiding in verdant tropical thickets. In the dark, the skeleton hands and the cheeky bunnies glow with Super-LumiNova. In a cheeky twist, the date window sits at two o'clock, a smart nod to the '2' in #FR2 and a sunny stand-in for the heat of summer.
The graphic nylon band strap is leather-lined, with a hook-and-loop closure built for spontaneous beach swops . Completing the package is Franck Muller's robust MVT 2536-SCDT2H automatic movement.
Price: $18,800
IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Miramar
The latest IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 takes flight in Top Gun Miramar, a striking shade developed with colour expert Pantone.
PHOTO: IWC
Limited to 1,000 pieces, the latest IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 takes flight in Top Gun Miramar, a striking shade inspired by the light blue tees worn by elite instructors at the US Navy Fighter Weapons School. Developed with colour expert Pantone, the signature hue extends across the sleek 41mm ceramic case, matching dial and rubber strap for a unified look.
The titanium caseback is engraved with the Top Gun logo. Under the hood ticks the brand's robust 69380 automatic movement, delivering a 46-hour power reserve.
There is also a non-limited sibling model in stainless steel, marking the debut of a Pantone colour on an IWC steel watch. Both versions have hands coated with Super-LumiNova and feature the EasX-Change strap system. The steel model also has an exhibition caseback to show off the Swiss-made movement.
Price: $18,200 (ceramic), $10,000 (steel)
Ulysse Nardin Blast Free Wheel Maillechort
The Blast Free Wheel Maillechort is encased in angular 18K white gold and has a dramatic 'glass box' sapphire crystal offering a clear view of its inner workings from every angle.
PHOTO: ULYSSE NARDIN
This new drop by the independent watchmaker is quite a horological feat. Limited to 50 pieces, the Blast Free Wheel Maillechort is encased in angular 18K white gold and has a dramatic 'glass box' sapphire crystal offering a clear view of its inner workings from every angle.
At the heart of this 45mm wonder is the UN-176 calibre, a manually wound movement that showcases Ulysse Nardin's signature flair for the spectacular.
Both the dial and caseback are made from maillechort . Also known as German silver, it is a 19th-century alloy once used in marine chronometers and prized for its warm, textured patina. It is a fitting tribute to the brand's nautical heritage. With time, this 'living metal' ages gracefully, giving each of the 50 pieces its own distinct personality.
The real showstopper is the floating architecture. Key components – the double barrel at 12, gear train and the award-winning Ulysse Anchor Constant Escapement flying tourbillon at six – appear to hover above the dial, breaking all the rules of traditional watchmaking.
A Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve winner, the escapement swops classic pivots for ultra-thin silicon blade springs, delivering a constant flow of energy to the balance wheel, no matter the power reserve. Tracking the seven-day reserve is a clever static-hand display at four o'clock. When the arcs vanish, it is time to wind.
Water-resistant to 30m, the watch is fitted with a blue velvet-effect rubber strap with a white gold folding clasp.
Price: $185,200
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