Finally after 20 months of subdued numbers the Swiss Watch industry exports saw their first monthly rise in March . Their value stood at 1.6 billion Swiss francs, 7.5% higher than in March 2016. This small spike up could be due to the base effect and two extra working days.

Watches priced between 200 and 500 francs grew by over 20%. Products priced at less than 200 francs saw their value decline slightly (-2.0%), but with rising volumes (+6.2%). Above 500 francs, the advance was close to the general average

The five main markets reported strong gains in March while the next five showed a negative trend.

Hong Kong, which had been showing signs of recovery for some time, ended 25 months of a steep decline in March (+18.1%).

The United States continued its hesitant progression with a good monthly result (+15.6%), but a distinctly negative medium-term trend.

The recovery experienced by China since last summer was further strengthened by substantial growth (+37.7%).

Despite an increase of 8.3%, Japan has seen falling figures for several months.

The United Kingdom continued to advance, benefiting from the weak pound sterling.

The value of the other main European markets fell, as did Singapore (-1.0%) and the United Arab Emirates (-20.8%).

Glashütte the German brand has released Glashütte Original Senator Perpetual Calendar their new collection in red gold and steel.In addition to the essential features of a good perpetual calendar, Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar also points out in its sphere the lunar phase . It has an extraordinary power reserve of 100 hours, Marks the date, day of the week, month and years (including leap years), without performing any manual correction for more than one hundred years.

Glashütte Original manufactory movement, automatic winding, Calibre 100-02, Hour, minute and second, reset function, perpetual calendar with weekday, month and leap year, Panorama Date, moon phase,  42mm diameter, waterproof up to 5 bar.

The Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar in red gold is priced @ $57,600. and steel  @ $34,600.

Zenith was the first  to introduce an automatic chronograph in 1969 . They named it El Primero  ( El Primero means “first” in Esperanto )

2017 Defy El Primero caliber 9004 has a COSC-certified in-house movement driving a hundredth of a second display by means of a central hand, with its unique and exclusive dynamic signature of one rotation per second  and has a 50-hour power reserve for the time and a 50-minute power reserve for the chronograph.

Defy El Primero 21 is equipped with two independent “gear boxes”: one for the time and the other for the chronograph. Each has its own transmission and escapement system and there is no coupling clutch.

Available in three options: Titanium@ $9,600

Titanium with an openworked dial @ $10,600

Ceramicized aluminum dial @ $11,600.

The Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition is an historic watch and a charming reminder of Oris’s rich watchmaking heritage the new model celebrates the discovery of its first pilot’s wristwatch with a special limited edition piece made in homage to the original.

Like the original model the Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition has the same onion-shaped big crown, the same early 20th century Arabic numerals, the same blued steel hands, and the same domed glass. Even the vintage Oris logo has been revived.The Oris engineers designed the 732 caliber according to the original in such a way that the time can only be changed if the button is pressed down at 2 o’clock

The polished stainless steel case is water resistant up to 5 bar and attached to a beautifully processed brown cuff leather strap with stainless steel pin buckle. The strong domed sapphire crystal is scratch resistant and the Arabic numerals and hands are covered with Super-LumiNova®. The original “OWD” brand marks the “Oris Watch Company” and was used as a “Poinçon de Maître” quality seal for 18-carat gold Oris watches.

Jacob & Co. introduced at Baselworld 2017 the Astronomia Solar featuring on its aventurine background the 7 planets of our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus.In the Astronomia Solar, all eight planets in the solar system are given a place on the dial for the first time, with the sun at the center in the form of a 1.5ct Citrine with the unmistakable Jacob Cut® and its 288 facets. The hand-engraved globe of the Earth rotates about its own axis once every 60 seconds and completes one full revolution of the dial in 10 minutes, as part of an assembly that also houses the subsidiary hour and minute dial and a one-minute flying tourbillon.

The bi-directional movement rotates clockwise to complete a full 360 degree revolution in just ten minutes, the aventurine base rotates in the opposite direction at exactly the same speed, creating an accelerated, stylized view of the solar system.

The case, in 18kt rose gold, measures 44.5mm.( a bit smaller than other Astronomia models), Sapphire crystal caseband. Domed AR-coated apphire top crystal. It is water resistant to 30 meters.

Movement is the Swiss hand-wind Jacob & Co. in-house caliber JCAM19 with 43 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 48 hours. Functions are: hours, minutes, 60-second bi-axial flying tourbillon, and a 60-second rotating Earth.

Patek Philippe’s Ref. 5320G is inspired from several historical predecessors. This new complication watch has the same face that has been Patek Philippe’s paragon for perpetual calendars since 1941: a double aperture for the day and month displays at 12 o’clock and a subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock for the analog date and the moon phases.

The perpetual calendar has been literally crafted for eternity. It automatically indicates months with 28, 30, and 31 days and every four years also recognizes the 29th of February as a leap day. The moon phases will require a correction by one day only every 122 years.

Crafted from white gold, the 40 mm vintage-style case has a so-called box-type sapphire-crystal glass that clearly overlaps the bezel for a total height  of 11.13 mm.The three-tier lugs were inspired by the legendary Ref. 2405 that dates back to the 1950s. The 5320G perpetual calendar comes with a shiny chocolate brown alligator strap with large square scales and is secured with a deployant buckle in 18K white gold. Retails @  $82,784.

Casio collaborated with third generation master metal craftsman Bihou Asano,and created the MRGG2000HT-1A. Each bezel is individually hammered  using the Tsu-i-ki technique with a Kasumi finish: a traditional craft method that creates unique relief patterns through hammering. The colors found in the bezel and on the hands are reminiscent of the colors featured on a traditional cloud dragon – “Japan blue.”

The band and buttons have a silver-gray finish that is commonly used in Japan for traditional sword accessories and ornaments. Like the previous MRG-G1000 series, the titanium case and band undergo a deep-hardening process that makes it five times harder than standard titanium. The MRG-G2000HT also features advanced Sallaz polishing and a sapphire crystal with a non-reflective coating.

Time Sync incorporates automatic timekeeping through Multi-Band 6 radio waves, GPS signals, or Bluetooth connectivity to a smartphone, allowing the watch to adjust the time on its own anywhere in the world.

2017 was the 100th year since its inaugural trade show back in 1917. Typically hosts over 100,000 people every year. Baselworld is universally recognized as the most important showcase event for the sector. As the microcosm of the watch and jewelry industry, Baselworld is the focal point of the industry, where all players of the industry showcase their creations and innovations. 

Watchbazar has a few of its favorites from the 2017 show

JAQUET DROZ GRANDE SECONDE TOURBILLON MOTHER OF PEARL

An irresistibly feminine watch equipped with a tourbillon, one of the masterpieces of watchmaking complications. Countering the effects of gravity on the mechanics. The brand effectively turned the understated piece into something properly attention-grabbing in the most appropriate way.

White mother-of-pearl dial and subdial. 18-karat red gold case and applied ring set with 260 and 90 diamonds, buckle set with 32 diamonds, total of 1.76 carats. Hours and minutes at 6 o’clock, tourbillon frame and seconds at 12 o’clock. Self-winding mechanical tourbillon movement. Power reserve of 7 days. Diameter 39 mm. Numerus Clausus of 88.

Limited to only 88 Pieces approx price $113000

    The Three Masters

Omega Launched limited editions of the Seamaster 300, Railmaster and Speedmaster to celebrate their 60th anniversary, using digital scanning technology Omega accurately re-produced the original watches. Limited to 3,557 pieces.

A special Trilogy box, which contains all three timepieces.Dials are printed with TRILOGY and the Limited Edition numbers, and each caseback is engraved with “LIMITED TO 557 TIMEPIECES”. The larger box also includes a leather watch roll, with three spare leather and NATO straps as well as a wooden spring bar changing tool.

TAG HEUER AUTAVIA

A contraction of AUTomobile and AVIAtion, its name is synonymous with its rotating bezel, its large snailed counters and the exemplary legibility of its black and white. Created in 1962, this iconic model celebrates its 55th anniversary in the form of a neo-retro successor featuring updated functions and a proprietary movement.The reverse-panda dial scheme and black rotating bezel.

The 42 mm diameter case is water resistant to 100 meters. More imposing than its ancestor  42 mm in diameter compared to 39 in the 1960s  with a 12-hour graduated bezel and a new Heuer-02 calibre proprietary chronograph movement, the latest generation Autavia carries the DNA and aesthetic codes of the original, updated for today’s market.A future collector’s item, the new generation Autavia stays true to the simple, robust lines of its ancestor.

Seiko SLA017 Dive

Limited edition of only 2,000 pieces SLA017 is a complete re-creation of the original Reference 6217 which was first launched in 1965 with elements like the hands, hour markers and rotating bezel being identical to the original.

The only difference is the sizeing which is a bit larger than the 6217 from 38mm to 39.9mm and is more water-resistant up to depths of 200m . Inside is a thoroughly modern 8L35 automatic movement, whilst the aptly modern wrist strap distinguishes this model as the sporty successor to the original Reference 6217. Inside is a thoroughly modern 8L35 automatic movement.

Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis

Hublot’s first-ever multi-axis tourbillon and is highlighted by a HUB9009.H1.RA caliber with a five-day power reserve. Shown within a 49mm case , the gorgeous bi-axial tourbillon rotates fully around one axis every minute will making a full rotation around the other every 30 seconds. In typical Hublot fashion, additional details abound and, in this case, include everything from a power reserve indicator and time display to two numerical date arcs and a date corrector lever.

All three limited editions are priced at…. Titanium edition @ $169,000 . King Gold @ $211,000 and $190,000 for the Titanium Pavé .