This week in watches: Rége-Jean Page in Sydney for Longines

EACH WEEK, we’ll be taking a look at the hottest news, developments and rare sightings in the watch world—what’s ticking, what’s trending and what’s causing jaws in various corners of the watch internet to drop. We’ll highlight new brand releases, celebrity watch spots and general news for all you horologically-minded enthusiasts.

This week in the world of watches, some of the world’s biggest names descended upon Las Vegas for the city’s first Grand Prix since 1982. Of course, it was bling central for the celebrity folk who made it out to Vegas to watch Max Verstappen claim his first Las Vegas Grand Prix. Notably, international pop sensation Rihanna was spotted wearing a custom Jacob & Co. watch anklet worth $600K… yes, a watch on her ankle.

Elsewhere, Longines ambassador (and global heartthrob) Regé-Jean Page was in Sydney along with local friends of the brand to celebrate an immersive evening of elegance launching the Maison’s newest collection, the Mini DolceVita.

Zenith has unveiled a second iteration to its highly popular Night Surfer collaboration with dedicated Australian watch publication, Time & Tide. The new Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero is back due to popular demand, and the hype is here to stay.

Keep scrolling for all that dropped in the watch world this week

1

Celebrity watch spots at the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Taking the cake for the most obscene watch outing at this year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix was Rihanna and her $600K, 70 carats custom-made watch anklet by her long-time collaborator friend, Jacob & Co. It’s not the first time Rihanna has splurged on a flashy Jacob & Co timepiece, either. At her Super Bowl LVII halftime performance, the pop star wore a $110K Jacob & Co. brilliant Northern Lights red timepiece that made waves in the watch world. Around the Paddock Club, football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic was spotted wearing the 18K white gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph with a purple Grande Tapisserie dial. Gordon Ramsay was pictured wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II “Batgirl” edition. And Italian football star Marco Verratti was seen wearing the 18K rose gold Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time with a blue dial.

2

Zenith and Time & Tide unveil a second “Night Surfer”

Two years after the original Zenith Defy Classic Night Surfer was presented (to much fanfare), the Swiss watchmaker this week has presented its sequel, together with watch publication Time & Tide: the Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero. Beyond being an absolute knockout timepiece aesthetically, the new Night Surfer carries on with its micro-blasted titanium bracelet and case, its beautiful blue gradient-colour dial, and also boasts a new high-beat movement: the 5Hz El Primero 3620 SK with a 55-hour power reserve. The Night Surfer 2.0 is limited to just 200 pieces and is priced at $18,100.

3

MB&F release perhaps its most impressive wrist watch to date…

As media gathered in Dubai for the annual Dubai Watch Week, Swiss watchmaker and founder of MB&F Max Büsser unveiled one of his most progressive designs yet: the Horological Machine 11 ‘Architect’, a wrist watch built like a mechanical architect’s house from the 1960s. The HM 11 ‘Architect’, which further blurs the line between watchmaking and architecture, draws on Büsser’s love of 1960s design (just Google Charles Haertling’s “Brenton House”). A watch or machine, depending on your take, offers its wearer an insight into different rooms, just as a home would. Powered by the centralised 60 second tourbillon (or the “central foyer:), this mechanism delivers different information and power to four different “rooms”; rotate the spaceship-like bezel and you’ll find one dial offering the time; rotate again and you’ll find a mechanical thermometer; then the power reserve; and finally a sapphire crystal crown. To wind the watch, you simply rotate the bezel. Limited to just 25 pieces at $350K per piece.

4

Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page arrives in Sydney with Longines

Luxury Swiss watchmaker Longines this week celebrated an immersive evening of elegance with none other than global superstar, Regé-Jean Page. The Bridgerton actor, along with local friends of the brand in Dylan Alcott, Georgia Fowler and Jesinta Franklin were in Sydney for one special night to celebrate the launch of the new Mini DolceVita collection, alongside its first local collaboration with Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung artist, Otis Hope Carey.