Innehållsförteckning för June 2016 från CROWN

Ong Weisheng Stylist Formerly an in-house stylist for a high-society magazine, Weisheng brings eight years of experience to his freelance work. Fond of constructing mini sets for his shoots, Weisheng believes in tailoring his style to suit the subject matter; an approach evident in his evocative watch and jewellery spreads. Brian Jones Writer A freelance writer and editor who was born in the outskirts of Washington, D.C. and is currently based in the outskirts of Seoul. Along with writing on all things horological, he’s been known to pen pieces on men’s fashion, sports and popular culture. When he’s not writing, he can be found traveling the continent, fumbling in his attempts to speak the local tongues. Charmian Leong Writer After seven years of full-time employment, four of them spent writing…

Creativity does not mean anything to me. Creation, on the other hand, is vital. Creation is the realisation of a deep calling. The very personal and therefore unique expression of one’s mind, one’s heart, one’s soul. This is why I love my brand. It gives me the freedom to express my passion. I can experiment new ideas, new materials, new ways of thinking, new associations. My greatest motivation is my autonomy. As the CEO of an independent brand, I have the creative freedom and autonomy to design objects of art that combine contemporary concepts, state of the art technology and innovative materials. On the down side, you sometimes feel alone because you would like for everyone around you to believe in it and be invested as much you are. I…

Ever watched a trailer and by the end of it, felt like you’ve seen the actual movie? BaselWorld 2016 was a bit like that. In the days leading to the annual exposition, the Internet was abuzz with pre-show offerings that set the tone for the fair. When the doors opened, brands burst off the starting blocks with creations that were quickly hyped as the hits of the year. By the end of the fair’s first day, one truly felt like he has seen all the best bits. So then, no surprises? Given how anxious watch companies are about underperforming retail markets, springing horological surprises probably didn’t rank too high on their list of mustdos. Instead, most heeded the well-honed business wisdom to give-people-what-they-want; a priority for luxury conglomerates and watch…

TUDOR – BLACK BAY BRONZE The popular retro-inspired dive watch collection’s new aluminium-bronze case promises to age with a more even patina, compared to other similarly clad timepieces. HERMÈS – SLIM DE HERMÈS In a perfect world, the svelte and elegant Slim de Hermès will be favoured over chunky sports watches every time an invitation says ‘Formal’ for dress code. This version with silvered blue dial further confirms it. CVSTOS – GUSTAVE EIFFEL CHRONOGRAPHE GMT Ok, this is technically not totally bronze. (The colour is achieved with the help of bronze PVD coating). But there is no disputing this dual-complication’s imposing aesthetics modelled after the Parisian landmark. BREITLING FOR BENTLEY – BENTLEY GMT B04S CARBON BODY The first watch to be equipped with Breitling’s in-house GMT movement gets endowed with…

ROLEX – OYSTER PERPETUAL AIR-KING The new Air-King could well be Rolex’s sleeper hit of 2016. While all eyes have been on the long awaited steel cased Cosmograph Daytona – and justifiably so – the tweaked Air-King came as more than a pleasant surprise. The watch was first introduced in 1945 and it boasts military lineage, hailing from a series of aviation themed watches that founder Hans Wilsdorf made to honour the British Royal Air Force. Later, it established itself as one of Rolex’s more affordable models and was briefly discontinued in 2014. The company’s watchmakers clearly spent quality time with the watch during its hiatus, as the new Air-King looks more like its namesake than ever, housed in a more masculine 40mm case (up from 34mm previously) with new…

Historie de Tourbillon 1 The one that started it all, housed in a Zalium case with two inclined single-axis tourbillons. Historie de Tourbillon 2 One flying tourbillon, two cages for the second edition. The outer cage rotates once every 120 seconds, the inner cage, once every 40 seconds. Historie de Tourbillon 3 Not one, not two, but three tourbillons. Two bi-axial tourbillons are housed together, one inside the other, and the third sits separated. Historie de Tourbillon 4 Revisiting the multi-cage concept of the second edition, this has one tourbillon in three concentric cages, each rotating at a different angle and speed. Historie de Tourbillon 5 Another triple axis-tourbillon rotating within three cages at different speeds. None at the standard 60-second timing, of course. Historie de Tourbillon 6 A triple-axis…

Never mind the image of retributive violence that the name suggests. Breitling’s new Avenger Bandit actually has a soft spot for watch lovers, especially those who demand horological mileage on a relatively conservative budget. Just consider the plethora of features on offer. Like a well-cut athlete, the Avenger Bandit is a lean, sexy sporting machine. Its brushed titanium case, ultra-light but super robust, sets the tone with imposing size. Measuring 45mm across, this timepiece is clearly no wallflower, matched by a grey toned dial to accentuate that sleek, after-hours look. Being a Breitling though, the Avenger Bandit’s aesthetics is actually at the service of functionality. For instance, the case’s satinbrushed finish eliminates unnecessary glare, while legibility is further enhanced with stencilstyle numerals, and glare-proof sapphire crystals on both front and…

CORUM - MISS GOLDEN BRIDGE The iconic baguette movement, introduced in a slender, feminised case for the first time last year, gets the red carpet treatment with a white gold case set with diamonds on the bezel. The pristine sheen of the precious metal pairs wonderfully with the polished brass balance wheel and gears of the famous movement. HARRY WINSTON - PREMIER MOONPHASE The moon-phase complication is a goto for brands looking to imbue poetry and technical gravitas in their women’s watches. Harry Winston does a stellar job with its version by adding signature glamour by way of a rose gold case framing an iridescent motherof-pearl dial. JAQUET DROZ - GRANDE SECONDE The propitious figure of ‘8’ dial on this signature Jaquet Droz number appears even more auspicious-looking when outlined…

We know a lot of watch collectors who turn their noses at the mention of ‘accessible luxury’. For these aficionados, that the two words could even be uttered in the same breath is an affront to their moneyed sensibilities. Why would any sane appreciator of fine things ever think that luxury – in this case prized horology – should ever be within grasp of the common man? We disagree, of course. Even better, we have solid evidence to prove otherwise: that a precious, well-regarded timepiece can, in fact, be appreciated and afforded by someone with reasonable income. Yours truly, for one, had the pleasure of encountering Fortis right at the start of a long and misguided career writing about watches. And that early impression of a storied brand making solid…

We thought we’ve seen it all. From a brand honcho dunking his tourbillon in a glass of water to prove how solidly built the watch is, to an extreme sky driver strapping a chronograph to his spacesuit and leaping off a capsule from the edge of space, the watch industry has never ceased to amaze us with its antics and exploits. Just when we believed that nothing more could shock us, a CEO from an independent watch company offered a tiny nugget of information that sent us reeling. At a press luncheon, the CEO revealed that his youngest customer is nine years old. NINE. For a watch that costs approximately US$19,000. At an age where boys are begging their parents for light sabres from Toys 'R Us, this young fella…

You asked, they heard, and now the winner has been named. In early March, TAG Heuer launched the Autavia Cup Online to search for the model they would reissue at Baselworld 2017. The origins of the watch hark back to the glamorous days of both racing and flying. Named ‘Autavia’ as a marriage of the words, “automobile” and “aviation”, the model was first launched in 1933 as a dashboard instrument which ran for eight days without winding. The Autavia was also TAG Heuer’s first chronograph to be christened with a name unlike previous models, which went by reference numbers. In addition, it was the first of the watchmaker’s chronographs to feature a rotating bezel. Designed in 1962 by Jack Heuer, the Autavia was the first wristwatch he created to meet…

You won’t find a bloom as evocative and intricate as this one. The handiwork of engraver extraordinaire Dick Steenman, the famous Yves Piaget rose receives artisanal treatment of the highest order, reproduced in solid pink gold on the dial of the eight-piece limited edition Piaget Altiplano. Steen was among the pioneers of sculptural relief engraving on watch dials and his chops were fully tested on this timepiece. The challenge here is the ultra-thin surface he has to work on, less than 1.4mm thick, on which he has to produce what he calls “the illusion of thickness” such that the rose motif has depth and volume. Each dial takes about 30 hours to make. “Each dial is slightly different,” he says, “I trace the outline of the rose and after that…

ROLEX – COSMONAUT DAYTONA This is probably the world’s most sought-after sports watch from the planet’s most famous watch brand. The key to this Daytona’s red-hot appeal lies in its combination of steel case with black bezel, the latter previously found only on gold models. Like all Rolex’s contemporary sports models, the bezel is constructed of scratch-resistant Cerachrom. Driving the watch is the in-house Calibre 4130, Rolex’s lauded high-performance automatic column-wheel chronograph movement with vertical clutch and anti-magnetic Parachrom hairspring. Available with black or white dial. HARRY WINSTON – PRECIOUS WEAVING We immediately reached for the loupe when we saw this watch. Magnified and at close quarters, the mesmerising dial yielded even more wonders; an iridescent tapestry of stunning patterns and images that confound and delight in equal measure. We…

Never mind world-first this and groundbreaking-that, the latest in-house mechanical movements marched out this year are built on time-honored values of performance and utility. Omega, for instance, built on the momentum from Master Co-Axial movement that was launched 2014. The said calibre, renowned for its proprietary Co-Axial escapement and magnetic resistance of up to a record-breaking 15,000 gauss, welcomes six new iterations spanning different sizes and complications. There are mid-size and ladies’ automatic versions, as well as annual calendar, GMT, chronograph and chronograph with moon phase for gents. The offerings are comprehensive, to say the least, and not at all unsurprising, given that Omega had invested in a whole new production facility to develop, construct and test Master Co-Axial movements, complete with a third-party METAS lab onsite to facilitate the…

In December 2015, Patek Philippe’s Henry Graves Supercomplication, a weighty pocket watch commissioned by the namesake banker and delivered back in 1933, went under the hammer at Sotheby’s Geneva for US$24 million – a record for the world’s priciest timepiece. Naturally, it prompted auctioneers to hail the second coming of the pocket watch. Ever-present? Yes. Resurgent? Well, not quite – or at least not yet. Like the typewriter and other such quaint but impractical things, the pocket watch may still exist in the market today, but only at its fringe. Barring newsmakers such as the aforementioned Patek Philippe timekeeper and Vacheron Constantin’s Ref. 57260 (more on this later), it has, by and large, gone the way of the dodo. Why then, does this archaic object continue to turn up in…

VACHERON CONSTANTIN – QUAI DE I’ILE Not all who play the high stakes are ostentatious peacocks. For discreet ballers, this Vacheron Constantin offering in steel case makes a weighty statement with measured discretion. HAUTLENCE – INVICTUS MORPHUS Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Let this be your mantra when making decisive bets at the table. And to remind yourself to stay light on your feet: The Invictus Morphus chronograph designed by Eric Cantona with iridescent mother-of-pearl dial recalling butterfly’s wings. FRANCK MULLER – IRON COBRA It’s a jungle out in the world of high-stakes bets. Franck Muller’s Iron Cobra, armed with serpentine-style sexiness and glamour with scale motifs that carpet the case and dial, helps express your predatory instincts in no uncertain terms. BLANCPAIN – VILLERET SNOW-SET INVERTED…

One of Oscar Wilde’s most astute comments about design came in the form of a rumination about restraint. “The beauty of a dress depends entirely and absolutely on the loveliness it shields,” he wrote. A great reminder, we reckon, for brands that increasingly view watch design as some sort of blood sport; where bigger, bolder and sometimes bawdier aesthetics are employed to ‘make a statement’. (Though what about is debatable, often made worse by convoluted press communiques.) Thankfully, there are still brands, like Breguet, that subscribe to the less-is-more adage. Or as Wilde describes, attempt to bring forth the beauty of a creation by focusing not just on the obvious, but also the intricate, unseen details. So while at first glance, the bulk of Breguet’s new men’s watches seem to…

Notice how any brand hankering after an iota of chic is now offering you a high-tech ceramic something? Well, here’s news for you: Rado is your daddy. The typically glossy and hardy material, which is known to instantly endow timepieces with instant robustness and fashion-forwardness, high-tech ceramic became really popular in the early Noughties. Today, brands spanning Rolex to Chanel all have their models that enlist the virtues of high-tech ceramic in their most popular models. Besides making bezels, cases and bracelets with the material, brands are also actively conducting R&D to enhance its features in proprietary versions of high-tech ceramic. But like we said, Rado was there first. And more notably, the brand continues to lead the field where innovations in high-tech ceramic is concerned. Since it introduced the…

1932: The first time Omega became an official Olympic timekeeper at the Los Angeles Games, supplying 30 chronographs for use across all sports. 1948: Omega used the cellular photoelectric eye for the first time at the 1948 Olympic Games. 1952: The Racend Omega Timer, which was invented in 1949, and renamed the Photosprint in time for the 1952 Olympics. The system printed out results on a roll of paper and won Omega the prestigious ‘Croix du Mérite Olympique’. 1964: The second generation Omegascope at the 1964 Olympic Winter Games allowed competitors to compare timing differences at competition venues, and the figures to be superimposed on television screens. 1968: The introduction of touch pad in the pool which allowed the swimmer’s own hand to stop the clock. 1980: The launch of…

It’s a different time now, from when men were expected to accessorise minimally. Today, men are finally exercising their right to look good with anything they choose, gender expectations be damned, as high street explodes with man bags and man buns. So if jewellery is no longer in the exclusive territory of women, why should watches still languor in the gentleman’s club? This isn’t a gripe about the lack of complicated watches for women. This is about how non-sparkly, robust watches are still marketed directly to the fellas while the women are stuck with heavily iced, flowery creations at best and shrunken, quartz-powered versions of men’s models at worst. (Ed’s note: For those who beg to differ, have flip to A Case For Quartz, our defence of quartz watches for…

CARTIER Rotonde de Cartier Astromystérieux Cartier takes its mastery of mystery timepieces to the next level with the Astromystérieux. Instead of merely mounting the hours and minutes hands on two see-through discs, its entire movement seems to float in mid-air and shares the same axis as the centralised hands, when in actual fact, it is supported by four sapphire discs. The manual-winding movement takes one hour to complete a turn, thereby indicating the minutes, and also negates the effects of gravity with its constant motion very much like a tourbillon does. Limited to 100 pieces, it comes in a 43.5mm 950/100 palladium case. CHRISTOPHE CLARET Soprano Packing two of the most revered complications in haute horlogerie, the Soprano flaunts a 60-second flying tourbillon augmented with Parachute shock protection and four-gong…

BELL & ROSS BR-Desert Type More military-esque magic from Bell & Ross, which sends its iconic BR collection to the desert plains for 2016. Codenamed BR-Desert Type, the sand-hued series continues a well-oiled, action-ready tool watch narrative – the square cased BR collection was inspired by cockpit instrument panels – and its Desert Storm-inspired styling certainly adds to the evocation. And there’s something for everyone, too: the collection is offered in three models – automatic, automatic chronograph (pictured) and quartz versions, clad in black ceramic cases and complemented by beige calfskin and fabric straps. OMEGA Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph Chronometer The legendary ‘Moonwatch’ finally gets its own orb. The Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph Chronometer flaunts a moon phase display so realistic, it even shows an astronaut’s footprint on closer inspection. Unlike previous…

A. Lange & Sohne #02-05A ION ORCHARD TEL: 6509 1712 Audemars Piguet • #B2-207, THE SHOPPES AT MARINA BAY SANDS TEL: 6688 7595 • #01-03 541 ORCHARD ROAD, LIAT TOWERS, TEL: 6836 4918 Ball Watch FOR ENQUIRES, PLEASE CALL 6235 1811 Baume & Mericer FOR ENQUIRES, PLEASE CALL 6510 2767 Bell & Ross • #01-15 MANDARIN GALLERY TEL: 6884 6471 Blancpain • #B2-237 THE SHOPPES AT MARINA BAY SANDS TEL: 6634 8771 Breguet • #B1-119/120 THE SHOPPES AT MARINA BAY SANDS TEL: 6638 6006 Breitling FOR ENQUIRES, PLEASE CALL 6732 6347 Bulgari • #B2-200 THE SHOPPES AT MARINA BAY SANDS TEL: 6634 8313 • LEVEL 1, TAKASHIMAYA DEPARTMENT STORE TEL: 6735 6689 Cartier • #B1-39A, #B2-38 THE SHOPPES AT MARINA BAY SANDS TEL: 6688 7388 • #01-20, #02-10 ION ORCHARD…

“BRING ANY NEW MATERIAL TO ME, AND I WILL DO IT!”Dick Steeman, master engraver, on challenging his limitS “Unnecessary aesthetics just put me off.”OLIVER EBSTEIN, CHRONOSWISS’ CEO, ON THE MERITS OF SIMPLE DESIGN “YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMPLAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COMPANY HAS GROWN BY EIGHT TIMES SINCE 2004.”Alain Delamuraz, Blancpain’s vice-president, on the slowdown in watch retail “People fork out 10,000 euros for a watch because it makes them feel something.”ANGELO BONATI, PANERAI’S CEO, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONAL APPEAL “Weekend. Holiday. Retirement.”PHILIPPE DUFOUR, MASTER WATCHMAKER, ON THE WORDS TO FORGET IF ONE WANTS TO BE A SERIOUS WATCHMAKER “You mean there isn’t already one?”Maximilian Spitzy, Fortis’ CEO, when asked what he would do in the event of a price war “When the feedback from everywhere is the…

“Aye!” says Charmian Leong LUXURY TIMEPIECES ARE NOT PRACTICAL PURCHASES. People don’t buy them for utility, they buy them for emotion. So if things like pedigree and heritage light up your loupe-covered eyes, why shouldn’t they factor into your purchasing decisions? BUYING A MECHANICAL WATCH MEANS BUYING ITS STORY, and it’s usually a good one. Flying in fighter jets, scouring the ocean’s depths, walking through the resplendent halls on the wrists of long lost nobility — these are all timepieces that belong to brands that have been around long enough and survived to tell those tales. REASSURANCE ALSO PLAYS A PART. It’s safe to assume a company that has been operating for centuries will continue to do so. If they can survive world wars, they must be doing something right.…

Enlisting a little muscle to help promote its latest jewellery and watches, Bulgari found it opportune to have members of the New Zealand All-Blacks Rugby team to lend celebrity cachet to the proceedings. The team was in Singapore to compete in the Rugby Sevens World Rugby Champions that weekend, and gamely performed their roles as Bulgari ambassadors at an all-day affair that included hosting a training clinic in the afternoon, and an appearance at an evening shindig where the timepieces were unveiled. The horological stars on show proved to be a hit for guests, too. They included the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater, one of the world’s thinnest and lightest minute repeaters weighing just 43 grams, as well as the stylish Octo Ultranero watches, whose chic raven guise matched that of…

Finally, some powers-that-be in high-end watchmaking have decided that enough is enough: no more grossly plus-sized watches for women, please. To be fair, they worked for a while, like how the first few martinis always go down so well. But keep at it for a prolonged period, nausea and an are-we-done-yet dread sets in. This fair, we spied some tiny women’s watches that hark back to the pre-Panerai days of sensibly sized timepieces. (The Florentine brand is widely credited with popularising large watches for men after its reintroduction in the late 1990s; an effect that impacted size perceptions for ladies’ watches.) Instead of gargantuan cases – or ‘boy’s sized’ ones, for that matter – these unabashedly feminine creations took off in the opposite direction with case sizes that are no…

Richard Lange The time-only, three-hand Richard Lange is the purest expression of the collection’s scientific observation watch inspiration, with display accurate to 1/6th of a second. Pictured here is the boutique edition in white gold case with blued hands from 2013. Richard Lange Tourbillon ‘Pour Le Merite’ Inspired by a chronometer made by Dresden master watchmaker Johann Heinrich Seyffert, this elegant tourbillon from 2011 is the fourth Lange watch to be bestowed the ‘Pour Le Merite’ accolade in recognition of artistic merit. Like the Jumping Seconds, this watch also features a constant force mechanism, albeit in fuseeand-chain version. Richard Lange Tourbillon ‘Pour Le Merite’ Handwerkskunst A stunning 15-piece limited edition of the aforementioned watch, the ‘Handwerkskunst’ features Lange’s proprietary honey gold case framing a dial crafted in solid gold, fastidiously…

In a year starved of ‘far-out’ complications, Harry Winston’s Historie de Tourbillon 7 struts like a peacock unaware that it is in the company of mynahs. It really doesn’t take much for a watch to look outrageous amid vanilla roll-outs. Even so, the Historie de Tourbillon takes to the stage with pyrotechnics blazing, ensuring a dazzlingly visual and technical fest that, while seemingly out of sync in a year dominated by conservative creations, is a proper treat for watch lovers. Arguably the most ambitious Historie de Tourbillon watch since the collection started in 2009, the seventh edition seems to deploy the brand’s entire arsenal in tourbillon construction. Just look at that thing. Measuring 51mm across and as about as thick as a small paperback, the watch’s heft is proportionate to…

Any discussion about the buying appetite of watch collectors these days invariably turns to the spluttering global economy and socio-political challenges. Alain Delamuraz, Blancpain’s vice-president who has seen his fair share of watch industry up-and-downs, acknowledges the challenges with a shrug. “Times like these,” he says, “buying an expensive watch is not at the top of people’s list now.” But the wheels continue to turn. Of course, they must. And Blancpain is in a much more enviable position than most. Pedigreed with production prowess, the 281-year-old brand shows no interest in engaging in the price wars or technological one-upmanship that have plagued its peers. Consider its BaselWorld 2016 offerings. The ‘Great Wave’, a piece-unique Metiers d’Art creation featuring an artfully aged white gold dial using an ancient Japanese decorative tarnish…

Can you describe the significance of the Games to Omega beyond the immense publicity that the competition accords the brand? The Olympic Games are an integral part of our brand identity. We are, and have always been, committed to providing the most reliable timekeeping equipment for athletes, so that no result is ever in dispute. I think the Olympic Games shows the world that the precision of Omega can be trusted on the biggest stage. It’s a heritage that extends back to 1932, so it is much more than publicity. It is our duty. Were there instances where the innovations that Omega has developed for the Games have directly impacted the creation of Omega watches? In reality, the two areas are quite separate. Our watches are developed to suit the…

Perhaps we have gotten it wrong all this time. Far too often, when trying to understand what makes the perfect women’s watch, we attempt to draw a line between technicality and beauty, as if they were mutually exclusive, and for them to co-exist would be too much for watchmakers to deliver. After all, something’s got to give, right? Well, not exactly. What we have come to realise at this year’s watch fairs, is that a technically complex women’s watch doesn’t necessarily have to mean that it has a mechanically complex movement. Take Harry Winston’s Premier Precious Weaving, which we flagged as one of the six best timepieces at BaselWorld 2016. The collection’s unusual decorative technique, inspired by the ancient Japanese craft of raden, which is essentially shell or ivory inlay…

If there were a complication that symbolises haute horlogerie’s modern day renaissance, it is the tourbillon. Invented by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1801, the tourbillon’s (French for ‘whirlwind’) stock rose in earnest after the turn of the 21st century when rollouts reached an unprecedented high. At that time, brands were issuing tourbillons like they were going out of fashion. They ranged from multiple-rotating variants to intricately hand crafted to rugged sports versions. Along the way, records were broken – from the thinnest to the lightest, tourbillon creations gunned for the extreme – and the complication grew in stature and collectability. Although the tourbillon craze has ebbed somewhat over the past years, the demanding complexity of its construction still means that only watch brands of the highest technical calibre are capable…

RAYMOND WEIL Freelancer Skeleton Raymond Weil kicks off its big 4-0 this year with a skeleton watch that blends the old with the new. The Freelancer Skeleton, decked out in a black PVD-coated steel case, exudes sleek, modern elegance; beautifully anchored by an open-worked dial that brandishes an automatic movement underneath. Unlike old-school skeleton watches, which are typically more ornate with engravings on the movement parts, this version with gold-plated hands, and circular gained bridges and ruthenium finishes on the skeletonised movement looks decidedly cotemporary. GLASHÜTTE ORIGINAL Senator Chronometer The original, which debuted in 2009, is among the Saxon brand’s stateliest and sturdiest timepieces. Both its look and performance are inspired by marine chronometers, and boasts the same utilitarian spirit. The no-nonsense dial is as legible as it is regal.…

BLANCPAIN Ladybird Once the world’s smallest round mechanical watch, the Ladybird marks its 60th anniversary with several new iterations, including this dazzling limited edition. Capped at 60 pieces, this version reaffirms the collection’s stature as the dame of daintiness, featuring a white gold case measuring just 21.5mm across, housing a tiny automatic movement on the inside. Despite its size, this watch boasts massive presence, adorned with 32 diamonds on the bezel and gorgeous dial elaborately etched with floral motifs. CORUM Bubble High Jewellery Declared extinct in the mid-Noughties, after Corum’s previous bosses decided to can the collection, the vivacious Bubble got reinstated last year and looks to get more airtime in 2016. The watches’ signature curves get endowed with a load of diamonds and sapphires (or rubies, take you pick),…