Our Baselworld 2017 Favorites

Baselworld is the most significant gathering of brands, manufacturers, and hungry journalists in the world of watchmaking. Every year in Geneva, watchmakers from all over take the opportunity to announce the year’s biggest releases. From the household names to growing independents, Baselworld 2017 proved to be an interesting year for the industry. Perhaps the biggest talking points we saw were material innovation and overall value. Now that the show is behind us, let’s go over our favorite releases from the biggest watchmaking show around.

Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Sea-Dweller. We figured Rolex might take the opportunity to mark the occasion. The newest version now offers a depth rating of 4,000 feet and a larger 43mm case size. Furthermore, other touches include red text and the addition of a cyclops at 3 o’clock. It isn’t the kind of evolution you’d expect to see from Rolex. However, it’s one that will help the Sea-Dweller exist as something different from the current Submariner.

Omega 1957 Trilogy Collection

From day one, Omega managed to steal the show with their 1957 collection. These reissues of the 1957 Speedmaster, Seamaster, and Railmaster models are about as faithful as it gets. One of the biggest hits by far is the ‘57 Speedmaster. Omega has sized tastefully at around 38mm and as close as you can get to an original Speedmaster. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Seamaster and Railmaster models come with Master Chronometer movements. Furthermore, if you have $21k burning a hole in your pocket, you can buy a box set of all three. How cool is that?

Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date

Back in 2014, Glashütte Original announced their first in-house flyback chronograph movement – the caliber 37. That is a huge step for a brand. Still, the earliest models of the watch only come in precious metals. Consequently, this leaves a few budget-conscious buyers high and dry. This year, Glashütte Original announced a stainless steel version at a much more accessible $14,600. Therefore, the result is a more casual look that offers everything you’d want out of a high-end German watch.

Breitling Navitimer Rattrapante

This was a big one for Breitling. At Baselworld 2017, Breitling announced their first in-house split seconds chronograph movement. And what better way to show it off than in a beautiful Navitimer pilot’s chronograph? At $11,090, it sits at a competitive price point considering the intricacies that go into developing an in-house chronograph movement.

Longines Heritage 1945

Finally, while divers and elaborate chronographs are fun to drool over, sometimes the most simple watches can steal our hearts. The Longines Heritage 1945 is a time-only watch that just screams elegance. Longines tapped into their archive packed with 185 years of design. They brought us one of the purest iterations of a perfect everyday watch. At around $1,700, it’s a no-brainer for anyone that’s looking to add a vintage-inspired piece to their collection.