These watches in titanium and steel set the times to beat

Watch brands are playing with cool hues of precious metals in streamlined and sporty new models

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There are two beautiful watches.
Left, ‘BR 05 Horolum’ watch, limited edition of 250, £4,500, by Bell & Ross and right, ‘Big Bang Integral Time Only’ watch, £14,700, by Hublot
(Image credit: George Harvey)

The cool tones of titanium and steel set the tone for a host of watch brands, who are embracing the strength and lightness of metals for pieces which encompass streamlined and sporty forms.

Hublot

Hublot’s futuristic ‘Big Bang Integral’ cuts a smooth silhouette thanks to its seamlessly-integrated bracelet. This new piece is cast in grade five titanium, the strongest available and chosen for both its lightness and strength, while its practical anti-corrosion properties make it comfortable to wear on the skin. 

Audemars Piguet

silver watch

‘Royal Oak Jumbo Extra Thin Openworked’ watch, price on request, by Audemars Piguet

(Image credit: George Harvey)

First released 50 years ago, Audemars Piguet’s ‘Royal Oak’ rewrote the design codes of modern watchmaking. Now the brand is marking the anniversary with a host of reworked ‘Royal Oak’ models, ushering in a new era of technical accomplishment with the ‘Jumbo Extra Thin Openworked’. Here, a new ultra-thin self-winding movement takes centre stage, its rhodium tone matching the cool hue of the stainless steel case. 

Zenith

Silver watch

‘Chronomaster Sport Boutique Edition’ watch, £10,600, by Zenith

(Image credit: George Harvey)

Zenith plays on historical watch design references in the ‘Chronomaster Sport Boutique Edition’, which marries the three-colour dial and steel bracelet from past models with a new play on colour. An emphasis on light is encompassed in the bezel in a gradient of hues, and in the sunray-patterned dial, where barely perceptible lines bring a radiant texture. 

Bell & Ross

Usually inspired by military history, Bell & Ross takes a more urban bent with its new ‘BR 05 Horolum’ model, a reworking of 2017’s ‘BR 03-92 Horolum’. This new watch takes inspiration from cityscapes in a micro-blasted steel that recalls the unpolished tones of concrete.

TAG Heuer

Silver watch

‘Aquaracer Professional 200 Date’ watch, £2,300, by TAG Heuer  

(Image credit: George Harvey)

Epitomising sporty functionality, TAG Heuer’s new ‘Aquaracer Professional 200 Date’ plays on an aquatic aesthetic, pairing an ocean blue face with the clean steel of the case. The uncluttered dial adheres to the legibility codes that characterised the original ‘Aquaracer’ model Jack Heuer introduced four decades ago. 

INFORMATION

This article was originally featured in the May 2022 issue of Wallpaper*, on newsstands now and available to subscribers.

Hannah Silver
Hannah Silver

Hannah Silver is a writer and editor with over 20 years of experience in journalism, spanning national newspapers and independent magazines. Currently Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*, she has overseen offbeat art trends and conducted in-depth profiles for print and digital, as well as writing and commissioning extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury since joining in 2019.

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