Over the last few years’ commercial materials have slowly been filtering into the watch industry. Brands are constantly trying to stay ahead of their competitors with new Avant-garde designs. Ultimately the aim is to make their watches more exciting and durable. Carbon Fiber has become a very popular choice because of its lightweight and high performance qualities. Here are five exciting watches that illustrate this point perfectly.
Giuliano Mazzuoli Manometro S Carbonio
Italian watchmaker Giuliano Mazzuoli produce a range of highly distinctive watches inspired by the clean lines of the Manometer. Principally he is very passionate about all his creations including the wonderful Manometro S Carbonio. The cylindrical case measures a respectable 45.2mm x 14.8mm excluding the massive crown at the 2 o’clock position. I love the dial that is also constructed from carbon fiber and is punctuated by the bold numerals. The inclusion of red accents in the composition gives the timepiece a sporty appearance. Currently the company manufactures all its watches in Switzerland and equips them with ETA movements.
Meccaniche Veloci Chrono Driver
Meccaniche Veloci was founded in 2006 and in that short timescale has created a range of timepieces inspired by the motorsport industry. The Chrono Driver is one of their newest models and was recently unveiled at Baselworld 2013. The styling is sophisticated, curvaceous and refined. This model is also equipped with a structural carbon swinging frame supporting the 38mm diameter case. Essentially this feature creates the illusion that the watch is suspended in thin air. The dial displays the three counters that give the watch a sporty appearance. Beneath the sophisticated exterior lies a reliable ETA 7750 movement designed for precision time keeping.
Hublot Big Bang Carbon Bezel Baguette
Under the watchful eye of Jean-Claude Biver Hublot is rapidly becoming one of the most prolific watchmakers in the industry. The Big Bang Carbon Bezel Baguette is one of the company’s more opulent offerings. This amazing timepiece combines high performance carbon fiber with the luxury of precious stones. The result is the production of a highly desirable and beautiful looking watch. With a diameter of 44mm the timepiece should be practical to wear for any occasion. Underneath the refined exterior lies the calibre HUB4100. The in house developed self-winding chronograph movement comprises 252 components. This amazing timepiece is available with a choice of diamonds, blue sapphires, rubies and tsavorites.
Bell & Ross BR01-94
French watchmakers Bruno Belamich and Carlos Rosillo established Bell & Ross in 1994. Subsequently the company had produced a range of highly distinctive and recognizable timepieces including the phenomenal BR01-94. I recently reviewed the sensational BR01-92, which I found to be a highly invigorating experience. This fantastic timepiece measures a formidable 46mm x 46mm and derives its sporty appearance from the control panel of an airplane. Every element of the watch including the strap is constructed from carbon fiber. This makes the piece exceptionally lightweight and comfortable to wear. The watch is equipped with a reliable Swiss ETA 2894 automatic chronograph movement and is limited to 500 pieces.
Stefan Johansson Carbon Fiber
The name Stefan Johansson is normally associated with motorsports. Ultimately his career has spanned three decades and resulted in Formula One, Indy Car and Le Mans style sports car racing success. More recently he has applied his passion for design to produce an attractive range of watches including the stunning Carbon Fiber. With a diameter of 47mm this is a substantial piece that won’t appeal to the more conservative clientele. The case is constructed out of carbon fiber and is available in a numerous range of dial layouts. There is also a choice between two movements a Valjoux 7750 or Valjoux 7751. This wonderful watch comes with a presentation box with electronic winder mechanism and is limited to only 50 pieces.
