Meistersinger: This brand is new to IBG. It is a family-owned brand, based in Germany, but in Münster rather than in the traditional watchmaking hub of Glashütte. Meistersinger, whose specialty is single-handed watches, brought its entire collection to Chicago, including the new Paleograph, a monopusher chronograph with an in-house, column-wheel, horizontal-clutch movement.
Breguet: Two of this brand’s Baselworld 2014 stars were on display: the new 41-mm Classique Tourbillon Quantième Perpetuel in rose gold and two dial variations of its elegant ladies’ watch, the Reine de Naples Princess. Two important new releases from last year were also on the table: the Classique Tourbillon Extra Plat Automatique in platinum, which is the world’s thinnest automatic-winding extra-flat tourbillon; and the Classique Chronométrie in white gold, which features a world’s-first magnetic suspension for the balance wheel. Other notable Breguet watches at IBG included the North America-dial version of the Classique Hora Mundi in platinum; the Tradition Tourbillon in platinum, with its fusee-and-chain movement; and yet another tourbillon, the Messidor, with its mysterious invisible drive for the tourbillon.
Hublot: While Hublot has its many fans and collectors, this year marks the brand’s first time showing at IBG. The star of its table was the new Hublot Big Bang Ferrari limited edition, with its carbon fiber bezel and titanium case and powered by Hublot’s in-house Unico chronograph movement. Another Unico model on display was the Big Bang in titanium. Hublot also had some of its eye-catching ladies’ watches there, like the playfully named Big Bang Tutti Frutti with green sapphire-set bezel.
