MEET THE TEAM: Ferg’s top 5 leftfield picks from Watches & Wonders
Fergus NashThis year’s Watches & Wonders amazed me, not just because I was shocked by the scale of the in-person event, but because so many different brands decided to buck all trends. Sure, there were plenty of green dials, but there also seems to be a growing desire for watches that show a quirkier personality, and that’s exactly what I’m most obsessed with.
Pasha de Cartier Grille
My favourite watch of the fair by far is the Pasha de Cartier Grille, proving that nothing is too esoteric for them to release. The Grille was a staple of the Pasha de Cartier since its inception in the 1980s, doubling down on the antique diving helmet look. The extra metal over the dials made it difficult to read the time, but you would get a spark of joy at every glance of the wrist. The modern versions have a removable grill for ultimate versatility, and I will definitely be eyeing up the 35mm reference for a long time to come.
| Case Material | 18k Yellow / Rose Gold |
| Case Dimensions | 30mm / 36mm / 41mm |
| Water-Resistance | 100m |
| Dial | White Guilloché |
| Straps | Interchangable alligator straps |
| Movement | 1847 MC / Quartz for 30mm model |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Complications | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Price | €16,100 (CRWGPA0019) €25,400 (CRWJPA0020) €18,700 (CRWJPA0021) |
Oris Rectangular
I’ve always been enamoured with watches that look stuck in a certain time period, and the Oris Rectangular is pure 1930s Art Deco lavishness. The slightly bulbous sword hands and the splaying lines that make up the hour and minute markers may be simple in their printing, but the overall effect on those colourful dials is anything but boring. The stepped case is also an attractive feature over other “Tank” shaped watches you may be familiar with, along with the $2,500 AUD price point. The red reference would be my personal pick.
| Case Material | Stainless Steel |
| Case Dimensions | 25.5mm x 38mm |
| Water-Resistance | 30m |
| Dial | Green, white, blue, red |
| Straps | Leather |
| Movement | Oris 561 |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Complications | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Price | $2,500 AUD |
Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Dazzling Star
Watch collectors love arbitrary and unnecessary complication, and that’s why the Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Dazzling Star holds so much appeal as wrist candy. Being the first iced-out watch that I’ve been seriously attracted to, its contextualisation with JLC’s dedication to astronomy has given me more appreciation for anything that can evoke a dazzling night sky as well as these. The addition of the randomised shooting star complication is just an added bonus, as is the 36mm size that I crave from more watches.
| Case Material | 18k Pink Gold / White Gold |
| Case Dimensions | 36mm x 11.11 mm |
| Water-Resistance | 50m |
| Dial | Blue / Taupe / Aventurine |
| Straps | White and turqouise rubber straps |
| Movement | Calibre 734 |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours |
| Complications | Hours, minutes, shooting star complication |
| Price | TBA |
Ressence Type 8
Ressence are a brand I’ve been acutely aware of for a number of years, yet I never really delved deep. When I originally heard about the oil-filled concept and saw the effect on video, my immediate interest in the subject was instantly smacked down when I saw the prices associated with them. Although I’m still much more likely to attempt the oil-filled Casio Duro mod than afford the 12,500 CHF price for the minimalistic Ressence Type 8, I’m thrilled to see them making their intoxicating technology more accessible.
| Case Material | Titanium |
| Case Dimensions | 42.9mm x 11mm |
| Water-Resistance | 10m |
| Dial | Blue |
| Straps | Leather |
| Movement | ROCS 8 |
| Power Reserve | 36 hours |
| Complications | Hours, minutes |
| Price | 12,500 CHF |
Cartier Mass Mystérieuse
There isn’t much that can be said about the Mass Mystérieuse that hasn’t already been gushed over by thousands of watch fans, but I can’t help but feel like it’s something a magician would wear. Maybe that sounds mean, but I fully intend that to be a compliment, as few watches leave me with a dropped jaw and scratching my head as this new Cartier did when I first saw it. Even after I was told how the watch could be adjusted, there’s something about seeing that movement swinging around seemingly untethered that gives me butterflies.
| Case Material | Platinum |
| Case Dimensions | 43.5mm x 12.64mm |
| Water-Resistance | 30m |
| Dial | Skeletonised |
| Straps | Black Alligator Leather |
| Movement | 9801 MC |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Complications | Hours, minutes |
| Price | €250,000 |