In 1952, Breitling developed the Navitimer, a revolutionary wrist-worn chronograph that instantly became a mainstay of every cockpit. It was worn by pilots for some of aviation’s most impressive developments, thanks to an innovative slide rule that enabled them to make all critical flight calculations.

With its new disruptive “Zenith Oscillator” control system, the brand with the guiding star is revolutionising mechanical watchmaking. High frequency, chronometric precision, reliability and stability: the oscillator developed and patented by the Manufacture replaces the traditional sprung balance used for more than three centuries!

TAG Heuer reintroduces the Autavia as a stand-alone collection with a range of models that boast the versatility, ruggedness and reliability that characterised the original Autavia watches produced in the 1960s. Making use of the carbon-composite hairspring technology that distinguishes each piece as an Isograph, the avant-garde watchmaker builds on its heritage to continue the saga.

Since the presentation of TUDOR’s first chronograph in 1970, of the Prince Oysterdate, the brand has always produced watches that are closely tied to the world of motorsports. In the same way, since 1954 TUDOR has been constantly improving its professional divers’ watches. The daringly hybrid Black Bay Chrono S&G chronograph (S&G stands for Steel & Gold) combines this aquatic heritage, represented by the Black Bay family.

As the name suggests, this is the third watch Oris has linked to the world’s largest and most diverse reef system (it’s so big it can be seen from space, and tip-to-toe it’s 2,600 km long), but since our last Great Barrier Reef watch, the situation has far from improved. In fact, it’s got worse. Two hot summers in 2016 and 2017 led to back-to- back coral bleaching events, leaving vast areas of reefs all over the world devastated.

Since 2005, Bell & Ross has bolstered its reputation for high- altitude performance by crafting its Instruments collection in keeping with cockpit read-outs: square, utilitarian, rugged. There is more equipment sitting inside a cockpit than just instruments. The pilot’s flight jacket, for instance – an essential piece of gear that, with the emergence of the military’s Jet Age in the 1950s, experienced a step change over in America: the introduction of the MA-1.

In 2018, Chopard celebrated three decades of partnership with the Mille Miglia race, “la corsa più bella del mondo” which is raced over a 1,600 km loop running from Brescia to Rome and back. This unique alliance in the world of classic motorsport, which reflects Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s passion for classic cars, continues this year with the Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition. 

True to form, Bvlgari has replicated this spirit with its exceptional timepieces, and is at the forefront of a new Rinascimento that breaks the mold of Swiss watchmaking, rewriting the rules for contemporary watches with every debut. As do the two highlights of Baselworld 2019: the new Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Automatic taking home a fifth world record.