Chinese New Year may have come and gone, but for the bold, shades of scarlet bring luck all year round. Here’s GMT GCC’s pick of the best and brightest when it comes to showing your dangerous side.
GIRARD PERREGAUX LAURETO ABSOLUTE LIGHT & FIRE
The translucency of its scarlet case, the architecture of its curves and lines and the complexity of its inner workings makes this Girard Perregaux timepiece a red-hot masterpiece. Flickering with light and limited to just 18 pieces, this reincarnation of the original 1975 Laureto is like a phoenix from its predecessors’ flames – all the class, while as modern as they come. At 44mm this is no shrinking violet, but with a skeletonised self-winding calibre this beautiful, and with only 18 pieces produced, why would you want to hide away? Let them burn with envy.
CHOPARD IMPERIALE
Its diminutive 28mm diameter, ethically-sourced 18 carat rose gold and charming aspect should make this new member of the Imperiale collection an absolute angel – but its devilishly daring colour scheme give it a quite different edge altogether. Classic, feminine and subtle, this stainless steel and gold timepiece is nevertheless eye-catching for all the right reasons. The sunburst satin-brushed dial is complemented by a matching leather strap and red jewel in the lotus-shaped crown. An entirely in-house Chopard Calibre 09.01-C self-winding movement with 42-hour power reserve ensures that as well as style, this watch’s class extends to its inside too. It’s a bold new take on a tried-and-true style – and we are a little bit in love.
PARMIGIANI FLEURIER COLLECTION GRAND FEU ROSA MYSTICA
A rose, by any other name, would still smell as sweet – and this delectable timepiece takes all its cues from that most romantic of flowers. The vibrant red grand feu enamel adorning the dial is mirrored by an engraved rose carrée on the caseback, the manually-wound minute repeater calibre with cathedral gongs hidden within. A double-diamond bezel – front bezel, back bezel and caseback sides are all diamond-encrusted – is interrupted only by the magnificence of a natural garnet cabochon on the crown, the perfect last word in this timepiece’s exquisite craftsmanship. A flight of romance to imagine something so lovely placed on one’s wrist? It’d be the sweetest rose of the bunch.
LUMINOR PANERAI LUNA ROSSA
Taking up the trend for red doesn’t mean you have to go full-on stop sign. A flash of colour can be just enough to reference your fashion-forward creds, and the go-faster stripe and super cute small seconds on this newly-launched and very nautical Luminor Panerai hits all the right notes. Named Luna Rossa, after the champion sailing team who recently took the Prada Cup at the most recent America’s Cup, it’s indeed a shining beacon of touchable simplicity, a red moon in the blackness of a night on the ocean. Sporting a high polish that contrasts with the brushed steel of the crown protection device, this special edition hand-wound has a three-day power reserve and is part of a run of 1,500 pieces. See if you can get one to dock in your port.
complemented by a matching leather strap and red jewel in the lotus-shaped crown. An entirely in-house Chopard Calibre 09.01-C self-winding movement with 42-hour power reserve ensures that as well as style, this watch’s class extends to its inside too. It’s a bold new take on a tried-and-true style – and we are a little bit in love.
ZENITH DEFY REVIVAL
Intensely retro and a classic of its genre, the Zenith DEFY Revival is a faithful homage to its original 1971 model – and thank goodness for that. This second edition in the DEFY Revival collection – and the first one to join Zenith’s regular production instead of being a limited number – comes straight in with a punchy graduated red dial, serving to make the most of its distinctive, Space Age hour markers and vintage-cool octagonal case. The quirky placement of the date window at 4:30 and the 14-faceted bezel are all consistent with the original model, with updates such as display case back and SuperLuminova highlights on the hands only serving to enhance its charms without veering into the cartoonish. A collector’s favourite, the DEFY is beloved of classic watch fans everywhere – and this affectionately-done reissue is sure to delight even the most strict of purists.
