It’s About Time: the 00/24 European Watch of the Year 2013
The jury went into deliberation in June and now they are ready to make a decision. Importers and manufacturers started the long deliberation by nominating their favorites and leaving the jury to decide which to name best in its class.
Judged for aesthetics, performance, style, features and value for the buck the jury discussed argued and, at last, came to agree. The 00/24 European Watch of the Year 2013 goes to the following timepieces:
£2,500 ($4,046 USD)
Tudor Heritage Blackray – The Tudor Heritage Blackray won for its retro-modern classic look and the having entered the competition as a diving watch. The Tudor Heritage
A Tudor Chrono watch stars in Mission Impossible 4, with Tom Cruise.
£2,500 – £10,000 ($4,046 – $16,186 USD)
Zenith Pilot Doublematic – This watch, built by two watchmakers, seems overly done with 439 parts, but it turns into a truly functional timepiece.
Ryan Seacrest sports Zenith wristwatches as host of American Idol.
£10,000 – £25,000 ($16,186 – $40,464 USD)
The Chopard L.U.C 8HF – The Chopard 8Hz watch wins for innovative style and class. Rigorous Swiss testing certifies the watch performs at an incredible 57,600 vibrations per hour.
£25,000 – £100,000 ($40,464 – $161,859 USD)
Breguet Classique Chronometrie 7727 – Braquet’s use of magnets in this watch swayed the jury in this category. The magnets stabilize the balance, which helps keep the time accurate.
£100,000 and up ($161,859 USD and up)
Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre a Spherotourbillon – The Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre a Spherotourbillon wins for beauty and the use of a multi-axis tourbillon. The multi-axis tourbillon thrills watch enthusiasts and the judges found them awe inspiring.
Women’s winner
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda 1950 Set
Winning for its versatility and style, the watch has a free-sprung balance and mico-rotor. For evening or casual wear, the wristwatch goes everywhere.
The event ended successfully with some surprised by the judges choices. The European Watch of the Year Awards never disappoints and this year’s technical and mechanical innovators sold some watches.
Time for the watch
Throughout the world, a wristwatch means more than knowing what time it is. The watches impact on modern culture began by introducing the mechanics inside that make them tick and tock. Now with the time flashing on computer screens, cell phones and television menus it would seem the wristwatch would fade away. A decline in sales pointed to the demise of the wristwatch except in collector and executive circles.
A new interest in watches by teenagers brings the classic timepiece back to store displays and shelves. The teens want big watches with bling and the malls cater to their whims. Their parents look at the new bedazzled watches and remember the elegance of a diamond wristwatch worn by a relative.
Find the right watch for the event
Jewelry stores meet the standards for adults who want a high-end wristwatch to wear to events and casual pieces for everyday wear. The industry happily grows once again to meet the needs of executives who sport a Rolex for every occasion and the movie star who wants a million dollar watch that looks like it cost a million dollars.