Watches

The Manufacture Worldtimer Maison Birks Edition.

When timing is everything, planning ahead is a necessity—especially for world travellers. After winding the dials back an hour for daylight savings time, we’re already looking ahead to a future watch exclusive with a Canadian twist.

Thirty-three showpieces.

This year’s Only Watch auction raised a record €5,066,000 (just over $7-million Canadian) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy research.

Magnum opus.

Tourbillons appearing to float free of any support; time indicated by rotating discs, chains of diamonds, or tiny spinning cubes: such are the improbable horological inventions that have made Harry Winston’s presentation of a new Opus a highlight of the Baselworld watch and jewellery fair every spring.

Timeless design.

Just a decade shy of its golden anniversary, Porsche Design celebrates its fortieth year as an exemplar of influential product design with the launch of its first Canadian store in Toronto this May. The 1,600-square-foot Yorkville boutique boasts a range of Porsche Design products.

Haute horology.

The most important inventions of watchmaking were developed by the big Swiss heritage brands in the first half of the 19th century, establishing forever their unassailable claim to authenticity. It no doubt irks them when companies like Louis Vuitton, which only began making watches in 2002, introduce world-premiere movements and set up bespoke divisions that make some of the prestige timepiece brands look like cookie cutters.

Keeping time.

Omega’s tradition of sports timekeeping goes back to 1898, when it crafted the first chronograph—a 43-millimetre CHRO calibre movement in Lépine and hunter styles. A button integrated into the crown stopped the time, and a sweep hand measured to one-fifth of a second.