Ebony Panerai

Officine Panerai’s Radiomir 8 Days Ceramica 45mm combines the hi-tech of ceramic with its magnificent, made-in-house hand-wound Calibre P2002/3.

You have a case made of zirconium oxide, a synthetic ceramic created in an isostatic pressing process, plus a power reserve of eight days. Also notable are the three spring barrels and the linear power-reserve indicator on the dial. As well as the date at 3 o’clock, the calibre also enables the hour hand to be rapidly adjusted without interfering with the movement of the minute hand.

The watch is completely black — in its ceramic-cushion case, its dial with characteristic “sandwich” construction, and its buffalo-leather strap that’s closed with a titanium buckle with diamond-like carbon coating. All of the celebrated elements of the dial — the large figures and hour markers, the hands, the small seconds dial at 9 o’clock, the date window and the power-reserve indicator — are coated in Super-luminova.

Into the inky depths

Breitling’s Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel Thailand Limited Edition boasts an unbeatable visual combination – timeless black with energetic orange accents. Every piece is engraved on the back case with number and the words “Thailand Edition”. This amazing timepiece represents a major technical feat as a professional diver’s watch that is water-resistant to 3,000 metres.

Built on the sturdy Avenger platform, the Seawolf is a functional success in other ways, since its dimensions have been kept very reasonable and offer perfect ergonomics, despite the technical constraints imposed by the need to withstand pressure of 300 bars. There is a safety valve enabling it to balance the differences in pressure inside and outside the case.

The model comes in a limited edition of 50 pieces, with orange accents on the minute marker and the sweep second hand.

Muller’s dark reptile

Franck Muller’s Black Croco collection reinforces pattern continuity in an elegant and innovative styling. Both watch case and dial bear the striking design of the distinctive Franck Muller black alligator strap, whereas the case and dial are manufactured with black PVD treatment on a matt-black background with 3D lacquered patterns.

The result is a classic and contemporary “all black” design that provides a consistent pattern throughout this compelling timepiece.

Housed in the iconic Franck Muller Cintree Curvex case with its harmonious turns, the Black Croco collection is powered by a self-winding mechanical movement with a platinum rotor, and ensures optimal rewinding and performance at all times.

Bulgari harnesses Kiwi power

With the exceptional special-edition Bulgari Endurer Chronosprint All Blacks, the Daniel Roth Collection celebrates an unexpected partnership based on values shared by Bulgari and the world’s most famous rugby team – the New Zealand All Blacks. Here you have a powerful blend of technical sophistication and style charged with symbolism.

The final quarter of the 19th century witnessed the birth of two names that are now part of the global elite in their own fields. Buglari and the All Blacks share the same year of birth, 1884. Then, in 1905, Bulgari opened its historic boutique on the Via dei Condotti in Rome, and the All Blacks “Originals” completed a tour of the Northern Hemisphere that gave birth to the All Blacks legend. Now, they have chosen to team up in 2011 through an alliance cemented by their shared charisma, as expressed in a particularly compelling timepiece epitomising endurance and elegance.

In addition to the classic hour and minute functions displayed along a slightly off-centre axis, the mechanical self-winding movement – Calibre DR1306 – also drives a specific chronograph function. The chronograph measures relatively long times in hours and minutes by two hands of different lengths mounted on a single axis.

Contrary to standard chronographs, this function cannot be stopped, but it is simply reset by pressing the ergonomically ridged pushbutton at 7.30 o’clock. This automatically brings the two hands back to zero for a new measurement that begins instantly

Safe in the shadow

Porsche Design’s founder came with the world’s first all-black watch in 1972. This year, the P’6780 Diver from Porsche Design is being issued in a Black Edition.

The watch demonstrates an intriguing functionality. The three-part construction allows the watch to be operated wearing gloves. This involves using the two upper locking pushers to unlock the hinged inner case and raise it from the safety bridge. The winding crown and bezel can then be easily adjusted. Once the inner case is locked safely within the bridge, neither the crown nor bezel can be moved inadvertently.

The watch offers outstanding legibility thanks to the contrast of the white hands against the black dial. The lugs are flexible for optimum on-wrist comfort. The Diver’s advanced sealing system keeps the inner case water resistant to a depth of 1,000 metres, and no helium valve or screw-down crown are necessary.

Plunge into the black sea

Ulysse Nardin’s latest addition to the coveted Marine Diver collection, the Black Sea, honours its nautical legacy. Powerful and avant-garde, this is a rugged all-weather sport-diving timekeeper with a self-winding movement. You have a 42-hour power reserve indicator, oversized small-seconds register and a large date display.

Its specially treated stainless-steel case, having undergone a complex vulcanisation process, is revealed with a matte-black rubber coating, presenting a sporty aesthetic and comfortable feel. The exhibition case-back displays the self-winding movement. Softening the styling is a calming wave pattern decorating the black, structured strap and dial.

The hour markers and hour and minute hands are covered with red luminescent material for better visibility. The power-reserve indicator is at 12 o’clock, while the small-seconds and round date are at 6 o’clock. The small hands are painted in red. Provided with an unidirectional rotating bezel and a screwed crown, the case, individually numbered, is water-resistant to 200 metres. Strengthening its already exceptional reliability is the Black Sea’s rubber band, including ceramic components and an exclusive black ceramic folding clasp

Turn out the lights

The Gc Sport Class XXL Blackout is housed in a 45mm case of hi-tech ceramic. Setting a new trend through its particularly sophisticated matt finish for both the case and bracelet, the Sport Class XXL Blackout allies Swiss precision with cutting-edge design.

Inspired by the luxury car industry, where matt black became the byword in upscale refinement, the Blackout adopts this elegant ebony sheen – a must-have for lovers of avant-garde design. The choice of the matt finish, created through an additional stage in the ceramic production process, is indicative of the high-quality standards and attention to detail embodied in Gc timepieces. With its oversize case, minute-engraved bezel and link bracelet all in black ceramic, this timepiece is a force to be reckoned with.

This expressive timepiece makes a forceful appearance through its rendering of the iconic black and rose-gold combination of the Gc brand. The jet-black matt dial is picked out with bold hand-applied indices and Arabic numerals, pointed at by tapered hands, all in rose gold with a central luminescent coating in the latest grey tint for maximum effect.

Plunge into the black sea

Ulysse Nardin’s latest addition to the coveted Marine Diver collection, the Black Sea, honours its nautical legacy. Powerful and avant-garde, this is a rugged all-weather sport-diving timekeeper with a self-winding movement. You have a 42-hour power reserve indicator, oversized small-seconds register and a large date display.

Its specially treated stainless-steel case, having undergone a complex vulcanisation process, is revealed with a matte-black rubber coating, presenting a sporty aesthetic and comfortable feel. The exhibition case-back displays the self-winding movement. Softening the styling is a calming wave pattern decorating the black, structured strap and dial.

The hour markers and hour and minute hands are covered with red luminescent material for better visibility. The power-reserve indicator is at 12 o’clock, while the small-seconds and round date are at 6 o’clock. The small hands are painted in red. Provided with an unidirectional rotating bezel and a screwed crown, the case, individually numbered, is water-resistant to 200 metres. Strengthening its already exceptional reliability is the Black Sea’s rubber band, including ceramic components and an exclusive black ceramic folding clasp

The UF6 Magnum Small Second is TechnoMarine’s new men’s watch in the casual stylish UF6 family. This robust and very smart timepiece has the original, complex 45mm case composed of six elements. It’s in black PVD, one of several impressively well-thought-out finish details.

The streamlined and unfussy case is enhanced with luminous blue indices and boat-hull-shaped hands. The rope decor on the dial teamed with wave forms on the case side astutely recall TechnoMarine’s nautical environment.

Combining all the high-end characteristics common to the entire UF6 family, such as a Swiss-made movement and urbane case design, this watch isolates the seconds hand in a counter positioned at 6 o’clock.

This is a watch that satisfies all pleasure-seeking aspirations and the one to take with you to every daily activity. Thanks to its interchangeable strap and cover design, it becomes possible to change the colour of your watch to match your mood or outfit. With an array of bright and colourful styles, a sports personality and its unique aesthetics, it subtly yet astonishingly unites contrasting materials.

Graham at high speed

Graham’s Silverstone Tourbillograph Full Black is a combination tourbillon and chronograph made to withstand extreme conditions – even when you’re wearing a dinner jacket!

You have an automatic one-minute tourbillon with a powerful design and a rich technological content. The domed sapphire crystal offers full-size dimensions (a 42mm opening) and a see-through view of the beauty of the mechanism. The 48 components of its skeleton cage interlace in layers – all reduced in weight to just 0.485 grams. This construction, called “cintre”, integrates the tourbillon into the complex chronograph movement while using a large-diameter balance wheel.

The reduced number of components, the lightness and the double-bridge construction guarantee stability and perfect rigidity. This is a completely shockproof tourbillon. And the sensitivity to magnetism is also reduced through the use of iron-free components in the cage.

The watch is a sophisticated and classy racing instrument. The 48mm-thin steel case is PVD-coated with black titanium carbide, as is the bezel. The black dial and polished rhodiated numerals play with the light – sometimes you see the details, sometimes you don’t!

From deep in space

RJ-Romain Jerome’s Black Mood and Steel Mood chronographs emerge as a new generation of time instruments, enriching the Moon Dust-DNA collection with new aesthetic statements.

Black Mood expresses lunar time with a PVD-blackened steel instrument featuring a round 46mm case carrying the iconic RJ-Romain Jerome “paws” and topped by a carbon-fibre-coated bezel with a soul forged from fragments of Apollo 11. The date of that historic mission has naturally inspired the number of this limited edition: 1969.

Its “instrumental” vocation is further highlighted by the red anodised titanium pusher at 2 o’clock, serving to start and stop the chronograph driven by a self-winding movement. The reset button at 4 o’clock is also notched.

The black dial is a hand-sculpted depiction of the lunar surface and its material contains a small amount of the precious moon dust – of which only a few thousand grams have been brought back to Earth. The circular seconds counter at 9 o’clock features a four-blade “hand” evoking satellite solar panels – and one of the blades is red in order to serve as a time marker.

The deliberately oxidised black hour and minutes hands are coated with “blue emission” Superluminova. Devotees of astro-horological missions will be able to opt for the alligator strap with woven textile and carbon fibres.

Dare to wear a Spider

The eminently masculine C1 Black Spider asserts its sophisticated temperament and its vigorous design. Equipped with a tourbillon movement, the case and movement form an inseparable whole, one being the natural, almost organic extension of the other. This symbiotic relationship engenders an absolute timepiece in which performance goes well beyond mere mechanics.

The C1 BlackSpider is a 25-piece limited edition. Its case band carries a raised disk bearing the individual series number enhanced by a diamond-polished finish, thereby setting the seal of uniqueness on a symbolically charged watch.

The 47mm-diameter case crafted in titanium, lending the passing hours generous scope for expression. The movement plate serving as a dial is placed at the very bottom of this area, and its eight “legs” embedded in the case radiate an air of steadfast determination – strangely reminiscent of arachnid predators.

The grooved monochrome finish on the plate reveals its dark and intimidating side. Like a Black Widow spider suspended in mid-air, the creature allows the hour and minute hands to sweep over its abdomen, while holding the tourbillon firmly in its grasp.

The C1 Black Spider is a worthy representative of the Concord species. Its ultra-light titanium shell surrounded by rubber tabs merges technology and design while remaining faithful to the brand’s fundamental construction principles: reliable sturdiness, a laterally screwed protective ring, a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment and encircled by “ramparts”, a fortified crown, and a perfect fit.