Carl F. Bucherer’s Heritage line is simultaneously a tribute to this Swiss manufacture’s multifaceted tradition and a declaration of love for the brand’s hometown of Lucerne, where the art of watchmaking ‘made of Lucerne’ meets traditional craftsmanship.

This motto is most handsomely expressed by the new Heritage BiCompax Annual, which alludes to a chronograph from the 1950s. The newcomer emulates the historical model’s elegance, but the stainless-steel case of the Heritage BiCompax Annual enlarges its forebear’s 34-mm diameter to a contemporary 41-mm diameter.  The Heritage BiCompax Annual is available in two versions, each limited to 888 wristwatches. Modernist purism distinguishes the stainless-steel version with a silver dial and black counters in ‘panda’ style. The golden splendour of the city of Lucerne is subtly and tastefully conveyed by the second version, which boasts a rose gold champagne-coloured dial, bezel, push-pieces and crown. Both wristwatches tick to the rhythm of the automatic calibre CFB 1972 with annual calendar and extra-large date display. In keeping with its historic predecessor, a tachymeter scale is also included.

While this tasteful vintage timepiece is intended for gents’ wrists, the Patravi ChronoDate motto is clearly designed ‘for ladies only’. Rose, pastel blue and snowy white mother-of-pearl dials with eight diamond indices are wreathed by 56 brilliant-cut diamonds on the stainless-steel bezel. Optimal legibility is assured by the skeletonised hour- and minute-hands together with the long, slender, centrally axial, elapsed-seconds hand. The tips of the hands are filled with Super-LumiNova so they also indicate the time on the luminous hour markings in the dark. Automatic calibre CFB 1956 with large date is their ticking heart.