a day ago
Tudor, Blancpain and Cartier give compact treatment to iconic watches
Tudor Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue
The new Tudor Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue is an invitation to drift in a world that never stops spinning. This latest iteration of the Black Bay line doesn't just keep time – it suggests a new pace of life. With its perfectly poised 37 mm stainless steel case, textured dial in a tropical hue and heritage details pulled from mid-century dive watches, it's a postcard from paradise, designed for your wrist.
The Lagoon Blue dial is more than a colour – it's a vibe. Its grainy, sand-like texture evokes long, lazy afternoons and waves stretching to the horizon. A mirror-polished bezel echoes the glint of sunlight, while Tudor's hallmark snowflake hands bring vintage credibility and modern legibility into perfect balance.
Inside beats the COSC-certified Manufacture Calibre MT5400, offering a 70-hour power reserve, silicon balance spring and weekend-proof resilience. All this is anchored by a five-link satin and polished bracelet, complete with the brand's tool-free T-fit clasp for seamless micro-adjustments.
Waterproof to 200 metres and inspired by the 1954 Oyster Prince Submariner reference 7922, the Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue isn't just a dive into nostalgia – it's a confident step into a slower, more intentional rhythm of life.
From left: The new Blancpain 38 mm Fifty Fathoms Automatique alongside its 42 mm and 45 mm siblings. PHOTO: BLANCPAIN
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 38 mm
Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms – arguably the world's first modern dive watch – has been beautifully rebalanced. The new 38 mm Fifty Fathoms Automatique nestles perfectly between its 42 mm and 45 mm siblings, offering equal parts poise and presence.
Available in polished steel, Grade 23 titanium or red gold, this smaller edition doesn't compromise on gravitas. The new sunburst black and blue dials dance with light, while the shimmering mother‑of‑pearl variants (in black or pink) add subtle glamour. Every model features a domed sapphire bezel and oversized luminous markers, framed by Blancpain's heritage-inspired unidirectional bezel.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
Sign Up
Sign Up
Inside, the Manufacture Calibre 1150 delivers a 100‑hour power reserve and silicon balance spring, visible through a sapphire caseback. It's rugged, precise and undeniably weekend‑ready. With 300 m of water resistance and a variety of straps – from rubber to canvas and bracelets – the watch is as at ease under a blazer as it is underwater.
The petite Santos de Cartier is available in three luxurious variations – full steel, yellow gold with steel, and all gold. PHOTO: CARTIER
Cartier Santos Petite
There's something inherently poetic about miniaturising a legend, and Cartier's latest evolution of its Santos de Cartier does exactly that. Now reimagined in a dainty 27 mm by 34.5 mm case, the new petite model channels the pioneering legacy of aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont into a compact, yet no less powerful, silhouette.
It's a piece that balances restraint with detail. Available in three luxurious variations – full steel, yellow gold with steel, and all gold – the new Santos doesn't just shrink in size, it sharpens in sophistication. A sunray-finished dial adds depth, while the iconic exposed screws retain their industrial flair.
A sunray-finished dial adds depth to the new smaller-sized Cartier Santos. PHOTO: CARTIER
This new iteration doesn't skip on versatility either. Thanks to Cartier's quick-change system, leather straps are effortlessly interchangeable with metal bracelets.
Purists will appreciate the lineage, but the modern enthusiast will love the high-autonomy quartz movement hidden beneath its classic lines. Cartier whispers elegantly in a world of loud statements – and sometimes, that's all it takes.
