For more of this year’s timepieces and show information, check out the Baselworld website.

Saint Honore makes good time with a new super-chronograph watch attributed to those who make the best time. The Haussman Forty 7-24 is designed as an homage to race cars and the sleek prestige carried with driving faster, better than anyone else. A silver tinted dial, honeycomb caseback and tachymetric scale graduated up to 407 km/h, inspired by the legendary speed on the track. The face is based heavily on the dashboard aesthetic and, in case you were wondering, the large orange 15 a nod to the starting time of 24 hour races (3 pm/15:00.)

After a three-year partnership made exclusively with The Recording Academy in 2010, Gucci Timepieces and Jewelry has successfully launched the Gucci GRAMMY timepiece collection. Inspired by the GRAMMY Awards, these timepieces will benefit the GRAMMY Museum.

Gucci Timepieces and Jewelry is the first partner to help support the GRAMMY Museum assess a Muzak archive that was recently discovered in a warehouse in South Carolina. The archives are said to have included more than 20,000 never-released master recordings of American music dating back to 1934, from jazz to spiritual. This effort will determine the best way to house, digitize and ultimately release the recordings. Gucci’s music and film preservation interests are admirable endeavours that display the brand’s commitment to celebrating the legacy of various forms of art.

Props, Gucci.

The Sailing Touch is like having the weather network on your wrist. Its integrated histogram measuring the past six hours makes checking the weather conditions and surrounding air pressure smooth sailing. Other impressive features of the Sailing Touch include the ability to measure speed over a given distance, a compass, two alarms, two time zones, a perpetual calendar and back-lighting. Its untouchable.

Tissot’s T-Sport is reminiscent of the Swiss watchmaker’s classic design as well as pristine quality and functionality. The watch features a blue/arabic dial, sapphire crystal glass and stainless steel case and bracelet. Sleek and versatile, the T-Sport is well-suited for any occasion.

Sharp magazine’s Book for Men launch party featured a dedicated space displaying some exquisite timepieces. Party-goers were free to try watches from the likes of Zenith, Bvlgari, Ulysses Nardin and Concord.

Head to SharpForMen.com to preview the Book and order a copy.

Images courtesy of Paul Koziorowski

Photography by: Robert Watson

You already know about Charvet shirts, you’ve gone to the trouble of finding the right shoes to go with a tux, and you know better than to wear a ski jacket with a suit or to tuck a man bag under your arm. But unless you have three different watches—or more specifically, at least one watch from each of three different categories—you cannot be said to have yet mastered the art of the wardrobe. Allow us to make a few suggestions to set you on the path to full sartorial enlightenment, or at least get you to dinner on time.

$500 to $1,500

Looks good with: jeans, leather jackets

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Multi-function movements. In this category, most movements are quartz rather than mechanical, but that should not suggest any sort of technical compromise. Multi-function quartz movements are loaded with features, including world
timers, barometers, altimeters, compasses, and countdown functions, even solar-powered batteries.

Steel or titanium? Both are solid options. Steel is standard and non-
corrosive (preferable to a leather strap if you’re diving in salt water) but rubber works, too. Titanium, lighter and stronger than steel, is great for sports watches, but generally more expensive.

WHAT TO AVOID

Gold plating, unless it’s used strictly for trim. You won’t get a solid 18k gold watch in this category, only electroplated gold. Plus, full gold plating can look fake. Solid plastic and ceramic are better alternatives
to steel.

$1,500 to $5,000

Looks good with: suits, ties, overcoats

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Mechanical movements, usually with at least one complication (anything beyond hours, minutes and seconds) like the large date window on the
Bell & Ross Commando, the air speed measurement function on the Hamilton or the chronograph timers on the IWC and
Raymond Weil.

In this category, you should expect some kind of outstanding quality feature, such as luminescent-coated hands and markers (Longines, Bell & Ross, IWC), guilloched finishes (Hamilton), adjustable deployant buckles (Ebel), or some sort of special coating, like the carbon case of the Bell & Ross Commando.

WHAT TO AVOID

Trends. Don’t go for anything too wacky in this category, like striking colours or obscure case shapes. You want to demonstrate a sense of style, not reckless abandon. Leave the mauve lizard straps to the ladies and Mickey Rourke.

$12,000 to $15,000

Looks good with: anything

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Elite Swiss brands. The guys that invented watchmaking, and whose workshops routinely produce complications priced upwards of $200K, are also making high-quality watches at comparatively reasonable price points, which represents solid value and reliability. For example, Blancpain, whose average price is $20,000, makes a Grande Complication that sells for over $1 million, making the Fifty Fathoms a bargain at $14,300.

Unique bonus features, such as IWC’s iron shield for magnetic and shock resistance or Ebel’s micro-adjustable deployant buckle. A COSC accuracy rating is also common in this category.

WHAT TO AVOID

The Internet. It goes without saying that you should acquire one of these watches from an authorized dealer. Specialists at jewellery outlets are generally steeped in product knowledge and having a chat with a store’s watch expert is time well spent.

Photography by: Paul Koziorowski

As General Manager of the Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo has made a name for himself both for his leadership and his distinctive personal style. While he’s known for his love of bespoke suits and Italian shoes, Colangelo also appreciates the merits of a fine watch. Time&Style chatted with him about some of his favourites, and what he looks for in a timepiece.

Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo lives in a world where the clock is always ticking—particularly in overtime during the playoffs. Watches, on the other hand, induce less pressure. “Time is essential, watches aren’t,” he says. “We have countless options these days to make sure we get to places when we need to be there. Watches are more an expression of personal interest, style and taste.”

Although Colangelo hesitates to call himself a connoisseur, he admits, “I do enjoy a nice watch.” So much so that when he met Vincent Perriard, president of Concord watch, last year, their mutual love of timepieces led to a collaboration on a watch to benefit the Toronto Raptors Foundation, which supports programs and sports initiatives for kids. The result was a Concord C1 GMT affectionately nicknamed “the Toronto Black.” Colangelo wanted something that would be specific to Toronto and match the Raptors jersey. Red highlights on the dial represent all things Canadian.

Colangelo’s courtside style has been noted as well, as has his ability to turn the Raptors around since taking over in 2006. In addition to his penchant for custom-made Italian shirts and something of a shoe fetish, Colangelo says, “Over the years I’ve been fortunate to acquire a few nice watches. My favourites have to be a Rolex Daytona (steel with black dial) for dressy occasions and the Concord Toronto Black GMT as more of a sport watch. I really like classic and masculine designs, which I hope complement my personal style…but unfortunately I’m not the one judging always.” That said, he admits a nice watch does get noticed. “People make remarks all the time, and I’m guessing they are mostly watch lovers. For some reason, guys just love watches.”

So, what’s Colangelo’s criteria for buying a watch? “For me, ‘status’ is irrelevant when choosing a timepiece, as I have always based my purchases on personal preference, quality watchmaking and sustained value.” Next on his list of acquisitions? “I’m not looking for anything at the moment, but watch out for Technomarine, as Vincent Perriard [former president of Concord] recently changed shops. The guy is brilliant and will have some fun at a new price point.”

Photography by: Mario Miotti

The Concord C1 Quantum Gravity Tourbillon has more going for it than its long name, enormous case and astronomical price. It has something under the hood, and so it should for $480,000.

One, it’s a tourbillon, the most prestigious and difficult of all watch complications to produce. A tourbillon is always hand assembled, by master horologists only, and stands as a tribute to a brand’s watchmaking prowess. In a tourbillon, the escapement, consisting of balance wheel, hair spring and pallet forks, function inside a carriage (or cage) that rotates once every 60 seconds. The seconds hand in many tourbillons—and this one is no exception—is often therefore attached to the tourbillon cage.

Two, it’s the world’s first bi-axial tourbillon extended to the case side and anchored in the vertical position (including the seconds hand, which travels out there with it). The tourbillon was originally created for pocket watches in 1801 to compensate for the effects of gravity on the escapement. Because pocket watches were kept in the breast pocket, the tourbillon was designed to function in the vertical position. The Quantum Gravity is a tribute to this tradition. The biaxial rotation means it keeps better time.

Three, it’s big, but it ain’t heavy. Most of the movement components, including baseplate, bridges and large second wheel are made of lightweight aeronautical grade aluminum alloys. Much of the case is titanium, which is tougher and lighter than steel. This makes the watch highly wearable.

Four, this is the world’s first vertical liquid superluminova column-construction power reserve indicator. Why the big deal about power reserve? Aside from making the watch stand out like Shrek in March of the Penguins, it highlights the fact that the Quantum Gravity has intense power capability. Operating the watch requires a lot of torque to keep the tourbillion in motion through the long shaft from the mainspring through the gear train to the escapement. An extra-large mainspring barrel solves the problem, and gives the watch a three-day power reserve.

Finally, it’s the biggest, boldest, craziest tourbillon ever created—an extrovert’s dream come true.