Timepieces – South Coast Plaza https://www.southcoastplaza.com Tue, 06 Dec 2022 01:02:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 The Hottest Watches for the Holiday Season https://www.southcoastplaza.com/stories/2022/12/the-hottest-watches-for-the-holiday-season/ Tue, 06 Dec 2022 01:01:42 +0000 https://www.southcoastplaza.com/?p=85893

THE HOTTEST WATCHES FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

BY LAURIE BROOKINS

A status timepiece is always a welcome gift, especially when it’s from any of these coveted brands.

Status watches are currently enjoying a high-wattage moment among luxury brands, as casual and hardcore collectors alike understand more than ever both the artistic and investment value of today’s hottest timepieces. Such an idea is likewise reflected in the healthy number of watch boutiques offered at South Coast Plaza, which indeed boasts the largest collection of luxury timepiece and jewelry boutiques under one roof in North America.

Whether your taste in high-end watches tends toward ultra-classic or a style that’s racier and more forward-thinking, you’re sure to discover a piece you’ll covet for years to come among the latest selection at South Coast Plaza. Here’s a look at five sought-after brands among aficionados, each a new addition to this sophisticated retail destination, as well as their latest pieces, guaranteed to rank high on every watch lover’s wish list.

SOUTH COAST PLAZA

THE HOLIDAY TIMEPIECE EDIT

BREITLING

Chronomat Automatic 36

Level 2, Carousel Court
657.467.6279

From their impeccable craftsmanship to a focus on themes that appeal to today’s most adventurous enthusiasts, Breitling has established itself as the watch brand that loves to push boundaries. That idea is backed up by its impressive range of all-star ambassadors, from Charlize Theron and Misty Copeland to Brad Pitt, Adam Driver, soccer superstar Erline Haaland and the NFL’s Trevor Lawrence. Trailblazers all, these A-listers perfectly represent the audacious spirit for which Breitling has become known. 

All of which means: If you love speed, precarious heights or simply the idea of changing the game, a Breitling watch will likely catch your eye. Bold dial colors, rugged styling and thoughtful functions are the hallmarks of this brand, which can be unabashedly sporty while also feeling undeniably upscale. Yet Breitling also excels with dress watches, including this Chronomat Automatic 36, a unisex piece that offers on-trend two-tone styling in stainless steel and 18-karat red gold and can be purchased with or without the splash of diamond sparkle around the bezel on the 36mm case.


TUDOR

The Black Bay Fifty-Eight 39mm with an 18-karat yellow gold case and green dial

Level 2, Carousel Court
657.467.6264

Most watch fans know this brand as the sister company to Rolex, which is an impeccable recommendation in itself — but if you dive a little deeper, you’ll quickly find Tudor’s popularity is rooted in its talent for producing exceptional timepieces featuring classic styling you’ll be proud to wear on your wrist every day. 

Known for its in-house movements and high-end styling, Tudor’s Black Bay is without question the icon of the brand and the most sought-after piece among collectors. Launched in 2012 as the modern update to Tudor’s Submariner dive watch, the Black Bay is available in a variety of iterations, including a GMT, Day-Date and Chronograph. And while functions like its rotating dive bezel and luminescent hands indeed highlight its dive capabilities, they also add up to a watch that feels equal parts substantial and classic. This Black Bay Fifty-Eight — which indeed takes its name from the styling of a Rolex bracelet in the mid-1950s — offers classic design in abundance, from its 39mm case in 18-karat yellow gold to its hunter-green dial and brown alligator strap, while its self-winding mechanical movement is waterproof to 200 meters and offers 70 hours of power reserve.   


ROGER DUBUIS

Limited-edition Excalibur MT Cobalt 42mm

Level 2, Carousel Court
Coming Soon

Another brand that effortlessly balances the duality of sporty and stylish, Roger Dubuis is beloved by watch fans who are seeking timepieces that feel decidedly unique — in other words, you won’t see it on every other wrist at a lunch or cocktail party. Roger Dubuis watchmakers imbue each model with its own unique spirit, which could be inspired by anything from auto racing to the legend of the knights of the round table. A notched fluted bezel and skeleton styling that reveals a star-shaped bridge are likewise signatures of this eye-catching brand. 

The Excalibur ranks high among the brand’s most coveted models — this Excalibur MT Cobalt 42mm is limited to just 88 pieces and features a flying tourbillon with carriages crafted in titanium, a detail that increased the power reserve to 72 hours. The hand-wound movement is fully visible via both the skeletonized dial and the crystal case back, all housed in a 42mm case crafted of a non-magnetic cobalt-chronium alloy that’s proprietary to Roger Dubuis. 


HUBLOT

Big Bang Unico King Gold Ceramic 42mm

Level 2, Carousel Court
949.389.2140

If there’s any brand that swings for the fences, it’s Hublot. From its collaborations with sports stars and world-renowned artists to the forward-thinking technology it employs to achieve its distinct look and color palette, Hublot excels at watches that get noticed. Then again, that shouldn’t be surprising for a brand that employs “Big Bang” as one of its most popular model names, and you do indeed get a lot of bang (and plenty of notice from envious friends) from a Hublot watch.

Bold ceramic hues and sculpted cases that feel wholly substantial are among the signatures of a Hublot Big Bang, but its most sought-after design among fans has to be the blend of black and a proprietary 18-karat rose gold alloy — known as “King Gold” in Hublot parlance — seen on this 42mm Big Bang Unico King Gold Ceramic. Featuring a satin-finished and polished King Gold case and black ceramic bezel, the latter affixed with the brand’s signature H-shaped screws in titanium, this Big Bang features the brand’s Unico self-winding chronography flyback movement with column wheel, visible via the matte-black skeleton dial. 


IWC

Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe”

Level 2, Between Jewel and Carousel Courts
714.955.4037

Hollywood A-listers from Tom Cruise to Bradley Cooper have sported an IWC timepiece on their wrists, but social media went wild earlier this year when Tom Brady was spotted wearing the brand while playing in The Match, the latest golf tournament that paired the football icon with fellow star Aaron Rodgers in a tournament against two equally high-wattage names, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. The June battle on the course at Wynn Las Vegas featured copious imagery of Brady wearing one of IWC’s newest styles, the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe.” 

That might sound like a mouthful, but not when you break down the meaning in that detailed style name. IWC — which stands for “International Watch Company” — has been crafting pilot’s watches for more than 85 years and honors that legacy with a dial that indeed resembles the instruments in an aircraft cockpit. Since 2007, the brand has partnered with the Navy Fighters Weapons School, also known as the “Top Gun” school widely known from the 1986 film and its 2022 sequel (and yes, Top Gun watches are seen in both). 

Released earlier this year, this Lake Tahoe edition features a white ceramic case and matching white rubber strap with a textile-inspired treatment; both are meant to evoke thoughts of white Navy dress uniforms and the winter landscape of Lake Tahoe, where naval aviators often can be found training. The white 44.5mm case also nicely offsets the black dial, which includes functions like a chronograph and day-date window.



MORE STORIES


]]>
Naomi Osaka debuts her own TAG Heuer Limited Edition Aquaracer https://www.southcoastplaza.com/stories/2022/01/naomi-osaka-debuts-her-own-tag-heuer-limited-edition-aquaracer/ Wed, 19 Jan 2022 18:23:28 +0000 https://www.southcoastplaza.com/?p=68826

NAOMI OSAKA DEBUTS HER OWN TAG HEUER LIMITED EDITION AQUARACER

Our Exclusive Mini Q&A with the Four-Time Grand Slam Winner

When four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka won her first match on day one of the Australian Open on Monday, the tennis star unveiled to the world her newest fashion statement, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Naomi Osaka Limited Edition. The defending champion showed the watch in action in the most natural way possible: by playing.

Available at the West Coast-exclusive TAG Heuer boutique that opened at South Coast Plaza six months ago, the new watch is a collaboration between Osaka and the well-known timepiece company. Just a year ago, Osaka signed on to become an ambassador for the La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland-based brand.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300
Naomi Osaka Limited Edition

Only 250 have been made of this Naomi Osaka limited edition model, the most eye-catching feature of which is its bold use of color. The dial and the strap are rendered in shades of green, the hue that’s been sweeping the fashion universe since last year. The lacquered and wave-patterned dial is in a soothing pale mint, while the five-minute markers are in neon green, sitting adjacent to white diamonds that accent eight octagonal hour markers.

The striated rubber strap is in a chic emerald – a standout in a sea of classic blacks, browns, navy and metal colors. The watch also comes with an additional strap made of recycled fishnets that’s recyclable, reflecting Osaka’s ongoing commitment to the environment.

Turn the watch over to reveal the case back and you’ll find a charming surprise: It’s engraved with Osaka’s official logo – a teddy bear holding a flower.

In considering technical features, it was natural for Osaka to gravitate toward the Aquaracer model, prized by athletes and highly active people for its outstanding robustness and its wider hour markers and hands that are easy to view at a glance. The watch is equipped with the TAG Heuer calibre 5 automatic movement and is water-resistant to 300 meters.

 

South Coast Plaza’s Exclusive Mini-Q&A

WITH NAOMI OSAKA

South Coast Plaza: What were some of the design and technical must-haves that you wanted out of a TAG Heuer watch that bears your name?

Naomi Osaka: We wanted something sporty but that could also be worn with a variety of looks. We also wanted to have two strap choices for even more versatility.

SCP: We love the shades of green for the strap and dial. Please tell us about your inspiration for those.

Osaka: Green is the color of my logo which I designed a few years ago now. The color palette “Naomi Green” was something I came up with as it gave me energy and pop. It’s a color I like to wear and it flashes and clashes; plus, it’s a nod to my day job (tennis).

SCP: How would you describe your personal style when it comes to fashion, especially fine timepieces and jewelry?

Osaka: My daily style is really a mix of sporty and feminine. But my style for specific occasions is a lot wilder and unpredictable. I love styling outfits with pieces that are unique and unexpected, which is why my new limited edition Aquaracer is perfect for sport.

The green band feels like a nice surprise in contrast to a lot of other sporty watches out there. And for dressier looks, I usually choose a watch with a stainless steel band because it goes with my jewelry and feels more elevated.

For more on the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Naomi Osaka Limited Edition visit:


MORE STORIES


Haute for the Holidays

For Santas in need of December 25th tips, here are glam gifts and fashion finds from…

Easter Style Guide

Our List of Must-Haves from our Home and Childrenswear Collections
]]>
Visit the Newly Opened Audemars Piguet https://www.southcoastplaza.com/stories/2021/10/visit-the-newly-opened-audemars-piguet/ Wed, 13 Oct 2021 06:26:56 +0000 https://www.southcoastplaza.com/?p=62061

VISIT THE NEWLY OPENED AUDEMARS PIGUET

The boutique offers the newest Royal Oak watches and other coveted timepieces

Renowned Swiss fine timepiece manufacturer Audemars Piguet has debuted its South Coast Plaza boutique, an Orange County exclusive. Inspired by the brand’s home in the Swiss Jura Mountains, the 1,200 sq.-ft. boutique has an understated and handsome contemporary aesthetic accented by curated sculptures and a dramatic photograph of alpine trees rising above rolling fog.

Among the men’s and women’s timepieces on display are the new Royal Oak Offshore models and the latest women’s novelties such as the Royal Oak Frosted Gold Selfwinding in 34mm, available for the first time with a light blue tapisserie dial.

The origins of Audemars Piguet date back to the 1800s, when Jules Louis Audemars (1851–1918) and Edward Auguste Piguet (1853–1919), two young and ambitious watchmakers, established their workshop in 1875 in their home village of Le Brassus. Believing in the power of the Vallée de Joux’s network of artisanship and following their firm convictions, they set on crafting unique complicated mechanisms by hand at a time when serial production was looming with the rise of industrialization.

Refined chiming, chronograph and astronomical watches, assembled and finished by hand, have remained the beating heart of Audemars Piguet ever since.

Among the watches in the Swiss maison’s history, the Royal Oak remains the most iconic. Designed by Gérald Genta and introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was unexpected, with its large 39 mm tonneau-shaped case, octagonal bezel with eight exposed hexagonal screws, engine-turned “Tapisserie” dial, faceted bracelet and body of hand-finished steel. This watch broke the mold of design codes at a time when most dress watches for men were round, smaller in size, classic in design and made of precious metals. Genta’s idea was to protect the world’s thinnest self-winding movement with tough armor: stainless steel. An unconventional material in haute horlogerie then and much harder to work with than gold, steel was elevated for the first time to the same status as gold.

THE ROYAL OAK WOMENS NOVELTIES

ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE SELF-WINDING CHRONOGRAPH 42MM PETITE

ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE SELF-WINDING CHRONOGRAPH 42MM MEGA

ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE SELF-WINDING CHRONOGRAPH 43 MM

The Royal Oak has since grown to become a series prized by horological connoisseurs, along with other notable timepieces in the Audemars Piguet collection, including the Millenary and the Jules Audemars Grande Complication. As for Audemars Piguet, the company has become one of the world’s most esteemed Swiss timepiece maisons, while remaining independent, family-owned and still rooted where it all began – in Le Brassus.


MORE STORIES


]]>