Fratello’s Top 5 Current Integrated-Bracelet Watches — Our Picks From Chopard, Laurent Ferrier, Parmigiani Fleurier, And More
Another Friday, another Top 5! Last week, we dipped our toes into the world of modern sports watches with integrated bracelets. We took a look at some of the more affordable options. But what about the not-so-affordable options? As you would expect, it’s a playing field with quite a few usual suspects. Having said that, they do make for impressive timepieces. That’s why we decided to take a look at our favorite options without a budget cap. This week’s list gives you simply five options for modern sports watches with integrated bracelets. No budget restrictions are necessary.
As I mentioned last week, the most interesting development in the integrated-bracelet segment is the introduction of affordable options. It used to be a segment for people that had at least €20K–25K to spend on a watch. And let’s be honest; the vast majority of people will never spend that kind of money or more on a watch. That’s why seeing the less expensive options slowly becoming a part of this segment is great. One of the comments that stood out was from Enuona, who said, “I don’t believe the perfect integrated bracelet wristwatch is made yet.” It’s an interesting take that can only be answered personally. That’s why we will ask you whether one of these six — yes, we found a sixth for this week — represents perfection for you. Let’s take a look.
Chopard Alpine Eagle XPS
I have to be honest here; I was not a fan of the Chopard Alpine Eagle when it was introduced in 2019. But sometimes all it takes is a dial to change your perception of a watch. That’s exactly what happened when I saw the new Alpine Eagle XPS that was introduced during Watches and Wonders this year. The new version comes with a stunning “Monte Rosa” salmon-pink dial with small seconds at six and, unlike the standard Alpine Eagle, no date window at four-thirty. As a result, the overall dial design feels more balanced. As Thor also explained, this is remarkable because it adds an extra element to the Alpine Eagle and works miracles visually.
The watch comes with a 41mm Lucent Steel A223 case that is made from 85% recycled materials. In a nice upgrade, the thickness of the case was reduced from 9.7mm to a very slim 8mm. That was possible thanks to the use of the chronometer-certified manufacture caliber L.U.C 96.40-L. This 4Hz automatic micro-rotor movement features a 65-hour power reserve and is graced with the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.
This new Alpine Eagle 41 XPS is the full package for me. The magic of that color combined with the dial’s motif is mesmerizing. Add the beautiful movement, and this new release is one of the best in class at €24,400.
Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit
Next up is another salmon dial and an instant grail for many watch fans. The design of Laurent Ferrier’s Grand Sport is rather unique. It does not take any influences from any of the other heavy hitters, and I love that. Additionally, you know you get something technically marvelous with a watch from Laurent Ferrier. And this new version of the Grand Sport proves to be a fan favorite for people who like tourbillons but not necessarily how they’re usually displayed on watch dials. I am one of those people. I usually like a certain simplicity when it comes to dial designs, and that’s not what most tourbillon watches offer. The technical tour de force is often the focal point of the dial.
But Laurent Ferrier decided to take a different approach. By integrating the tourbillon and making it visible on the backside of the watch, the face gets a beautiful salmon-colored crosshair dial that is simply wonderful. Every detail oozes sophistication, but the standouts for me are the small seconds at 6 o’clock and the “Tourbillon Grand Sport” text right above it. The watch is executed in Grade 5 titanium and has a 44mm case measuring 13.4mm thick.
Consequently, it is not one of the slimmest watches in this category. But the design feels original, balanced, and meticulously finished. The magic of the hand-winding caliber LF619.01 is visible through the sapphire display back. This breathtaking piece comes in at a whopping CHF 175,000. Needless to say, what you get in return is a unique take on this genre of watches.
H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Centre Seconds Smoked Salmon
It was remarkable to conclude that the Smoked Salmon was only the second version of the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Centre Seconds. Three years after the introduction of the Streamliner Centre Seconds Matrix Green, the brand delivered a great second version of the time-only Streamliner. While there is nothing new about it other than the dial, the stunning new “salmon” colorway is more than enough reason for a spot on this list. It really complements the unique design of the Streamliner perfectly. The fumé dial starts light in the middle and fades to black on the perimeter, and the vertically brushed (or “griffé”) finish gives the dial even more detail and texture. Speaking of detail, this version has the logo applied with transparent lacquer on the upper half of the dial.
The watch comes with the familiar 40mm stainless steel case that is 12.1mm thick, including the sapphire crystal. The stunning bracelet is one of the best elements of the design and the one that started it all for the Streamliner. It is designed, engineered, and executed brilliantly, resulting in a watch that is a joy to wear.
If you turn the watch around, you are greeted by the in-house caliber HMC 200 The automatic movement has a three-day power reserve and is finished beautifully with Moser stripes and a skeletonized 18K rose gold rotor with the brand’s signature. At CHF 19,900, this new Streamliner seems like a bargain compared to some competitors. Having said that, for anyone interested, the brand’s website states that it has sold out.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante
The obvious pick for this list would have been the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante. The watch introduced a new complication to Parmigiani Fleurier’s successful Tonda PF lineup this year. But when we had a series of new Tonda PF models in the office, the stunning rose gold version of the Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante stood out for most of us. The combination of the rose gold case and bracelet with the dark blue dial and its refined pattern is simply stunning. Gracing the dial are the small rose gold hour markers and three hands, of which you will only see the two rose gold ones if the GMT function is switched off.
As most of you will know, the GMT Rattrapante is a unique and brilliant complication. As Thomas explained in the introductory article linked above, beneath the hour hand, there is a second one. By pushing the button on the bottom left of the case, the regular hour hand jumps in one-hour increments to the local time zone you are in. The hour hand beneath it keeps your home time.
Once you return home, a push of the button in the crown makes the local-hour hand jump back to home time. As a result, you will also go back to seeing two hands again. This is made possible by the caliber PF051 created by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. The automatic micro-rotor movement has a 48-hour power reserve and looks stunning. At €66,700, this is a pricey option, but it is sheer rose gold bliss.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Moon Phase Retrograde Date
For the fifth entry on this list, we picked the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Moon Phase Retrograde Date. My Fratello teammates that got to see and try on this watch were super impressed by this surprising version of the brand’s Overseas. It was part of a trio of retrograde watches that Vacheron Constantin announced during Watches and Wonders earlier this year. For me, the most impressive was the Overseas as it showed the brilliance of the line’s design. The integration of the moonphase display and retrograde date showed once more how open and versatile the design of the Overseas is. I am a big fan of the regular Overseas Selfwinding as it shows a refined and classy dial design that has it all for me.
With the Moon Phase Retrograde Date, the brand introduced a 41mm Overseas that comes in at just 10.48mm thick. That slim profile is possible thanks to the in-house 2460 R31L/2 movement, which consists of 275 parts. It is visible through the sapphire display case back and provides 40 hours of power reserve. But while it is a beautiful movement to look at, the true magic is on the dial side.
The beautiful deep blue dial features a retrograde date display on the upper half and a moonphase indication on the bottom half. Both the tip of the retrograde date hand and the moonphase disc are in different shades of blue than the dial. It creates a beautiful blue symphony of colors. The watch comes with a stainless steel bracelet and two additional blue straps in calfskin leather and rubber for €47,500. This version is further proof of the incredible versatility of the Overseas line.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin White Gold
I told you I would have a sixth entry for this list. For many, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak would be the counterpoint to Enuona’s remark that the perfect watch in this genre is still to be created. It was the watch that started this genre, and to many of us, it would be the ultimate example of what this style is all about. Last year, Audemars Piguet celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak in style. The brand created the perfect next step in its icon’s history with a full collection of new dials and movements. This year, AP added two new spectacular models to the Royal Oak lineup that impressed us. The first is the 18K yellow gold Royal Oak Selfwinding 37mm with a turquoise dial.
The second is the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin in white gold with a special blue grain dial. It shows that the Royal Oak does not necessarily need its trusted tapisserie pattern. Sure, it is a longstanding design element of the watch, but this unique blue dial shows that it is at least as exciting. The sparkle of the dial is reminiscent of the night sky over Le Brassus, and it works wonders with the Royal Oak’s angular design. It creates a certain calmness in the dial with enough visual sparkle to make it a brilliant option. The watch comes with a 39mm white gold case that is 8.1mm thick. Inside it, Audemars Piguet uses the in-house caliber 7121 that was introduced last year, providing a 55-hour power reserve. At €78,000, this is an expensive option. But it also shows the brilliance of Gérald Genta’s design once more.
Final thoughts on the best integrated-bracelet watches
There you have it — a small selection of the best integrated-bracelet watches currently available with no budget cap. And as you can see, your budget needs to be quite substantial to buy one of the watches on this list. That makes the trend of brands introducing more affordable options even more relevant. As is always the case with lists like these, a wide variety of watches could have been featured in this article. This list is the starting point for a more extensive discussion. What is your favorite option currently available in this category, and why? Let us know in the comments section below. We will see you next week for another Top 5 list.
