Elite Traveler Spring 2021

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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double BalanceWheel Openworked Immediately recognizable from across a crowded room, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak is a legendary watch. First designed by the famed Gerald Genta, the watch has enjoyed nearly 50 years of attention since its unveiling in 1972. The newest iteration is created using the ancient Italian jewelry technique of hand-hammering the gold for a unique frosted finish. The 18-karat white gold 37mm case and bracelet are entirely hand finished for a textured sheen that is smooth as silk. The bezel is polished and is set with a rainbow of 32 individually set baguette-cut stones. $104,600, audemarspiguet.com

Hublot Big Bang One Click Sang Bleu King Gold Hublot has long been an innovator when it comes to new materials. After all, this was the first brand to put a vanilla-infused rubber strap on a luxury gold watch. In its workshops in Nyon, Switzerland, this brand has its own top-secret research and development laboratory where it regularly devises new materials. King Gold is one of them. The King Gold, alloyed with certain materials, including platinum, is stronger and more scratch resistant than 18-karat gold, and it has a richer rose sheen. This watch, designed in cooperation with Sang Bleu, has an engraved design created by Maxime Plescia-Büchi. It is powered by a self-winding movement. $29,400, hublot.com

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date Everose A name known around the world, Rolex has been innovating since it was founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905. This brand created the first water-resistant watch — that became known as the Oyster — and, to this day, invents and uses a host of proprietary materials. This entire Oyster Perpetual Day-Date superlative chronometer features a case and bracelet crafted using the brand’s Everose gold. Everose was first introduced to the world in 2005 and is a blend of 18-karat pink gold with copper and a bit of platinum. It has a unique warm red hue that never loses its color. The watch is powered by a Rolex self-winding movement that is made in-house. $38,850, rolex.com

Omega De Ville Trésor Canopus Gold™ Another brand that has created several of its own proprietary golds, as well as exclusive ceramic and other materials, is Omega. This De Ville Trésor quartz watch is crafted in the brand’s own Canopus™ gold that was introduced in 2018. The white gold alloy is mixed with other metals (Omega discloses nothing) to create a high- brilliance whiteness. Unlike most 18-karat white gold watches, Canopus Gold is not ruthenium coated and yet it will not fade with time. The 36mm watch case and dial are

set with a total of 262 diamonds. $25,400, omegawatches.com