As Seen from Above: 3 Watches with a View of Earth

There are a host of stunning timepieces on the market that offer world time rings –with key city names listed on them to help with this effort. Some, though, also go the extra step of adding a delightful view –either on the dial or via disks — of Earth or the hemispheres as seen from above. Additionally, some brands invest in a view of Earth just for the beauty of the look and not for the world time complication. Here we bring you a look at three great watches with a view of Earth.

Bovet 1822 Recital 18
Also known as the Shooting Star watch, this tourbillon world time watch offers a hemispheric view and includes selectable time zones, a 24-icty indicator on rollers and a hemispheric moonphase display. It also track time with a jumping hour and retrograde (flyback) minutes. Bovet sought the help of a cartographer to design the 3D spherical globe at 3:00 that represents Earth. It is from this globe that the universal time is displayed via a curved hand affixed to the North Pole in the center. The Bovet Recital 18 “Shooting Star” is offered in an18-karat white or gold 46mm case. Just 50 pieces are being made. 295,000 CHF.

Montblanc Tourbillon Cylindrique NightSky Geospheres Limited Edition

While this watch was first unveiled to the world in 2015, it is one of the most beautiful renditions of time around the world. Part of the brand’s hand-made Villeret Collection; the watch combines a world time function with 24 time zones for both the southern and northern hemispheres. It also offers a second time zone display, indication of local time and a one-minute tourbillon escapement.

The two three-dimensional hand-engraved and hand-painted globes indicate the continents in relief, and depict the oceans and latitude and longitude lines. Centered beneath the globes is a tiny subdial that shows the second time zone that can be used as the home-time indicator while traveling. Just 18 pieces will ever be made of this version. 275,000 CHF.

Graff MasterGraff GyroGraff World

Crafted in a 48mm gold case, the new GyroGraff hand-wound watch offers hours and minutes, double-axis tourbillon, moonphase indicator and power reserve indicator. Not a world-time watch, this limited edition of five pieces displays different continents as captured from the perspective of space. The 3D moon is presented as a hand-engraved gold orb – opposite the double-axis tourbillon – and rotates to indicate the phases. The map dial is hand chiseled and color is added via high-fire enamel. Price on request.