A haven for aficionados of beautiful watches

Luca Bonfichi, Espace Connaisseur manager for the Lugano boutique.

The timepieces on display at the Espace Connaisseur at Les Ambassadeurs’Lugano store are astonishingly beautiful and technically sophisticated.

Situated a short distance from the lake, and beneath the historic porticoes of via Nassa, the Espace Connaisseur at Les Ambassadeurs’ Lugano store is home to timepieces that truly stand out. At this recently renovated location, Luca Bonfichi welcomes both faithful customers and visitors in search of an extraordinary watch. The selection cleverly blends design codes: classic,modern, and unique complications.

HYT, Skull Bad Boy, 151-DL-43-NF-AS
CHF 90,000.–

“Founded in 2012, HYT creates cutting-edge timepieces while drawing on traditional watchmaking expertise. As with all HYT pieces, the time is displayed using two retrograde liquids, one coloured, the other transparent. These fluids, whose composition remains a closely guarded secret, can cost tens of millions of Swiss francs per litre, and this new (black), colour took 12 months to develop. This limited edition of 50 pieces truly expresses the brand’s identity: bold and emotive. It is aimed at customers who can afford not to be on time.”

Parmigiani Fleurier

Ulysse Nardin, Executive Skeleton, Tourbillon, 1712-139
CHF 49,000.–

“The Executive collection moves away from the classic design of Ulysse Nardin watches to embrace a modern, minimalistic style with its skeleton dial, allowing a full view of the gear train within. The centrepiece of the collection is the Skeleton Tourbillon, featuring a flying tourbillon manufactured in-house, manual winding with
7-day power reserve, as well as a silicon escapement. Ulysse Nardin was the first Manufacture to master the properties of this non-magnetic, extremely hard-wearing material. Furthermore, the extremely smooth surface of the silicon removes the need for lubricants, thus reducing the amount of maintenance required. The pinnacle of design and technology.”

Greubel Forsey

Franck Muller, Cintrée Curvex Crazy, Hours, 8880 CH COL AC
CHF 23,300.–

“The Franck Muller brand is known for the often extravagant style of its creations. With this timepiece, the Genevese watchmaker combines its famous barrel-shaped case, the Cintrée Curvex, with the Crazy Hours complication. The hours on the guilloché dial are not displayed in order, making the development of the jumping hour complication even more technically complex. The hour hand therefore ‘jumps’ from one area of the dial to another, while the minutes hand performs a traditional rotation. A highly technical watch, with incomparable style.”

Roger Dubuis

Blancpain, Quantième perpétuel, 8 jours, 6659-3431-55B
CHF 75,000.–

“The oldest and most classic brand of this selection is surely Blancpain. With this perpetual calendar, one of the most famous complications in Fine Watchmaking, the Manufacture founded in 1735 demonstrates the exceptional craftsmanship of its watchmakers. The timepiece will display the correct date until 2100, taking every year – including leap years – into account. This platinum model – produced in 188 copies, number 100 of which is offered by Les Ambassadeurs – also features moon phases and an eight-day power reserve. A grand feu enamel dial adds to the watch’s elegance.”

Breguet

Urwerk, UR-210Y
CHF 147,550.–

“In keeping with its futuristic identity, with this limited edition of 75 pieces Urwerk displays the visionary talent of its two founders, Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei. Combining its flagship complication, ‘satellites’ (which display the time), retrograde minutes, a power reserve indicator and a winding efficiency indicator, this watch is jam-packed with technology. The winding efficiency indicator is a world first: if the wearer stays still for too long, the hand will move towards the red zone. You can then position the winding regulator (located on the back of the watch) to ‘full’ in order to maximise the energy created by the slightest movement of the wrist. A non-electronic smartwatch, if you will!”

In Switzerland, Urwerk is available exclusively from Les Ambassadeurs.

HYT H2

Louis Moinet, Tempograph Chrome, LM-50.10.20
CHF 22,000.–

“Founded in 2003 by company director and watchmaking enthusiast Jean-Marie Schaller, Louis Moinet transforms technology into aesthetic wonders. On this model, the main complication features a twenty-second retrograde mechanism. The combination of this real technical feat and the entirely blue external parts is what makes this
timepiece – a limited edition of 60 copies – so beautiful. The dial displaying the time, decorated with a Clous de Paris guilloché pattern, occupies just a small section of the dial. Like other creations from the brand, the watch pays tribute to the artistic talents of the master watchmaker whose name it bears (see L.A 22, p. 26).”

In Switzerland, Louis Moinet is available exclusively from Les Ambassadeurs.

HYT H2

“We forge strong bonds with our customers. Some visit the Espace Connaisseur every month.”

Luca Bonfichi, Espace Connaisseur manager for the Lugano boutique