The sky’s the limit

Like the first morning rays creeping over the horizon, Zenith’s DEFY Skyline 36 model has a shimmering blue sunburst pattern. The 36mm octagonal steel case contrasts with the diamond-set faceted bezel, adding a sense of visual depth. Talking of depth, this aesthetically stunning timepiece is water-resistant up to 100m, it also features a quick strap-change mechanism and is driven by Zenith’s in-house Elite 670 automatic movement with a 50-hour power reserve. Zenith DEFY Skyline 36, £10,600; zenith-watches.com

Well coiled

Evoking the seductive power of the serpent, this model from Bulgari merges two of its signature designs – the iconic Tubogas and the snake. With organic deftness, this single-spiral watch seems to come to life on the wrist, featuring 18ct yellow gold, diamonds, a crown set with pink rubellite and a white opaline dial with a guilloché soleil treatment. This is truly a temptation from timepiece paradise. Serpenti Tubogas watch, £13,600; bulgari.com

Moving in the right circles

Commemorating the shared 60th anniversary of the TAG Heuer Carrera and the Porsche 911, both trailblazers in their respective fields, this special-edition automatic chronograph epitomises a passion for racing. The in-house Calibre TH20-08 movement was inspired by the engine of the sports car, whose original 0 to 100 was 9.1 seconds. The watch’s second hand takes precisely that time to cover the red portion of the dial, while its elegant style is inspired by car dashboard displays of the 1970s. It also comes in an 18ct solid rose gold iteration, with a fine-brushed and polished case and brown calfskin leather bracelet embossed with the original 911 logo. TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche, £8,050; in rose gold, £20,550; tagheuer.com

Second nature

Dior Joaillerie creative director Victoire de Castellane has added many more designs to the Gem Dior jewellery collection this year, including striking timepieces inspired by the beauty of asymmetry and contrast found in natural landscapes. The GEM DIOR lapis lazuli dial has a steel bezel set with 31 brilliant-cut diamonds and featuring an 18ct yellow gold insert, with none of the watch’s elements symmetrically aligned. The brilliant blue dial, meanwhile, provides a vibrant backdrop to the polished dauphine hands, which pop on its mesmerising surface. GEM DIOR lapis lazuli 27mm watch, £14,5000; dior.com

Peak performance

Limited to 1,786 pieces, the Montblanc Star Legacy Chronograph comes in a 42mm stainless-steel case that nods to the rocky side of the eponymous mountain. The craggy glacier pattern at the dial’s centre gives a sense of volume amplified by the inner flange, evoking the colossal presence of the summit. Leaf-shaped hands coated in rose gold float in its midst, while an interchangeable grey calf-leather strap complements the textured inner dial with its alligator print. Montblanc Star Legacy 42mm chronograph limited edition, £3,805; montblanc.com

Art and soul

Bulgari’s CEO Jean-Christophe Babin and managing director Antoine Pin share an ethos that places emotional connections at the heart of design. The timepieces the luxury Italian fashion house has innovated are filled with as much meaning for their creators as for their buyers and owners. Get an in-depth glimpse behind the scenes with Bulgari: Beyond Time, a book whose artful images and illuminating conversations with the house’s specialists are as engrossing as they are impressive. Bulgari: Beyond Time coffee table book, £215; eu.assouline.com