Watch Dandy

Baume & Mercier’s collection of timepieces has been on a discernible upward trajectory for some time now – after years lost in the woods with middling collections and co-brands, the Geneva outfit is quietly making waves. And 2020 looks like it’s going to be another level again, with B&M layering up their sensational Baumatic model with a host of poetic, aesthetically pleasing complications. In addition, we have a new version of the Art Deco-inspired Hampton collection in a manly rectangular case, with lots of considered details. We’ve had a look at all the new models, and picked the ones we think will be the biggest hits with you, the enthusiasts. Baume & Mercier Hampton The Hampton is receiving a big revamp this year, and the keen-eyed among you may recognise the new timepiece is heavily inspired by 1920s Art Deco architecture. As Baume & Mercier explain, “In the image of the great Art Deco trends of the day, the curves of the Hampton watch take precedence over right angles and give beauty to the light gliding on smooth surfaces.” In total, the watchmaker is releasing no less than eight new iterations of the Hampton – five of which are ladies…

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After hours spent gazing with adoring eyes at the smooth sweep of a mechanical movement’s seconds hand, the ticking of a quartz watch can seem garish, unrefined, or almost brutish in unsophistication. Mechanical movements are accurate, visually intriguing and take an extraordinary level of skill to create. Where quartz watches are made, mechanical watches are crafted. But don’t be too quick to dismiss the ticking timepiece. Aside from the conveniences of lower ongoing maintenance, superior accuracy and no requirement to regularly wind, there are plenty of reasons that quartz watches should command our respect. The intricate devices inside many examples of modern battery-powered watches are serious and deserve serious contemplation.  We need to talk about Spring Drive Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive reimagined what application quartz crystal and electrical current might have in a watch movement, aesthetically and philosophically, as much as mechanically. The perhaps blasphemous marriage of mechanical and electrical leverages the best of quartz to improve the accuracy of a traditional movement, while still being regulated by centuries-old technology. You never forget the first time you see a Spring Drive movement. They have the rare power to make the sweeping seconds hand on a standard mechanical movement look pedestrian.…

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Editor’s note: For many watch enthusiasts out there, including me, one of the biggest problems we can come across is timepieces that are just too… big. I’ll freely admit it: I’ve got dainty wrists, and yes, it’s a problem. Luckily, though, watchmakers are catching on that there are more than a few individuals like me who are slight of hand. As a result, we’re seeing more and more timepieces being released that fall in the widely recognised Goldilocks zone of 36 – 40mm watches, which is a good thing. This has, however, caused a bit of an adverse problem for people with larger than average wrists, who are noting that it’s harder to find a good-looking wristwatch that actually suits them. Take Daniel, for example. He’d always wanted a Zenith El Primero, but had never been able to find one that could actually look good on his gargantuan lower left arm. Daniel thought all was lost … until a chance encounter at a local Zenith AD. When did you first see/hear about it? When I first started going down the rabbit hole about chronograph watches. The El Primero is, in my opinion, the Mac Daddy of automatic chronos, and ever…

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“Thanks for the emails Andrew,” the email from Steve begins. “All watch info is appreciated in these boring times.” And these boring times are certainly reaching peak levels for poor Steve. The email continues: “I recently spent a couple of days spreadsheeting my watches. I thought there might be a template on the net somewhere to help, but if there is I couldn’t find it. I know it’s a bit OCD, but I suspect a lot of watch collectors are too.” Necessity is the mother of invention, and Steve soldiered on. “I finished with a spreadsheet that features a photo of the watch along with details such as: Brand, Model, Gender, Type, Serial Number, Dial, Movement, Year of Manufacture, Strap Type, Water Resistance. Date and Place Purchased, Cost, Miscellaneous Info and Web Link. I could have added more, but didn’t want it to become too unwieldy. I even ended up adding my wife’s watches too.” Steve says life is better now his watches are catalogued, and he recommends it as an activity to kill time for collectors with many watches. “It not only kept me busy for a while, but I now have the details of all of my watches in one place and an…

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