Event – A. Lange & Söhne at Concours of Elegance, An Interview with CEO Wilhelm Schmid And Tons of Car/Watch Photos

Had you been walking past Hampton Court this weekend, no doubt you would you have heard the roar from the dozens of fine vintage specimens manoeuvring around the palace for the Concours of Elegance. This year was the first time A. Lange & Söhne had supported the event – though, you would be forgiven for confusing this Concourse of Elegance classic car event with the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como. Both events are supported by Lange, but this show held at Hampton Court Palace is, in fact, no relation to the one on Lake Como. Still, we were there, we enjoyed the scenery (cars and watches are always a winning combo – especially Lange x Classic Cars) and we talked with CEO Wilhelm Schmid.

6 years ago

Introducing – Bell & Ross BR-X2 Skeleton Tourbillon Micro-Rotor – Extreme Transparency

Bell & Ross is making another bold addition to its futuristic “Experimental” collection this year. Just announced, the new BR-X2 Skeleton Tourbillon Micro-Rotor is the evolution of the BR-X2 Tourbillon introduced last year. Stripped back to the absolute essentials, this ultra-modern watch takes the challenge of transparency to the extreme, offering crystal clear insight into the company’s interpretation of contemporary Haute Horlogerie.

6 years ago

INTRODUCING: 5 new Panerai Radiomir 1940s – the Mediterraneo Edition, inspired by the deep blue sea

Panerai has just dropped a quintet of new, boutique-only watches and they are straight fire. These watches, called the Mediterraneo Edition, are all in Radiomir 1940 cases, and include a 42mm steel automatic (PAM00933), a 45mm GMT and a 45mm GMT with power reserve (PAM00945 and PAM00946 respectively), a red gold 45mm automatic (PAM00934), and a large 47mm hand-winder (PAM00932). Now, aside from the cases, what unites all these watches are the dials. The dials on these watches are a gradient blue, produced using an exclusive manufacturing process. These sort of smoky, graduated dials are really on-trend right now, and Panerai’s execution looks – from stock images at least – exceptional. Lighter in the centre and fading to an inky black, they really do evoke a deep, dark ocean, and the contrast with the cream-coloured print and luminous materials is on point. We’re looking forward to seeing all these models (particularly the red gold, which should be stunning) in real life, when they arrive in boutiques in mid-to-late September. But if you like what you see, don’t delay, as apparently they’re very popular.   Panerai Radiomir 1940 Mediterraneo Edition Australian pricing Panerai Radiomir 1940 Mediterraneo Edition PAM00933 (42mm, Automatic), $13,850;…

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6 years ago

INTRODUCING: Quartz traveller – the Grand Seiko Sport 9F86 Quartz GMT Collection

When jetting off overseas, I like to pack light and travel easy. Between checking-in and shuffling my way through airport security and customs, to managing the sleepy-eyed excitement, that usually leads to increased bouts of forgetfulness. For me, the entire experience must be as uncomplicated as possible. That’s where a very handy GMT watch comes in. And scheduled for release in the next six months, Grand Seiko has just announced three brand-new dual-time-telling additions. Combining the dependability and high-end ability of Grand Seiko’s 9F quartz calibre with the functionality of a GMT. As synonymous with Grand Seiko as Zaratsu polishing and being hand-assembled (which, mind you, are also traits of these new additions), the quartz calibre 9F has been combined with a GMT complication for the very first time, creating the calibre 9F86. With the calibre’s impressive list of features – that already consist of a zero-backlash seconds hand, dial-edge reaching minute and seconds hands, and individually selected and aged quartz crystals – increased to now include a GMT complication with an independently adjustable hour hand. Also, despite the addition of the extra hand, the thickness of the familiar 39mm cases has only been increased slightly, to 12.1mm — thanks to…

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6 years ago

Hands-on – TAG Heuer Carbon Aquaracer Calibre 5 Special Series – a New Trilogy of Divers with Carbon Details

Move over ceramic, here comes carbon. Carbon fibre is the flavour of the day in the material world giving watches a high-tech stealth look associated with the world of F1 and competitive sailing. Following in the wake of the highly successful Carbon Monaco customized by Bamford, TAG Heuer presents three Aquaracer models decked out with carbon fibre details and housed in a 41mm black PVD-coated titanium hull. All three Aquaracers, differentiated by their colour schemes, will be put on sale today, along with the much anticipated Monaco Bamford unveiled back in March 2018. Before we look at the three models in detail, two points need clarifying: the Aquaracers have not been customized by Bamford and the cases, unlike the Monaco Bamford, are not made from solid carbon fibre. There are carbon fibre details on the case, however, and the good news for fans of the Aquaracer is that you can get the same cool look of a customized Bamford for roughly half the price.

6 years ago

INTRODUCING: Altered carbon – the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Carbon Collection

Welcome to the land of tomorrow! No, you haven’t just stumbled out of a cryogenic chamber, à la Futurama. TAG Heuer have just unveiled the most modern version yet of their decisive dive watch, the Aquaracer 300M, sporting a brand-new carbon costume, and available in three different colourways. Starting today, each carbon-based model will be available exclusively through TAG Heuer boutiques and online around the globe. Blacked-out with a PVD coating, each version features a 41mm Grade 5 titanium case, and is then topped by a unidirectional rotating bezel that’s been crafted by a random injection of carbon fibres into a resin pressed at high temperatures. This produces a marbling black and grey effect that means no two Aquaracers are the same. As with previous versions, cases are rated to 300 metres of water resistance, and inside is where you’ll find a familiar automatic Calibre 5 movement. Separating the three models are highlights of blue, yellow, or rose gold, which can be seen on their black nylon straps, as well as on the minute markers, hands, polished logo, and text of their carbon-look dials. Similar in style to this year’s other carbon crowd-puller, the TAG Heuer Monaco Bamford – which…

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6 years ago

News – GPHG 2018 Finalists Announced – Plus Our Predictions

As every year, the watchmaking industry is celebrating creativity and ingenuity with the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) or the so-called Oscars of the Watchmaking Industry – see the report for the 2017 edition here. The most advanced, the most innovative or the most creative timepieces will be awarded prizes at the GPHG 2018. Before the […]

6 years ago