Weekend Reading: Lining Up For Art, Growing Up In A Masterpiece, And Putting Rolex Stickers On Bananas
The week’s can’t-miss stories from around the web.
Review – Spirograph Tourbillon by Karsten Fräßdorf – a tourbillon for proper daily use
I said it before and I’m saying it again, my wrist is rather lucky, as it gets to wear quite some extraordinary timepieces. For the past three months, I’ve been wearing the Spirograph from master watchmaker Karsten Fräßdorf, and it has been worn as a daily beater. And that was exactly what Karsten asked me: “Wear it as your daily watch and do not treat it as a fragile timepiece only because it features a large tourbillon“. Wearing the Spirograph proved to be a sheer pleasure and I enjoyed that huge tourbillon more than I ever thought I would. In fact, it has been one of the nicest watches I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing, ever. Here’s a full review of the Montres-KF Spirograph, a tourbillon wristwatch that can easily withstand shocks up to 5,000G and magnetic fields up to 1,000 Gauss (and that makes it a perfect tourbillon for everyday wearing.)
LIST: 5 watches we’d love to see – our Baselworld 2018 predictions
Last year, Andy and I put together a fun little speculative list on heritage reissues we’d like to see in 2018. It was a fun story, so we thought we’d revisit it — with a Basel twist. We sat down over some cold brew (coffee, not beer) and hashed out our wish list of Basel releases, and then brutally critiqued the plausibility and flaw in each other’s ideas. Like I said, fun. Tudor Green Pelagos Andy: Somewhere, someone on the interwebs had the idea (and photoshop skills) to turn the Tudor Pelagos green (one of our photos no less!). Now, for obvious reasons, I’m a sucker for green — and let me just say — this works. In terms of likelihood, I’m 50-50 here: the Pelagos already comes in a pretty bold blue, so green isn’t unreasonable. This release will come down to how close Tudor want to play to Rolex’s Green Submariner. Either way, I think we will see the Pelagos receive a little more attention this year, and Tudor might give the Black Bay collection some time on the backseat. Likelihood: 5/10 Felix’s take: Cool as it would be, I think it would infringe on Rolex’s rich green turf too…
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Editorial: They Made Some Pretty Terrible Watches In The Good Old Days Too
You win some, you lose some, and sometimes your engine catches fire and explodes right there at the starting line.
Introducing – Oris ‘Source of Life’ Limited Edition – Based on a new Aquis Circular Date
Oris is a frequent contributor to the limited editions. The Clipperton Limited Edition, the Movember Edition, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Edition… Yet, many of these special watches are linked to a good cause or a mission to bring “change for the better”. Oris continues its mission with a new limited edition of the praised Aquis, the ‘Source of Life’ Edition, a watch that celebrates water (the source of life…) – and good news is that it is based on a new version of this cool dive watch, now with circular date feature.
Introducing: The Mido Multifort Datometer Limited Edition
To celebrate its 100th birthday, Mido looks back into the archives.
Value Proposition – Arcturus Watches, Art Deco-inspired Timepieces With Opulent Style
There are literally dozens of new micro-brands launching every week. Thanks to crowdfunding processes such as Kickstarter, anyone with a strong interest or even a passion for watches can now fulfil his dream and create his own timepiece. We, at MONOCHROME, have an eye on this, as it might represent the future and we are aware that not all our readers can afford 5-digit luxury watches. Lastest project we discovered: Arcturus Watches and their timepiece, the LC-1. Opulent, art-deco inspired, original… Let’s have a look.
NEWS: Panerai open first Australian boutique in Melbourne, and 2 standout models in stock right now
If you love watches and happen to find yourself in Melbourne, Collins Street is the place to be. If you also happen to be a Paneristi (even a budding one), you now have even more of a reason to visit, with Panerai setting up shop and opening their very first Australian boutique at 360 Collins Street. The space has been designed by Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola, who chose to reflect the timeless traditions of the Florentine watch manufacturer by decorating the 60-square-metre boutique with iconic Panerai details. Warm golden-brown tones of bronze, wood and brass echo their naval origins, and a special corrugated glass features throughout, with grooved glass windows shaping the shopfront’s curved corners. The pièce de résistance is a large clock that sits proudly upon the wall, shaped as the recognisable dial of a Luminor Marina – yes, it works and, oh yes, it glows. The centre of Italian culture here in Australia, Melbourne seems a natural fit for Panerai to begin their boutique journey down under. Opened in partnership with Australian retailer Kennedy, it also marks the brand’s 75th boutique to open worldwide. And just because – here are two boutique-only editions you can pick up in…
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HANDS-ON: Sportier, stealthier – the Girard-Perregaux Laureato in black ceramic
Since its surprise reveal a little over a year ago, the Laureato has become an increasingly significant player in the luxury sports category, thanks to its crowd-pleasing good looks and impressive mechanics. SIHH 2018 showed us that the Laureato is an increasingly important part of GP’s lineup too, as handsome new chronograph variants dominated their latest batch novelties. But I was particularly taken by this black ceramic-on-rubber offering. Announced late last year, to me this Laureato really lives up to its sporty pedigree, thanks to its hard-wearing 42mm lightweight ceramic construction and rubber strap. Now, typically I’d advocate for the bracelet variant, especially on a integrated case style like this, but here I think the rubber really works. It makes the Laureato far more casual, and really wearer-friendly, and better honours the casual spirit of the design. While the bracelet versions of this watch (whatever the material), look quite work-ready, this Laureato really needs to be worn with short sleeves, preferably on a teak deck somewhere unseasonably warm. And with its 100m of water resistance, super-hard case and general air of masculine charm, this watch is more than up for whatever adventure you might have planned. This watch proves that…
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Found: The World’s First Wristwatch With A Co-Axial Escapement, At The London Science Museum (And It’s A Patek)
A firsthand look at the forerunner of all modern co-axial escapement watches, in the collection of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers.