Last year Seiko marked the 60th anniversary of its first automatic watch with a pair of limited edition chronographs, one of which had a fired enamel dial of the type that’s baked in an oven, more fancily known as grand feu enamel if it was a Swiss watch. Reasonably priced and classically styled, the limited editions […]
For 2017, you’ll see more style options for Bell & Ross’ most recognizable design, in its most wearable size. Introduced ahead of Baselworld, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Horograph is the French-based brand’s take on the German-minimalist design school of Bauhaus, while the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Horolum is a twist on the classic Bell & Ross look.
When Hublot released two takes on sapphire Big Bangs last year – the Unico Sapphire and the All Black version – we suspected that wouldn’t be the last we’d see of the clear case material. Lo and behold, our hunch has proved correct with the release of the Big Bang Unico Magic Sapphire. Compared to 2016’s white-on-white and jet black limited editions, the Magic Sapphire feels far less ghostly and much more tangible. This is largely down to the smart design. By using their ‘Black Magic’ visual style with its contrasting elements, such as the black strap and texture-heavy dial with red accents, Hublot has made the spectacular 45mm sapphire case shine. So while the specs of the Magic Sapphire are essentially the same as before, the result is a completely different watch, and one that really pops IRL. Significant wrist appeal is only part of the picture. One of the most impressive aspects of this watch is the fact Hublot can make it at volume. Though it’s a limited edition of 500, being able to produce so many cases from sapphire – a material that’s notoriously tricky to work with – is no mean feat, and one the brand is rightly…
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As mid-range luxury fashion watches go, Gucci produces some rather cool stuff. For 2017, the Gucci Dive collection has a few interesting models that seek to combine the appeal of a sport watch with the look of embroidered fabric or printed rubber.
Bell & Ross’s latest take on its classic square draws inspiration not just from aviation, but also – far less predictably – from the realms of art and architecture. The BR 03-92 Horulum is a monochrome monolith of a watch, a 42mm bead-blasted case with matching sandwich dial and complementary pale green C3 Superluminova hands and markings. On this occasion, the aeronautical tie-in isn’t quite what you might expect. It’s not a tribute to the latest generation strike fighter or specialised avionics instrumentation. No, Bell & Ross has gone for something far more down-to-earth this time around: the humble tarmac. The matt grey colour is inspired by the concrete of the runway, with the green lume evoking the lights that guide pilots when landing at night. So far so Bell & Ross. But where do art and architecture come in? Well, the broader design inspiration for the Horolum comes from the Bauhaus (the German design school, not the ’80s goth band), whose utilitarian take on modernist design was hugely influential in the 20th century. Conveniently, it’s also an approach that fits neatly with the tool-like aesthetic of the watch. For the past few years the word doing the rounds of publications such as Monocle and Cereal has…
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Bell & Ross’s latest take on its classic square draws inspiration not just from aviation, but also – far less predictably – from the realms of art and architecture. The BR 03-92 Horulum is a monochrome monolith of a watch, a 42mm bead-blasted case with matching sandwich dial and complementary pale green C3 Superluminova hands and markings. On this occasion, the aeronautical tie-in isn’t quite what you might expect. It’s not a tribute to the latest generation strike fighter or specialised avionics instrumentation. No, Bell & Ross has gone for something far more down-to-earth this time around: the humble tarmac. The matt grey colour is inspired by the concrete of the runway, with the green lume evoking the lights that guide pilots when landing at night. So far so Bell & Ross. But where do art and architecture come in? Well, the broader design inspiration for the Horolum comes from the Bauhaus (the German design school, not the ’80s goth band), whose utilitarian take on modernist design was hugely influential in the 20th century. Conveniently, it’s also an approach that fits neatly with the tool-like aesthetic of the watch. For the past few years the word doing the rounds of publications such as Monocle and Cereal has…
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The Monsieur de Chanel is easily among the most ambitious and appealing haute horology watches produced just for men from Paris-based Chanel, and it is getting a new member of the collection family in a platinum case with an attractive grand feu enamel dial for 2017.
Bulgari has unveiled some of its latest collection in advance of Baselworld, and we were lucky enough to get our hands on a few key pieces. One model that particularly took our fancy was this crimson and black take on the Octo Ultranero. The changes on this latest version of the Octo are purely cosmetic – it’s still a 41mm black DLC-treated steel case rated to 100m, powered by Bulgari’s in-house BVL 193, mounted on sporty black rubber strap – but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a different story to tell. The dial is black lacquer, polished to a gloss black finish. On top of this, Bulgari has added blood-red indices and hands to the mix. The result is impressively moody, adding a touch of drama to the typically stealthy Octonero. Red is a pretty bold colour choice, typically associated with passion and danger – especially against the slick black backdrop of the Ultranero, but this watch also amps up the sports factor. The rubber strap and primary colour highlight means it doesn’t look out of place in more causal settings – as you can see it wears well with denim – though while I appreciate the contrast of the case and the matt…
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Having made their debut in the time-only Sixties Iconic Collection two years ago, Glashütte Original‘s irrepressibly coloured dials return as another limited edition with the Sixties Iconic Square Chronograph. The five different dial colours are produced at a dial factory in the Black Forest city of Pforzheim – acquired by the watchmaker’s parent company Swatch Group in 2006 – using equipment […]
Clad in mother of pearl front and back, the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Tourbillon Mother-of-Pearl is equipped with an unusual movement: a self-winding tourbillon calibre with a seven-day power reserve. The 39mm red gold case is set with diamonds on the bezel and lugs, while the dial is white mother of pearl. It’s laid out […]