Baselworld 2018 – Maurice Lacroix Introduces Automatic (and accessible) versions of its Aikon
In 2016, Maurice Lacroix introduced a new collection named the Aikon. Based on a 1990s design, the Calypso, it was unfortunately (at least for us here, at MONOCHROME) only available with quartz movement. After the launch of a flagship version with skeleton movement earlier this year, it is time now for the brand to unveil the automatic versions of its sports watch. Meet the Baselworld 2018 Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic, 3-hand and Chronograph.
TAG Heuer’s 2018 line-up is, as you’d expect, dominated by chronographs. But just because one complication is the focus, it comes in a surprisingly diverse range of forms. First up is the Carrera Calibre 16, a round steel number with a pleasingly retro dial offered in blue or black. It’s a good looking watch, and one squarely aimed at the vintage lovers out there. Also on the vintage side of the fence is the boldly striped Monaco Gulf 2018 Special Edition. For the more modern types there’s the latest take on the modular-cased Carrera, the Carrera Heuer 02 GMT Chronograph. This large 45mm is quite distinctive, with a blue and black ceramic bezel and red GMT. While blue and black might not be the colour we historically associate with Heuer GMTs, it has appeared in their catalogue in recent years. Keeping with the big and bold theme, there’s a very cool blue ceramic tourbillon, with an even cooler name — the Tête de Vipère, or viper’s head. And finally there’s the smaller version of the Connected, the Modular 41, which essentially is still the same watch, just a little smaller, which is, I think, a very good thing.
With another contemporary nod to Seiko’s original hi-beat diver – the 1968 ref. 6159 – a familiar face has received a limited-edition update. Based on the venerable Seiko MM300 dive watch, this commemorative limited edition not only pays tribute to its vintage inspiration with a host of updates, but also to the lush green forests and abundant marine life that can be found around the island of Yakushima at the southern end of the Japanese archipelago. Vital statistics The one-piece 44.3mm case is now set off with a deep green dial and zirconia ceramic bezel. And Hardlex has been replaced by a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both the inside and out. Giving life from within is the Seiko calibre 8L35 with 50 hours of power reserve. And the 5, 10, 15 and 20-minute markers on the bezel have been given an especially bright dose of Lumibrite to increase their presence in the dark. Both the stainless-steel case and a matching steel bracelet are also given a super-hard coating, with the option to switch out to a silicone strap that’s also supplied. On the wrist The MM300 has long been a favourite of the Seiko community, and this commemorative…
Seeing Seiko at Basel 2018 can be a pretty overwhelming experience. There’s. Just. So. Many. Watches. Trays and trays of them. It’s easy to get distracted, to lose sense of the bigger picture and be bogged down in the minutiae of Presage dials or the subtly tweaked new cases. But we managed to stay above the fray this time ’round, to use our limited time to focus on the surefire hits from the line-up. Like the new blue enamel-dialled Presage, the significantly re-worked Astron, and Prospex. Lots of Prospex. There’s the new limited edition Turtle, with an incredible dial inspired by a blue whale. Then there’s the epic re-creation of the first quartz saturation diver. And finally, the real stars of the show, the 1968 Automatic Diver’s models. But you know what, we’re only scratching the surface with these watches. There’s still plenty of Seiko stories to tell this year …
You’ve either been sleeping or taking a break from social media to have missed the news on this one. As part of their new Baselworld 2018 releases, Rolex have released for the very first time a ‘Pepsi’ GMT-Master II in ‘Oystersteel’ (which is the new Rolex terminology for their 904L steel). Yes, a two-colour red and blue Cerachrom bezel insert, WITH a Jubilee bracelet. Vital statistics The five-link Jubilee bracelet is also made from Oystersteel and features an ‘Oysterclasp’, which allows for 5mm of adjustment. It’s also worth noting that this is the first time we’ve seen a Jubilee bracelet on a sports Rolex in modern times. The Oystercase also received some changes and has been redesigned. It’s noticeably different in comparison to the GMT-Master II BLNR (Batman), which is also still in production. Aesthetics aside, the new Pepsi GMT also features an entirely new generation movement — the 3285 calibre, which features a beefed-up 70-hour power reserve. Another small, yet noteworthy, detail is the additional Rolex crown on the dial, which you’ll notice at six o’clock, between ‘Swiss’ and ‘Made’. This appears to be on all new 2018 models. It’s small touches like these that help collectors distinguish between different…
In many ways, you could say that few people have had as significant an impact on the watch industry from a design standpoint in recent years than George Bamford. Beloved by many, despised by a good few at least, Bamford is single-handedly the reason why watch customisation is now so prevalent in offerings directly from watch manufacturers. After many years on his own, his recent collaborations with LVMH, selling brand-authorised custom offerings from the TAG Heuer, Zenith, and Bulgari catalogues, further legitimised his efforts, but this new release, unveiled at Baselworld 2018, kicks things up a healthy few notches. You’re looking at the TAG Heuer Monaco Bamford — the first piece co-designed directly from TAG HQ in a carbon fibre case. Vital statistics Past conversations with George Bamford had already led us to believe that something “bigger” was coming down the pipeline from this flourishing partnership, and given his love for vintage Heuer at a personal level, this new Monaco makes sense. The original 39mm case proportions and Calibre 11 self-winding movement are maintained, whereas its carbon fibre case and jet-black dial with contrasting baby blue indices are distinctly custom and a significant departure from any Monaco ever produced by…