Seiko’s reputation in terms of dive watches is… indisputable! The Japanese brand certainly has one of the largest collection of diving instruments, with prices ranging from EUR 400 to over EUR 5,000 – and all bearing their own nickname: Samurai, Turtle, Tuna or Sumo. Today we will take a look at the Sumo, an update […]
We often hear that trends are an endlessly repetitive cycle. They come, they go and then they come back again. And, like or not, watchmaking cannot escape trends. Look at the array of luxury sports watches or gradient dials introduced recently. So what are the main trends for 2019? One one side we have two-tone […]
One of the bigger surprises of Basel was Seiko’s announcement of their high-end Prospex LX collection — big, chunky sports watches that feature a level of fit and finish we’ve seldom seen on a Seiko-labelled watch. And while the initial collection was a drop of six models, the one that we were most interested in, and — I suspect — the most crowd-pleasing number is the SNR029J1, a straight-up-and-down diver — inspired, to no small degree, by the classic Marinemaster 300. If the look is a 2019 update on a tried-and-tested model, the same can be said for the build. It’s a big, sporty watch, with a peerlessly finished titanium case (that zaratsu!), ceramic bezel and the mighty Spring Drive inside. With the high-end finishes and movement comes a higher price point. The Prospex LX family is designed to go toe-to-toe with the biggest Swiss brands’ mainstream sports offerings. Only time will tell if Seiko can succeed in their mission. Seiko Prospex LX SNR029J Australian pricing Seiko Prospex LX SNR029J, $8500
The post VIDEO: A closer look at the Seiko Prospex LX SNR029J appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
In a radical departure from De Bethune’s hallmark heat-blued titanium colour palette, the DB28 surprised us at Basel 2019 with its two-tone golden suit. The transition from cool cosmic blue to warm radiant gold raises the temperature on the DB28 and gives the watch an entirely different personality. Packed with six patented De Bethune technical […]
I can remember very clearly what it was like to be on the other side of my first ‘good’ watch. I would trawl daily the second-hand sites for incomings, researching models and brands. I would stare in wonder at the pages I was laying out in a magazine for a watch retailer – mentally filing models by price, availability and location. I would have loved a video like this at that phase of life. One that pulls together three contenders from the latest crop – catering to different tastes but a budget of under $3000. Well, to be fair, there are two divers here, so if you don’t like divers, it’s a full metal jacket for you, soldier. As usual, there are plenty I’d add in retrospect, but primarily the already sold-out Zodiac Aerospace GMT – so fate took care of that one for me in the end. Doxa Sub 200 130 Years Doxa turned heads this year with a solid gold Sub celebrating the brand’s 130th birthday and a clickbait price tag of $70,000 USD. However, the Sub 200 anniversary model snuck under the radar as possibly Basel’s best value proposition, at circa $1600 AUD, limited to 130 pieces.…
The post VIDEO: Andrew picks 3 watches from Basel under $3000 for your first good watch, and it’s two divers and a battle-weary soldier appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Few things excite Seiko fans as much as a solid historical reissue (or re-creation in Seiko’s parlance), and this year’s limited edition, the SLA033, is about as exciting as they come. First of all, it’s based on a diver. Indeed, for many of the Seiko cognoscenti, it’s based on the diver, the 6105, a watch that — thanks to its reliability and corresponding popularity with American servicemen involved in the Vietnam War — contributed to growing the popularity of the Japanese brand in America. But what really ensured this humble diver’s place in the history books was its (period-correct) placement on the wrist of Apocalypse Now’s protagonist Captain Willard, perfectly played by Martin Sheen. And when Seiko say re-creation, they mean it. This watch is, aesthetically, virtually identical to the original, and technically much improved — watch tech has come a long way in nearly 50 years. As a result, the SLA033 offers the best of both worlds. Seiko Diver’s Re-Creation Limited Edition SLA033 Australian pricing and availability Seiko SLA033, limited to 2500 pieces, $7000
The post VIDEO: This is what a heritage reissue should look like – the Seiko SLA033 appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Regular visitors to MONOCHROME already know that we’re big fans of the incredible work that comes out of Seiko. Few, if any, brands can match the Japanese company’s unique blend of expert craftsmanship, technical expertise and value for money. A prime example of this comes in the form of the Presage brand, which made its […]
Tutima is known first and foremost for its sporty and robust tool watches, in particular, pilot or aviation-influenced timepieces powered by Swiss workhorses… However, the brand also offers elegant gold timepieces with refined in-house movements within the Patria collection. At Baselworld 2019, Tutima unveiled its first Patria in steel, offered at a much more approachable […]
If you’ve been reading or watching Time+Tide for more than five minutes, you might have noticed that I’ve got something of a soft spot for watches that are both sublime and ridiculous. And honestly, Baselworld is the best place to see these rare, beautiful birds all in one place. Before they fly the coop into the boutiques, bank vaults and wrists of the international connoisseur cognoscenti. Now, before we get into the timepieces themselves, a quick caveat. When I say “over the top” I mean that in the best possible way. In many ways, this sort of horology represents the very best elements of the craft — artisanal skill and ingenious engineering meeting in the middle to result in something that transcends both. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 No one does diamonds quite like Rolex. But you know what, the thing that really charms me about this piece is the batons. Perfectly graduated rainbow indices. Amazing. Chanel Première Midnight in Vendôme Nobody needs a giant gold frog with a clock in its mouth. And that’s why it’s perfect. MB&F Legacy Machine FlyingT The latest addition to MB&F’s Legacy Machine line has been made with women in mind. A highly domed…
The post VIDEO: Felix’s 3 over-the-top picks from Baselworld 2019 appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
In 2015, Patek Philippe stunned the luxury watch community with the unveiling of the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524. Polarising in its design, it was easily one of the most talked about watches of the Fair. Four years later and the Geneva powerhouse is at it again, pushing the boundaries even further with its […]