One of the surprise hits for me at Baselworld 2016 was the new Mido Ocean Star Captain V in titanium. Mido is one of the less well-known Swatch Group brands – at least in the United States – but it has some cool watches, and the brand’s flagship dive watch collection has always been the Ocean Star.
As a limited edition of just 55 pieces, this Sinn 6200 Meisterbund I limited edition watch is going to be rather rare – but at the same time, it should also be a sign of things to come, as this is the first watch released by Sinn with an exclusive new UWD movement.
Given the sales success of the INOX (aka I.N.O.X.) watch collection, Victorinox Swiss Army added more models to the durable, decent-looking sport watch family for 2016. In addition to the slightly larger Victorinox Swiss Army INOX Professional Diver and additional strap/bracelet options, the INOX now comes in a titanium versus steel metal case.
After four years of Black Bay releases we expected the collection to take a well-earned rest on the Tudor bench in 2016. Well, that didn’t happen. Not only did the entire collection get an in-house upgrade and a new blacked-out model, but it was also given a bulkier, bronzed body.…
Even at prices around $8,000, the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Chronograph Skeleton watch is a decent value if you are in the market for a skeletonized chronograph. Skeletonization is popular in mechanical watches these days for good reason, in an age of smartwatches and quartz watches.
In theme, the new Zenith Pilot Type 20 watch for 2016 isn’t truly a pilot watch at all (though it does still say “Pilot” on the dial), but it is now intended to celebrate the cafe racer community. Thus, we have gone from hipster aviators to hipster motorcycle owners. To be honest, the cafe racer connection is the least interesting part of this watch
In theme, the new Zenith Pilot Type 20 watch for 2016 isn’t truly a pilot watch at all (though it does still say “Pilot” on the dial), but it is now intended to celebrate the cafe racer biker community, also known as Ton-up boys. Thus, we have gone from hipster aviators to hipster motorcycle owners. To be honest, the cafe racer connection is the least interesting part of this watch.
At Patek Philippe, chronographs are something considered with an almost clerical serious. From the extremely complex split-seconds or perpetual calendar versions – or even both – to the most simple variation, all of them are extremely desirable. One thing to note in the actual collection is a sort of back to basics, with cleaner and more elegant watches, slightly vintage inspired – something we’ve seen with the 5370 or the 5270. Launched in 2010, with a first evolution in 2013, followed by a stronger lifting in 2015, the 5170 undergoes this year its largest cure of youth, becoming the Patek Philippe 5170R Chronograph, with 2 new references in rose gold – and one older reference being discontinued. But don’t expect a revolution. As usual, the devil is in the details.
Introduced at Baselworld 2016, the Frédérique Constant Slimline Perpetual Calendar Manufacture was one of the highlights of the convention, with enthusiasts fawning over its good looks, slim design, in-house perpetual calendar movement, and most amazingly, an estimated price of around 8,000 CHF.
No risk of second-album syndrome here – this slightly larger take on the Divers Sixty-Five is a worthy, if slightly more mainstream, follow-up to the original release.
There must be something good in the water at Hölstein, because Oris has been on fire lately.…