Category: Chronographs

Kickstarter – Get Back To Basics With Vintage Inspired Watches From Baltic

It seems there is no shortage of watch projects on Kickstarter these days. Whilst some elicit a yawn at best, others genuinely try to do something cool and unique and have gone on to become real success stories, like REC Watches. Today we’re showing you a highly anticipated project that has just launched from newcomer Baltic Watches, featuring two seriously cool, neo-vintage style watches with step-cases inspired by the minimalist designs of the 1940’s.

8 years ago

Hands-On – Zenith Defy El Primero 21 – From a 10th to a 100th of a Second (Video, Specs & Price)

Back in 1969, Zenith introduced a movement that will later become an icon, as being both one of the first automatic chronograph movements, and being the 20th century’s king of precision, as beating at 5Hz and being precise to the 10th of a second. Its name: the El Primero. At Baselworld, the Le Locle-based manufacture has given this fast-beating engine a 21st century appeal: 50Hz frequency, precision to the 100th of a second, modernized look, open-worked movement. Here is the Zenith Defy El Primero 21… and it’s fast, very fast.

8 years ago

Hands-On – Zenith Defy El Primero 21 – From a 10th to a 100th of a Second (Video, Specs & Price)

Back in 1969, Zenith introduced a movement that will later become an icon, as being both one of the first automatic chronograph movements, and being the 20th century’s king of precision, as beating at 5Hz and being precise to the 10th of a second. Its name: the El Primero. At Baselworld, the Le Locle-based manufacture has given this fast-beating engine a 21st century appeal: 50Hz frequency, precision to the 100th of a second, modernized look, open-worked movement. Here is the Zenith Defy El Primero 21… and it’s fast, very fast.

8 years ago

Frank Geelen’s Baselworld 2017 Top 10 and Musing about the Fair

Back in 2008 the world faced a new challenge. The worldwide financial crisis began with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The following year the watch industry was kind of nervous and saw a small drop in sales. And while the financial crisis went on, on a global scale (we’re still recovering from that), the big crisis in the watch industry didn’t really come through… yet. Last year was the first year that brands and luxury groups published numbers that showed serious signs of the crisis, and this year’s numbers are actually more than worrisome. This year the crisis could also be felt in the novelties as presented by the brands, not only during the SIHH in January, but also at the 100th edition of the Baselworld Watch & Jewelry show that has just come to an end. Still, it was possible to list ten watches that got me exited! However first some musings about this year’s edition of Baselworld…

8 years ago

Hands-On – The Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback – A Slightly Vintage Chronograph with Nice Column-Wheel Movement

Part of the high-end collection, the Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback has been first introduced in 2016, as the refined and technically advanced chronograph of the brand (which also comprises sporty and bold chronos). Rounded lines, bi-compax display for a vintage feel, balanced dial with precious finishes, a nice automatic chronograph with flyback function and actuated by column-wheel, the Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback is pretty interesting. This year, at Baselworld 2017, the brand enlarges the collection with colored dials, with gold and steel offers.

8 years ago

Baselworld 2017 – The New Bell & Ross Vintage Collection, Smaller, Slimmer, More Elegant

Since now over a decade, Bell & Ross have had in their collection “another” watch, rather different at first from the sporty or military-oriented pieces, such as the iconic square BR01. This watch is the Vintage, a watch made to be more classic, more elegant and cleverly using 1960s elements. Don’t think that it is not 100% Bell & Ross though, as it has taken its inspiration from the history of aviation. For Baselworld 2017, the Bell & Ross Vintage Collection is slightly revamped and now comes in a smaller, slimmer and more elegant design.

8 years ago

Baselworld 2017 – Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date, Now in Sporty Steel / Black Style

Back in 2014, Glashütte Original launched an important watch, the Senator Chronograph Panorama Date with the new In-House Calibre 37. Important because the market for high-end chronograph is extremely competitive and because, to fight with the right gears, GO came up with their first automatic integrated chronograph, conceived internally. First unveiled in rose gold and platinum – rather dressy versions – the Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date is now dressed in a sporty Steel case with black dial. 

8 years ago

Baselworld 2017 – The Rolex Daytona In Three Gold & Ceramic Options and now With Oysterflex Bracelet

Last year, Rolex was the talk of Baselworld thanks to its insanely popular stainless steel Daytona with Cerachrom bezel 116500LN (see our hands on review here). Not surprisingly then, the ‘Crown’ is making some further additions to the Daytona line-up this year, all in precious metals (Yellow, White and Rose Gold) and all featuring black Cerachrom bezels. What is surprising however, and pleasantly so, is the fact that all three models are fitted with the brand’s patented Oysterflex bracelet and safety clasp.

8 years ago