VIDEO: The new TAG Heuer Carrera Collection blue dial is a contemporary take on the classic racing watch
If, like me, you love the svelte lines and sharp details of the vintage Heuer Carrera, the new TAG Heuer Carrera Collection blue dial chronograph (available for purchase here) is a reliable, sleek modern rendition. This is faithful to the lineage, in a contemporary 42mm. The deep blue dial blends formality with the clear motorsports lineage of the range, and is yet another strong contender from La Chaux-de-Fonds. There is no doubt that you are wearing a Carrera, yet this shows just how much a new rich colour brings to the resilient DNA. A sleek, suit-ready take on one of the most important chronographs of the last 50 years is no mean feat. The recognisable case is well proportioned, rendered in a vintage-inspired aesthetic, with a dynamic between dial, bezel and case body. The dial emanates a sporty vibe, and should you catch the right angle, you’ll have it winking at you with a delicious hint of purple. The delicate blue sunray scene is complete with sharp polished indices, register pointers and those classic baton hands. Under the caseback sits the Heuer 02 caliber, with its proven track record and weekend-safe 80-hour power reserve, yet another reason why this take…
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The Seiko Corporation, across its various brands, is known for making competitively valued watches with beautiful dials you cannot find from other brands – even at higher price points. The cocktail watches, as of late, have incorporated some gorgeous dial tones and textures, all of which are eye candy to the wearer and those who spot the watch. Seiko raises the bar once again, introducing two new flavours of their cocktail watches with the limited edition Seiko Presage SRPF41J and SRPF43J. The case The case is made of polished stainless steel in a wearable happy medium of proportions that should please all camps of wrist sizes. The diameter is a modern 38.5mm, but with a lug to lug of 45.35mm it is a very compact watch for its size. With a thickness of 11.79mm, this watch and its Hardlex glass crystal will definitely slip under a cuff when attending a nice cocktail hour. The watch is 50 metres water resistant, which is quite robust for a rather dressy piece. Personally, I would not take the watch into the water, but I could see it joining me on a hike or camping trip with friends (at least when that becomes safe…
Ceramic is a notoriously tricky material to work with in watchmaking, with only a handful of brands able to produce the material at scale. One of the few brands that can claim to have mastered it is Rado, who are well known for their brightly coloured and scratch-resistant timepieces. While Rado use the material throughout a number of their different lines, one of the collections that benefits significantly from the expertise is the Rado True Square collection, which features pebble-smooth ceramic cases and bracelets to match. Within the True Square range, there are two references that show the breadth of the collection – the Automatic Open Heart and the Automatic Diamonds. Despite both featuring the exact same 38mm square case and integrated bracelet, they offer totally different feelings on the wrist. The Automatic Open Heart does what it says on the tin, with a very finely skeletonised dial that gives an almost totally uninterrupted view of the movement within. Certainly not something you see every day. In contrast, the Automatic Diamonds is as sleek as black velvet, with the polished case and bracelet serving up a shimmering backdrop for the deep black dial that is studded with four diamonds. Elegance…
The Seiko Alpinist series is a beloved staple of enthusiasts on watch forums and Instagram, with its comfortable shape, size and particular Japanese take on a sophisticated field watch with a rich history. Earlier this year, changes came to the lineup, with the Alpinist logo no longer present, and the Prospex X above the historical “Automatic” vintage font logo at 6. I observed the discussions that ensued, and was left with the positives of the excellent 6R35 movement easily tipping the scales on the plus side. This time the new Seiko Alpinist SPB155J and its siblings SPB157J and SPB159J are not simply improved, but rather redesigned from the case up, with the only instantly recognisable feature being the charming Alpinist cathedral hands, ready for a new audience. We are looking at a svelte, perfectly shaped 38mm case with the Alpinist name, yet it takes nothing away from the rich history. I, for one, am excited by these latest models, the SPB155J, SPB157J and SPB159J. How Seiko has managed to completely redesign the Alpinist range in a year with a plethora of new releases frankly boggles the mind, because this is no simple re-hash. Hopefully it will manage the feat of…
As most watch collectors will agree, there are few things better than getting a new watch in your collection. It’s the thrill of having a new watch on your wrist that you’ve been thinking about for weeks or months, and is the culmination of researching, considering and finally pulling the trigger on that special piece that you’ve wanted. But while that thrill might not be an everyday occurrence, the next best thing is a new strap or bracelet to wear your watch on. In that regard, the Rado Captain Cook interchangeable straps has both spots covered. With the new offering from the Swiss watchmaker, the Rado Captain Cook interchangeable straps offers, in effect, three for the price of one. The same vintage-inspired Captain Cook aesthetic as you would find across the rest of the collection, and more. Not only do you get a classy-looking three-link bracelet, but you also get a comfortable fabric strap and a subtly textured leather strap, all of which are simple to swap with Rado’s strap-changing mechanism. So if you’ve been eyeing off a Rado Captain Cook recently but haven’t yet taken the plunge, the diversity of these different straps might be the thing that makes…
Editor’s note: The closer we have come to this new collection by TAG Heuer, the more details we have noticed and begun to appreciate. For example, the very unusual radially brushed finishing of the lush dials. See in the pics below. Yet more proof that big-box brands are still very aware of the power of nuance, detail and delight. In true style, TAG Heuer are celebrating a very big birthday this year. The brand is celebrating its 160th anniversary and, as you can see here, have been marking the occasion properly with a number of exciting new watches. One of the most exciting releases from the brand is not an individual watch, however, but the new TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph collection that we first covered right here. Sitting within one of the brand’s most important families, the Carrera, this latest collection of four new watches is an enthusiastic new take on a design that has seen tremendous success over the decades. Both the case and dial have been redesigned to offer a more modern and sporty-feeling watch on your wrist, without losing any of the critical design DNA that is found within the Carrera collection. We’ve recently had the opportunity…
When we first caught wind that Longines was going to be releasing a totally new collection in 2020, we were very excited. They are a brand with a number of strongly performing collections that could easily see them sitting on their haunches, simply tweaking the recipe of their success with different dial variations, but they didn’t. Longines took the far bolder path and, with the launch of their latest Spirit collection, offer fans of the brand a blend of rich aviation heritage and contemporary watchmaking expertise. In this regard, the Longines Spirit collection is a first, drawing inspiration from a breadth of sources that are equally grounded in their past and present success. The Longines Spirit collection is already well-rounded, offering a range of dial, strap and size options. In total, there are 18 different references within the collection, which are focused on three cores. There are two time-and-date references in both 40mm and 42mm, and there is also a 42mm chronograph for those who prefer complication. All of these watches are available with a black, silver or blue dial, and are also available on either a bracelet or leather strap, completing the range of choices. Longines Spirit collection price and…
To even the most casual Time+Tide reader, the Rado Captain Cook is likely to be a known quantity. A strong, stainless steel, vintage-inspired design, backed up by a reliable modern movement in a range of sizes … all true, but that’s no longer the extent of it. For the first time, we can now add three Rado Captain Cook bronze references to the collection. Named after the British explorer who achieved the first recorded European contact with the east coast of Australia, the Rado Captain Cook was first produced from 1962 until 1968. This was a legitimate dive watch that capitalised on a golden age of underwater exploration, when scuba diving became popular with the public at large, and watchmakers rushed to put watches on the wrists of this new breed of submerged shopper. The instantly recognisable design was revived in recent years, and the collection has enjoyed strong success as a fresh and eye-catching offering from the brand. The exciting addition of the Rado Captain Cook Bronze marks a tangent within the collection that gives a totally new look and feel to a well-established part of the brand’s stable. The bronze produces an attractively warm tone in the 42mm case,…
By now, you should be familiar with the Rado Captain Cook collection, inspired by a historical Rado reference from the golden age of dive watches. This year, the collection has launched three new references, announcing the Rado Captain Cook bronze for the first time ever. This warmly toned coloured metal complements the already vibrant array of colours that the Captain Cook collection is available in, including these new references produced in green, blue and brown. While Rado are only dipping their toe into bronze as a material, this first collection looks great, and adds a further dynamic element to a collection that is already a winner across collector and enthusiast communities. An interesting note about this particular alloy of bronze is that it is formulated for only mild patina, so it’s going to stay golden, pony boy. Rado Captain Cook bronze price and availability: All three Rado Captain Cook references in bronze have an Australian RRP of $4025, and are available now. Made in partnership with Rado. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
The Longines Record Collection is an important pillar of the brand today, representing the clean classicism that is embodied by the brand. The Heritage Collection is popular with the vintage enthusiast, just as the Sport Collection is a favourite of the adventurous type, and the Record Collection is designed to be an everyday companion and has a correspondingly universal appeal. The openly spaced and cleanly designed dials, as well as the elegant case designs, make for a watch that can look good in any situation, be it casual or formal. This dynamic nature is seen in the new Longines Record Australian Limited Edition, which takes that collective DNA and expresses it with luxurious flair. The case The stainless steel case of the Longines Record Australian Limited Edition measures a well-balanced 38.5mm in diameter, but wears slightly larger thanks to the generously curved lugs. Housed within the steel case is the Longines caliber L888.4, a relatively slim automatic winding movement that keeps the watch sitting sleekly against your wrist. Boasting a full 62 hours of power reserve, the caliber L888.4 is also COSC certified, showing Longines’ commitment to high performance even within their larger families such as the Record Collection. The…