It took me several years to finally track down a Vianney Halter Deep Space Tourbillon watch to check out hands-on. My opportunity came only after seeing the man himself wearing it. It was back in 2013 when Vianney Halter released this science-fiction-themed über-gizmo that playfully combined traditional haute horology with modern themes in a way that was still elegant.
If there were any watch out there that embodies the unfussy tool watch, the Sinn 358 DIAPAL must be near the top of the list – even though the same could be said of a great number of watches from the quintessentially German brand. DIAPAL, by the way, is Sinn’s oil-free escapement system that helps a watch work better for a longer time and is denoted by a gray dial on every Sinn watch that utilizes the system.
At SIHH 2016, Audemars Piguet showed off its Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie Tourbillon Chronograph watch, a minute repeater watch of extreme engineering and without any peers.
The middle-market luxury watch brands owned by the Swatch Group such as Hamilton, Tissot, Longines, Mido, and Certina are delivering some of the best values in mechanical watches today, and oddly, few people who like watches are noticing. On that note, let’s take a look at the Tissot Heritage 1936 Mechanical wrist watch, and the Tissot Bridgeport Lepine Mechanical pocket watch.
While most men’s watches Breguet produces are round, the Heritage 5410 is a rare exception. The Breguet Heritage 5410, which features a tonneau-shaped case along with distinctive Breguet elements is a really nicely made package. Tonneau watches have been around for almost 100 years, but have most recently become popular thanks to two extremely different brands: Franck Muller and Richard Mille.
That same lovely Cartier diver, but what a difference blue can make. From steel to solid gold, the Calibre De Cartier Diver Blue wears the color well, adding a playful touch of personality to a brand often characterized by their stoic aesthetic.
In early 2016, Zodiac released this Sea Dragon Chronograph collection, which currently represents the most high-end Zodiac watches available. There are a few standard-edition Zodiac Sea Dragon Chronograph watches available, as well as two, more expensive, limited-edition models that offer unique color palettes.
During the 1960s, while on vacation in England, a friend of the Prince of Kuwait purchased himself a brand-new reference 5513 Rolex Submariner with the hopes of impressing his royal companion when he returned home. As the 5513 had just been introduced a few years prior in 1962, it was still a relatively new design.
It was in 2013 that the Mondaine Stop2Go was introduced with the unique action of its seconds hand, but the minimalist dial design had been a Mondaine hallmark for some time. In fact, the first watch I bought with my own money was a Mondaine Railway Giant which has the same dial.
Look closely, and you’ll notice a new GMT watch from Bell & Ross for 2016. I’ve appreciated the brand’s refined and legible GMT watches for a while, and this newest model is actually a melding of various watches from the brand’s modern history.