EDITOR’S PICK: 2020 is the year G-Shock went completely rogue, from KITH to Dragon Ball Z
Editor’s note: Well, things haven’t exactly slowed down at G-Shock in the months since this story was published – the Japanese firebrand has been churning out more awesome and absurd watches than the rest of the Swiss watch industry combined, and it’s left us all thinking, “What will they come up with next?” Most recently, G-Shock have dropped a watch celebrating one of the biggest animated children’s TV shows of all time – Dragon Ball Z, and they’ve also collaborated with Bamford Watch Department to create a limited edition watch that sold out in six minutes! Needless to say, enthusiasts have never had more choice for whacky and wonderful digital watches … and that’s a very good thing. G-Shock have been going hard in 2020 — really hard. That’s right, not only have they released dozens of new watches across a range of different collections since the beginning of 2020, but many of those are pretty remarkable in their own right, some tracking heart rate or surf beach conditions, with others paying tribute to Kung fu legend Bruce Lee or representing streetwear label KITH. There is genuinely something for everyone, so let’s take a look at five of the coolest…
The post EDITOR’S PICK: 2020 is the year G-Shock went completely rogue, from KITH to Dragon Ball Z appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
2020 has definitely been a chaotic year with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. Blockbuster films have been delayed, major music festivals cancelled, but at least one American pastime managed to go on relatively unscathed – NBA Basketball. Twenty-two teams participated in the 2020 NBA season, held within a quarantined bubble that both players and staff had to remain inside of throughout the duration of the season. At the end of an exciting series, the Los Angeles Lakers took the championship title home after their Game 6 win over the Miami Heat. While not necessarily the first question on the minds of NBA fans, for us watch enthusiasts one burning question comes to the forefront: what do NBA champions wear on their wrists? After scanning clips of press conferences and paparazzi shots, one thing becomes very clear – many of the Los Angeles Lakers lean towards a sole and prestigious brand: Audemars Piguet. LeBron James As the expression goes, it’s good to be the King. LeBron James is a known ambassador for the Audemars Piguet brand, so he may be responsible for the fact that many of his teammates have opted for their haute horology timepieces. Being an ambassador, and one…
When you hear about rainbow watches, you are typically presented with very high-cost luxury pieces that incorporate lustrous coloured gemstones that impose a very high premium on top of already pricey precious watches. Upon closer inspection, there are actually more rainbow options than you would think – affordable options at that. Here are six fabulous rainbow watches that won’t necessarily break the bank. Timex + Todd Snyder Pride Watch Todd Snyder and Timex have teamed up to create arguably the best value proposition in rainbow watches. The Pride Watch is a nod to the time when the Gay Rights Movement adopted artist Gilbert Baker’s Rainbow Flag as its banner. Here is where things get even more interesting. According to the product page on Todd Snyder’s website, “Like a colour wheel in which three primary colours (red, blue and yellow) mix to create an array of different shades, the Pride Watch is composed of three rotating coloured discs. As the time changes and the discs interact, the wearer can look through the crystal and literally see the shades change.” That, in and of itself, is a unique and rare complication, and this mechanically powered manual-wind watch is only $199 USD. Kind of…
At first glance, many assume that in order to get your feet wet in the horology hobby you have to shell out thousands and thousands of dollars to get a quality watch. The reality is there are plenty of more affordable options in the marketplace to elevate your wrist game, and gain the attention and respect of even the most serious collectors. Here are eight watches that get the nod from watch snobs – all under $1000. Seiko Prospex “Save the Ocean” SRPE33K Starting this list off with a bang, this has to be the most gorgeous blue dial (or dial period) available for under $1000 AUD. Go ahead, try to think of a better dial at the price point. I have the utmost faith you won’t be able to, as this scratched blue dial is a true piece of oceanic artwork. It really looks like a penetrating birds eye view of the ocean, with manta ray silhouettes just in view as if they are playfully hiding beneath the surface. The Seiko Prospex “Save the Ocean” SRPE33K automatic diver houses a reliable Seiko movement, is water resistant to 200 metres, and features a Rolex Cyclops style date magnifier that will…
If you’ve got $1mUSD to build a watch collection in 2020, you’re used to the finer things in life. But what would you do if you could only select watches that were released this year? This is the question that has been put to the T+T Team, and in this article the team will show how they would build a $1m 2020 watch collection. Here goes. Andrew McUtchen’s Picks Patek Philippe 5370P-011 What a difference a dial makes. Identical to the 2015 version, with a black grand feu enamel dial, this top pick is all about how a vital blue grand feu enamel dial brings a mid-Century era watch into the present, 70 years later. Purists prefer the black, but I find it thrilling how this simple change can give the whole watch a sense of relevance and modernity, especially at its pitch perfect case size of 41mm. Few movements on earth can compete with this split-seconds chronograph for beauty and complexity, proudly on display through the clear caseback. Price: USD $260,000 MB&F x H. Moser LM101 The head says the H. Moser x MB&F Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon, for the fact that it’s more novel and more of an even-handed…
Germany is solidifying its position as among the very best go-to alternatives to Switzerland for wrist-worn marvels. While we all know that the Glashütte-based A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte Original, Nomos and Sinn produce top-notch alternatives to the Neuchâtel valley, here is an ode to the lesser-known maisons. These are fiercely independent brands showing their 2020 models, many of which you will not find even in our comprehensive Time+Tide archives. We will endeavour to broaden your Germanic horizon with five German independent watches, from traditional Haute Horlogerie, through Bauhaus and classic Flieger style. Kudoke The Kudoke 2 Nocturne Stefan Kudoke is one of the top independent proponents of classical Haute Horlogerie, seen here underlined in his 2020 model, the Nocturne. After the award-winning Kudoke 2 in 2019, this is a sharp limited edition piece infused with a calm minimalism in dark galvanic grey. There is no distraction from a moving seconds hand, a perfectly bevelled plaque above 6 o’clock and a brushed steel rhodium-plated chapter ring with a fine bevel against the rehaut. What grabs the attention, though, is the beautiful engraved domed motif that makes for an imaginative 24-hour display at 12, framed by a delicate chapter ring. The…
As a collection grows, at times it means a collector needs to be prepared to trade or sell one of their pieces in order to fund the next. At a certain point, many collectors adopt a ‘one in, one out’ policy in order to curb spending or keep a collection compact and refined. This is the story of one of the bigger trades I have made in my time as a collector, and how (and why) I was able to get my dream sports watch: a Rolex Submariner ref. 114060. What I traded … Omega Speedmaster Automatic (ref. 323.30.40.40.04.001) The Omega Speedmaster 323.30.40.40.04.001 is an automatic watch with a white and black dial with a date window at the 4:30 position. This chronograph features a small seconds counter, 30-minute recorder and 12-hour recorder with a central chronograph hand. The bezel, with its tachymetric scale, is mounted on a 40mm stainless steel case and presented on a stainless steel bracelet. Being a modern Speedmaster, it has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and ticking inside is Omega’s chronometer certified caliber 3304 (based on the Valjoux 7753). Believe it or not, it’s also 100 metres water resistant, which allowed me to actually take…
Like we said in the previous instalment, 2020 has been so bad that fantasy is often all we’ve had left. Fantasies of leaving our houses are still being had daily in Melbourne, and fantasies of new watches and sunny days are not far behind. So, to try to make something good of the bad, we’ve set ourselves a challenge as a team today, and that is to buy as many, or as few, watches as we’d like, up to the value of $10,000 USD. There’s only one rule. They had to be released in 2020. Here’s what happened. Coming soon, the MILLION DOLLAR VERSION. Andrew McUtchen’s Picks Glashütte Original Sixties Chronograph Glacier Blue I got pretty excited about these watches in the Virtual Baselworld Watch & Chill Episode, and that excitement hasn’t left me. We’re all, at the end of the day, dial people. And this one sends me wild. That utterly beguiling mix of sunburst and dégradé finishings, with the perfect symmetry of the Bi-Compax chrono dial, and the quixotic personality of the numeral font. It’s superb. RRP: $8300 (P.S. With the remaining $1300, I’m going to buy a bag of GO straps to go with this model –…
I can’t remember the last time we conducted a Fantasy Watch Collection poll at Time+Tide. But I’ve noticed something in 2020 amongst the team. With the majority of us locked down in Melbourne, Zoom meetings frequently degenerate into wistful commentaries on what we’re going to buy next. What’s where on the wish list. Fantasies aplenty. Would we buy this or that? This dreadful year has had us fleeing, as often as possible, to more positive thoughts. And, because we all love watches so much, they’ve played a very important part in being the silver-lining discussion topic. So, to try to harness this banter and distil it into content gold, we set a challenge. Three price points, unlimited choices, and a fictional wallet, stuffed with cash. To be transparent, there was no consultation between the team. That said — and in the interests of full disclosure — I chose my picks last and could snoop at the results. Andrew McUtchen’s Picks OK, I’m going with a more-is-more approach with my fantasy $5000 USD here. And I’ll tell you why. In a year as grim as 2020, I’ve needed daily dopamine hits. And there’s no dopamine hit quite like a #newwatchalert and all the…
Editor’s note: As we discussed here and in Part 1 of this article, watch lug to lug is an oft misunderstood element in finding the perfect fitting watch to your wrist. Here’s why. Ressence Type 1 Slim (42mm x 46mm) While some Ressence Type references push upwards of 52mm lug to lug, if you are looking for one of their more compact offerings, the Type 1 Slim is your best bet. At 46mm in lug to lug measurement, the 42mm case wears very well on the wrist. Its wire lugs taper the strap downward, creating an absence of unnecessary fixed length. This Ressence watch is a great example of why you need to pay attention to lug profile as much as case profile. Larger diameters do not necessarily mean a larger watch. The front of the watch is all dial, with no bezel to take up dial diameter. This creates the illusion of a much larger watch, but it is in fact just that: an illusion. RRP: $20,600 USD/approximately $28,710 AUD Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic (40mm x 46mm) Starting to think 46mm is the perfect vertical length of a watch? Then the Bulgari Octo Finissimo is another watch that should…