As the doors open again, here are 3 watches you can only get in the Sydney Hublot boutique
Sydney’s New Year fireworks were more symbolic than ever this year, hopefully distancing us from so many of 2020’s bleak memories including lockdown and Trump. And what about online shopping? Clicking is easy don’t get me wrong, but go through your watch drawer and do the maths: how many pieces have you actually bought online and how many have turned out to be a slightly different colour or size on your wrist than you imagined? My bet is there’s a fair few. That’s why we still need the reassurance of walking through the front doors of a boutique, having that friendly chat and maybe an espresso, and walking out with what? Something that fits you, suits you and stays with you through a more normal year (knock on wood). With that in mind, we visited the Sydney Hublot boutique that we published a story on last year. In store, you receive that feeling of reassurance that you just don’t get by stroking the mouse or scrolling through the online shopping basket. Here are three Hublot watches we were tempted by, all exclusively available at the King Street boutique. Hublot Classic Fusion Gold Crystal Nothing will prepare you for the deeply…
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We’ve all been there. It’s inevitable as a watch collector. You see a new watch that’s been released and immediately fall in love with it. You can’t get it out of your head, until you finally give in, and track one down in the metal. But once you have it in your hands, you realise how much better the rendered images from the brand made the watch look and it doesn’t live up to your expectations on your wrist. With the Hublot Classic Fusion 40 Years Anniversary collection, however, the opposite is true. It looks just as good on the wrist. Maybe even better. Here’s proof – in a collections of shots I’ve spotted on Instagram over the last few months, that show just why the Hublot design DNA is standing the test of time. @equationdutemps If you aren’t following @equationdutemps yet, do yourself a favour and check out his ‘gram. In this shot of the Hublot Classic Fusion 40 Years Anniversary reference in titanium he manages to capture not only the mirror polished bevels and satin polishing of the rest of the case, but also the inky depths of that jet black dial. Don’t stare at it for too…
Bulgari has enjoyed a real hot streak over the past few years, throwing their hat into the ring of haute ultra-thin watchmaking. The Octo Finissimo has delivered the most refreshing entry into the integrated-bracelet watch category with its distinct, architectural design unlike anything else in the market. To some, Bulgari designs still remain a matter of love or hate with no in between. But this polarising effect is primarily the result of the brand’s success in creating genuinely original designs. The brand’s creativity and willingness to risk departing from the usual horological templates are qualities that are ultimately much needed and welcomed in the watch world. Here are my three favourite Bulgari releases of 2020. The Bulgari Aluminium Watch While a revived design, the Bulgari Aluminium is still a very original watch that other manufacturers have never dared to imitate. As an offering, it presents great value to collectors looking for an entry-level luxury watch. It strikes a balance between robust sportiness and elegant design, its case and strap form distinctly expressing the Bulgari flavor. The lightweight aluminium results in an incredibly pleasant daily wear experience while the rubber bracelet interlaced with aluminium links conforms well to the wrist and…
The watch landscape has changed massively over the last 20 years with an increased trend towards in-house calibers. No longer is ETA the only outlet for brands to source movements with Sellita effectively cloning ETA ebauches and Japanese providers such as Seiko, Miyota, and Citizen filling the void for even more cost-effective solutions. That being said, ETA movements are still pervasive throughout the industry in both modified and unmodified forms. One staple of their manufacture is the ETA 2824, which has been seen in watches across the decades in everything from vintage Tudor Submariners to Omega Seamasters prior to the co-axial era. Let’s take a look at some watches at various price points that use the ETA 2824 movement. Steinhart Ocean 39 Green Ceramic Gasp! I know, Steinhart made the list and I don’t blame you for asking why. The reality is, however, that what Steinhart lacks in originality they gain with very attractive price points – especially considering the solid build of their pieces. It’s quite incredible to be able to get a new watch under $500 USD with a ceramic bezel and a renowned ETA 2824 movement. If the horological plagiarism doesn’t irk you, it’s a quality entry-level…
Sexy red details combined with vintage inspiration is a marriage made in horological heaven with all Big Box brands wanting in on the game. The market is chock-a-block with slim, tough divers that emulate the discrete tools of the fifties and sixties, and we can’t seem to get enough of them. Me? Guilty as charged. I love their feeling of purity and the nostalgic sense of a simpler mid-20th century life that seems so far from 2021. Admittedly, I still haven’t got the scuba gear to throw in the back of the car, but it’s more about that notion of freedom and summer vibes. The new Seiko SBDY077 Tuna x Neighboorhood inspires us to revisit the red thread that runs through so many vintage-inspired diver’s watches. Seiko SBDY077 Tuna x Neighborhood We love the evergreen Tuna with its distinctive cylindrical shape and, even after a massive Seiko Prospex launch year in 2020, this still excites as a cool, vintage take on the Tool’s Tool. Here we have a razor-sharp collaboration with the Japanese streetwear brand Neighborhood, a grey bezel, pop of red on the iconic 12 o’clock triangle, and fresh red text on the dial. It’s street-tough and still ready…
Orient is a strong value-based Japanese brand beloved of watch forum and vintage fanatics. The most well-known references are bold ’70s forays into the colourful world of degrade and multi-year calendar dials. While merging with Epson in the early 70s brought Orient watches under the strong wings of the Seiko corporation, they have stayed true to their own path of Japanese design and great value cementing their position in the Asian market. But in the west they remain something of a secret that’s well worth discovering. Orient enjoyed an upsurge in the 2000s with the classic shape and mechanical calibers of the Bambino range, while the Mako divers are seen as a strong value alternative to the ubiquitous Seiko SKX’s in the US. Like Seiko, the brand’s calling-card is strong divers with solid mechanical movements. With a 70-year history under their belt, Orient Watches is a force to be reckoned with, and here are five strong cards of a winning hand, all with a distinct flavour of Japanese individuality. Orient Kamasu The Kamasu is exactly what it seems, a great everyday tough diver’s watch with a classic dark blue dial and a grip-friendly bezel. Quite similar in look to the…
Watchmaking is a heritage and tradition-driven industry that does not always feel the need to explore modern design and materials. But fortunately some manufacturers have realised there is a segment of consumers itching for brands to do just that. In previous articles I have noted the rather homogenised nature of watches on the market which, to be fair, is largely a result of our purchasing behaviors that steer the course that companies take. But the growing presence of carbon in watchmaking today constitutes a rebel outpost that is countering this aspect of the industry. Carbon has the benefit of being a very robust and light alternative to more common metal cases. It is easier to tame on a manufacturing line than titanium, but provides comparable shock resistance and heft to the lightweight metal. Carbon naturally provides a new texture and distinctive aesthetic previously not found in timepieces and more brands are beginning to experiment with the futuristic material. Here are seven carbon watches you should check out, all at varying price points. Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon Mechanical Because carbon is fairly new to the industry, the pricing of the watches can be at times quite high – usually to offset the…
If you’re a regular reader of Time+Tide, you’re likely to sit somewhere on the scale of watch addiction. From unrelenting curiosity to full-blown collecting mania, you should know that you aren’t alone in your unquenchable thirst for that next addition to the collection. And what better way to start the year than by getting a new watch? Especially a vintage one. Here, we are taking a look at several vintage pieces on eBay that are currently available and all offer different elements of watch-collecting intrigue. If you’ve never bought a vintage watch before, let alone a vintage watch online, it can definitely seem like an intimidating morass of questionable authenticity and watches you might think are NQR. Recently, however, eBay has taken a big step to making this potential minefield of hunting and gathering more approachable by offering their Authenticity Guarantee on watch sales $2000US and over. This means that when an eligible watch is sold, it will be sent to eBay’s third-party verifier, who will issue it with an authenticity report card, before sending it on to the buyer. That means more time searching for your next dream watch, without worrying you might stumble across something that is less…
At the turn of the millennium, Hugh Grant was the man. In 1994, he won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for his performance in Four Weddings and a Funeral and, in 1995, Empire magazine proclaimed him to be one of the “100 Sexiest Stars” in film history. Grant’s breakout role was in Four Weddings and a Funeral and he continued winning hearts with his very English brand of twinkle-eyed, floppy-haired, bumbling charm in Notting Hill (1999), Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) and Love Actually (2003). But for all his middle-class faux modesty, the watches that Grant wears on screen are about as alpha-male as they come and appear to reflect his personal taste. Let’s take a closer look. Panerai Ref. OP 6560 Luminor Marina – Bridget Jones’s Diary, 2001 Bridget Jones’s Diary is one of the most famous romcoms of the last two decades, and Grant (playing the caddish Daniel Cleaver) was out there flexing on everyone with a stainless-steel Panerai on a bracelet. While it’s tough to get a perfect look at the watch, the camera does linger while he helps Renée Zellweger get dressed for a Tarts and Vicars costume party, and you can see the beefy cushion…
Ceramic was once a fairly rare material for watch cases with many manufacturers yet to tame the robust case medium. Now there are a plethora of options to choose from, all in varying colours, sizes, styles, and price points to choose from. Brands like Rolex and Omega use ceramic bezels on their divers (among other watches as well) in order to provide better resistance to the scratching and deterioration than is found on their metallic counterparts: aluminum or steel. So if this is the way to increase the longevity of a bezel, why not increase the durability of an entire case by rendering it entirely in ceramic? Now manufacturers are doing just that. Sure, under extraordinary circumstances, it is possible to chip ceramic, but odds are you will never be moving fast enough or in a sufficiently dangerous manner to make that happen. Without further ado, here are six great ceramic watches to consider. Longines HydroConquest Black Ceramic How about this beautiful diver from Longines – the HydroConquest Black Ceramic. At 43mm in diameter it is not necessarily for the small of wrist. But for those complaining a 40mm Submariner is too tiny (how?) you can save almost a third…