Five wildly desirable alternatives to the blue dial Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 is a definite contender for “The Only Watch You’ll Ever Need” category. With its classic dark blue sunray dial, the intrinsic quality that resonates within any Rolex case is blatantly obvious in the Oyster Perpetual, even at this relatively accessible price point. Although whether the actual watch is accessible at your local AD may prove a different story … But if you can’t get your hands on one or fancy something a little bit different, what are your alternatives that deliver the same qualities – namely that special combo of formality with everyday wearability not to mention a beguiling blue dial? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered … Grand Seiko SBGR321 With the shapely legacy of the distinctive Grand Seiko case, the SBGR321 offers serious competition to the OP’s charms. A chunky 40mm case with the classic broad shoulders of the Grand Seiko automatics, it struts into the game with a flash of Zaratsu polishing. The striking blue dial is part of the 60th anniversary editions of Grand Seiko, so you might have to get to your nearest AD at a brisk pace. But it’ll certainly be well worth the hustle. As Nick put it…
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Basketball is back and not in the bubble! But while the players battle it out on the court, as always, an equally fascinating sideshow will also unfold for watch enthusiasts. That’s because the NBA is not only home to some of sport’s biggest superstars, but also some superstar watch collections. Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, Cartier – you name it, they’ve got it. To celebrate the return of basketball, we wanted to highlight some of the watches we have seen the best in the game wear – whether courtside, heading to and from the locker room, during press conferences, or out and about on their days off. Kevin Love Kevin Love is a renowned watch collector with an affinity for classic and timeless pieces. While he is still working towards acquiring a Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona, he is hardly messing about in the meantime. Here, he’s seen heading to the locker room wearing his Rolex Day-Date in Everose gold on a President bracelet. With the chocolate dial bringing out the rich tones of the gold, it’s an unimpeachable choice, with a Day-Date offering that rare combo of elegance and prestige. The Rolex Day-Date 228235 in Everose Gold on…
What were Thor’s 3 favourite watches of 2020? On a length-to-difficulty ratio, this piece ranks right up there in the difficulty stakes. Seriously, how am I supposed to sum up my three favourites of the whole year? In this bastard 12 months of lockdowns and cancelled holidays, there has been a deluge of delights from Switzerland, Japan and Germany. Suffice to say, once again this will be pure fantasy in terms of budget, but what the hell. We are allowed to dream, so dream on watch lovers! My vivid dreams are filled with grail pieces from Greubel Forsey, H. Moser & Cie. and an understated Longines, how about yours? Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 With the name Greubel Forsey I just have to add two words: Hand and Made. The End. Sorry, that was too easy, but honestly, there is a reason this has popped up on my list of favourites this year, and in my best dials of 2020 piece here. Not that I ever doubt their genius, but here Greubel Forsey has managed to create pure horological poetry through craftsmanship and methodology of the 18th and 19th century, resulting in what is a deeply thought-provoking project, involving 6000…
When it comes to buying vintage watches, the phrase “buy the seller” should always be at the back of your mind. That’s because trust is always paramount when you’re buying anything pre-owned due to that nagging fear the watch you buy might not arrive at your door as advertised. This year, eBay has made a big move into the pre-owned watch space, showing they understand the concerns of both buyers and sellers. Their solution is to offer their Authenticity Guarantee program for all watches over $2000 US, and an escrow payment service for all transactions over $10,000 US. Essentially, what this means is you can now rest assured that eBay will verify that any watch purchase you make is water-tight. Let’s take a look at the types of watches on offer, with five watches you can buy on eBay right now through the Authenticity Guarantee program. Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 1665 “Double Red” Get excited: the rarest of the rare Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller is available now through eBay. As one of the most desirable vintage steel sports watches on the market, it’s exciting to see one hitting the block. See the listing right here. Patek Philippe Complications World Time Watch…
Modern life is increasingly stressful. The incessant buzz of notifications from your mobile and laptop can make one yearn for simpler times. Amid such craziness, one way to restore a vague sense of calm is by handwinding your watch. There is something strangely reassuring about twiddling the crown and feeling the gears engage and the resistance of the spring slowly tighten. Indeed, this small act of winding your watch can help nudge you into a more tranquil frame of mind. When it comes to hand-wound chronographs, one notable movement is the Sellita SW510, a great value Swiss bi-compax calibre. Here are just a few of its recent iterations. Hanhart 417 ES With two strong reissues this year, Hanhart has raised the game for vintage pilot’s watches. The tough-as-nails, battle-ready 417 ES was known for being standard equipment for German military pilots in the 1950s. In fact, the name for the German forces, “Bundeswehr”, served to christen the comfortable cuff-like “Bund” strap. We first saw the 417 ES in this bronze version for Revolution, on the wrist of our own writer Zach, and then the picture-perfect steel version. With its history infused with aerial adventures and, unexpectedly, off-road motorcycle racing on…
In a man’s life, certain birthdays develop greater significance than others – or at least create a whole lot more angst. Your 40th can prove particularly tricky as you struggle to convince yourself that the best years of your life still lie ahead. But this milestone birthday also presents a golden opportunity to buy yourself a genuinely serious watch. Time+Tide’s advice: instead of getting all misty-eyed for your lost youth, console yourself with some of these ideas for a new 40th birthday watch. The TAG Heuer 160th Anniversary Carrera The TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Silver Limited Edition (available for purchase here) is a versatile yet classic watch and quite possibly my favourite from the maison in the last 20 years. This is a pure Carrera, a clear and distilled version that approaches the epitome of what a chronograph should be, perfectly placed in the Goldilocks zone with its slender 39mm case. It offers a a razor-sharp monochrome visage on a classic black leather strap that means it’ll go with any outfit from a merino knit to a sharp suit. But don’t be fooled by the head-turning looks – the strong Heuer 02 calibre under the caseback means this is…
OK, this was a tough challenge and an ugly battle predictably ensued. Essentially, we scoured the vaults of Bob’s Watches and found some of the best Rolex GMT-Master options around. But which is the ultimate winner? From classic Coke to the freshness of the Pepsi’s iconic red and blue bezel, we’ll admit that tempers ran hot on this one as the Time+Tide team fought it out. Luke Benedictus’ choice: The cerachrom bezel Batman, ref. 126710 There’s one overwhelming reason that I’m rooting for the Caped Crusader here. Obviously, it’s got everything to do with the bi-colour bezel and, more specifically, the intersection where the two colours meet. Because, frankly, there’s some weird voodoo shit going on here. The two colours don’t actually blend together, but you have to really stare to see the dividing line where black hits blue. Like the horizon of the ocean, I can gaze at this for hours. Team Batman all the way. Price: $15,995 USD, available at Bob’s Watches. Nick Kenyon’s choice: The classic Coke ref. 16710 Don’t get me wrong. I love the classics. If it’s Vivaldi or Miles Davis, Oscar Wilde or Ernest Hemingway, Breguet or Dufour, the classics are enduringly brilliant because…
Christmas is COMING. Yes, even in this year we are going to experience the delights of Christmas trees, the beach for the lucky Australians, and what will surely be extra lovely presents. So why not head over to our shop and check out these watch gift options under $5K that are here to spread some New Year Joy. Yes, of course you’re allowed to buy one for yourself, we won’t tell. As for shipping, we won’t make Christmas from here, but we’ll sure get 2021 off to a great start … William Wood Watches Valiant William Wood is, I admit, one of our favourite microbrands of 2020, with their sharp vintage designs in your typical ’60s tool watch steel case. It’s a different, vintage-tough sports watch where the details tell a captivating story — the reason why some smaller brands capture our hearts more than big-box multinationals. Behind the classic sandwich construction matte black dial with its vintage style, and fireman’s helmet logo, lies a story of family, heritage and the Fire Service that you can read all about here. Under the caseback you’ll find the solid Japanese Seiko NH35 movement, a bulletproof version of the well-known 4R36 automatic movement that punches…
Watches are emotional objects. We don’t need them. We want them. And we use them to mark important occasions. Birthdays, graduations, career milestones … you name it, they act as talismans of success and remind us of the moments that are special to us. Speaking to this theme, one of the questions we receive most at Time+Tide HQ goes something along the lines of this: “I want to buy a watch for my child’s 18th birthday, but I don’t know what to get. Can you guys point me in the right direction?” We wanted to tackle that question head on, and offer a few suggestions on the best 18th birthday gift watches — all ringing the till under $2K AU. Let’s get into it. TAG Heuer Formula 1 For Australians, TAG Heuer is a brand that looms large in our collective consciousness. It’s always been one of the most well-known Swiss watchmakers and therefore an obvious go-to for a milestone gift. One of the most popular TAG Heuer references is the Formula 1, loved for its universally wearable 41mm case diameter and its robust build quality. The blue dial has a sunburst finishing that catches the light beautifully, and with…
One of the reasons that watch collecting is so fascinating is its thematic diversity. A timepiece is a wrist-bound intersection for history, culture and the audacity of the human spirit. The only thing is that – whisper it quietly – it’s not always particularly sexy. Eyed from certain angles, the watch world often looks to be rather nerdy, male and not exactly overflowing with nubile beauty. All of which is fine, of course, not everything has to revolve around sex. But the following heart-throbs demonstrate that sex appeal and watches are by no means mutually exclusive. Margot Robbie Thanks you Martin Scorsese for introducing us to the Australian actress in The Wolf Of Wall Street. She’s first glimpsed in a party scene where her voluptuous presence reduces both Leo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill to salivating wrecks. No wonder, Big Short director Adam McKay promptly stuck Robbie naked in a bubble bath when he needed viewers not to fast-forward through the explanation of some very complicated financial terminology. Not surprisingly, it didn’t take long for a watch brand to engage the actor’s services, with Richard Mille swooping to partner with Robbie. “I was astonished by the intricacy of the watches,” Robbie…