Fresh and unfiltered – why Dimepiece could be the shake-up that watch culture needs
If you want youthful edge and attitude, watch marketing is probably the last place in the known universe that you’re going to find it. Brands invariably take a strait-laced approach, heaping laboured emphasis on their luxury credentials, heritage and technical prowess. All of which is pretty dull. But it also risks turning off an entire generation. Brynn Wallner is the mastermind behind @dimepiece.co – an Instagram account with plans to evolve into something much bigger. The launch-pad for all this happened in 2019 when she spent a year working with the Sotheby’s editorial team in New York and was tasked with creating content to connect with a younger audience. As part of this, Brynn produced a series called G.O.A.T on the greatest watches of all time. “At the time, I didn’t know anything about watches,” she admits. Undeterred, Brynn sourced a specialist watch writer and dived into the process, taking responsibility for all the production, image research, fact-checking and editing. As a result, she received a crash course in brand histories, movements and references. “It was this whole new world that was totally foreign to me,” Brynn tells Time+Tide over Zoom. “I had to learn about it pretty quickly in…
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Editor’s note: Andrew walked through the door of the Time+Tide office one afternoon in February and looked down at his wrist. “It’s a watch that can wear you if you’re not careful,” he said, gaze still fixed on the Hublot Big Bang Integral King Gold that he was wearing. A strong statement from a man who has spent the last decade or so with an untold number of watches. So why does it have such an impact? After spending a week with the Hublot Big Bang Integral King Gold, Andrew explains what this new design offers in gold. T+T: When did you first see it and what was your first impression? Andrew McUtchen: I first saw it at Dubai Watch Week and was immediately captivated by the reflections on the bracelet and the way that the bracelet locked up with that recognisable case in a way that, to me, reinvented the Big Bang as a design proposition. Why is the Integral such a significant design change for the Big Bang collection? The reason the bracelet is such a big deal is because the Big Bang has been built on a of the “art of fusion” ever since its launch. This…
Editor’s note: In some kind of cosmic coincidence, Edouard Meylan from H. Moser & Cie just announced that the Cosmic Green Pioneer will be discontinued on the same day that our Dutch broers at Monochrome Watches published an interview with me about my discontinued Pioneer Midnight Blue as part of their Collector’s Series. Weird. “Following @moserwatches strategy of keeping our watches very rare, we have decided to discontinue the Pioneer Cosmic Green. The last batch is in production, and then… that’s it,” owner Ed Meylan announced on Instagram at @edmeylan. “I will miss this one.” To celebrate, and commiserate, we thought we’d publish some pretty extraordinary new Pioneer images that accompany the Monochrome ‘Collector’s Series’ that were taken by long-time friend Dale Mracek, who you can keep up with at @mracekproductions. At the footer, you can find the video of the Pioneer Cosmic Green we shot way back in 2018. As I said to Frank Geelen in the Monochrome interview: “If some brands are all sizzle and no steak, Moser is sizzle AND the best fucking steak you’ve had in years. With fries. And a very funny waiter, too. The thing about Moser that can catch you completely off guard is that…
Neo-vintage? Vintage-inspired? Take your pick with this new interpretation of the Alpinist. Personally, I love it, I’m still happily surfing on the vintage wave – somewhat more like a tsunami at times, and haven’t had my fill of nostalgia yet. Seiko gave us what we wanted in 2020, but there’s no stopping them in this 140th anniversary year. After releasing a fresh new take on the Alpinist last autumn, here is a brand new vision for the series in the Seiko Prospex 1959 Modern Re-Interpretation, a strong trio of references that reimagine what many cite as Seiko’s first sports watch that was build to meet the robust demands of mountain climbers. My personal challenge is simply to keep up with the releases, as the production might of Seiko is apparently impervious to mere pandemics. We were genuinely delighted last week when we saw the launch of a pure vintage Alpinist vision on a bund strap, and now we have a complementary trio with a slightly more modern touch, while not losing their retro panache. Do a quick take on the images and you’ll spot what are still strong vintage cues, albeit in a clean-cut case that’s more pronounced in its…
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas collection represents sports watch pedigree through and through and the Dual Time is no exception. While the collection features everything from simple three-handed time-only watches all the way to tourbillons and perpetual calendars, arguably the most important complication for a sports watch is the GMT function. After all, what self-respecting professional athlete in the 21st century isn’t jet-setting around the world as they compete, skipping time zones like a stone over a pond. If that’s the lifestyle you’re living, then the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time is not only an interesting take on a contemporary watch by a very traditional watchmaker, but it also just makes sense. The case The 41mm stainless steel case features the angular design that you see across the entire Overseas collection, which draws clear historical inspiration from the first Vacheron Constantin sports watch from 1977, the ref. 222. The ref. 222 was released in 1977 in response to the moves by both Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet to produce steel sports watches with their Nautilus and Royal Oak collections respectively. While the two sports watches from the other two members of the Swiss Holy Trinity were designed by the legendary Gerald…
In the name of my fellow tiny wristers, or just those who prefer watches closer to classic proportions, I’ve assembled a list of 10 of the best watches under 40mm listed in our NOW buying guide. For a long time the trend has been to scale watches up in size, with releases typically hovering above or equal to 40mm in diameter. But the people have spoken, and we are starting to see the tides change. You saw my first five picks in part one and now it is time to round the list out with part two. Fears Brunswick Salmon People are reeling over salmon dials. In the enthusiast community, the colour is all the rage and is one of the most sought-after dial tones by collectors. A lot of the time you have to really stretch your budget to find one that gets the tone right, such as a coveted Patek Philippe 5270P or Cartier Santos 90th anniversary limited edition – both of which are cased in expensive platinum. But have no fear, Fears has entered the salmon fold with the Brunswick Salmon. The 38mm cushion profile is very wearable on the wrist, and the dial shade is the…
When it comes to watches and collectibility, the mind immediately gravitates to high-end manufacturers such as Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. After all, these are the watches that we see the rich and famous sporting on their wrists, and each brand limits their level of supply to the point where the number of watches they produce each year never comes close to satiating demand. Even if these watches were more readily available, not everyone is prepared to drop thousands of dollars on a watch. To become a collector of rare watches that will gain in value, the barrier to entry is high due to the pricing. But as the Wall Street Journal points out, this is becoming less and less the case with brands such as Timex, Swatch, and especially G-Shock upping their game without upping their prices. Many disciplined collectors are beginning to mix less expensive watches into their luxury collections. More often than not, you’ll hear the average collector explain that each acquisition is meant to fill a purpose – whether crossing off a complication, colour combo, or situational need. Whether you’re gardening, climbing or just heading for a messy night out, sometimes it’s sensible to wear…
In 2021, every brand has a luxury stainless-steel sports watch. But when the concept was born in the 1970s, there was less than a handful of brands who made the leap into the brave new world that left precious metal in the past. One of those brands was Vacheron Constantin with the ref. 222 designed by the German watchmaker Jorg Hysek. In 1996, the design had new life breathed into it with the Overseas collection, which stood tall as a luxury sports watch that delivered fine watchmaking for an active lifestyle. Today, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas collection continues to evolve. The current third generation features arguably the most practical luxury steel sports watch yet in terms of functionality, in the form of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual Time with black dial. With a 41mm stainless steel case, this watch arrives with three strap choices. Immediately the focus is clear. It’s a watch that you can dress up or down as a collection cornerstone for any enthusiast looking to get maximum mileage out of their watches. From the bezel to the bracelet, there are references to the Maltese cross that forms the Vacheron Constantin emblem with the level of finishing you…
Almost a year to the day since Dave made headlines at the annual Brit Awards for his heartfelt performance of hit single Black, Britain’s hottest rapper has got the watch world excited about his wristwear once again. At the Brits, he was wearing head to toe Louis Vuitton by Virgil Abloh with a rose-gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak on his wrist. One year on, he was pictured all dressed up with nowhere to go in lockdown with a Patek Philippe 5168G in “khaki green” strapped to his wrist. Given his wardrobe in the shot, I do not think there could be a better pairing than this wildly coveted Patek Phillipe Aquanaut 5168G. The “green grenade” Aquanaut in white gold really matches the military vibes of those green cargo pants, too. The 5168G Aquanaut is definitely more of a subtle flex with only collectors and enthusiasts really aware of the elite station of the watch. To the mainstream masses, an Aquanaut is far less discernible than its older Nautilus sibling. It is a playful exercise in stealth wealth with white gold appearing like stainless steel on the surface. Considering rhodium is utilised in creating white gold, it is actually the most…
Confession time: I do not have the largest wrists in the world. Last time I checked, my wrist circumference came in not far above six inches. That being said, I wear watches ranging from 32mm to 43mm in diameter because, as I have explained before, it really is more about lug-to-lug when it comes to a perfect fit. Nevertheless, more often than not, the lug-to-lug length I am looking for comes with references that measure in at 40mm or below. To better assist watch buyers like me who prefer more classically proportioned watches, I have put together a list of 10 of the best watches under 40mm in diameter listed in our NOW Buying Guide. Let’s get into it… Kurono Mori It is no secret I am a huge fan of the Kurono brand. The (now sold out) Kurono Mori pictured above is from my personal collection, a watch I truly love to wear. Aside from the gorgeous Japanese art-deco inspired design language and their approachable pricing, my favourite thing about Kurono watches are that none of the references have been produced over 38mm in diameter. The Mori is 37mm and boasts an exquisite polished finishing to its case and…