NEWS: Vacheron Constantin opens first Australian boutique in Melbourne
Vacheron Constantin is one of the grand dames of Genevan watchmaking — tracing their lineage and continuous operation back to 1755, or 260-odd years. Shortly after Vacheron Constantin’s founding, Captain Cook set sail for Australian shores, claiming it as British sovereign territory in 1770. It took Vacheron Constantin a little longer to make its way down under. In 1881, Australian astronomer William Ernest Cooke commissioned a pocket watch. Fast forward to 2019, and the brand has finally opened its own doors, in the heart of Melbourne’s prestigious Collins Street, giving Australian connoisseurs greater access than ever before to one of watchmaking’s ‘holy trinity’. In addition to watches from the sporty Overseas line and the dressy Patrimony, we look forward to checking out nine restored vintage pieces from their Les Collectionneurs program, as well as access to the Les Cabinotiers bespoke program. Exciting times for Australian fans of Vacheron Constantin. The Vacheron Constantin Melbourne boutique is located at 88 Collins Street.
The post NEWS: Vacheron Constantin opens first Australian boutique in Melbourne appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
$2.5K can buy you quite a lot in this world – an economy plane ticket to just about anywhere on the planet, a car that’s probably (definitely) going to have questionable reliability or, if you’re so inclined, a really, really nice bottle of wine. And for us watch enthusiasts out there who already have a varied and sizeable collection, $2500 is enough to access a veritable cornucopia of brilliant timepieces from dozens of different manufacturers. But what if you’re a budding horological enthusiast and you don’t have any watches yet? Is it possible to create a great watch collection that covers all the contextual bases for less than a bottle of Penfolds Grange or a clapped-out 2001 Mitsubishi Magna? The short answer is … yes, it is possible, and here are the five watches that can do it: Tissot Heritage Visodate – The Dress Watch Any good watch collection needs a timepiece that you can don when the double monks and the double-breasts come out to play, and this Tissot Heritage Visodate, complete with its well-proportioned and cuff-friendly 40mm stainless steel case, is a great example. The Visodate’s understated silver opalin dial ensures versatility with most outfits, and thanks…
In their upcoming auction, Phillips is focusing their attention on the finest examples of highly coveted double-signed dials. A double-signed dial is where a brand has allowed the name of the retailer that will sell the watch to appear on the dial, alongside the brand’s name. Retailers that have had the opportunity to showcase their name on a watch dial include some of the most famous throughout history, including Tiffany & Co, Harrods, Wempe, Gübelin and Beyer. As a part of their authentication process, Phillips will attempt to contact each of the respective retailers (if they are still trading) to confirm the sale details of each of the watches at the auction. When it came to watches retailed by Beyer Chronometrie, Phillips sat down with the current CEO, René Beyer, to discuss the four watches on offer that were originally sold by the Zurich retailer. It’s a fantastic conversation, where you really get to see the depth of the passion that Mr Beyer has for the watches his family has sold for generations. Find the full video at Phillips right here.
Editor’s note: The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Yellow Sapphire perfectly typifies why the Swiss watchmaker is at the forefront of material innovation and design aesthetic — you just don’t see many watches out there like this. This particular Spirit of Big Bang was actually the first watch in the world to be made of solid Yellow Sapphire and, when contrasted with its black open-worked dial, crown and pushers, it makes for a very attractive, if extroverted, timepiece. Magic Gold, ceramic, sapphire. We all know that Hublot loves toying with case materials, and their latest comes as yet another clever spin on case materials — the first ever watch cased in yellow sapphire. Hublot wasn’t the first to get into the art of crafting sapphire watch cases, however they have been the first to dabble in colour, and after the successful launch of blue and red, this glowing golden yellow became the brand’s latest addition earlier this year. While hanging in the sun at Watches & Wonders in Miami (sprinting from one meeting to the next), I had an opportunity to take a closer look at this jaune gem. The reality is that people love to bang on Hublot, and especially…
Linde Werdelin has once again teamed up with master engraver and artist Johnny “King Nerd” Dowell to create this – the Linde Werdelin Oktopus Volcano. Dowell, who was an engraver at the notable British gun makers James Purdey & Sons for 15 years, has previously worked with Linde Werdelin to create the Oktopus Reef and the Crazy Universe limited edition timepieces. Representing the third collaboration between Dowell and the boutique Swiss watchmaker, the Oktopus Volcano, as the name would suggest, depicts an active volcano. As such, the 44mm grade 2 titanium case, which is meant to portray a jagged rock face, is contrasted by 24k yellow gold, which represents molten lava. This highly complex aesthetic took more than a year to design, and is achieved by Dowell hand-engraving each and every nook, cranny and crevice into the titanium case and then inlaying the 24k yellow gold – a process that takes several weeks per watch. Just eight examples of the Oktopus Volcano will ever be created, and what makes them truly unique is that, because all the engraving is performed by hand, each and every piece will be unique and nuanced. Speaking about the new collaborative timepiece, Dowell said, “If…
Whether you’re an inveterate watch tragic, or just starting on your watch journey, the last year has been dominated by two main conversations. The drought of steel sports models (sorry guys, I got no answers for you on that one), and the future of Baselworld. Now, if you’re coming in cold on the concept of Baselworld, it’s fundamentally a trade show. But a trade show like no other. For a sense of what it’s like, check out this video. Or rather, what it was like. Because Baselworld has been going through some tough times recently. Broadly speaking, there’s a range of internal and external factors that can be summed up as a rapidly changing market and some institutional hubris. If you want to go a little more granular, this long interview with Baselworld boss Michel Loris-Melikoff by the excellent Robin Swithinbank is a very, very good read. So while the future of Baselworld is far from certain, Michel Loris-Melikoff is betting on it being around for a while longer … 
Editor’s note: From a purely real estate perspective, the dial is the most important part of the watch. It’s what you look at most of the time, and it’s the functional heart and soul of the watch. And while I’m willing to admit that other parts of the watch might play a role, let’s roll with the dial argument for now. Not least because Longines has absolutely nailed it here. Watches inspired by military designs are a perennial favourite. Largely, that’s down to the fact that these watches generally possess an overarching purpose. These watches have been designed, first and foremost, as functional objects. The Longines Heritage Military, for example, is a no-frills whistle that tells the time, and tells it quickly, clearly and simply. Of course, that purity of purpose typically flows down to a purity of design, and the Heritage Military — with its clear railroad minute track and simple Arabic numerals, its large, easy to manipulate crown and decorative-yet-functional hands — is exemplary. However, that’s not to say that Longines hasn’t added some contemporary design flourish to their historically inspired piece. Look at the dial. It’s a near-perfect facsimile of a decades-old dial that bears the signs and the…
Full disclosure. This G-Shock was a gift from the brand to show their support for a passion project I’ve launched called The Father Hood. Thank you Phil. The ‘Hood’s all about supporting isolated and new dads and inspiring future dads. It’s also brutally real about #dadlife. Which is why the G-Shock is really the perfect watch gift for this stage of life. No drop from a bench while attached to a soft toy (the kids like to do that for some reason shruggy), or hurl across a room at a sibling, or rinsing in a bath-time dip is too much for this watch. The reason Phil chose this full-metal model, the post-apocalyptic GMW-B5000V, probably has something to do with a post I made on my personal Instagram account when it came out, fawning over the fact that it could be my first G-Shock in way over 20 years. I saw it at Basel. I was in. Holy smokes. It actually looked like it was smoking, from some war it had just emerged from, still ticking. Intense desire. I know that many of you are into G-Shock and have kept the love alive since you were teenagers, or younger. I have…
It’s a question we never, ever get tired of asking. What sealed the deal on your watch? What was the straw that broke the camel’s wallet? The way the light melts across the domed box crystal? The price you got from that uncle with a gambling problem? The day you saw it on someone else and knew you had to have it? What Sealed the Deal has been a regular segment on Time+Tide for a few years now. But today, we’re opening up the floor to include you. We’re asking, what sealed the deal on your favourite watch/es? Here’s how you get involved: 1. Answer the following questions. 50-100 words on each should do it: When did you first see/hear about it? Any story behind the purchase? What was the deciding factor? Any surprises? When do you wear it? How does it feel on the wrist? 2. As for images, there are three options: We can pull from your Instagram account, if you have lots of shots there, like we did with Chad and his vintage Seiko 6105 and Champs and his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin 15202 If you fancy yourself as a bit of…
Nicholas Foulkes is an author, journalist and perhaps the closest thing the 21st century has to a genuine flâneur. He’s also deeply entrenched in the finer workings of the finer elements of the Swiss watch industry, so when he writes, it’s worth reading. His latest column in the Financial Times’ excellently titled ‘How to Spend It’ sees Foulkes focus his lens on independent watchmaking, which is a bit of an industry-specific term referring specifically to lower production, artisanal brands (after all, Rolex is technically an independent brand). As Foulkes explains, it’s a segment of the industry that’s heating up on both the demand and innovation fronts. So, if you’ve never really paid too much attention to these bleeding-edge makers (which, given the typically high price points isn’t unreasonable), this piece provides a good primer, and also includes this truly excellent quote from de facto independent advocate Aurel Bacs: In every watchmaker’s career, there comes a point where they look out of the manufacturer’s window and wonder if they have what it takes to make it on their own. For a comprehensive look at the current state of (independent) play, and a glimpse at the future, read the full story here.