Get to the boutique! The Seiko SNJ025 Solar 'Arnie'
The argument could quite easily be made that most watch manufacturers in attendance at this year’s Baselworld watch fair tended to err on the side of caution when it came to releasing new timepieces. However, Seiko certainly bucked this trend, unveiling quite a few new and exciting timepieces, and surprising the collective horological community with this, the new Seiko SNJ025 Solar ‘Arnie’. A faithful re-creation of a cult classic, the Seiko H558-5000, the new SNJ025 Solar does a great job of paying homage to the original timepiece that earned its colloquialism as a result of being worn by the one and only former “Governator” of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in several of his biggest hits, most notably Predator. The SNJ025 isn’t, however, resting on its laurels, and the 2019 release comes equipped with a host of practical features to be expected from the Japanese manufacturer. For a start, the Arnie benefits from a fully automatic calendar accurate to the year 2100, alarm and power saving function, and an LED backlight. In addition, as a dedicated dive watch, the SNJ025 is capable of 200m (660ft) of water resistance and utilises a screw-down crown, screw-down case back and unidirectional rotating bezel. The rugged…
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Amidst the morass of vintage reissues that almost all brands seem to have tried their hand at recently, Longines has been successfully combing their archives for the best examples that translate to current tastes, and have done so with good success in recent years. Even in the context of their well-executed reissues of military, chronograph and diving watches of their past, their latest dip into the history books has to be one of their best, as well as one of the nicest looking watches of 2019. I would like to introduce you to the Longines Heritage Classic with a “Sector Dial”. The design is based on a watch that Longines is reported to have produced in 1934, an example of which is housed in the Longines Museum in Switzerland. What is most exciting about this watch for the watch-collecting community, however, is it shows that a large brand like Longines is listening to the suggestions of enthusiast groups, not just producing watches that will appeal to the mass market. The reason the Longines Heritage Classic “Sector Dial” hits the nail on the head so successfully is because it expresses the answer to pretty much all the frustrated (putting it politely)…
Maybe I’m going colourblind or maybe it’s becoming more prevalent – either way, I’m spotting more and more panda dials out there on wrists. Actually, who am I trying to kid — it’s definitely a trend, a flow-on from the overwhelming vintage onslaught that has dominated watch design over the last decade or so. In case you’re not au fait with the nomenclature, a panda dial refers to a white dial with black sub-dials resembling, you know, a panda. With that in mind, here are eight of the best … The Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN Yeah, we had to include this. The latest gen-Daytona is still one of the hottest properties in watches, even though it was released in 2016. And while we’re fully aware this model is stretching the panda definition thanks to its black rim only sub-dials, thanks to Rolex’s huge panda legacy we can’t not include it. The Omega Speedmaster CK 2998 Omega has made a few impressive panda takes on the Speedmaster over the years, and the CK 2998 is no exception — with its high-contrast design, petite case size and subtle red pops, it’s hard not to fall in love with it. Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th…
Fifty years ago, Seiko released one of the first ever automatic chronograph movements in a watershed moment in watchmaking. To mark the occasion, Seiko has released the Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary SRQ029J, a watch that smartly dances the line between heritage and modern. We got a chance to take a closer look at the new anniversary piece, with all the details in the video below. If you love sporty chronographs that have a historically significant place in the history of watchmaking then this could be the piece for you. It’s well-sized at 41mm in diameter, features a movement with a vertical clutch and column wheel, and looks fantastic with the high contrast panda dial. Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary SRQ029J The SRQ029J has an RRP of $5950 AUD. Made in partnership with Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
Editor’s note: Believe it or not, earlier this year I spent my first serious time with a Speedmaster on the wrist, in particular the Omega Speedmaster CK 2998. This is how I went … As far as famous watches go, the Speedmaster is way up there. And aside from its famous extraterrestrial exploits, it’s also a real staple of the watch world, which is why a Speedy was a natural choice of wrist wear for my recent Swiss trip. The fact that this trip included spending some quality time with Omega only sealed the deal. The next question was: which Speedmaster? Well, in the end, my decision wasn’t too hard, because even though you’re spoiled for choice, I wanted a more classical iteration, and one with a mix of personality and versatility. So I plumped for the 2018 limited edition, the CK 2998. Once I put it on, it felt … pleasingly petite. It measures 39.7mm across, so it’s not really too small, but thanks to that broad black bezel, it wears smaller than you’d expect. It’s also, thanks to the manual winder inside, thinner than the automatic chronographs I typically road test. It’s a nice-feeling watch; present, but certainly not…
I know, it’s a horrible prospect, and one that we don’t really want to seriously consider, but you know what, it makes an excellent proposition for a hypothetical, something that flies around the office a fair bit. Only this time, I took some notes … Nick’s choice – Cartier Why? Cartier looks good in any situation, and they’ve got a very consistent design language. On top of that, the brand has an incredible amount of history, and the depth and variety that comes with that. And for me that means I’m confident that there’s a Cartier out there that suits any mood or occasion. What would be your go-to daily wearer? It would be hard to go past this vintage Tank Américaine. James’ choice – Rolex Why? Obvious choice, I know, but I would argue that every single wristwatch you see today looks like it does because of Rolex. Hans Wilsdorf was an incredible businessman and marketer who played a significant role in popularising the watch being worn on men’s wrists. And then there’s all the innovations — the automatic, the date complication, the Oyster case — so many firsts. What would be your go-to daily wearer? That is a…
Editor’s note: Seiko’s limited editions are pretty legendary, and for good reason. Some of the most coveted are those in the sporty Prospex line. Like this Seiko Samurai ‘Save The Ocean’ SRPC93K … The story in a second: Same great watch, brand new dial. The centrepiece of Seiko’s 2018 Prospex collection is, without doubt, the brand new and very blue ‘Save The Ocean’ series, offered in Turtle, Samurai and solar variants. It follows on from the recent Black Series and Blue Lagoon. But while last year’s limited edition was purely a cosmetic update, the Save The Ocean release has an element of social responsibility. Seiko has teamed up with Fabien Cousteau (grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau), who is himself a marine conservationist, to raise funds and awareness for Cousteau’s Ocean Learning Centre. Part of this awareness-raising involves prominent displays of what healthy and not-so-healthy marine environments look like in several Australian cities. So, not only do these watches look the part, they also do their part. The case First up, aside from the dial and bezel, this watch is pretty much identical to its regular release brethren. So, you’re getting the same angular, slightly blocky steel case, with solid proportions of…
Editor’s note: Simple style and an exceptional dial. This Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon has it all going on … ‘Novelty’ is one of the most abused words in the watch industry. Practically, it’s used to describe the steady stream of new models and designs being produced by watchmaking brands. But on top of that, it conveys a sense of newness and — marketing departments fervently hope — excitement. For example, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 2017 novelties were their Master Control trilogy — they excited people, and rightfully so. And while this grey-dialled Master Ultra Thin Moon is a new release, it’s not really a novelty — it didn’t make headlines at SIHH, and doesn’t showcase any innovations in mechanics or material. But despite this (or perhaps because of it), this serious, ghostly grey Master Ultra Thin Moon is an exceptionally beautiful piece of watchmaking, the sort that JLC excels at. If you’re not familiar with the MUT Moon (as it’s sometimes known), here’ s the two-minute rundown. First introduced in 2012, this perfectly sized 39mm white gold dress watch is a case study on just how well Jaeger-LeCoultre does thin watchmaking. At 9.9mm tall, it’s slender but not exceptionally so, partially due to the…
There are few things that high-end watch brands love more than a certification of quality. Some, like COSC, are industry-wide standards, while others (much like the movement) are strictly an in-house affair. The Patek Philippe Seal is one such certification. The new Patek Philippe Seal dramatically transcends the original hallmark’s notion of quality and perfection. First of all, it applies to the completely assembled mechanical watch as delivered to its owner; moreover it covers both functional and aesthetic aspects. This article, from The Hour Glass, gives a solid overview of the Seal, and how it differs from the Geneva Seal (a broader certification that Patek was a big fan of). If you want a better idea of the rigours that these watches go through, this is worth a read. 
Every year in watchland we’re treated to a fresh crop of heritage reissues — modern interpretations of designs of yore. It’s a market category that’s grown from a niche inclusion intended to appease the hardcore collectors to a major pillar in many brand catalogues. And while the year is not over yet, we’re pretty confident calling the below 10 the best heritage reissues from 2019. Heads-up, expect a lot of automatic chronographs in this list … Blancpain Air Command Yep, we did not see this one coming. Dive watches, yes (more on that below), but a pitch-perfect take on an old, obscure pilot’s chronograph? Yes, please. Longines Heritage Classic A surprise late entrant to the list, the Heritage Classic from Longines only officially dropped the other day. But with its 38mm steel case and sector dial it has everyone in the office exclaiming — not bad, good size. Zenith El Primero A384 Revival It’s been a big year for Zenith, as their famous El Primero movement celebrates the big 5-0. And because of this, the brand has been dropping heritage bangers with disturbing regularity. And while we didn’t see this at Baselworld, the chunky case of this A384 has us…