Rolesor in the deep – the Rolex Sea-Dweller Reference 126603
To say there was quite a bit of controversy when Rolex unveiled the two-tone Sea-Dweller ref. 126603 at this year’s Baselworld is, at the very least, an understatement. In fact, there was nothing short of a litany of disparaging comments, which varied greatly in context, and ranged from questioning the two-tone Sea Dweller’s validity as a proper dive watch, to whether or not Rolex had completely taken leave of their senses. Keyboard warriors and vocal detractors aside though, and more than six months on from the notorious reveal, has the Rolex Sea-Dweller been an unmitigated failure, devoid of appreciation or desirability? Of course not … in fact, rather unsurprisingly, Rolex has got another hit on their hands, with the figurative queue for the new TTSD at most authorised dealers stretching well into 2020. And putting aside all the nonsense about “it’s not a real diver’s watch!”, it’s pretty easy to understand why it has quickly garnered a popular following. For a start, the Sea-Dweller’s hefty 43mm case size, for some, makes it a much more compelling proposition compared to the daintier proportions of its smaller sibling, the Submariner. And previously, if you wanted a two-tone steel and yellow gold dive…
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Editor’s note: OK, I’m not sure how many sides of the moon actually exist but, according to Omega and their collection of “… Side Of The Moon” special edition Speedmasters, it’s several. And while all the iterations of these Speedmasters are very fetching-looking timepieces, this example, the Omega Co‑Axial Master Chronometer Moonphase Chronograph — Blue Side Of The Moon, has got to be in the discussion as one of the best models so far. For a start, and unlike other models in the range, it’s equipped with Omega’s staggering Calibre 9904, which offers a great deal of features including METAS-approved Master Chronometer Certification, magnetic resistance rated up to 15,000 gauss, chronograph complication, date complication, moonphase complication and 60 hours of power reserve. What’s more, the 44.25mm case is hewn from blue ceramic and also utilises Omega’s Liquidmetal bezel, which benefits from a traditional tachymeter display. And the Blue Side Of The Moon sports sapphire crystal on both the front and back of the case, which is then treated to an anti-reflective coating. It’s a truly impressive timepiece that offers a hell of a lot for its $18,000 price tag, and our man Felix Scholz was lucky enough to go hands-on with…
The Fifty Fathoms is a stalwart of the dive watch, dating back to 1953. And, as you might expect, the watch has seen a few revisions over the years, including ones like this, that stretch the boundaries of a rough-and-ready tool watch. Because a 45mm fully gold dive watch is a heck of a flex. On its own the red gold case would be attention-grabbing enough, but add the gorgeous blue ceramic dial and the Fifty Fathoms’ typical glossy sapphire bezel insert and you’ve got a watch that makes a very splashy statement. It’s also serious watchmaking, with an exceptional automatic ticking away inside that hefty case. And while purists can stick to the steel, I think there’s something fun — and undeniably luxurious — about turning the paradigm of utilitarian objects on their head, with the help of some precious metal. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in red gold and blue ceramic dial price Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in red gold and blue ceramic, $47,050 AUD Made in partnership with Blancpain. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
Editor’s note: It’s easy for the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Everose Rolesor to get lost in the perpetual noise caused by some of its more popular siblings within Rolex’s Professional range. But to simply overlook this wristwatch would be a categorical mistake, because the Yacht-Master 40 has a great many positives when compared not just to timepieces from other manufacturers, but even other watches within the aforementioned Professional collection. For a start, because the Yacht-Master 40 is only waterproof to 100 metres, its case is actually a fair bit slimmer than something like the Submariner. This means that it’s arguably more versatile, fitting under a cuff, for example, far more easily. In addition, the Yacht-Master 40 houses Rolex’s Calibre 3235 movement, which is the Swiss marque’s latest generation movement and features the patented “Chronergy” escapement, Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring and offers customers 70 hours of power reserve. And lastly, as our man Felix Scholz mentioned when he went hands-on with the watch, due to its distinctively dazzling 18k Everose Rolesor metal combination and arresting sunburst brown dial, the Yacht-Master 40 Everose Rolesor has proper genderless bandwidth, and could be the perfect ‘his and hers’ timepiece. Last year Rolex released the stealth-wealthy…
It’s all very well and good having a mainstay, go-to timepiece that you can rely on for daily duties Monday to Friday, but what happens if you want to change it up for the weekend? For most enthusiasts, the criteria for watches worn on Saturday and Sunday are very different to that of a weekday-warrior: they need to be casual, potentially novel and, if possible, relatively inexpensive. With all these conditions in mind, here are four weekend watches that are chock-full of character and won’t break the bank: Q Timex Reissue Becoming an instant cult classic when it was released earlier this year, the Q Timex Reissue is an excellent example of a deeply characterful yet economical weekend watch. Replete with its ’70s charm, 38mm stainless steel case and conforming woven mesh bracelet and iconic bezel colour scheme, this watch screams to be paired with a white T-shirt and some blue jeans. Though currently sold out, it is expected that the Q Timex Reissue will be available again soon on the Timex website. $179 USD Undone Classic Original Presenting an aesthetic that is perhaps the most archetypal of a great weekender, the Undone Classic Original offers all of…
With the watchmaking industry’s famed awards ceremony, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève — or as it’s more commonly known, GPHG — fast approaching, we thought we’d mention a few more nominated watches that you should be keeping an eye on. Now, we’ve already covered a host of brilliant timepieces from Bulgari and Zenith that have been nominated, and we’ve also been lucky enough to see the entire 84 nominated pieces in person. But we thought it would also be pertinent to mention three of the best ladies timepieces that have been given the nod from the award ceremony’s expert judges. Louis Vuitton Tambour Spin Time Air Paved Featuring the most modern jumping hours complication in the world, the Louis Vuitton Tambour Spin Time Air stunned the horological community when it was first unveiled a decade ago. This particular Spin Time has been given the full pavé diamond treatment, and when combined with the aforementioned complication, we reckon this exquisite timepiece will be a pretty compelling candidate for the “Ladies Complication” genre. Chanel J12 Calibre 12.1 The Chanel J12 has been a stalwart of the luxury ladies watch genus since its debut back in 1999. However, not wanting the J12…
Grand Seiko has expanded their offerings of ladies watches with two new additions to their Elegance Collection – the Grand Seiko STGK011 and STGK013. The bezel-less beauties have drawn inspiration from the Japanese watchmaker’s original sans-bezel timepiece, the Grand Seiko 62GS, which was first unveiled in 1967. And, to really dial up the glitz, the new timepieces’ unique tonneau-like cases are adorned with no fewer than 38 diamonds, measuring 0.41 carats in total, lining the flanks of the svelte 30.6mm steel cases. Available in two different dial designs: a shimmering silver dial reminiscent of freshly fallen snow (STGK011) and a deep, purple coloured mother-of-pearl dial (STGK013), known as “Koki-murasaki”, which is said to be a Japanese symbol of status. Both dials are also affixed with two diamonds, which are diagonally stacked upon one another and located at the 12 o’clock position. Capping both of the eye-catching dials is a highly defined, dual-curved sapphire crystal that has been treated to an anti-reflective coating, ensuring superior levels of legibility. In addition, the case backs also utilise sapphire crystal, so owners can appreciate the watches’ mechanical power source, which is finished to exacting standards typical of Grand Seiko. Speaking of the movement, it’s…
For most of us today, snakes evoke a mixture of fascination and fear – but since Ancient times they have been a mythological symbol for countless cultures and civilisations. Although, in the Christian tradition, a serpent represented the devil in the Garden of Eden, snakes mostly had positive associations. For Native Americans, Mayans and Aztecs, Persians, Chinese, Hindus, Africans and Australian First Nation tribes, they represented, variously, power, wisdom, eternity, fertility, sexual desire, protection, and a direct link to ancestral spirits. Unsurprisingly, then, since humans first adorned their bodies with jewellery, snakes have been a constant motif – the shape of their sinuous bodies being perfectly suited to wrapping around wrists or necks. The Egyptian Pharaohs and Queens (we’ll come back to Cleopatra later) wore serpentine bracelets and adorned their headdresses with a rearing cobra to signify their quasi-divine status. From there, the powerful symbolism of snakes spread to Greece, becoming associated with Asclepius, the God of medicine (a serpent coiled around a rod remains the emblem of physicians to this day), and thence to Rome, where they represented wisdom and everlasting love. In the 19th century, Queen Victoria’s engagement ring – which took the form of an emerald and…
Editor’s note: I’m a big fan of the Heuer 01 from TAG Heuer. It’s a cool, modern watch that looks great in a whole bunch of executions. And, to my mind, one of the best is this fully black ceramic number. Sporty, stealthy and — dare we say it — sexy. In two short years, TAG Heuer’s Carrera Heuer 01 has gone from a single statement model to a fully fledged sub-collection, with something for everyone. Having said that, this stealthy, slightly smaller 43mm in matt black ceramic might just be the most versatile model yet. The case There are two noteworthy features of the case of the CAR2090: its size and material. First of all, the size. As I’ve said before, the 43mm Heuer 01 models are much friendlier to more wrists than the (frankly, pretty massive) 45mm versions. 43mm is still a large, modern sports case size that doesn’t — especially when coupled with the height required by the integrated chrono movement — lack anything in the wrist appeal department. Secondly, the material. The matt black ceramic case construction (with a stainless steel core and caseback for water resistance) doesn’t just look mean, it also means your watch…
Editor’s note: OK, yes, it seems as though every time you scroll through Instagram these days, it’s highly probable that your feed will be inundated with myriad “rainbow” bejewelled-bezel timepieces. And whether you’re for or against them, there’s no denying it – these bedazzled technicolour flex watches are firmly solidified in the zeitgeist of current watch culture. It’s not just the ubiquitous (if you can call it that) Rolex Daytona Ref. 116595 RBOW either, with several watchmakers jumping on the figurative “coloured ice drop” bandwagon. Hublot, in particular, has been a strong proponent for these types of timepieces, with the Swiss marque producing several vibrant iterations across their various collections. One such watch that really stands out in Hublot’s catalogue is this, the Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Power Reserve 5 Days Sapphire Rainbow. Our man, Felix Scholz, was lucky enough to go hands-on with the near quarter-of-a-million dollar watch late last year, and these were his initial impressions: There are a lot of things I love about Hublot, and I’ve got to say, this watch manages to cram pretty much all of them (barring ceramic) into one awesome, 45mm package. It’s the Big Bang Tourbillon Power Reserve 5 Days Sapphire Rainbow,…