These are 6 of the best quartz watches of 2018
Quartz often gets a bad rap as the ugly duckling of the watch world. With pejoratives such as “soulless”, and “the quartz watch is entirely dependent on its battery and it has the dedicated ambition to commit suicide as soon as possible”, it takes a beating. And while the latter quote was by a not-insignificant contributor to the horological canon, it also implies literally no technological innovation in quartz watchmaking, which obviously isn’t the reality. Quartz watches can be cheap and cheerful, but some quartz watches contain genuine watchmaking expertise, and a taste of something slightly different than laborious crown-winding every morning. In this spirit, we thought we’d have a look at some of the best quartz watches of 2018. UNDONE URBAN VINTAGE ‘KILLY’ CHRONOGRAPH Undone have been bringing fully customisable watches to the people for a good couple of years now. Their latest offering is the retro-inspired Urban Chronograph. While you can still customise every little detail, Undone also created a series of pre-made designs inspired by iconic chronographs of days gone by. Our favourite is the Killy and its Dato Compax-esque warm creamy dial. Case size 40mm, Case material Steel, Movement VK61A, Price $265 USD SWATCH SKIN IRONY…
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Editor’s note: It’s an tricky question, but the new Railmaster makes a compelling case for the ‘yes’ camp … Yesterday, we showed you the Seamaster Railmaster, a modern incarnation of the classic professional model. But it wasn’t the only Railmaster released last year. No, there’s also this watch, the limited edition 60th anniversary commemorative watch that formed (along with the Speedmaster and the Seamaster) one part of the triumvirate of watches that makes up the 1957 Trilogy series. The version not included in the boxed set is limited to 3557 pieces, and, like the rest of the trilogy, is a near perfect facsimile of the original. In fact, you could argue it’s more than perfect, as it preserves the form and proportions of the original, but adds modern construction and movement quality into the mix. Speaking of form, this Railmaster is superb: 38mm case, with polished and brushed finishes, a 19mm bracelet, a solid link update of the original, and a solid caseback, concealing the thoroughly contemporary Master Chronometer 8806 movement (which is, as you’d expect, significantly more resistant to magnetism than the ’57 version). And then there’s the dial. Pared back to the essentials — printed Omega logo and…
One of the most beautiful elements of the mechanical watch is it doesn’t rely on disposable units of lithium to function. If you keep moving, your watch will too. This forms a dependent partnership that for many collectors is a huge emotional attraction to the mechanical watch. The energy from your fingertips directly transfers power into the micro-mechanical marvel that keeps you on time. This was the reason I wanted to wear a mechanical watch on my first attempt at an ultramarathon. My brother had convinced me to run 100km along the stunning coastline between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles, and while I was definitely taking my (ancient) Garmin Forerunner 910XT, I was also very tempted to wear my Seiko SRP777. This dive watch has been reliable on a few adventures (significantly further above sea level than below), and I while it did mysteriously stop ticking on a Mongolian mountain range once, it is still the watch I trust the most. On the morning of the run we rose at 3am to get on the trail by 4am. With only around 10 hours of daylight and our prediction of at least 15 hours to complete the distance, we started…
As the internet hits scale, connecting humanity in ways previously unthinkable, it is more important than ever to track more than one time zone. This used to be the specific domain of intercontinental pilots, diplomats and finance professionals, but no longer. Thankfully, watch brands are recognising this demand for watches that track multiple time zones, meaning there are more on the market than ever before. Here are the best GMT watches of 2018. G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TFG-9 35TH ANNIVERSARY GOLD ALL METAL MASTERPIECE The one that started it all 35 years ago has been reborn, with everything, from its case and caseback to its bracelet, made of stainless steel for the first time. G-Shock are celebrating with this limited edition version that’s coated in an all gold-coloured ion plating. Bluetooth connectivity allows the user to automatically set the local time or adjust world times and alarms from their phone. Ref No. GMW-B5000TFG-9, Case size 49.3mm, Case material Steel, Movement Tough solar, Price $1049 MING 17.03 The brainchild of international photographer and watch collector Ming Thein, the Ming 17.03 retains all the distinctive characteristics of the 2017-released 17.01. From its flared lugs and floating numerals to its 38mm nitrogen-filled titanium case…
Like all good stories filled with plot and intrigue, this one involves acquiring a pressure testing machine, and the decision to design a dive watch with it. Just like that, the Ming 18.01 Abyss Concept was born. In case you’re not familiar with Ming, they’re a relatively young brand that’s been making a lot of noise thanks to their attractive and distinctive designs. After taking possession of the pressure testing machine, the team at Ming put their heads together on what this watch was going to look like. They started work on an experimental prototype for a watch that could be used for diving, but did not rely on existing historical designs for dive watch construction. This is a bold undertaking, and one that causes you to pause and realise that the majority of dive watches on the market rely on waterproofing designs from the middle of last century. The result of this ambitious project is a series of 10 watches whose maximum depth rating is unknown, as every piece surpassed the limit of the pressure testing machine at 1250m (4100ft, 125 ATM). It’s safe to say that unless you’re planning a trip to the bottom of the Mariana Trench…
When Montblanc’s 1858 collection burst onto the scene back in 2015 it heralded a bold new direction for the brand, adding a no-nonsense, outdoorsy sensibility to what had, until that point, been a fairly buttoned-up collection of watches. Since that initial drop, the 1858 has gone from strength to strength, and their 2019 slate of releases was particularly cohesive, and attractive. For me, the core collection can be summed up in three, thematically linked watches, all limited editions, that have taken the brand back to nature, with their earthy bronze cases and lush, dark green dials. There’s the 1858 Automatic LE, the 1858 Chronograph LE and the 1858 Geosphere LE. For all that these watches have different functions, they’re all bound by a strong, and 100 per cent on-trend look of bronze cases with dark green dials. Montblanc 1858 Geosphere LE Visually, this is the watch out of the three with the most going on, dial-wise. Fundamentally, it’s a dual time watch — the second zone is shown at nine, and there are big, dynamic maps of both hemispheres, which function as day/night indicators and even — if your geography is strong — a world time readout. It’s a big,…
Editor’s note: The other day we posted a bonkers video from @jackwongyf on our Instagram. It was a super ratty Rolex GMT-Master 1675 that had, underneath the grime and scratches, one heck of a surprise. Check it out. And then we remembered that Andy interviewed banker and self-described vintage watch hoarder Jack Wong a little while ago. So, we thought you might enjoy a perspective from the Jack Wong lyf. Hi Jack, what’s your daily watch and why? To be honest, I don’t have a daily watch, I usually pick something to go with the day’s mood. So then, what is in your collection and have you got a favourite? I do not focus on one brand, or one particular era, as I believe every brand and period has their best. Having said that, I am particularly fond of Longines, Omega, Seiko, Rolex and pieces from the ’30s, ’40s and ’60s. As for my favourite, that’s a tough question. Aesthetically, I love all my sector dial watches. Mechanically, I am still in awe of my FPJ tourbillon. In regards to finishing and innovation, I’d go for my Grand Seiko Spring Drive. Rarity wise, my Longines (Mushroom Pusher) 13ZN. You can probably…
Just the other day, Sandra was opining about the changing face of two-tone, and today this fine example of modern bi-colour watches hits the proverbial desk. The Record collection is Longines’ line of dressy daily wearers that offer a great entry point into some pretty serious mechanical watchmaking. And that’s because every single watch in the Record collection is certified by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, Switzerland’s chronometer testing institute. What this means is that when you slip on your Record, you know it’s keeping an average daily rate of between -4 and +6 seconds. On top of that, it’s tested in five positions and across three temperatures. The movements utilise a silicon balance spring. Long story short, it’s a watch you can rely on. It’s also a watch that looks good. The men’s model is a 40mm case in steel with a bezel and crown in thick pink gold cap, simple hands and batons on a sunray silver dial. The bracelet definitely ups the dressy factor — it’s a seven-row construction with brushed steel links interspersed with that pink gold cap, for a distinct work-all-day and party-all-night aesthetic. The women’s model follows the same fundamental form, but pared back…
The Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar 5740G was unveiled at Baselworld 2018 to much fanfare, as it marked the debut of the perpetual calendar complication in the iconic Gérald Genta-designed watch. It still retains its signature looks, with the embossed blue dial, integrated bracelet and 40mm size. It’s also got a pleasing degree of heft thanks to the white gold case. Since its release, it’s been a hot property, and we’ve spotted it on the wrist of three famous celebrities who have a taste for fine watchmaking (and serious wrist statements). The first celebrity quick out of the blocks to get his hands on the Ref 5740/1G was Mark Wahlberg. He was spotted with it on holiday in Barbados at the end of last year, wearing it while taking a splash in the ocean (see below). We have previously highlighted Wahlberg’s growing collection here. The next person is Canadian rapper Drake who was sporting the same timepiece while at a Toronto club watching the Toronto Raptors clinch the 2019 NBA Championship against the Golden State Warriors. The final celebrity is Trevor Noah, the South African born host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central. Noah has been wearing an assortment…
Oh ye of sensitive stomachs, look away now. In a story published in the Daily Mail (yeah, we know it’s dodge — but the headline was just too irresistible), your precious watch is home to a host of germs, bacteria and other assorted disgustingness. In research (and I suspect it wasn’t peer reviewed), it was found that on average a watch was three times dirtier than a toilet seat (which I guess is some sort of industry index for uncleanliness), with watches on bracelet coming up the cleanest, and dedicated sports watches like Fitbits coming up the dirtiest, at an impressive 8XTS (eight times dirtier than a toilet seat). The story then suggests some helpful tips on cleaning your watch, which I would take with a healthy grain of salt. But for all its sensationalism, this story does raise a genuine question — do you clean your watch? Read the full story over at the Daily Mail. And if you think a dirty watch is a problem, you should probably also have a look at cleaning your phone …