LIST: Justin’s best watches of Baselworld (on a budget)
Baselworld has by now nearly slipped entirely into the ether, yet there’s a small list of watches that I’ve been mulling over ever since leaving the fair. The entry level segment was incredibly strong this year overall (let’s call it the sub-$5K bracket), and though Andrew touched on it during his priceless 3 Under 3k video, I couldn’t help but notice a handful of other watches that had some serious potential. As with most of us at the show I didn’t make it to see everyone in the halls, but of what I saw hands-on it took very little effort to cook up a list of a half-dozen pieces that land in “shut up and take my money” territory, adding to Andrew’s excellent selections. That in mind, let’s cut to the chase. Bell & Ross BR V2-94 Bellytanker Bronze Especially having just seen the Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G a couple of hours prior, I instantly fell in love with this B&R for the simple fact that (and some of you are going to hate me for saying it) it looks like a better version of the BB for less money. I’ve been a fan of the V2-94s since they…
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Editor’s note: The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 is an exceptional, nigh perfect, execution of a watch. And last year it was given two new dials, in crisp white and inky black. This is our review … One of the real hits from Rolex’s 2015 collection was the Oyster Perpetual 39 (ref. 114300), a bare bones, simple steel timepiece that was still pure Rolex. Initially offered in a range of youthful, colourful dials, this year the Oyster Perpetual family expanded to include white and black dial variants, and they are, just quietly, awesome. While the case and bracelet are unchanged, it’s worth revisiting them. Of course, the Oyster Perpetual is offered in a wide range of sizes, all the way up to this, the 39mm model, which really will suit a lot of wrists. But if you like your watches smaller, the 36mm is a solid choice, too. The case is Rolex’s classic Oyster case, which hasn’t changed too much over the decades. Made from Oystersteel, it uses Rolex’s Twinlock crown and is rated for 100m. While it might not have the same levels of deep diving capability as the professional line, it’s more than enough for everyday life. The bracelet…
Editor’s note: One of the easiest ways to freshen up a watch is to change the dial colour. Few colours are fresher than green, and in 2019 that trend doesn’t look like going away. Here’s a list we put together last year, of seven of the most envy-instilling green dials. Today we’re following up on last week’s batch of blue-dialled watches with seven of the freshest green dials on the block. Green is shaping up to be the new en vogue colour, and I suspect that if we ran this list next year, we’d easily be able to double the number of entrants. Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Limited Edition Let’s kick off with one of the first green watches of 2018, the oh-so-hot 1858 Monopusher from Montblanc. And while the smoky, graduated green dial is a looker, the real winning features are that the case is 40mm, and in the people’s metal — steel! 28,000 euro Seiko 1968 Automatic Diver’s Commemorative Limited Edition There’s one thing about dive watches … they can be a tad, how do we say, monochromatic. Well, that’s not the issue with this limited edition Seiko; not only is the dial a deep, dark, mossy green, but…
Worldtimers — which allow you to, at a glance, quickly determine the time anywhere across the globe — aren’t the most common complications. And typically, this level of mechanical wizardry comes at a cost. Typically. This handsome fella, the C1 Grand Malvern Worldtimer from UK-based outfit Christopher Ward, bucks the trend. Before we delve into the details, it’s worth a quick recap of the major types of travel watches. A GMT or dual time watch is simple enough — displaying a second time zone in either 24 or 12 hour time respectively (if the latter, you typically get a day/night indicator as well). And then there’s worldtimers, which rock 24-hour display AND a city disc to help make international travel and telephony a cinch. This system was initially developed in the 1930s by Louis Cottier, and is a complication with quite a prestigious pedigree. And then there are watches that have the city ring, but only show two time zones (but often allows you to quickly adjust them): Glashütte Original and Nomos spring to mind here. So that’s the potted history of worldtimers, so now let’s have a closer look at the Christopher Ward C1 Grand Malvern Worldtimer. As you can see,…
Even though they might not be as premium a name as their Swiss counterparts, Timex is a legendary company with a long history and one of the greatest ad lines of all time. Who hasn’t heard, “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking”? In recent years, Timex has been proactive in exploring that legacy, in a series of limited production pieces. The latest step in this journey is the Timex American Documents #001 collection, which is cool, if a little wordy. The schtick here is the Made in America designation. Timex has used local suppliers for all of the elements (Red Wing straps, Gorilla Glass crystal, etc), except for the Swiss quartz movement. Might not be for everyone, but that Made in America nostalgia-hype is real. Read more over at Worn & Wound. 
Editor’s note: Look, we never thought it was easy. This is, after all, skilled manual labour. But Andrew discovered just how difficult hand-painting a watch dial is when he visited Franck Muller in Geneva … I’m not above admitting it. I’m more than just a bit painful when it comes to painted versus printed dials. “Is this painted or printed?” is a question I’ve asked countless times. Receiving countless eye-rolls, I might add. And, full disclosure, I’ve always assumed that the colour, paint volume and line-perfect proportions of Franck Muller dials are the latter. Printed. But when I attended the Franck Muller ‘chalet’ (such a more appropriate descriptor than ‘manufacture’) for a second time, early in 2017, I asked the question and was met with a very different answer, which also happened to be a question. “They’re painted,” said my soon-to-be nemesis from Franck Muller, Laura Bondi. “Would you like to try painting one yourself?” Sure, but only if she tried to paint one, too. The next hour of my life taught me a lot about the extraordinary skill required to make the watches we love — mostly by showing me how ordinary my own skills are in comparison.
Editor’s note: I ran into the lovely Erika a few times back at Baselworld, and it was clear she was having a good time. Her watches were flying off the shelves, and she had a collab with Bell & Ross that looked great. Her elastic parachute material straps offer a superb mix of comfort, style and story. Personalities like Erika are what make the watch industry great. If you need a primer on what Erika’s Originals straps are all about, here’s our interview from last year … Hi Erika, how did you find yourself making watch straps? It is pure chance that I ended up making watch straps. A few years ago, just for the fun of it, I started making custom leather sandals, initially because with my size feet, it is almost impossible to buy anything off the shelf. But when friends started raving about them, I soon was working full-time making bespoke leather sandals and eventually leather watch straps. So what’s your daily watch and why? I don’t have a daily watch. I wear a variety of new and vintage watches. When travelling, I like to wear my — which I’m almost afraid to admit — Apple Watch. I nearly…
Cars and TAG Heuer is a match made not just in heaven but also in heritage, no doubt something that the marketing departments of other watch brands envy deeply. If you’re in any doubt, have a look at this history of timekeeping in F1. But, back to the matter at hand — the TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01 Aston Martin special edition. This watch was created (in part) to celebrate the partnership between the prestigious car marque and the Swiss house. And I’ve got to say, it’s a pretty attractive proposition. The honeycomb dial (inspired by the DBS Superleggera, natch) is attractive, as is the extra detail on the case middle and lugs. Of course it’s a watch made with car guys in mind, but it’s got enough oomph to stand on its own quite comfortably. TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01 Aston Martin special edition Australian pricing TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01 Aston Martin special edition, $8450
This watch is not for the faint of heart. Not only does the Casio MTG-B1000RB possess the legendary qualities of toughness for which G-Shock is famous, it’s also got one heckuva strong look. The look is achieved via vivid treatment of the metal bezel portion of the watch; it’s a rainbow-hued ion-plating treatment and, boy, is it a sight to behold. But before I wax lyrical about the glory of rainbow bezels, how about some backstory. The MT-G family was introduced by Casio way back in 1999, which means (and the maths wizards are already three steps ahead here) that the line celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. MT-G as a concept adds metal to the traditional G-Shock mix, adding an extra layer of toughness. This version ups the ante by adding an extra layer of dazzle — the treatment on the bezel is vividly chromatic, and changes, depending on the light. Casio say it’s inspired by the subtle lunar rainbow, but the reality is this watch is anything but subtle. Aside from the looks, it’s got everything you’d expect from a G-Shock: 200m water resistance, low-energy Bluetooth connectivity, solar power supply, more digital functions than you likely need and…