LIST: Felix Scholz’s 5 favourite stories of 2018
For this year’s instalment of the T+T version of “these are a few of my favourite things”, I’m going to substitute noodles, poodles, and brown paper packages tied up with string for videos. So, without any further Julie Andrews’ references, here are five of my favourite videos. Russell Crowe talks exclusively to us about the stories behind his watches, and why he’s selling them Unsurprisingly, our video with the Kiwi who became an actor, who became a star, who collected watches (AKA Russell Crowe) was popular. In fact, it’s our most popular video to date, with a cool half a million views and a total watch time of more than 2.5 million minutes. Are you not entertained? I ditched my mechanical watch for the Apple Watch Series 3 Edition, and this is what I discovered Fun little bit of backstory: I filmed this review while nursing a fairly terrible migraine. But headaches aside, I think this video came together really well, and the watch is quite excellent, regardless of what the inevitable YouTube comments storm might say. Felix’s top 10 watches from Baselworld 2018 This is a great example of the Andrew and Felix double act in full flight. In…
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One of my favourite things about what I do at Time+Tide is meeting some cool people (both IRL and virtually), and having some pretty awesome experiences. So it shouldn’t surprise you that a bit of both were among my favourite stories of the year, along with a healthy dose of opinion. MY DAY WITH: The IWC Chronograph Spitfire at the Goodwood 76th Members’ Meeting A personal favourite because it was an epic experience, that most our side of the world doesn’t get to do. I had an absolute blast, met some amazing people with fantastic watches – and saw snow for the first time. OPINION: Regrets, I’ve had a few – how to handle buyer’s remorse I love a good opinion piece, especially when educational. Cam’s 6 handy tips should be read by watch collectors worldwide. OPINION: Judge not – why you shouldn’t judge someone by the watch on their wrist Another great op-ed piece from Felix, who’s been in the game long enough to know that you should never judge someone by their watch. Read up people. WHO TO FOLLOW: @WatchPartsMotorCycles – a guy who bought a watch with gold bullion Honestly, one of the coolest watch stories I’ve…
What a year it’s been! I attended my first Baselworld, reviewed more watches than ever, and wrote more words about these tiny mechanical machines than I had in all the years before combined. So, when Felix asked me to pick my favourite stories of 2018, I had a lot to reflect on. Lucky for me, though, there were a few that stood out. Here are five of my faves. LIST: 11 of the greatest Grand Seikos – and why they matter Totes don’t mean to seem egotistical, as this list was one that I actually penned, but honestly, any day spent researching and writing about Grand Seiko is a day well spent in my books. I still can’t believe I get paid to write about this stuff. INSIGHT: The value in time – what separates fine from very fine watchmaking Some of the words we use when we write our reviews aren’t always self-explanatory, and if you’re only just getting into watches, things can get a little confusing — and fast! Here, Justin makes it easier and explains some of the finer points in watchmaking while dropping a knowledge-bomb on just what separates the best from the rest. I’m not ashamed…
As 2018 comes to a close, we thought it appropriate to look back at one of our favourite brands — Tudor, who’ve had a noteworthy few years, especially in the ambassador department. It’s particularly interesting to reflect on, given the fact that until recently the brand never really played the ambassador game. Now that they’ve got a handful, here’s what we think … David Beckham Tudor’s first brand ambassador, David Beckham, took the watch world by surprise. Many questioned the move, but once the dust settled, it made complete sense. Although now a retired athlete, Beckham truly is a worldwide icon with a solid reputation. Tudor was looking for an ambassador with global reach and recognition, one who lived up to their values and was known for excelling in their chosen field. This strategic move was undoubtedly a good one, and although years into his retirement from soccer, there’s no arguing that Beckham ticks all those boxes. Beckham wears the Tudor Black Bay Chrono, the Black Bay S&G and, most recently, the Glamour Double Date. Being Tudor’s biggest ambassador, it makes sense to have him across core pieces and new releases. That being said, the Black Bay S&G certainly suits his…
It’s not many sleeps until Christmas, and the spirit of the season has well and truly taken over in the Time+Tide office, and – as so often happens – our idle speculation has turned to watches. Specifically, Cartier’s watches. So, in the spirit of the season, we’ve done a quick whip-around as to what watch we might find ensconced in a red and gold box under the tree. Assuming, of course, that we’ve been nice this year. Andy’s choice – the Santos de Cartier in pink gold You have to wish big when it comes to Christmas, so why not the Santos de Cartier watch in pink gold? I love the freshness of the crisp white dial, against the gentle warmth of the pink gold. At $52,500 AUD it makes for a reasonably priced full gold watch, with the reliable in-house 1847 MC movement. Justin’s choice – the Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat in steel Easy choice, such an easy choice. The Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat in steel was an immediate home run when it launched. The elegant dial and thin case pairing makes it the perfect daily wear for dressy situations, yet it can still pass as a more casual…
A little while ago I made my way down to Cartier’s Collins Street boutique in Melbourne, spent a little time amidst the glittering plinths and picked out some watches that, for me at least, really epitomise what makes the Maison’s watchmaking so great. Of course there are numerous shapes in attendance, from the circle of the Ballon Bleu through to the bold rectangles of the Tank. Really, though, the common thread through these eight watches is the overall strength of design, and the timelessness of it. All eight of these watches — regardless of shape, case metal and even complications — are classics, in the truest sense of the word. And that’s what makes them great.
In order to think about the best women’s watches, we must first ask ourselves: “What is a women’s watch?” At Cartier, the answer is particularly interesting: as the Maison’s 100+ years of watches has been taken a particularly fluid approach to their collections, with models like the Tank or the Tortue being equally well-suited to male or female wrists, a notion that seems particularly modern and in line with a singularly French (even Parisian) notion of elegance. And so, the question of “the best” of Cartier’s women’s watches is, above all, a question of which sizes will fit a smaller, feminine wrist, rather than which ones are categorised as “women’s”. The trouble is that leaves us too spoilt for choice. So, rather than attempting to define “best”, here are the watches that I will buy when Santa slips a Cartier voucher called “Pick any Six” down the chimney – one from each of Cartier’s greatest collections. My choices are, inevitably, subjective, so I will endeavour to explain my reasons for each one. BALLON BLEU 33MM IN STEEL Given how quickly it comes to mind when we say “Cartier watch”, it’s hard to believe that the Ballon Bleu is barely more…
I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for the Aquaracer. To my mind, it’s something of an unsung hero in TAG Heuer’s chronograph-heavy line-up. But the modern diver looks the business and, in a water-loving country like Australia, makes sense. It’s also quite a youthful feeling watch, which makes a nice changeup from the current litany of heritage-inspired offerings. And while the Aquaracer has never been particularly colour-averse, it’s somewhat ironic that this stealthy, blacked-out option is all about the colour. It’s offered in three variants, with blue, rose gold or yellow detailing, and today we’re having a look at this not-so-mellow yellow fellow. Fundamentally, it’s a watch that’s pretty familiar: 41mm across, with a case made from lightweight titanium coated with a black PVD, and fitted onto a lovely sailcloth-style nylon strap. The high-carbon content comes into play on the bezel and the dial. That distinctive shaped bezel has a carbon fibre bezel insert, replete with subtle whirls and swirls. The dial bears a similar pattern of carbon fibre-like flecks, but, interestingly, the dial isn’t actually made from carbon fibre, but rather rendered in an ersatz carbon fibre pattern, which still looks cool, especially with the grey…
A little while ago I posited that the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 was the best-value diver of 2018, a bold claim I still back. Today, it’s time to meet the Seastar’s dressy cousin, the Chemin des Tourelles. This watch is powered by the same, quite impressive Powermatic 80 as the Seastar, but on the surface it’s a completely different looking beast. A 42mm case, with a flashy blue starburst dial with an outer level of quite fancy Clous de Paris style finishing, which goes well with the applied numerals. This Tissot hits a lot of familiar, friendly notes, and is a perfect contender for daily wear in a semi-formal context. And with a RRP of just on $1000 it offers a heck of a lot of value. Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Australian pricing Tissot Chemin des Tourelles, steel on leather, $1000