NEWS: Step into Seiko’s Melbourne boutique Presage Bar for a Cocktail Time
Seiko’s Presage Cocktail Time is a family of watches that’s been having something of an extended moment. These dressy watches are inspired by iconic cocktails and famous mixologists. While they’ve existed since 2010, things really kicked off when the model became part of the global Presage family in 2017. At the core of these watches are the vivid and varied dials, something that is a Seiko strong point. And, of course, with dial options come strap options. Which brings us to the Presage Cocktail bar kit — which is serving up delicious Cocktail Time straps (not drinks, sadly) in Seiko’s Melbourne boutique until November 25. Basically, if you purchase a Cocktail Time you can choose an additional, customised strap/buckle combo from the Presage Bar, which can add a zesty twist to your Cocktail Time. Chin Chin!
The post NEWS: Step into Seiko’s Melbourne boutique Presage Bar for a Cocktail Time appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Editor’s note: While people who collect/amass/hoard watches might find it hard to believe, most people have only one or two good watches, and those watches need to do a whole lot of things beyond tell the time. One of the most crucial things is they need to fit into your life, be able to handle ongoing, daily wear without skipping a beat, and look good while doing it. So, here you go. Are you under sartorial pressure in your nine to five? Feel the need to up your office attire? Well, we can’t help you with suits and shoes, but wrists? We’ve got you covered. We’ve found four perfect daily wearers that will dazzle your peers, no matter how dull your PowerPoint is. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 Over the decades the Datejust has become the definitive everyday casual option, and with its combination of refinement and rugged construction, it’s easy to see why. The Datejust 41, just released in steel, brings the classic up to a modern size and adds a next-generation movement to the mix. $9300 Oris Divers Sixty-Five I know what you’re thinking — a dive watch as an everyday dress piece? Madness, right? Hear us out.…
Named after Blancpain’s picturesque Swiss village home, the Villeret collection represents the spiritual heart and soul of the brand. Marking the point at which the Maison’s centuries-old elegance meets modern-day innovation, with each model designed with pure lines, slim case profiles, and clean dials that embody the enduring respect Blancpain holds for traditional watchmaking. The latest addition to the Villeret family is the Grande Date Jour Rétrograde, which, if your French happens to be tres magnifique (and much, much better than mine), you may already recognise as a classical Villeret with both a large date and a retrograde day display. The very first time we’ve seen a retrograde indicator used for the day of the week in the Villeret collection, the display fans out from 9 to 7 o’clock, snapping back from Sunday to Monday with the beginning of each new week. While sitting asymmetrically, just opposite, are dual Grande date windows that, along with the blue hand of the retrograde display, instantaneously change at the turning of each new day. This off-centred look adds a degree of interest to an otherwise cleanly styled opaline dial, with golden hour markers fashioned in the familiar Roman numeral style that’s found throughout…
In the constant cycle of new releases, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that watches are machines built to last for generations — with a little regular care and love. And while you and I might be there obsessing over the year’s hottest release, or wondering what’s coming next, Omega takes a longer view. Which is only to be expected, given that over their 170-odd years of history, watchmaking technology has changed quite a bit, and Omega has kept pace with this change, every step of the way. And while in the first half of last century they were busy forging ahead with improving accuracy, automatic movements, and protecting against water and dust, the 21st century heralds new obstacles for mechanical watches, with new solutions. One such solution is the Co-Axial escapement, a more stable and efficient mechanism developed by George Daniels and industrialised by Omega. The first commercial Omega Co-Axials were released in 1999, and quickly became the foundation of Omega’s increasingly impressive and sophisticated in-house offerings. More recently, Omega opened their brand new facility — a significant infrastructure investment that gives them plenty of room to grow. And on top of that, Omega recently announced an…
I’ve been a little spacey recently — and not just because Andrew has been reliving the glory of holding Gene Cernan’s Speedmaster, and First Man is on our must-watch list. On top of that, I’ve recently re-watched the excellent Hidden Figures and cracked the spine on Andy Weir’s The Martian, which probably means I’m part of the wider #marsorbust zeitgeist. After all, it’s an exciting time to be interested in space, as it’s a space that’s becoming increasingly global and democratised. And of course, for Time+Tide, more space means more space watches — which is something we can get behind. So, to celebrate, we’ve put together four space-proven watches that aren’t the iconic Speedy … Seiko 6139-6002 ‘Pogue’ The Pogue takes its name from Colonel William Pogue, who wore a Seiko 6139 Chronograph for 84 days on 1973’s Skylab 4 mission. Pogue bought the distinctive yellow-dialled chronograph from a PX store to use in his pre-flight training, before he was officially issued the Omega Speedmaster. So, one of the first automatic chronographs ever made also earned the honour of being the first automatic chronograph in space. Col. Pogue’s actual watch was sold by Heritage Auctions in 2008 for around $6000 USD.…
For all that skeletonised watches are meant to be about reducing mass, the Rado HyperChrome Skeleton Automatic Chronograph is a watch with a lot of substance, and much of it ceramic. The case, middle, bezel and bracelet are all made from Rado’s signature material, and have been treated with a range of processes — keeping it interesting on the wrist. Though having said that, the dial also does a fine job in the ‘interesting’ department. Sure, you get a peep into the inner workings of the automatic chronograph movement, along with a quite legible handset, but what I really like is the under-the-dial printing, which is delicate and very much in keeping with Rado’s designer aesthetic. All this, combined with the 45mm case size, adds up to an unmissable watch. The Rado HyperChrome Skeleton Automatic Chronograph Limited Edition Australian pricing The Rado HyperChrome Skeleton Automatic Chronograph Limited Edition, limited to 600 pieces, $9475
The watch industry is — make no mistake — an industry, driven by bottom lines and production schedules. It’s also a deeply traditional craft with a long and rich lineage. A lineage fine watch brands are exceptionally proud of. And business — by and large — is good. So why are an increasing number of leading watchmakers, brands, and watchmaking bodies worried about an impending crisis? In this article for The New York Times, Robin Swithinbank explores an unintended consequence of the growing popularity of mechanical watches — the death of skills, knowledge and appreciation of the fine art of watchmaking. And while an interest in watches is a good start, it’s just the beginning. Read the full article here. 
You know who you are, and you know why you’re here — and it’s totally fine. You’ve found yourself at the inevitable crossroad that all collectors come to. You’re finally in the position to buy something that you never thought you’d like, but as your tastes have evolved, you’re struggling to resist it. When you first started collecting watches, you swore it was too obnoxious, gaudy and ‘flashy’ … yet, here you are, lusting after a gold watch — not knowing how to handle it. Firstly, it’s okay. Like I said, we’ve all been there, often without realising. Maybe it happened when you were at your local dealer, who only had that model you wanted in white gold. Maybe you tried on a friend’s piece and fell in love with the weight of the metal. You want gold, and you’re trying to work out if you can pull it off, and, ultimately, whether it’s the right decision for you. Well, here’s everything you need to know. Obstacles Now, before we tackle the various ‘obstacles’ (in #firstworldproblems air quotes) to buying a gold watch, it’s important to see where you fit in the customer type. There are a few different types of gold watch…
Editor’s note: Few watches are as effortlessly elegant and stylish as the venerable Reverso, which is perhaps why they’re a go-to choice for those who strut the silver screen. Don’t believe us? Here are 10 proof points … I’m no prop master, but I know when I’d reach for a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso to dress a character’s wrist. It would be when they had a scene in a suit. It would be at a point in their character trajectory when they were at peak confidence, when their outward style is tapping into the classic, the iconic, the timeless. And also when the brand of badass they’re seeking to project is more brains than brawn. You suspect this was precisely the thought process of the art directors and prop masters that did just that with these kings of the screen. Pierce Brosnan. Ah, Pierce. He may have bombed as Bond but the man knows how to work black tie. The key is having an accessory in the mix that pops on the monochrome backdrop, and few accessories can compete with a gold dress watch with white face and black leather strap. The additional fact that it’s an unusual shape also catches attention.…
Anyone else ever play this game? Sitting at my desk during school, my friends and I would quickly double tap the start/stop button on our digi-stopwatches, trying our best to beat one another and see who could do it the fastest. I actually remember getting a digital watch just so I could play (and totally not to secretly practise at home). The watch I ended up getting, or at least what my now faded memory recalls, was a square 5000 series G-Shock. And this year the legendary resin-cased design celebrates its 35th anniversary, with Casio releasing the very first all stainless-steel version of the icon. First things first, this Full Metal take is every bit as tough as that very first bulletproof G-Shock – the DW-5000 brought to life in 1983 by Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe. Only now, instead of an entire outer case made of resin, the timekeeping module inside is suspended in all stainless-steel, with fine-resin cushioning sandwiched between. Everything else is much the same. The multifunction LCD screen is modelled on the original, except now it features Tough Solar technology with the familiar brick motif – as seen on various other G-Shocks – surrounding the outer edge…