RECOMMENDED READING: Jean-Claude Biver looks back at TAG Heuer … and to the future
Jean-Claude Biver is one of the watch industry’s enduring forces — a charismatic leader who looms, larger than life, over much of the modern history of the Swiss watch industry. So, as you can imagine, it was big — and surprising — news when it was announced a few weeks ago that Mr Biver would be stepping back from his day-to-day responsibilities as President of the LVMH Watch Division (and TAG Heuer CEO) in favour of a new role: Chairman of LVMH Watchmaking Division. What exactly this somewhat ambiguous new title means is the big question. And luckily it’s a question David Chalmers, the man behind Calibre 11, asked in his interview with Jean-Claude Biver, which sees the man looking back at his four-year history in the top seat, as well as to the future. It’s well worth a read, but here’s what Mr Biver thinks is the highlight of his career at TAG Heuer: “I think it was the launch and presentation of the first Swiss-made Connected watch. This I will remember for all my life. It was huge. The buzz we created when we launched the Connected watch in New York was just enormous. We had millions of…
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At the March 2018 Geneva Motor Show, TAG Heuer announced a new partnership with Aston Martin. Being named as the “Official Partner, Official Watch Partner, and Official Connected Watch Partner” of both the British car manufacturer and its racing teams (Quick fun fact! – Aston Martin are the title sponsors of the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team, who also happen to run engines that are badged TAG Heuer). And to celebrate the partnership, the motorsport-loving brand released a pair of new chronographs, including this unique take on the contemporary Carrera Heuer 01. And that’s where it all begins, with a modular stainless-steel 45mm case that’s water resistant to 100 metres and holds inside it an in-house chronograph movement – the Heuer 01. However, things quickly speed around the hairpin when you look a little closer. The dial now features a semi-skeletonised hexagonal pattern that evokes the aggressive look of the front grill of the latest Aston Martin Vantage. Newly sharpened race lines trace its mid-case for an extra dose of speed, and a set of redesigned lugs take inspiration from the high-tempo bodywork of the Vantage. All subtle hints that not only add even more modern and sporty appeal…
Every life is worth living, so why not show off your patina? That’s exactly what I imagine went through Chris’s head when he first lay eyes on Tudor’s Black Bay Bronze. As it turns out, I wasn’t far wrong, but there were also plenty of other good reasons for him to seal the deal. When did you first see/hear about it? I am a self-confessed watch geek. When Baselworld 2016 was on I was reading about the new releases online and watching the big reveals on Instagram. The Tudor Black Bay Bronze caught my eye and it ticked a lot of boxes in terms of things I was looking for in a watch. Bronze case, in-house movement with impressive 70-hour reserve, no date, brand heritage, and it also had nice details in the form of the gilt snowflake hands and 3, 6, 9 dial. Any story behind the purchase? I had recently been promoted at work and had received a bonus that I could use as a deposit on a watch. I had also lost a close family member a few months earlier and it had definitely shifted my perspective in terms of living life, enjoying the time you have and not putting…
While on occasion I do like to splurge and treat myself to that extra shot of espresso in my morning latte, I’m not exactly loaded with cash (caffeine, on the other hand …). In fact, like I’m sure many of you reading right now, before it comes time to laying down my hard-earned on a new watch, I first have some saving to do, and usually set my sights on reaching a self-imposed goal like, say, $5k. Why $5k? Well, not only is it a relatively realistic target to reach, but with so many great watches readily available under that magical amount, it also means that I’m spoilt for choice. So, allow me to help you by doing some of the legwork with this list of 5 watches that you can buy right now for under $5k. Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Really, this year any of Tudor’s offerings could have easily made the cut. But it’s the Black Bay Fifty-Eight where things get really interesting. Bringing even more vintage charm to the Black Bay collection with its smaller 39mm case and a svelte new thin profile. Not to mention the brand new in-house movement beating away inside. $3910 on leather Grand…
When ‘Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper – Shallow (A Star Is Born)‘ came up on my Discover Weekly Spotify playlist, it caught my attention for three reasons. Firstly, I had no idea that Bradley Cooper could also sing (of course he can). Secondly, it’s delightful. But thirdly, and most relevantly, the duo were both recently appointed brand ambassadors for two of the world’s best watch brands. Now, the song is from 2018 musical romantic drama A Star Is Born, which centres on Gaga and Cooper as star-crossed lovers, and also happens to be Cooper’s directorial debut. And so, I got thinking: What would these rock stars wear on and offstage if they had just two watches from their respective brands? And then I went to town. Lady Gaga — Tudor In case you missed it, Tudor made waves late 2017 when they appointed Lady Gaga as a brand ambassador and global face of the #BornToDare campaign. Here’s what we think she’d wear … On stage: The Black Bay Dark This is the obvious choice for an onstage watch. The 41mm case will have enough of a presence to match Gaga’s voice, and the black PVD case fits in perfectly with any rock star look. Being…
Most of the watches we talk about here at Time+Tide are mechanical — if there’s a battery involved, the watch has to be pretty special to get our attention. Well, Seiko’s Astron meets (and exceeds) the ‘pretty special’ criteria. The original Astron watch was released in 2012 (well, if you want to get technical, the original Astron was Seiko’s first quartz watch from 1969), and is significant as it was the world’s first GPS Solar watch, a particularly useful pairing of technology, which means that the watch can ‘talk’ to satellites, ensuring perpetual accuracy, and the solar cells on the dial ensure perpetual power. But cramming these technologies came at a cost — size. The earliest iterations of the Astron wore substantially on the wrist, but that’s something that Seiko has worked on over the years, as this latest generation, powered by the Calibre 5X, proves. In addition to smarter power usage, this Astron clocks in at a very respectable 42.9mm across by 12.2mm wide. It might not be elegant dress watch territory, but for a gadget-heavy daily wearer, it’s impressive. Add titanium construction to the equation and this might just be the best Astron yet. Seiko Astron SSH003J Australian pricing…
Editor’s note: We all love a little bit of attention, right? And for a watch guy, one of the best feelings in the world is when someone notices what’s on your wrist. Even if it is just another one of the watch fam. But what if it’s someone else you’re trying to dazzle, a lady perhaps? To find out, read on … Firstly, let’s not delude ourselves: your timepiece is going to impress more men than women. That’s a given. Unless, of course, it’s awful. If that’s the case, you’ll be slaying precisely no one — and also, how did you find your way to Time+Tide? However, there are a few ways you can maximise your chances of making an impression on the fairer sex with your choice of wristwear, at least a little. Listen carefully. Step 1: Choose something less obvious Less obvious than what? Less obvious than the one you’re most likely to choose, obviously. Because even though that un-aerodynamic chunk of metal on your wrist never fails to dazzle your mates and colleagues, it’s unwise to assume it’ll have a similar effect on the ladies. In the same way that we go for personality and intelligence over model-perfect looks in a…