VIDEO: One of the greats – the Tissot Visodate
Here at Time+Tide we spend a goodly amount of time talking about the latest watch releases. Well, this isn’t one of those times. Instead, today we’re talking about a stone-cold classic that’s as good today as when it was first released – the Tissot Visodate. The Visodate is an historical reissue of a mid-century watch that was novel for its inclusion of – wait for it – the mighty (and occasionally maligned) date window. While these days the date is de rigueur, it’s easy to forget that back in the day it was a big deal. The re-release honours the original not just in the snazzy name but also with a date display that’s deliberate in its style and placement. For me, though, the charm of the Visodate extends well beyond this complication. The case shape, the opaline dial finish, the arrowhead markers. All perfectly on point for a dressy vintage classic. And this version on a Milanese mesh strap only adds to the old-school charm. All this for under $1000 – it’s hard to go wrong. Tissot Heritage Visodate Automatic Australian pricing Tissot Heritage Visodate, steel on mesh, $900
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Editor’s note: A few months ago the watch-loving world went a little nuts for the Speedmaster Ultraman. Many (many) people missed out on copping it, but if your love of retro orange highlights still burns strong, how about this automatic alternative? And while there’s a black dial on offer that looks even more ultra, we’re pretty partial to this silver dial … The case It’s a Speedmaster, so no real surprises with the case. It looks and feels much like every other Speedmaster, except for its contemporary dimensions: it clocks in larger than your regular Speedy, at a not insubstantial 44.25mm wide, but it wears well, and sits comfortably on the wrist, thanks to a very reasonable sub-15mm height. The case is mostly brushed, with the exception of that sinuous polished line that stretches from lug-tip to lug-tip, adding an air of elegance to an otherwise utilitarian case. The dial Speaking of elegance, this dial variation is by far the dandiest. The black we showed you earlier is an undeniable classic, and there’s a white version, but this sunburst grey number is the real winner in my books. And not just because the grey is so mutable in the light.…
The model that’s emerging as the hero of Bulgari’s watch collection — which is undergoing a serious renaissance at the moment — is the Octo Finissimo Automatic, a simpler, more day-to-day offering than the tourbillons, minute repeaters and the like that also form part of the family. Until earlier this year the Finissimo Automatic was a lonely, single titanium offering. Well, that changed this year when Bulgari gave the award-winning model two handsome siblings, in gold and steel. Now, new metal variants of a popular model is hardly something to write home about, but the execution Bulgari has gone with is both unusual and exciting. Both models have a matt, sandblasted treatment, while this steel version also adds a rhodium coating to the mix, which gives the watch a bright, almost white look. This treatment, combined with the overall style and presence of the Octo Finissimo a presence that needs to be seen to be truly appreciated. Bulgari Octo Finissimo in steel Australian pricing Bulgari Octo Finissimo in steel, $18,350.
There are three things I want in your classic Hollywood blockbuster: big monsters, bad one-liners and quality watch spotting. And from the looks of it, The Meg has all three. And while it’s a movie that’s very much scheduled to tie in with the northern summer, it’s also one that I feel is close to my Australian heart — and no, not because it’s got Ruby Rose in it. But rather … sharks. Big sharks. We Australians have a bit of a weird relationship with animals that can kill us – equal parts fear and pride. And while our land-based snakes and spiders are the stuff of urban (or is that outback) legend, the waters are no less dangerous. First of all, there is absolutely no question that us humans are on their turf, and (literally) out of our element. And it’s not just sharks, there’s also the deceptively-beautiful-but-still-freaking-terrifying Blue-ringed Octopus and Box Jellyfish out there to spike your adrenaline. But it’s sharks, specifically the Great White, that hold a special place in our fears. And while they aren’t a patch on the extinct Megalodon from the film, they’re plenty scary. The Meg clocks in at 23 metres, or 75 feet.…
It’s not unusual to see high-flyers Bell & Ross take inspiration from the world of aviation. In fact, it’s almost expected. However, the latest addition to their “Horo” label does it with a far more “grounded” perspective. Finding its muse in the practical aesthetic of an airport runway. Following on from last year’s three-handed Horolum, the Parisian brand has taken the next logical step and added a chronograph, featuring all the utilitarian styling of the original that’s sure to please the tool watch crowd. Beginning with the brand’s ever-popular BR-03 square case design, the BR 03-94 Horolum uses a 42mm microblasted steel case, with large rectangular pushers on its side to control the chronograph. By microblasting the case with a high-pressure spray of tiny glass beads, Bell & Ross were able to dull down the finish, creating a matt concrete-grey colouring that doesn’t reflect light, an effect that is also matched on its sandwich-style dial. That sees the hour markers of its top metal plate cut out to reveal a healthy dosing of lume – in step with all five hands of the Horolum – that has been applied below. Powering it from within is an ETA-based automatic chronograph movement,…
Magical cylindrical tunnels of water. Riding inside a barrelling wave is considered by some to be the be-all and end-all of surfing. And while Hublot’s latest addition to the Spirit of Big Bang collection doesn’t exactly call for a rashie or a coating of wax, it does capture the essence of the sea, with an azure-coloured barrel-shaped case. Exclusive to Hublot boutiques and limited to 100 numbered pieces worldwide, the trademarked tonneau-shaped case measures 42mm across and perfectly captures the brand’s “Art of Fusion” mantra. Crafted from microblasted and polished blue ceramic, it features white composite resin side inserts, a set of titanium screws, and titanium pushers and crown that are finished with an insert made of rubber. Visible through the open-worked dial and its engraved display caseback is the HUB4700 automatic chronograph movement – which some may recognise as Zenith’s famed El Primero – with a 50-hour power reserve and a running rate of 5Hz. And in yet another melding of materials, a blue alligator strap is stitched onto white rubber. Originally introduced in 2014, the Spirit of Big Bang collection does exactly what it says on the tin. It captures the spirit of the Big Bang while sharing…
Editor’s note: Seiko’s divers are the stuff of legend, and deservedly so. And while their back catalogue is full of more classics than is frankly reasonable, the recent re-release of the so-called ‘Turtle’ stands out. The Turtle offers size, retro style and that indestructible Seiko build in spades, and all for a price that’s seriously hard to beat … Seiko dive watches have a massive — at times fanatical — following. It’s these guys and gals who are responsible for giving the brand’s cryptically coded watches their colourful nicknames – the Tuna, Monster, Sumo and, in this case, the Turtle. Officially, the Turtles we’re looking at here are known as SRP775 (black gilt dial on bracelet), SRP773 (blue dial on bracelet) and SRP777 (black dial on silicon). From now on, collectively, we’ll just call them Turtles. But wait, there’s more. These SRP77 divers are actually reissues of the original Turtles – historic divers from the 6309 family, produced from 1976 until 1988. Not only is this new version a faithful homage to the original, it also represents nigh-on unbeatable value for money. The case It was the broad, cushion-shaped case that inspired the watch’s nickname, because if you look at it from a distance and…
Just 10 years ago, buying a Grand Seiko meant either having to buy a plane ticket to Japan, convincing a relative/friend/acquaintance/that-guy-you-met-one-time to buy a ticket to Japan, or navigating your way around Japanese online retailers – searching every page for an image of your heart’s desire and then using Google translate to confirm that they even offered international shipping. You see, despite having a history that stretches back to 1960, it wasn’t until 2010 that Grand Seiko was properly introduced to the world. Once one of Japan’s best kept secrets, Grand Seiko was born from Seiko’s desire to show the world what Japanese watchmaking could do. And in the years since, the innovative brand has become one of the most influential. Still, as Felix put it last month, “there remains an air of mystique around the Japanese brand”. And while his excellent video explained some of the essentials, I thought I’d add some more meat to its bones with this list of 11 key models from the collection, and just why they matter. The Calibre 9S – SBGR311 Modern Grand Seiko is built off the mighty calibre 9S. Found at the core of many of the brand’s exceptionally finished cases,…
Editor’s note: For all that Panerai has been making a lot of noise recently about their smaller, dressier pieces, let’s not forget they can easily flip the switch to full-on beast mode when the need arises. And they don’t come much more beastly than this mighty 47mm Submersible, looking the business in matt black ceramic and brushed titanium … Way back in 2013, Panerai released the PAM 389, a big, 47mm titanium beast with antimagnetic innards and an oh-so-sexy ceramic bezel. This powerful diver is a watch entirely in keeping with Panerai’s core values. Fast forward to 2017 and we’ve got a new and improved version of this Luminor Submersible, with an updated reference number to match — PAM 1389. Functionally and aesthetically, not too much has changed: it’s still the same Luminor 1950 case, complete with that iconic crown guard. The bezel is still ceramic, with those excellent recessed interval markers and large lume pip at 12. But a few things have changed. Dial proportions have been given minor modifications — slightly fatter hour markers and a bright blue seconds hand, for example. The major change, though, is the one beneath the dial. This PAM is packing the latest in-house automatic…
This video is all about value. Not only do you get two watch reviews (we’re covering Tissot’s dressy Everytime Swissmatic as well as the sportier V8 Swissmatic), but both watches represent a solid value proposition. The style of these two watches is a pretty by-the-book interpretation of daily dress/sport, depending on which flavour you plumb for, but the Swissmatic movements are something else. Based on the revolutionary Sistem51 from Swatch, the Swissmatics share the same fundamental specs and architecture, but benefit from a more robust — and a completely automated – build. These watches might not have the high finishing that Justin extolled in his recent piece, but they possess an industrial charm all their own, and are, I think, a great way to get into the joys of a mechanical watch. A Swiss one at that. Tissot Swissmatic Australian pricing Tissot Everytime Swissmatic, $725, Tissot V8 Swissmatic $650