ROCKSPOTTING: Dwayne Johnson goes full milspec in his latest blockbuster, Skyscraper
From the People’s Champion to the people’s choice. Over the past year, semi-retired professional wrestler and Hollywood megastar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has earned himself $US125 million, the highest-ever total for acting in the 20-year history of the Forbes’ Highest-Paid Celebrity List – which ranks him at number five, and up 17 spots from last year’s list. All that money isn’t for nothing either, with the hardest-working man in Hollywood lighting up countless box offices the world over. His latest all-action film, Skyscraper, sees him play a former FBI agent and US war veteran who now assesses security in skyscrapers. But when he’s framed for setting the world’s tallest and safest building ablaze he must quickly work to clear his name and somehow rescue his family who are trapped inside. Naturally, on his wrist is something that must stand up to the type of abuse and mayhem that awaits. And after a few team emails, WhatsApp messages, and sleepless nights in the Time+Tide office, our own Dan “The Man” Senia confirmed the spot as the MTM Black 3-GER. Headquartered in Los Angeles, for 25 years MTM (Multi-Time Machine) Special Ops Watches have specialised in making watches for the US military…
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Editor’s note: “What watch would you recommend to someone who wants just one do-it-all piece, and that doesn’t require a remortgaging of the family home?” As someone who writes about watches on the daily, this is one of the most common questions I get asked. Usually right after, “How many watches do you own?” While I do love answering the question, it first requires the asker answering a few questions of my own: “What do they do every day? What’s their style?” If they tick all the right boxes, it’s hard to go past the Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph. A stylish, versatile and sporty value-driven offering for your every day. The story in a second: A value-packed chrono from one of the few remaining family-owned watch companies. It wasn’t all doom and gloom during the quartz crisis of the mid ’70s. While brands and manufacturers were disappearing left, right and centre, never to be seen again, others like Raymond Weil were only just starting out, which makes them a relative newcomer to the watch world. However, unlike many others, they’ve managed to remain independent and create a diverse catalogue that’s bursting at the seams with collections like the Freelancer. Introduced in 2007, it’s now one of…
Jaquet Droz is a brand that has built its reputation on incredible automata and extravagant finishing. Fluttering birds, delicate miniature painting, and exquisite handcrafts are all par for the course for the brand. Which is why this watch, the Astrale Grand Heure Minute, was such a surprise. It’s no less beautiful, but much more spartan in its style. In fact, besides two hands, some tiny hour markers and some words, there’s hardly anything on this dial at all. This Astrale has been pared back to its most essential elements, and I’ve got to say the strength of the design holds up on its own. For me, it’s a completely different look for Jaquet Droz, and a good one for Australia. If Jaquet Droz is a brand you’ve never considered before, I’d suggest checking out the latest Astrale. It might just change your mind. Jaquet Droz Astrale Grand Heure Minute Australian pricing Jaquet Droz Astrale Heure Minute, in steel, $11,250
Last week the entire Time+Tide team were posed a challenge. The premise was simple: construct a hypothetical watch collection with as many watches as we liked for as close to $20,000 AUD as possible. The only other stipulation — we couldn’t choose any watches that we currently own. Well, we had a lot of fun, and if the reaction on social media was anything to go by, you guys did too. To be honest, so much fun was had, we thought we’d keep the ball rolling and post a few of our favourite dream collections that you, our readers, sent us. So, without further ado, the great $20k fantasy watch collection (readers only) challenge. Jonathan from Facebook Jonathan’s collection is not only value packed – we’re assuming he’s going with second-hand prices here and that he has some solid hook-ups – but it’s also incredibly diverse. There’s a GMT, a chronograph, a handful of divers, and something dressy for when the occasion calls for it. A collection more than worth celebrating with that bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon at the end. Rolex Explorer II Rolex? Check. A little complication? Check. Value? Check! Omega Aqua Terra Something for all occasions (even…
Let me be clear from the outset, this is a ridiculous challenge. It’s clearly hypothetical and I’m pretty sure none of us has any plans to sell our collections and follow through with this. But having said that, it’s a perennial watch party favourite, and can be pretty fun. It’s also a useful challenge for distilling just what it is you like about watches – it’s like mindfulness for watch nerds. Dan’s pick – A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Striking Time My one watch is also my Grail watch. The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Striking Time. It’s robust enough for everyday wear yet horologically significant to make a statement. I would choose the white gold with black dial version as my preference. I may be forced to have this as my ‘only watch’ regardless – as I’d have to sell or trade everything I own (along with a kidney) to get it! Justin’s pick – Heuer Autavia 11630 GMT Limiting myself to a single watch for life would be a painful task, to say the least (damn you, Felix), but given the challenge I chose to work backwards based on my needs in terms of complications. Regardless of where my…
Back for its sixth instalment, the all-action franchise returns to the big screen with Mission: Impossible — Fallout. And sees IMF agent Ethan Hunt – played by Tom Cruise – and his crew of undercover specialists take on the bad guys, doing whatever it takes to save the world from certain nuclear destruction, with what’s sure to be another action-packed adventure, full of insane stunts and death-defying set pieces. I thought I’d join in on the fun and make a few helpful tough watch recommendations. And in true Mission: Impossible style, equip each one with an idea for its own spy tech invention. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to read on. *This message will not self-destruct in 5 seconds Victorinox I.N.O.X. Automatic Spy tech suggestion: Paracord strap This was an easy one, and to be honest I didn’t need to put a lot of thought into what spy gadget would fit the ever-tough I.N.O.X. Because Victorinox already make one for it – a paracord strap. This latest version replaces the I.N.O.X’s familiar quartz movement, with an automatic movement. And while it’s not quite as indestructible as the original, it should still do the job. Seiko 1978 Quartz Diver’s…
Earlier this week we had a look at Zenith’s entry point into the Defy family, the solid-dialled Defy Classic. Well, today we’re going to kick it up a notch with something the brand is particularly famous for — a chronograph. And not just any chrono, but the Defy El Primero 21, a watch that marries the modern silhouette and skeletonised look of the Defy with an awesome movement. The El Primero 21 is an evolution of the revolutionary El Primero, which debuted way back in 1969, when Woodstock was the place to be and Vietnam was not the recreational travel destination it is today. And while coupling an automatic movement with a chronograph was a big deal back then, we’ve moved on a little. The EP 21 still marks time but it does so using two regulators, one for timekeeping and the other for the chronograph. The latter beats at a whopping 50Hz, allowing you to time events up to an accuracy of a hundredth of a second. In turn this means that the central chronograph hand makes a revolution every second. And yes, we know we didn’t capture that in the video – we’re kicking ourselves. All told, the Defy…
Jerry Seinfeld can do no wrong, and after having been streamed more than 100 million times, Seinfeld’s pet project, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, recently premiered its new season on Netflix after nine seasons as a web series on the digital network Crackle. Staying true to the title’s premise, this simple yet compelling series sees Jerry introduce a new celebrity comedian in each episode, picking them up in a unique vintage car and heading out for coffee. The pair then riff, unscripted, on all manner of topics to varying comedic degree. It’s safe to say that where there are celebrities there are luxury watches. We take a look at some of the best from this season and those that preceded it. Season 10, Episode 1: Jerry Seinfeld wears a G-Shock ‘Rangeman’ In this episode, Jerry picks up The Hangover star and Between Two Ferns host Zach Galifianakis in a ridiculous VW Thing. Based on the German World War II equivalent of the Jeep, it makes sense that on his wrist is the rugged and just about everything-proof G-Shock Rangeman. Season 10, Episode 2: Dave Chappelle wears an Apple Watch When you’re as popular and hardworking as hit stand-up comic, actor, writer and producer Mr Dave Chappelle, it’s…
To all the strangers on the streets, in the cafes, and just generally going about your own business … I have no shame in admitting that I am a wrist stalker. If you’re a regular reader, then chances are you’re one, too. We all do it. Some of us are just better than others and can pick a watch from across the room with only the hint of a bezel or a clasp. I’m not one to normally blow my own trumpet, but call me Louis Armstrong, because that’s me. Others, though, tend to get themselves into trouble, going for a peek at the most inopportune times – you know who you are. As a self-confessed (or maybe it’s crowned?) “pro” wrist stalker, I feel compelled to first apologise on behalf of those less-skilled individuals (they really need to read our handy guide on watch spotting). And then to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry to everyone I’ve ever made feel uncomfortable while waiting for their morning coffee, or while innocently tapping away at their mobile phones. I’m sorry to anyone I’ve ever made a victim with my glaringly hot stare, as they politely walked past and my eyes tracked…
Editor’s note: The latest crop of Tudor Black Bays are beginning to hit our shores, from the hot new GMT to the svelte Fifty-Eight. The perfect time then to look back on a line that fuelled Tudor’s ascendancy to the powerhouse it is today, and was a major influencer in the whole heritage trend. But it wasn’t always the profusion of colours and cases that we have today. Back in the day, the first three Black Bays were real markers of identity, a call to arms for the tribe of Tudor. This video review from last year shows us the many faces of this versatile diver.