EDITOR’S PICK: 5 Halloween-worthy watches
In a few days, the portal between this world and the one that comes after will be at its thinnest, so it’s probably a good time to start thinking about what wristwear is best to impress the spectres, ghouls and ghosts. And while vintage Rolex and Patek are your typical, safe bets, we’d suggest something with more … skulls. Why skulls? They symbolise death and danger, and are undeniably cool. When you put a skull on a watch it takes it to another place — a dark place. The ticking hands and the grinning skull serving as a reminder that everyone’s time is limited. Tempus fugit and all that. Fiona Krüger – The Celebration Skull Skulls don’t have to be morbid – Scottish independent watchmaker Fiona Krüger’s Celebration Skull takes colourful inspiration from the Mexican Día de los Muertos celebrations. RRP 25,800 CHF. Romain Jerome – Día de los Muertos Fiona Krüger isn’t alone in being inspired by the vibrant Mexican festival. Romain Jerome’s version adds a hand-enamelled dial to their DNA case. Breaking Bad flashbacks guaranteed. POA. Richard Mille RM 52-01 The RM 52-01’s grinning golden skull is encased in Richard Mille’s trademark tonneau case. It was this distinctive black and gold combo of the…
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It’s patently obvious, but it still bears repeating: watches are three-dimensional objects. It’s worth saying because if you’re anything like me, you spend far more time looking at watches on screens than in real life. That’s fine, it’s an unavoidable by-product of our modern world. And while some watches look exceptional in pictures, others (I would argue, all) need to be held to truly be appreciated. A photo, no matter how good, cannot catch the whirr of a movement, the satisfaction of unscrewing a crown, or the cheeky play of light as it bounces from dial to hand to crystal. And while video is also a two-dimensional medium, it does a much better job of capturing the feel and nuance of a watch than a static photo. Not the same as having it on your wrist, but the next best thing. Don’t believe me? Check out our review (and Jason’s excellent pictures) of the Freelancer Calibre RW1212 here, and now watch our video review. Same watch. Completely different feel. Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212 Australian pricing Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212, two-tone on bracelet, $3150, on leather $2850
Typically in the Friday Wind Down we have ‘What happened?’, ‘What really mattered?’ and ‘The week in numbers’ subsections. Today I can answer all that in one word and one (long) number. Newman. $17,752,500. And no, I’m not talking about the above Newman. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know by now that Aurel Bacs auctioned off Paul Newman’s Paul Newman this morning, in New York, for a record-breaking $17,752,500 USD (including buyer’s premium and taxes). It’s a watch that’s captured the hearts and minds of watch fans and novices alike — and also served as a near-perfect case study of the watch industry hype machine in action. We’re also pretty sure that getting a ‘regular’ vintage Daytona just became that much more expensive. But it’s not all about a ridiculously expensive Rolex. At the saner end of the spectrum, Adam Savage (of MythBusters fame) posted a lengthy video with Vsauce’s Michael Stevens on a subject close to our heart … watches. And while the content is aimed at people who are pretty new to the whole watch thing, it’s always interesting to see how watch-nerd-civilians engage with our interest/hobby/obsession. And Adam, my only criticism of your engaging video…
Grand Seiko’s famous ‘Snowflake’ has been with us for quite some time now (it was first released, as the SBGA011, in 2010), and it’s quickly earned a reputation as an exemplary everyday watch that manages to combine functionality and beauty in equal measure. Smartly, Seiko knew enough to leave one of the cores of the Grand Seiko collection well alone … until this year. The ‘new’ Snowflake is the SBGA211, and, thankfully, it’s virtually identical to the original — except for the dial. At the start of this year it was announced that Grand Seiko would be fully independent from Seiko — a move well overdue. The most obvious symbol of this change was that the characteristic (and idiosyncratic) Seiko/Grand Seiko double branding disappeared from Grand Seiko dials, resulting in cleaner, less confusing dials. In the case of the Snowflake, this simpler design is a big improvement, giving a more balanced look that allows the wonderful texture of the Snowflake to shine. While this impossibly rich and subtle dial texture is what initially (and continually) wows people about the Snowflake, I actually don’t think it’s at the heart of the model’s success. I’ve worn watches with incredible dials before, and…
If, like us, you are madly into watches, then you’ve had today’s date marked in your calendar for the past few months. Yes, the 26th of October is the day (in America) that Phillips auction off Paul Newman’s actual Paul Newman Daytona. And given how crazy the hype is, we know that mere mortals like you and I aren’t anywhere close to even think about bidding on it. But that hasn’t stopped me wondering who will sign that winning cheque, with many experts speculating that the attraction of this watch extends far beyond that of your top tier watch collectors, given Paul Newman’s universal appeal. This is potentially not just the most expensive Rolex ever sold, but the most expensive wrist watch, ever. To most, the thought of dropping seven or eight figures on a watch is not only completely absurd, but financially impossible – but to a small percentile, it’s a drop in the ocean. For example, assume the hammer drops at say $10 million USD, to someone worth 300 million – you’re talking three per cent of their net worth. Doable. But why do we think a celebrity buyer is in the running? Well, given the publicity this watch auction has…
There’s a reason chronographs are one of the most perennially popular watch complications – they add a lot to a watch. Functionality, interesting design elements, and a sense of derring-do, thanks to the chronograph’s close association with the exciting and glamorous worlds of motorsports, aviation and general athletic endeavour. Most importantly though, they add a real sense of tactility, allowing you to interact with – and measure – the passing of time in a meaningful way. And I’ve got to say, I could get used to wearing and using this Raymond Weil Freelancer. The dial and case is a quiet explosion of colour and texture, with a pleasant mix of finishes that not only amp up the dressier aspects of the watch but also ensure that the simple act of checking the time is a mesmerising lightshow. Raymond Weil’s Freelancer Chronograph Automatic Australian pricing Raymond Weil’s Freelancer Chronograph, on leather $3895
When I had the opportunity, in Geneva this past summer, to get my hands on the 20th century’s most famous wristwatch and talk about it with the man who will be holding the hammer when the watch is auctioned by Phillips in New York in a few days, my immediate thought was I-love-my-job-I’m-so-lucky. Followed by a few key questions: Would the watch feel more special on the wrist than your typical Cosmo Daytona? Does Aurel Bacs, auctioneer supreme, regard this as anything more than another (likely) record-breaking piece? And, on that note, just why was the pre-sale estimate — “In excess of $1 million” — so low? The importance of provenance When I found out that this watch was entering the market I was intellectually excited but emotionally detached. It’s a watch, right? With a very good story. A watch that loads of collectors would willingly sell their furniture (if not their mother-in-laws) for. But it’s a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with an exotic dial, Ref 6239, circa 1969. It’s only a watch. That’s how it looked and felt for about the first three seconds after Alex Ghotbi from Phillips handed it to me. Then something took over – the knowledge…
Last week, I was in the mountain town of Jackson, Wyoming with Montblanc. And while I’ll have to wait until SIHH 2018 to share most of the watches I’ve seen with you (totally worth it, by the way), I did spot one smooth new variation of this year’s sporty TimeWalker Chronograph that I can tell you about. This new version amps up the prestige with a solid red gold case with a satin treatment, paired with a deep, dark chocolate brown sunburst dial and matching ceramic bezel. On the dial it’s lovely, but it really sings thanks to the contrasting gold tone hands, hour markers and totaliser rings, along with a few bright red details, like that Minerva arrow-tipped Chronograph seconds hand. While the regular TimeWalker Chronograph, released earlier this year, is every inch the automotive-inspired sports watch, this new look is less utilitarian and far more luxurious. It’s also incredible to wear on the wrist, as any stray beam of light sets the gloss ceramic bezel alight, adds to the lustre of the dial, or simply suffuses the case with a heavy golden hue. Aside from being one of the most delicious-looking 43mm watches I’ve seen in a goodly while,…
There’s something about the colour red. In nature it symbolises danger, in human culture it’s got a more complex set of meanings: typically passion, strength, desire – emotion writ large. Which is why this glistening red sapphire confection is the logical extension of Hublot’s journey into sapphire. Not only does the vivid case amplify all the natural attributes of the Big Bang case – especially given the contrasting black detailing, but it exaggerates everything that Hublot stands for, not just in terms of design, but also in brand ethos. It’s an audaciously out-there watch, not to many people’s tastes, but it is an undeniably, infectiously fun watch. And, really, isn’t that what matters? Hublot Big Bang Unico Red Sapphire Australian availability and pricing Hublot Big Bang Unico Red Sapphire, limited to 250 pieces, $95,000