INTRODUCING: Bell & Ross meets brutalism with the BR 03-92 Horolum
Bell & Ross’s latest take on its classic square draws inspiration not just from aviation, but also – far less predictably – from the realms of art and architecture. The BR 03-92 Horulum is a monochrome monolith of a watch, a 42mm bead-blasted case with matching sandwich dial and complementary pale green C3 Superluminova hands and markings. On this occasion, the aeronautical tie-in isn’t quite what you might expect. It’s not a tribute to the latest generation strike fighter or specialised avionics instrumentation. No, Bell & Ross has gone for something far more down-to-earth this time around: the humble tarmac. The matt grey colour is inspired by the concrete of the runway, with the green lume evoking the lights that guide pilots when landing at night. So far so Bell & Ross. But where do art and architecture come in? Well, the broader design inspiration for the Horolum comes from the Bauhaus (the German design school, not the ’80s goth band), whose utilitarian take on modernist design was hugely influential in the 20th century. Conveniently, it’s also an approach that fits neatly with the tool-like aesthetic of the watch. For the past few years the word doing the rounds of publications such as Monocle and Cereal has…
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A little while ago, I was in Sydney attending a conference for my day job. The opening speaker was Ron Garan Jr, a former NASA astronaut, who’s travelled 71 million miles for work, spent 178 days in space, orbited earth 2842 times and enjoyed a grand total of 27 hours and three minutes taking part in EVAs (extravehicular activity) over four spacewalks. As Ron took the stage to share his experiences on the International Space Station (ISS), giving the sort of perspective that only an astronaut can have, I found myself a little distracted. You see, in the world of semi-pro watchspotting, nothing is as cool as an astronaut’s watch, so all I could do was stare at his wrist with laser-like focus. From several rows back it was obviously an Omega bracelet, but I was thrown by the chunkier case and unusual dial configuration. I couldn’t pick the model. Driven by a need to find out more, I hustled to introduce myself to Ron as he walked offstage, and finally caught a proper look at his watch, which turned out to be a second-generation Omega Speedmaster X-33 (reference 3291.50.00 for those playing at home) that had clearly seen a lot of action.…
Editor’s Note: Baselworld 2017 is just around the corner, which means our overactive imaginations have kicked into hyperdrive, imagining what new forms of wrist candy the brands will be dropping on us. At the forefront of our speculations are Tudor, who always play their cards close to their chest when it comes to new releases – which only makes us speculate harder. Currently our hot tips include a ‘right handed’ version of the Pelagos LHD (pretty likely), a bronze Black Bay in a new colourway (somewhat likely) and a Pelagos dive alarm (unlikely – but how awesome would it be). Of course, we could be on the wrong tack completely and they could surprise us with an entirely new collection (they’ve done it before with the North Flag). One thing we can be sure of is that whatever they release, it will live up to Tudor’s impressively high production standards, almost certainly incorporating cutting-edge tech at a competitive price. How are we sure? Well, they’ve got a proven track record… Over the past five years Tudor has transformed from a brand with a sprawling product offering and proposition into one that makes some of the best-looking, best-value Swiss timepieces around. A large part of this…
Gentlemen, start your envy… Spoiler alert, but it’s comforting that the CEO of Ferrari Australasia, Herbert Appleroth, has a watch collection befitting his station in life. And let me just say, his ‘watch box’ was the best we’ve ever seen. We’d discussed him coming in to share some of his more notable timepieces, but we weren’t fully prepared for the ‘watch box on wheels’ that he rolled up in. You’ll see what we mean, as well as what was inside – and honestly some of his watches are surprising, this is not just the usual suspects for your A-list CEO – in this high-octane four minutes of Ferrari power. It’s worth noting that in addition to this box of dreams, the magnificent Mr Appleroth also possesses several Hublot watches that will make Ferrari fans’ eyes water. You can see one of them in detail here. Perfect Saturday afternoon fodder, we hope you enjoy. 
Time to inject some fresh blood into your insta vein. Founder of footwear brand Greats, Ryan Babenzien documents his work and life in Williamsburg through the lens of a modern entrepreneur. In a feed dominated by his latest collections, you’ll also see plenty of vintage cars and motorcycles spotted along the streets of NYC, as well as a keen passion for art and design. NAME: Ryan Babenzien OCCUPATION: Founder of Brooklyn-born sneaker brand Greats. HANDLE: @ryanbbabenzien FOLLOWERS: 8438 LOCATION: Brooklyn Time+Tide: How did you find yourself in the #SneakerGame? Ryan Babenzien: I’ve never been a sneaker head in the traditional sense. I’ve never waited in line to buy a pair. But I’ve always been very informed and particular about my sneakers. I majored in economics at college, and that’s also when I started working at the local sneaker store. Since then I’ve held marketing positions at other footwear brands, but I’ve been part of the streetwear and sneaker culture for the better part of my life. So I not only understand the business, I’ve contributed to it. What I really am is an observer and I think I have a weird skill of being able to see things others don’t, connect the dots others…
For much of the industry, the motto when it comes to designing watches for women appears to be: “Make it sparkle so brightly they won’t notice there’s a battery inside.” Happily, that’s not the case here, because the Oris Artelier Skeleton Diamonds is one of an all-too-rare breed: a ladies’ watch that’s impressive both as a timepiece and as a piece of jewellery. Take a good look. Yes, there are diamonds – 72 of the little fellas doing their thing on the bezel, and another 12 acting as indices on the dial ring. There’s also some lovely texture thanks to the silver guilloche at play, as well as the mix of brushed and polished steel in the bracelet’s links, giving the watch a very fresh feel, like the breeze coming off a glacier. But at the same time your eye can’t help but be drawn to the skeletonised movement that you can see working away through the cut-out dial – and you get an even better look through the clear caseback. It’s that combination that makes this watch noteworthy. It’s pretty, while also being openly technical – something which clearly isn’t a contradiction in terms, but which is one of those things that society…
Well, we’ve definitely come down from the post-SIHH high. The lights seem somehow less dazzling (probably because it’s not being refracted through thousands of diamonds) and the mood is less giddy (probably because we’re no longer consuming a magnum of Champagne a day). Whatever the reasons, reality is well and truly back, and we’re not sure we like it but maybe things will pick up after a sneaky afternoon G&T. Chin chin! What happened The FedExpress won the Australian Open, proving (in our eyes, at least) the staying power of Rolex over the flash of Nadal’s Richard Mille. And while much was made of the BLNR Federer chose to wear post-match, our eyes were drawn by the almighty bling on his wife Mirka’s wrist. Keeping on the theme, it looks like Oscar has a new crown this year, with Rolex announcing that they are sponsoring the Academy Awards. Closer to home, Perth-based Haigh & Hastings is up for sale, which is bad news to the local industry. We reviewed their ‘Classic’ last year and found it to be a notable improvement on their earlier M2 diver. Hopefully the brand finds a new home. What really mattered The big news of the week…
Rolex has announced it’s now the official sponsor of the 89th Academy Awards, to be broadcast live (US time) on Sunday, February 26, and around the globe. When it comes to sponsorship deals, Rolex doesn’t tend to mess around, so it makes sense that the Big Crown – already worn by some of the silver screens most celebrated icons, and with a long history of behind-the-scenes involvement in the industry – has partnered with Hollywood’s premier event. Given the brand is already so prominent on the red carpet (we see you Seacrest), what does Rolex’s attendance mean to those lucky enough to attend, and the rest of us watching at home? Well, here are three theories. The speeches will no longer run over time Forget the swelling orchestra, with Rolex running the show, those gushing acceptance speeches will be guaranteed to run within -2/+2 seconds of allotted length. Make it count people. The Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative just became more important Since 2002 Rolex has actively been supporting up-and-comers in a variety of creative fields, including filmmaking. Mentors have included Martin Scorsese, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu and, for 2016, Alfonso Cuarón. This latest high-profile commitment to film should indicate that the program is…