LIST: 5 moonphases to wear while you watch tonight’s supermoon
Tonight is a special night for Australian amateur astronomers, because when the sun goes down we will all see the moon like never before. What we’re talking about is a supermoon – and not just any supermoon. NASA has gone so far as to call it an ‘extra-supermoon’, as it’s 14 per cent brighter and 30 per cent bigger than a regular full moon. That’s because it’s closer to earth (a mere 356,509 km away) than it has been in 70 years, and it won’t be this big again until 2034. So, in the spirit of the supermoon we’ve put together five of the biggest and best moonphases available today. A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Moonphase The moonphase lends itself to traditional, elegant timepieces. There’s an old-school romance to the complication, one that the Saxonia Moonphase captures perfectly. We still can’t get over the detail of the moonphase disc on this beauty. Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Moonphase Titanium Hublot’s take on the theme definitely isn’t as traditional as Lange’s, but it’s no less impressive. Heck, even the photorealistic double-moonphase is skeletonised, and that sleek grey titanium finish wouldn’t look out of place in outer space. Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph Master Chronometer If one watch needs to…
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It’s usually the most innocuous part of the night. The official speeches are out of the way, the bar once again beckons, and the speaker says, to be polite, “Are there any questions?” A guest at the Blancpain Ocean Commitment event 2016 – following on from the 2015 evening at Icebergs, which had the coolest night-time projection since the bat symbol – put up her hand, and asked – “I was wondering how much money does Blancpain actually contribute to the Ocean Commitment cause?” The VP and Head of Marketing, Mr Alain Delamuraz to his enormous credit, did not even clear his throat. Earlier, he’d disclosed that 1000 Euro from every OC Limited Edition (250 pieces) model sold goes to the cause. But it turns out, with pun fully intended, this is a drop in the ocean. “We have contributed 1 million Euro per year for the last seven years,” he said. “It’s a big percentage. For us, it’s a lot.” There was a notable inhalation of breath by the entire room. “This money has led to three million square-kilometres of ocean being protected, and many other meaningful advancements in marine conservation.” My companion (and younger brother) nudged me and said,…
Well, the unavoidable news this week is that Donald Trump is the President-elect of the United States – a surprise victory won on the back of a promise to ‘Make America Great Again’. Don’t worry – we won’t get all political on you. But we did feel this edition of the Wind Down was the perfect opportunity for a look at all that’s great about American watchmaking, past and present. And if you need a stiff drink to go with it, don’t let us stop you. In the nineteenth century, American watchmaking was on a par with the best the Swiss had on offer, with companies like Waltham, Hamilton, Elgin and Ball making high-quality, accurate timepieces on an industrial scale. While several of these great names – such as Ball and Hamilton – still exist, these days they’re made in Switzerland. Which isn’t to say that American watchmaking is purely a thing of the past. Brands like Kobold, RGM and Weiss are continuing this grand tradition, albeit on a much smaller scale. Perhaps a boost here could help make American watchmaking even greater? But it’s not easy. A while back the American Federal Trade Commission cracked down on deceptive marketing practices regarding ‘American Made’ claims.…
In the early hours of the Australian morning, the watch industry was celebrating its night of nights – the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) – more commonly known as the Oscars of watchmaking. Fifteen awards were given – along with a special jury prize for the George Daniels Educational Trust – adding up to a solid mix of safe bets and surprises. So without further ado, here are the best watches of 2016. “AIGUILLE D’OR” GRAND PRIX Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1 Impressive name for an impressive watch. The Chopard-owned brand’s debut piece is distinctive and complex, with a vintage-looking octagonal case and a top-notch, constant force fusée chain tourbillon. Excellence doesn’t come cheap though. The FB 1 has an RRP of 212,000 CHF. PUBLIC PRIZE Czapek Genève 33 bis Quai des Bergues The only award based on a popular vote, the Czapek Genève is an impressive watch, with its Grand Feu dial and pocket-watch inspired movement. In an interesting sign of the times, it’s also a watch that exists thanks to crowd funding. REVIVAL WATCH PRIZE TAG Heuer Heuer Monza Chronograph Ironically, this recent award category is all about looking to the past. And we can’t…
Editor’s Note: A few weeks ago I received a surprising email. It was a press release from TAG Heuer, announcing an 18-carat rose gold version of their Connected Watch. I was surprised because this came just weeks after all mention of the much-hyped solid gold Apple Watch Edition silently disappeared from Apple’s site, replaced by the much more attainable ceramic version. It begs the question, can TAG Heuer succeed where the mighty Apple didn’t? And what does success look like here? Then again, I suspect TAG aren’t doing this for sales per se, but simply because they can. Either way, we felt it was a good reason to take another look at the Connected, which, according to Jean-Claude Biver, is the most successful single reference they’ve ever made. The story in a second: TAG Heuer’s Swiss-designed smartwatch has been touted as the ‘traditional’ watch industry’s much-hyped answer to the Apple Watch – but what’s it like in real life, on the wrist? And not just for a minute, a week… I’ve been reviewing watches for going on eight years now, and I’ll confess – the TAG Heuer Connected is the first watch I’ve worn that has stumped me. Not because of any concerns with comfort or quality, but…
As far as origin stories go, the Reverso has one of the best. Back in the 1930s, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most famous model was conceived to withstand the rigours of polo, thanks to its ingenious flip-over case design. When the mallets started swinging and balls went flying, the watch could safely bury its face until the action was over, using its caseback as protection. Much later (1994 to be precise) the line evolved to include two-faced models, and the story became less about hiding away when the going got tough, and more about choosing which side was best equipped for the task in hand. It was a split personality. And really, who doesn’t love the idea of that? We’re all familiar with the double lives led by Batman and Bruce Wayne (in fact, both Kilmer and Bale have worn Reversos in their turns as the Caped Crusader), Spider-Man and Peter Parker. And let’s not forget it’s more than just comic book stuff – the alter-ego concept stands up in just as well IRL. Take Beyonce and Sasha Fierce – the ballsy character she used to step into when she needed to transcend her pre-show nerves (maybe she borrows Jay-Z’s from time to time). But if that’s…
There are two main contenders for the title of ‘most recognisable watch in the world’, both of them made by Rolex. Naturally, the Submariner has a good shot at the title, but for me, the clear winner is the Datejust. First introduced in 1945, it includes one of the most useful and ubiquitous complications – a date window. Like many features we take for granted on a watch today, this date represented a Rolex first, in that rather than slowly transitioning over a few hours, the Datejust’s date jumped instantly at the stroke of midnight. Even though the model has been around for over 60 years now, the fundamentals haven’t changed much. Three hands, Oyster case, automatic movement and of course the date (with Cyclops). We saw its first leap to the 40mm+ club in 2009, with the bulked up, 41mm Datejust II. But it wasn’t just the diameter of this watch that had increased, it was broader all over: bezel, indices and lugs all felt super-sized. And while the masculine look had its fans, it lacked the elegant proportions of the classic version. Enter this year’s Datejust 41, released at Baselworld in a swathe of yellow and Everose Rolesor models, with options including fluted and…
I first noticed it for a split-second in Channel 9’s new show Doctor Doctor. Pause. Rewind. Yep, there was no mistaking the black bezel and dial on the wrist of Hugh Knight (the titular doctor) – definitely a Tudor Black Bay. I filed that knowledge away in the part of my brain dedicated to celebrity watch-spotting, not imagining for a minute that a few weeks later I’d be having a drink with Rodger Corser, in a tiny laneway bar, talking about that exact timepiece. Watches tell you a lot about a character, and a bad choice is immediately obvious. But for Rodger, the Black Bay Black is more than just a smart props decision, it’s a deeply personal link, one that ties into his other on-screen personas and informs his craft. Of course we spoke about more than just watches – we discussed how he felt coming back to his hometown of Melbourne, as well as the importance of timing, and making the most out of opportunities when they arise. We highly recommend you watch the full three-minute story, but if you want to cut straight to the watches and the story of the Tudor Rodger’s grandfather passed down through the family,…
Editor’s note: December is weeks away, and we all know what that means. Xmas parties. Day-drinking. Impulse watch purchases and, shortly after, almost always, buyer’s remorse. Fear not, Felix is here to help. This is my favourite ‘How to’ of his all year. I learned things. You will too. I don’t just suggest you read this, with the silly season looming, you’d be silly not to. We’re pretty sure this doesn’t need to be said, but let’s say it anyway. Don’t buy watches when you’re drunk. Nothing good can come from it. Seriously. Nothing. You’ll wake up hungover, surrounded with bottles of Dom/Chivas/Pabst (depending on budget and taste), considerably poorer and with a rare Enicar Sherpa Graph heading your way via the Philippines. But if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right. So we’ve prepared a three-step program to minimise risk and maximise fun. Step 1: Be prepared. A lot of this comes down to what you’re like when you’ve had a few. If you’re the kind of guy who gets excited about the late-night escapade to the nearest Casino for a few hands of poker (‘cos you totally could have gone pro. Totally) it might…