INTRODUCING: The emerald beauty of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer with green dial
Emerging from the safety of black, blue and white dial sport watches, the radiant TAG Heuer Aquaracer in emerald green marks an adventurous step forward for the line-up. Yet for a brand that is no stranger to radical innovation (Mikrotimer Flying 1000, anyone?), it’s surprising that it took them this long to come out with a green dial sport watch. But no matter. The green dials have arrived, and they’re here to stay. At 43 and 32mms in diameter (men’s and women’s versions respectively), as well as 300m of water resistance, sapphire crystal and all the other bells and whistles you’d expect, these handsome new additions toe the party line when it comes to Aquaracer specs, yet confidently stand apart in terms of visual appeal. Despite both being green, the men’s and women’s versions each showcase the colour in different ways. The grooves created by the horizontally striped dial of the men’s version enable the green to appear darker in the recesses and lighter on top. The result is an engaging alternating pattern of deep and bright greens – a simple but effective use of dial texture to showcase different dimensions of one colour. On the other hand, the women’s…
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Broadly speaking, heritage-inspired watches fall into two significant camps — faithful reissues or modern interpretations. The Tissot Heritage 1973 Chronograph falls very much into the former camp. And, as far as faithful reissues go, it’s awesome. The big picture is the case, which is a hefty, hunky cushion — bonus points for the smart mix of case finishings, which is something you rarely see on a watch, let alone one at this price point. The dial is also a straight-up smash hit: panda-style, with a retro Tissot logo and charming orange highlights. A domed sapphire tops it off and the 7753 is an exceptionally reliable auto that is the perfect choice for this sort of watch. You don’t have to be a fan of mid-70s motorsports to wear this watch but, good golly, it would help. Tissot Heritage 1973 Chronograph price Tissot Heritage 1973 Chronograph, limited to 1973 pieces, $2900 AUD Made in partnership with Tissot. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
It’s that time of year again. Apple has unveiled their latest and greatest Watch (as well as some pretty serious new iPhones), which has the unsurprising name of Apple Watch Series 5. And there’s always a lot to unpack with the world’s most popular watch (yeah, I went there). There are small but significant advances, like international support for emergency calls, improvements to navigation and watchOS 6. But really, for us it comes down to three main points, two of which are pretty obvious, and the third is a small, but substantial change. The Apple Watch Series 5 now comes in titanium So the form factor of the Series 5 remains the same as Series 4, which was a big change, but this time around we’re treated to some new case materials, along with the core steel, gold and space black aluminium treatments (which is now recycled). We also get a fresh new white ceramic and a slick black ceramic option for the top-tier Hermès edition. But to our minds it’s the titanium that is the standout. Lightweight and tough, titanium has long been a go-to material for active watch cases and it makes perfect sense on the Apple…
A few months ago we introduced you to the first in a series of limited edition watches made to celebrate The Hour Glass’s 40th anniversary. Well, we’ve just had a look at the latest in the series, which takes the form of a TAG Heuer Monaco. Now, if this were any other watch it would run the risk of being a touch underwhelming, what with all the 50 years of Monaco celebratory LEs getting dropped this year. But you know what, I don’t think this ‘TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Special Edition’ (to give it its formal, boring name) needs to be too concerned, Mostly because it’s freaking stunning. The case evokes the iconic ‘Dark Lord’ Monacos (one of the earliest black-coated watches), with its PVD coating — including all the pushers. But this is no mere phantom execution (that might have worked for The Hour Glass’s Tempus celebrations back in 2007, but times — and tastes — have changed). No, the dial here is an opaline beige, and the sandy tones play oh-so-nicely with the dark case, and even more nicely with the red Super-LumiNova dial details. The lack of applied hour markers makes the whole situation a little…
I don’t know about you, but I find navigating Casio’s iconic and uber-tough G-Shock family a tricky process. It’s a reference number dominated space which, to the outsider, is every bit as confusing as the worlds of vintage Rolex or Patek. Adding to the complexity is the sheer profusion of models. Limited editions, collaborations and colourways all play their part. But if you’d like to get your head around the ways of the G-Shock quickly and efficiently you’re in luck, because Gear Patrol’s Allen Farmelo has written a no-holds-barred breakdown on the line. From Mudmasters to full metal models and everything in between, Farmelo gives you a quick primer on everything you need to know. Well worth the read. 
Editor’s note: The Marine is Breguet’s star of the show at the moment, with a profusion of new models in the house — including some chic titanium options — but we can’t help but have a soft spot for this elegant beast, the Breguet Marine 5817 Big Date. What a looker … We’re willing to bet that when you think of Breguet, the first thing that comes to mind is slim elegance, or maybe the old-world charm of their vintage chronos. But a casual/luxury sports watch? Not so much. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what the Marine 5817 is – Breguet’s take on a breezy weekender. Sure, it’s got all the brand’s classic hallmarks: the fluted middle case, the very particular lugs and, of course, that guilloche dial. But this is no delicate dandy. Water resistance is solid at 100m, there’s lume, the crown is protected by some unique, curved crown guard and it has a presence on the wrist far beyond what you’d expect for a 39mm x 11.82mm watch. While no one’s suggesting you complete an ultra-marathon in this guy, there’s no doubt it’s ready to tackle whatever life might throw at it, and it will do so in inimitable Breguet…
For Longines, elegance is an attitude — and that’s something they’ve embodied very nicely indeed with the new Conquest Classic, a watch made with exceptional women (and exceptional wearability) in mind. The Longines Conquest Classic is offered in two case sizes — 29.5mm and 34mm — and in diamond or non-diamond options. The case is (for now) steel, and the dial options offer a sweep of stylish options: sunray blue black or silver, as well as mother-of-pearl in black or white. And while the diamond and the dial colour options tweak the overall vibe of the watch, it’s a tweak, and the overall appeal of this Conquest comes from the solid, easy elegance of its design. A classic round case with distinguished, softly flared lugs and a nice, broad bezel, accompanied perfectly by the versatile H-link bracelet. It’s a classic recipe for success — a solid base that can be adapted and flavoured to taste. Longines Conquest Classic price Longines Conquest Classic, from $1175 AUD
Editor’s note: We, along with the rest of the world, have been on a pretty heavy space-nostalgia trip of late. A trip that naturally led us back to Andrew’s 2015 trip with Omega, to the Space Centre in Houston, a place that was, in many ways, ground zero for the mythos that surrounds the Speedy. Andrew’s main question before this trip: Does the Speedy live up to the myth? Read on to find out … You don’t need to be in the watch industry very long to work out that it survives not on product but on stories. Watches without stories? Well, they’re just objects. No matter how pretty they are, or how precious the material, it’s really hard to sell a cold hard object. The magic that gives an object true meaning is the story that is told about it. Some of the best stories are ones that present an unbroken line from the past, to the present, to the future. And the best storytellers in the luxury watch business, who, not accidentally, happen to charge the highest prices for their watches, join the dots. They remind us that a real watch is never owned, it is “merely held…
As a category, highly paid athletes are known for the occasional BIG flex. Bespoke cars, planes and all the rest are de rigueur for these guys. And, of course, the wristwatch, being both highly visible and highly valuable, is a great example of this. Now, wearing those factory diamonds on your downtime is one thing, but wearing a cool quarter of a million on the wrist while you’re working is something else entirely. And this is where NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham schools pretty much everyone on how it’s done, wearing a Richard Mille RM 011 on the field for his debut match with the Cleveland Browns against the Tennessee Titans. Now, Richard Mille is a familiar sight for sports fans, as Yohan Blake, Rafael Nadal and Bubba Watson are three high-profile ambassadors for the brand, who famously wear the watch while they play. But NFL is something else entirely — it’s an incredibly hard-hitting sport, and fine mechanical watches and heavy tackles aren’t really the best combination. It’s also worth noting that Beckham does not appear to have a formal relationship with Richard Mille (though that might well change) after all the press he has been getting. The final…
Editor’s note: You don’t need to be a naval captain (or even a cook) to appreciate the lovely case shape and bold details of the Rado Captain Cook Mk III. So funky, so so smooth. The other day we showed you the very heritage-inspired Captain Cook Mark II from Rado. Well, now it’s time for the other side of the coin, the modern take on an old classic. Meet the Rado Tradition Captain Cook Mark III. On paper, it’s a titanium-cased diver with an internal bezel. On the wrist, it’s so much more. The titanium case is large (46mm large), but not overwhelmingly so, thanks to a curvy, lugless case design. And while the Mark II is reflection city, this guy sucks up the light like nobody’s business, thanks to the super-hard matt finish. The domed sapphire crystal is something else, showing every tiny popping yellow detail on the dial below. And while all the individual elements are pretty good, what I appreciate the most about this watch is the whole picture — it’s a modern dive watch that’s fit for purpose, and one that manages to be its own creation rather than an homage (knowing or otherwise) to other…