VIDEO: Is the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 the best-value diver of 2018?
This is such a great watch. Honestly. I can’t think of many (if any) Swiss-made watches that offer such a punchy package for this sort of price. Not only do you get the impressive Powermatic 80 movement (more than three days of power reserve rocks) in a good-looking, well-made 300m diver, you get nice little features like the gradient dial and ceramic bezel. So much win. On top of that, it fits great on the wrist: 43mm is big, but not obnoxiously so, especially when paired with the height. Even the dial text and date placement is done right. My only possible quibble is the strap. Not the rubber strap itself, which I quite like — Tissot ‘T’ motif and all — no, it’s the slightly odd 21mm width. Given that I’m the kind of guy who likes chopping and changing straps as often as my mood, the uncommon width is a little bit of a buzzkill. But then, for the price, it’s hard to be too harsh with this little gem. Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 Australian pricing Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80, steel on rubber, $1000
The post VIDEO: Is the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 the best-value diver of 2018? appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
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. 
In recent times, Zenith have made a marked change of tack — away from the oversized heritage pieces that have been their main focus. The Pilot watches are still there, of course, but now the Defy shares top billing as a contemporary alternative. And while the Defy is dominated by the aggressively skeletonised look that we know and love, this solid-dialled Defy Classic is perhaps my number one pick. The dial does a great job of toning down the statement aspect of the Defy, and letting the excellent case and bracelet shine. To my mind this is a really interesting option for a daily watch; it’s a fairly novel design from an interesting brand, it’s comfortable, practical and lightweight. It also looks great on the wrist. The case shape and titanium construction make it a slightly less conventional offering, but that’s not a bad thing. If you still want to run with the pack, but at the outskirts, this sporty, sleek Defy Classic could be just what you’re after. Zenith Defy Classic Australian pricing Zenith Defy Classic, titanium on bracelet, $9600
Sydney-sider Daniel Yong (AKA @MrGrandSeik0) is a teacher by day, and Grand Seiko fanatic by night. When he’s not working, you might catch him in a random café in Sydney with either a cappuccino, espresso, or a glass of whisky (depending on his mood and time of day, of course), accompanied by good reading material. Hi Daniel, what’s your daily watch and why? It’s an Apple Watch … Just kidding, Andy! Although there’s nothing wrong with owning an Apple Watch, I believe one should own a piece of horology first. My daily wrist companion is my Grand Seiko SBGW031. It was the first “real” watch I purchased myself that spiralled my obsession with horology and, yes, Grand Seiko. I will cover why Grand Seiko later, but since purchasing it, I feel like it has grown into becoming both my comfort watch and the extra good luck charm I need when delivering an important presentation. Or quite simply, when a situation requires me at my best. Did I mention that it’s more versatile than you think? Really, it is. Just check out my Instagram page. What else is in your collection? Have you got a favourite? It’s no longer in my collection, but I loved…
Dan Tanenbaum is a father, husband, technology entrepreneur and artist. Dan works in the sports gambling industry and created a technology to facilitate stadium lotteries. Hi Dan, what’s your daily watch and why? I wouldn’t consider any of my watches a “daily” as all of them get wrist time. Currently, I’m wearing my white dialled Heuer Montreal, which I recently put on a period-correct white racing Heuer strap and I love the new look. What else is in your collection? Have you got a favourite? I have no ego in my collection and purchase whatever watch I find unique. I have a wide spectrum from Urwerk to Seiko. As far as a favourite, it’s probably my Rolex 6538, which has a pretty amazing story. Tell me about your 6538. Glad you asked … take a seat. When my wife was pregnant with twins I was convinced she was having two girls; I didn’t even have boys’ names picked. But when she gave birth to my two boys I told her I was going to mark the occasion and get each of them one of the most iconic watches of all time, in my eyes. So I jumped on all the forums and told…
Grand Seiko’s limited editions are, in their own way, hype machines. They generate huge buzz and are, in the pretty fanatical world of GS enthusiasts, hotter than the proverbial hot cakes. The SBGR311, unveiled in Basel earlier this year, is no exception. Ostensibly, it’s a celebration of the mighty 9S calibre, but it’s also a pretty compelling celebration of how awesome a brown dial can be. I mean, look at this thing — it’s rich, it’s textural, it’s got a super detailed mosaic pattern on it and it’s got gold highlights. If you had told me pre-Basel that I’d fall madly in love with a brown watch, I would have been too polite to laugh in your face, but there would have been a definite snicker. But now, after seeing this guy in all his warm, chocolatey rich glory, I am down for brown. Grand Seiko SBGR311 Australian pricing and availability Grand Seiko SBGR311, limited to 1300 pieces, $7500
Expert (self-taught) watch polisher Bob Kolican is definitely an account worth following. If not for his vintage knowledge, then to witness his refinishing skills. Also a huge vintage watch collector, Bob resides in Germany with his young family. Hey Bob, what’s your daily watch (if you have one) and why? I have no particular daily watch, I mostly wear the most recently polished piece I have, until the next is refinished. I own a lot of Rolex models, like white/pink/yellow gold Day-Dates, gold and steel Datejusts, Explorer Is and IIs (also a pre-Explorer), Submariners with and without date, hand-wound Daytonas, a pre-Daytona, Sea-Dweller, and some others. The list goes on … Aside from that, there’s also some Heuer, Enicar, Mido and Omega in the box. So, do you only collect vintage watches? I have a few Rolex ‘sporties’ with sapphire, in my collection, like the Submariner or ‘Zenith’ Daytona. I love the simplicity and the purpose of use of the old vintage Rolex watches. You look at the dial and there is nothing that could stress you. Nowadays there are functions and displays on some watches you will never need in life, and they could be very restless. The weirdest watch I have…
Perhaps it’s just the football, but we’ve got Hublot on the brain at the moment. And while the Referee watch, with its smart interface and snazzy, over the sweatband look — as rocked by FIFA’s refs — is a winner, it’s not the only one in their arsenal. There’s Big Red, which is what I’ve nicknamed the franky epic red ceramic Big Bang, a watch you need to see to really appreciate. But even if you don’t, take it from us that the shade of red is awesome, and awesomely hard to develop. And then there’s a slightly smaller Bang — the 42mm take on the classic Big Bang. These two watches are pretty classic takes on the famous Hublot shape, but there’s also a Spirit of Big Bang that’s seemingly made entirely of sapphire and precious stones, and then there’s the wrist-sized artworks that are the latest Orlinski collabs. All told, Hublot’s 2018 collection is Hublot doing what Hublot does best: material innovation and unbeatable statements.
Editor’s note: Sometimes there’s a fine science to what gets posted as an ‘editor’s pick’ — perhaps the watch is newsworthy again, or the story ties into some sort of seasonal holiday (get ready for tax time stories). This time, though, I didn’t overthink it. I was simply scrolling through our YouTube, and spotted the blue steel Laureato and olive bomber combo and was all “yep, that’s a hot look”. Superficial, or just plain super? There’s something about the combination of utility and exclusivity that really appeals to people. And as I look down at the Laureato on my wrist as I type this, I can honestly say, I get it. Sure, tool-like dive watches and sporty chronographs fill a place in our watch-loving hearts that crave functionality and purpose, but a watch like the Laureato offers something more. Purpose and practicality, with ample lashings of beauty. I mean, just look at how that Clous de Paris dial, or those bracelet links, blaze in the light. This watch looks good in pictures, but it comes alive on the wrist. Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Australian Pricing Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm, in steel on bracelet, $16,080
Watch collecting can often lead people down increasingly specialised, niche paths. One such example is Loh AKA @Super.Corgi – a collector from Singapore. He lives with his wife, two grown-up kids, a corgi and a French bulldog. He also has a thing for Disney characters on watches … Hi mate, what’s your daily watch and why? I don’t have a fixed daily watch. Every morning I get up and pick a watch in my collection to wear. I try to give every watch some wrist time. What else is in your collection? Have you got a favourite? I own watches in various Disney characters. My most important piece is a Mickey Mouse Classic I bought for my wife. My personal favourite is the Mickey Sailor (Mariner/Navigator). When it comes to buying watches, the number one thing I look for is obtaining the best condition within my budget. I try to buy the best condition I can afford. How did you find yourself collecting Gérald Genta Disney watches? I first learned about Gérald Genta Disney watches around 1993 when my wife (then my girlfriend) took me to a retailer and told me she was saving to buy that watch with a big Mickey…