MICRO MONDAYS: The Ark from Jacob Veil might be the best value integrated bracelet watch around
Let’s not beat around the bush, I can see it too. The Gerald Genta influence is strong here, but in a somewhat butcher presence than other arboreally named references and porthole-alike wristwear. So before you start throwing punches, yes, certain design cues are notable in The Ark from Jacob Veil. But maybe those cues have become popular for a reason so we shouldn’t be too sensitive. Is it a homage? I’d say no, in the same way as the Bell&Ross BR05, once decried and dissected, is now a big success for the very same reasons. The Ark from Jacob Veil certainly has a strong presence, and yes, the main reason for that is the flat-topped, non-octagonal bezel – it’s actually 12-sided (my Latin fails me here) – but it’s delivered in a way that’s weapon-like and tough. Juriaan Rolink, the founder of the brand is refreshingly honest about the Genta inspiration that brings us this more muscular interpretation of Gerald’s immortal designs. Notably, however, there are a few key twists and they include a starting price of $474 USD, which is a knockout price for an automatic with an integrated bracelet. This integrated bracelet pitches this watch straight into the…
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When you’re looking for an exciting piece to liven up your collection, you’re most likely to find that point of difference in a watch’s dial tones and textures. But the G-Shock Transparent Series takes a very different approach by allowing the case and strap to do all the talking. Much like a clear, sapphire-cased watch, G-Shock’s latest collection leverages transparent cases and straps in their designs. All of the watches in the series utilise semi-transparent resin cases and straps. The only visible elements that peep through are the case back, the strap buckle and the encasing that holds the module. Each watch’s functionality depends on the module used, but a consistent element across all of these watches are back-lit dials, 200 metres of water resistance and, as always, highly robust case builds that are durable and super-tough. The Transparent White series comprises of the GA2100SKE-7A, DW5600SKE-7, GA700SKE-7A (from left to right). Each of the watches have different sizes and slightly varying functionality. The two most popular models within this trio will probably be the DW56000 and the GA2100, the latter of which is commonly known as the “Casioak”, a watch that’s already surprisingly hard to purchase with stock quickly…
Tonight is the men’s final of the Australian Open. While this tournament is primarily a great opportunity for fans worldwide to enjoy some great tennis, it is also a good time for watch lovers to spot some fabulous timepieces on the wrists of their favorite players. Rolex is a longstanding sponsor for various tennis tournaments, with many players on the circuit official and unofficial ambassadors of their robust creations. You may not see them on the court during play, but they always make an appearance upon victory – especially when raising the trophy in celebration. Rolex will not be the only brand you see sported on wrists at the open, but it is definitely a heavy favourite for watch spotting. What is really interesting to see is not just which players are wearing watches from the crown, but the diverse range of references they actually select to wear. Thanks to this article from Bob’s Watches, we have not only a full encyclopedia of Rolex worn by the players at the Open over the years, but also an outlet to purchase them. Roger Federer – Rolex Datejust, GMT Master II, Sky-Dweller, Daytona, and more… It should come as no surprise that…
The word “concept” is something that is often associated with the world’s most enthralling works of art. A concept album can tell a very deliberate story, or explore a particular theme or idea in wondrous detail. A concept car is usually shown to represent the pinnacle of a designer’s imagination that’s invariably watered down should it make it into production. So when Audemars Piguet announced a concept watch in 2002, what was the world to think? Does it represent some bigger idea? Can I actually buy one? Why does it need to exist? Unpacking the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept isn’t instantly intuitive, but it begins with rebellion, technology and ingenuity. If you’re unfamiliar with the story of the original Royal Oak introduction in 1972, here’s a quick debrief. Seiko unveil their quartz-powered Astron in 1969, shaking the foundations of the watch industry. As the masses flocked towards the technology for its affordable reliability, the Swiss traditionalists were brought to their knees. Many brands held on for dear life, some even releasing their own quartz offerings, but many more collapsed. Audemars Piguet realised that their struggles didn’t have to be the end, but an opportunity for reinvention. Enter designer Gérald…
Last week it happened again. I was standing in line at a coffee shop and, of the seven people queuing, I was the only one wearing a proper watch. There were four naked wrists, one Garmin and one Apple Watch constantly buzzing and flashing. Now if we have any chance of turning this sad situation around we desperately need an injection of youth into the watchmaking industry. Is Norifumi Seki the answer? Yes, that’s serious pressure laying the entire future of the watchmaking industry on just one man. But hear me out. How many independent Japanese watchmakers do you know? In addition to Hajime Asako and his Art Deco panache, you’d be hard pressed to find many, which is one of the reasons why this story is important, especially considering the enormous power of the Asian marketplace in horology. So who is Norifumi Seki? Hailing from Tokyo and still only 23, he attended the Hiko Mizuno Jewelry College and burst onto the international scene last year as the first Asian to win the esteemed F.P Journe Young Talent Competition. Seki’s delicate Model II is the precursor to the pocketwatch that won that competition and is a brilliant example of quirky…
Editor’s note: Yesterday we took at look at all of the Australian Open tennis players who actually wore their watches while competing. Today we’ll be shining a spotlight on the rest of the watches on display and some of them are real cross-court winners. The final days of the 2021 Australian Open are underway in Melbourne. While there’s some great tennis on display on the courts, there are also some amazing watches to be spotted. Many of the players have sponsorship agreements in place with various watchmakers with some wearing these watches while playing while most pop a timepiece on their wrist after a match or for press conferences. Semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas who is a Rolex Testimonee has regularly been wearing the coveted stainless-steel Daytona reference 116500 with white dial and ceramic black bezel. The most blinged out watch at the 2021 Australian Open belonged to fellow Rolex Testimonee, Grigor Dimtrov. He was wearing a Rolex Daytona reference 116588TBR, which has been nicknamed “Eye Of The Tiger”. This timepiece immediately catches the eye (pun intended) with its diamond bezel and dazzling dial. Another Rolex Testimonee, the Austrian player, Dominic Thiem, was wearing a white gold Yachtmaster on Oysterflex bracelet with…
The value of double stamped watches is no secret. Most famously Tiffany & Co. stamped dials have notably elevated the prices of Rolex and Patek Philippe references. But these watches, while not released in heavy quantities, are rather widespread on the secondhand market. If you really want to discover co-stamped dials in even more limited numbers, Tudor is the brand to dig into. The watches are rather hush hush as they are not meant to be sold. In fact, they are commissioned by entities in limited quantities to be gifted to those within their inner circles – with usually no more than 100 pieces produced. So when one pops up for sale, they can command quite a premium. Recently an Ed Sheeran Tudor Black Bay emerged for sale, but before we reveal the asking price it sold for let’s recap some of the known custom Tudor watches. Hodinkee’s Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight took the watch world by storm upon its release, with many lauding Tudor’s decision to release a scaled-back and slimmed-down version of the beloved Black Bay diver. The watch definitely got a ton of air time from our friends over at Hodinkee, but…
Recently I saw a tragicomic sight. It was an ultra-sleek McLaren 720S sports car in a violent shade of tangerine. Now anyone with a driving licence could appreciate this turbocharged V8 was a bona fide supercar. But this magnificent piece of automotive engineering was now inching along through rush-hour at the walking pace of a very small child. I’ve no idea if the driver actually lived in the traffic-choked city or not. Either way, given that most Aussie highways have heavily policed speed limits that top out at 110km/h, you could be fairly sure that this car’s 710bhp would never be properly unleashed. The existence of this McLaren would be akin to a tiger in captivity, its raw physicality forever stifled. Despite its $490,000 price tag, this car was a sad example of wasted potential. The same probably goes for your watch, too. If it’s a diving watch then chances are that it’s barely tasted the briny depths of the ocean and certainly not to anything approaching its full level of water resistance. Perhaps it’s got tritium tubes for easy visibility on night manoeuvres – which you solely employ for telling the time when you need to take a leak…
When you think of art in watchmaking, your mind probably turns to the painstaking creation of a cloisonné enamel dial for a Patek Philippe World Time, or the engraving of an A.Lange & Söhne balance cock. But art in watchmaking suddenly got a whole lot more accessible thanks to the Swatch x MoMA collection that was announced this week. This is the second time that MoMA and Swatch have joined forces, the first being when the watchmaker and the gallery produced three watches in the year 2000. In the latest Swatch x MoMA collection, there are six new watches, each of which depicts a different artwork that resides in the MoMA collection. The artworks include The Starry Night (1889) by Vincent van Gogh, Hope, II (1907-08) by Gustav Klimt, The Dream (1910) by Henri Rousseau, Composition in Oval with Color Planes 1 (1914) by Piet Mondrian, The City and Design, The Wonders of Life on Earth, Isamu Kurita (1966) by Tadanori Yokoo and New York (1968) by Tadanori Yokoo. If you’re a fan of the entire collection, it will be available for sale in a special box set, that includes a description of each artwork and the artist behind it.…
Despite the five day lockdown, when we were heading into this time last week, life in Melbourne is generally very good. The Australian Open has been thundering along at full steam with some seriously good matches being played, summer is finally here with blue skies as far as the eye can see and life is slowly returning to normal. And while the international visitors are dominating much of the current headlines, it has been a great Australian Open for local players too. Dylan Alcott continued his unrelenting domination of wheelchair tennis with his seventh straight Australian Open title. Yep, you read that right, seven local Grand Slam wins in a row. His 6-1, 6-0 victory was never in doubt, and capped off a very successful week in which he also won the quad double’s title for the fourth year in a row. Australian success continued with Matt Ebden and Samantha Stosur shining in the mixed doubles making it to the semifinals without dropping a set. Matt commented on their progress so far, saying, “Obviously we know we’re both accomplished players … singles, doubles, mixed doubles. We sort of know what we’re doing out there. Now we know how to do…