4 professional tennis players who wear their watches on court, and what they are
The 2021 Australian Open is edging towards its climax in Melbourne after the players and their respective teams completed a mandatory two weeks of quarantine. It’s been controversial. It’s been far from ideal, with a 5-day statewide lockdown intervening mid-comp until just yesterday. But it’s been on. And that’s what matters. In this post-COVID era it’s borderline miraculous to see a major sporting tournament being held, and how brilliant it was to see spectators back in the stands for games. And where there are tennis players, there are watches. As you would be aware, some of the players have agreements in place with various watchmakers, with some wearing their watches while playing and the majority popping a timepiece on their wrist after a match or for press conferences. Four players wear timepieces while playing and these watches are visible at all times while they are on the court. Rafael Nadal, the 20 time grand slam champion is the most notable, with his specially designed Richard Mille RM 27-04 Tourbillon, which is able to withstand the Spainards’ brutal groundstrokes. Nadal was knocked out in the quarter finals, after an epic 5 set match against Stefanos Tsitsipas. American Serena Williams, the 23 time…
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Rectangles, what do they mean? According to whiteriverdesign.com, these shapes represent stability. In fact, the rectangle is the most commonly used area shape in logo design. The reason for its popularity, apparently, is that it is a trusted familiar shape that represents honesty, solidity and stability. As squares and rectangles have straight lines and right angles they have a very mathematical, balanced feel. These shapes scream rationality, practicality and conformity. Rectangles are neither flashy nor attention-seeking – some may even venture they are boring – but clever designers will twist or turn them to add interest to a design. Enter the Reverso book from Jaeger-LeCoultre. That final idea of added interest is poignant when we are considering the Reverso. The fundamental concept of the Reverso rectangular case being able to turn, makes it in addition to its balanced design, a talking point. And not to mention a space for interpretation, complications and case art, from a simple monogram to lacquerwork and miniature art, something JLC has shown us over the years. Though starting out as a purely protective measure for polo players in the early 20th century, the Reverso presents another face that can remain minimalist, decorated or even surprise…
H.Moser have become central to the revival of deep fumé or degradè dial finishing. Their deep colours captivate your attention like no flat black dial ever could. In this video we check out the the H. Moser & Cie. Pioneer Centre Seconds Swiss Mad Red, which certainly lives up to its colourful name. This luscious cherry cocktail offers a tasty take on the everyday sports watch. We know Moser watches from ironic haute horlogerie with their Swiss Alp series and some of last year’s most hypnotising dials with their unexpected collaboration with MB&F. But can they really do everyday? The first impressions of the Pioneer Centre Seconds Swiss Mad Red tick my boxes in a big way. I am a dial man, always have been, and prefer coloured faces to monochrome minimalism – I just can’t help it. I also have a marked preference for three hand watches and the calm state of mind they put you in. There is something soothing about the slow cycle of the seconds hand doing its simple job and not telling you there is yet another email to process. It’s no secret that Moser have mastered the abyss-like depths of fumé and I have…
A watch get-together (GTG) enables like-minded enthusiasts to catch up and gawp at each other’s beloved pieces. This might be your rare chance to try on some beardy guy’s vintage Daytona, admire the enamel dial of a Breguet up close, or merely add your trusty Doxa to a #sexpile that’s worth north of $1.5 million. Yet if you want to be invited back to one of these special events, there are some ground rules we need to address – many of which I have witnessed to my chagrin. So join us in crossing fingers that 2021 delivers many a GTG, but please read this first… Keeping all your watches locked up in the box with viewing “by appointment only…” The phrase: “No, please don’t touch the watches” has been heard over the table at the occasional GTG. Admittedly with COVID and all, we don’t want to touch things without sanitised or gloved hands. But let’s imagine a simpler time when we are cured of this obnoxious pandemic. The raison d’être for any GTG is SHARING my friend, the possibility of touching another person’s watch. That is why we come, so you have to share. It’s all about that friendly dialogue…
We can all get caught up in the latest news about Nautilus or the next unobtainable Rolex. But for the majority of watch buyers, the most important timepieces are those that are accessibly priced and offer a ton of value. One brand that constantly delivers in this regard is Longines, a manufacture of longstanding heritage that provides quality Swiss watches with competitive specifications and pricing. The most recent entry into their catalogue is the new Longines Silver Arrow, a watch that at $3050 AUD offers a level of quality usually found at a much higher price point. The watch is a modern revival of the Silver Arrow originally released in 1956 by Longines. The name stemmed from a contest within the company to name the watch, and among 450 proposals “Silver Arrow” was the winning moniker with the name deriving from the dominant German racing cars of the era. The case diameter has been increased from approximately 35mm to 38.5mm to cater to modern sizing tastes, but in terms of it shape and form the Longines Silver Arrow faithfully echoes the original design. The real difference to the case is its 3mm increase in width, which has resulted in slightly…
It’s turned into a mighty strange Australian Open. Before the Grand Slam event began, many players were herded into quarantine and forced to practise their drop-shots against their hotel-room walls. Next up, crowds were barred from Rod Laver Arena when Melbourne entered a hard five-day lockdown. Yet perhaps the most enduring change from this tournament is that human line judges are set to become a long-term casualty of COVID in a shift that might ultimately result in “Rolex!” being shouted instead of traditional “out!” calls. The line judges at the Aussie Open were ditched because of the new social-distancing restrictions on the number of people allowed on site. This promoted the introduction of HawkEye Live – technology that made instant calls on balls that were long or wide. Whenever a ball is hammered out, a 12-camera set-up inside each court sparks a “fault” or “out” call that is played over the sound system. But just as you can change the accent on your smartphone, the HawkEye digital system offers endless scope for customisation. Instead of the “out” and “fault” calls being voiced by robots, Open organisers understandably wanted Australian accents. As a result, tournament officials contacted agencies in every Australian…
The market for stainless-steel watches with blue dials is as hot as ever. And it makes sense for brands to produce watches that meet this demand. But how many more do we really need? The Grand Seiko SBGR321 was first announced towards the end of last year as a part of their 60th anniversary releases, and I finally had the opportunity to spend some time with it in the metal recently. It certainly ticks all the boxes that the market wants: a stainless-steel case and bracelet, a 40mm diameter and, of course, an attractive blue dial. But how much does it really add to the horological landscape? And have Grand Seiko done enough to stick out from the blue steel crowd? The case The Grand Seiko SBGR321 is a part of the brand’s Heritage collection and clearly flaunts the case to match. Inspired by Grand Seiko designs of the past, the 40mm stainless-steel case features sloping flanks and lines so sharp you’re drawn to inspect them up close. The case lines are articulated clearly thanks to the even vertical brushing on the tops of the lugs and the contrasting Zaratsu-polished case sides. This contrast accentuates the visual impression of the…
I have been a huge fan of Kurono watches since their introduction. Master watchmaker Hajime Asaoka should be applauded for the brand’s mission of trying to make high-quality timepieces more accessible to consumers. What really makes Kurono so intriguing, beyond these more approachable price points, is the design language utilised across the various lines. This Japanese take on Art-Deco design has really caught the eye of collectors around the world. No detail is left unconsidered and the Kurono designs really revive an era of more classical proportions and aesthetics. The Kurono Chronograph 1 received a great deal of praise, and was even nominated for a prize at the 2020 GPHG awards. This week the Kurono Chronograph 2 goes on sale, bringing the “Reiwa” brown, black, and copper aesthetic to the Kurono Chronograph watch. The dial shares the same layout as the Chronograph 1, packing in a ton of information without being cluttered. It is composed of rings, alternating in gloss black and brown with the two most inner circles framed with copper accents. The outer most black ring has a telemeter scale within it, which can be used to determine the distance of something that can be heard or seen…
Now I wholeheartedly confess to being a die-hard Seiko fan with two of the dearest favourites in my watch box being my inky black delight – Grand Seiko SBGR053 – and my limited edition Baby Marinemaster. The latter one is pertinent to this article as one of the many “inspired by” 62MAS heritage reissues from Seiko over the last three years that we’ve been lapping up like we actually need wristworn timetelling in 2021. But recently we (well, all credit to our deputy ed. Nick Kenyon) found an article on Worn and Wound from 2017, that we recommend you check out. The premise is, and massive kudos to writer Zq Chia for unearthing this, that something happened 21 years ago, unbeknownst to even the most diehard Seikobois (and I count myself in their ranks after buying 10 Seikos). The article suggests that Seiko actually planted the seed to what we today see as a huge market and trend for heritage, nostalgia and reissues – long before the hype kicked in. This was all the way back in 2000 when Seiko revived seven delectable references that most of us have never heard of outside Japan. Here are the three best watches…
Oris has always harboured a deep respect for the environment and supported efforts to protect the ocean and sea life therein. This isn’t a tokenistic move either. The brand really puts their money where their mouth is, aiming to become CO2 neutral by 2021 and incorporating recycled materials in both their watches and their packaging. In addition, Oris protects our wallets, too, consistently releasing offerings with high value at lower costs than many of their competitors, making their novelties attractive to both new and veteran watch collectors alike. Today, the brand has released their Oris Whale Shark Limited Edition, a watch based on the Oris Aquis GMT, with a a unique and eye-catching dial. So why whale sharks? The short answer is that they’re an endangered species that needs man’s help to survive. According to Oris ambassador and underwater photographer Gerardo del Villar, who has been documenting whale sharks for more than 15 years, “As top predators, sharks play an important role in the ecosystem by keeping species below them in the food chain, and as indicators of ocean health, they help to eliminate the weak and sick and to maintain balance with competitors, thus guaranteeing species diversity. Without whale…