#Kicktock: Hublot’s street-tough dial made from concrete meets its match with New Balance
This week we go monochrome in the urban jungle, with the new Hublot Classic Fusion Concrete Jungle New York and an awesome pair of New Balance trainers just dropped on Hypebeast. The gritty edge of concrete is just as fresh as a splash of colour and Hublot’s avant-garde touch is very much present in the elegant form of their Classic Fusion line. This is as tough as it is impressive on a material level, as this is no mere dial or case finish, but actual concrete composite. With a mix of 65-75% fine cement, and epoxy resin, reinforced by fibre glass, how better to embody the Art of Fusion? And damn, does it look rugged in the guise of the automatic chronograph, powered by the HUB1143 manufacture movement and operated via the black ceramic pushers and crown. The dial is a calm and balanced design, with the two opposing registers countersunk, while the indices are simply indented into the silky concrete surface. The greenish grey of the fascinatingly organic micro-pitted smooth surface works perfectly with the black accents, and comes on the comfort of Hublot’s black fabric strap. Fifty pieces of this 45mm street-tough block of haute horlogerie will be…
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When buying pre-owned watches online, there are two emotions that you feel after sending your money. The first is the heady excitement at the prospect of adding a new piece to your collection. The second is that queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach – a blend of terror and anxiety as you fear unboxing your watch only to discover what you’ve bought is a far cry from the real McCoy. We’ve all been there. We’ve all gone to grab our credit card and punch in the numbers, only for a quiet voice in the back of our head to say: “Imagine spending all that money on a fake.” And listening dutifully to that voice, you close the browser tab and try not to think about the fact that you’ll now never strap that watch onto your wrist. Much of this anxiety can be allayed when you buy watches on eBay, as the platform has just announced their Authenticity Guarantee program for all watches over $2000 US. Now, when you buy a luxury watch from eBay (only if from a seller with an Authenticity Guarantee badge) it will be sent from the seller to eBay’s third-party authenticator, instead of…
TAG Heuer’s Monaco has experienced a rather slow evolution in recent years, as the world’s most famous square watch shouldn’t be messed with too much. The new black dial TAG Heuer Monaco on bracelet is a further exploration into the watch’s roots, while keeping up to date with all the technical quality we expect from a modern luxury wristwatch. The good news: it’s simply great. The bracelet The particular star of the show on this model is the vintage-style bracelet, inspired by examples often found on models from the mid-to-late ’70s. The solid steel links are quite short, allowing for a great fit to be found, even though the butterfly clasp doesn’t allow for the micro-adjustment holes we’re used to. The H-links are all brushed except for polished chamfered edges, and the polished centre links give the watch its signature look of retro sporty-meets-dressy. Although the integrated look of the bracelet is part of what makes this watch so charming, the 22mm lug width does make changing straps incredibly easy, as well as the straight end-links meaning you could even put this bracelet onto other watches in your collection for a bit of experimentation and fun. The dial The cleanliness…
It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Aussie summer or the Northern Hemisphere winter, whether locked down or suddenly released, we need colours in our lives more than ever this year. From bubblegum pink to baby blue, pastel-coloured watch dials never fail to turn heads and lift sagging spirits, and every man should be secure enough to rock a bright dial from time to time. Check out a few of our picks for the best pastel watches of 2020. Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref. 126000 “Candy Pink” This is one of the freshest dials on a Rolex since the legendary lacquered Stella dials of the ’70s. In a perfect candy-floss pink, this offers a fresh pop of summer, brought to life by the traditional craftsmanship only the Crown can bestow on a sports watch in a classic case. The 904L steel that Rolex uses for its cases and oyster bracelet has a softer, warmer feel than the usual 316L, so whichever size you choose, this could easily become your daily watch of choice (if you’re bold enough). We love the sublime comfort of the 36mm case – just be aware that your partner will inevitably try to steal it. Price: $7850 AUD…
If there is one main takeaway from our Micro Mondays series, it’s that you don’t have to spend top dollar to get a top-notch watch. William Wood, a watch manufacturer based in London, works to provide consumers with more approachable options for wrist-wear. They work within familiar frameworks, but with distinct designs and details. The William Wood Valiant Bronze is one such design, with plenty to explore as you delve deeper. The backstory William Wood was the name of brand founder Jonny Garrett’s late grandfather. For more than 25 years, William Wood served in the British Fire Service, winning commendations for his acts of bravery. He was stationed at Pilgrim Street for the Newcastle & Gateshead Fire Brigade, serving on the Blue Watch. Sadly, he passed away in 2009, but his legacy lives on through Jonny and William Wood. The British watch brand is known for the way in which they upcycle rescue service materials into beautiful luxury timepieces, while donating to international firefighting charities. They are working to convert an old British Fire Station into their HQ and Concept Store, where they will refurbish an old fire engine to drive the length and breadth of the UK, promoting the…
“After 40,” Abraham Lincoln once said, “every man gets the face he deserves.” We assume that Abe was talking here about watch faces and so, with that in mind, we turned our attention to the best timepiece you can buy to celebrate a 40th birthday for under $5000. Because 40 is a milestone worth celebrating. This is the decade of self-actualisation, where you stop caring what other people think about you so much. Sure, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows – your hangovers are tougher, your back hurts more. But you also start to know who you really are and your watch should reflect this inner substance that your 40th year bestows. Longines Legend Diver Bronze This is a diving watch with gravitas. The case is particularly appropriate for a 40th birthday occasion with bronze also being a metal that gets better and better with age. It’s also the perfect counterpoint for the forest green dial that darkens to almost black at the edges. The hand-sewn two-stitch strap in butter-soft calf leather adds to the prevailing sense of effortless stature. Price: $4475 Grand Seiko SBGP005 This dial is dangerously close to perfection. Texture-free, it exists in some wondrous hinterland between…
When it comes to watches, we too often think of the Swiss – with the German and Japanese manufacturers no longer trailing far behind. But watchmaking is truly a global enterprise. In Russia, many collectors will immediately think of Konstantin Chaykin’s maverick creations. But there is also a larger manufacturer, with a surprising amount of in-house know-how and original design. Raketa is a Russian watch brand with incredibly rich and, sadly, lesser-known heritage. They offer some stellar creations at more approachable price points. There is serious value at play here, as it is rare to find vertically manufactured pieces that are very affordable considering what they offer. Fortunately, the New York Times investigated the Raketa Manufacture, showcasing why watch wearers should pay attention to their timepieces. Raketa was born in 1945, but under the Russian name Pobeda, which translates to victory. The manufacturer was government-owned, producing watches in service of the Soviet Republic. It was not until 1961 that the name switched from Pobeda to Raketa, which translates to rocket. Why rocket, you ask? Because the brand wanted to commemorate the incredible achievement of Yuri Gagarin – the first cosmonaut to orbit the earth. Producing 5000 watches per year, Raketa…
This year has held a lot of change for almost everyone who populates this planet. Some people have been able to take positives out of their respective lockdown experiences, free-time opportunities, or even just spending more time with those immediately around you. But ultimately I don’t believe anyone could say that it has been easy. For me, among other things, 2020 was the year I joined Time+Tide. This involved its challenges, as I’ve only been a watch enthusiast for about two years now, and I’ve had to learn fast. Being lent the occasional new watch to review was, of course, an exciting experience when I first earned some trust, but one of the year’s highlights has been meeting the characters behind this website that I’d first started to explore as YouTube recommended me more and more horological content. I may have embarrassed myself in my first editorial meeting over Zoom by forgetting to change my background beforehand (the description of the photo I’ll take to my grave), but I’m glad to say that I feel totally welcomed. In no particular order, here are five of my favourite Time+Tide articles from the year, which I think sum up the people I’m…
If you missed Part 1 of this series looking at some of the best titanium watches, you can take a look right here. While for some the notion of titanium is beholden to large divers and the cutting-edge of the tool watch spectrum, Part 2 might surprise you with a lesser known and far dressier side to the story. Brace yourself for some exquisite Haute Horlogerie and James Bond references dressed up in the armoured finery of titanium. Laurent Ferrier Opaline 40mm The last place you would expect to find titanium is in a beautifully simple, haute horlogerie dress watch from the ex-Patek Philippe master Laurent Ferrier. Like the rest of his perfectionist portfolio, the Classic Origin Opaline is pebble-smooth, and though you might do a second take wondering why the exposure in the shot made the case look a bit dark for steel, titanium still does not present itself as an immediate answer. I will stress again the fact that titanium is not easy to work with in making mirror-like round polished surfaces, but clearly Mr Ferrier took it on as a challenge, lending a flyweight air to what is consummate elegance embodied in a round case. The silvery white…
Editor’s note: This year at Hublot has focused heavily on celebrating the 40th anniversary of the brand, but there was another important new chapter in the history book of the masters of fusion. The in-house Meca-10 movement, a caliber that has been restricted to the classically round Big Bang case, was set free into the tonneau-shaped Spirit of Big Bang case for the first time this year. With a truly remarkable 10 days of power reserve, it’s no surprise that Hublot have pulled out all the stops in these new watches, producing them in several materials, including King Gold. Let’s take a closer look at the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Meca-10 King Gold. The advent of Hublot’s Big Bang essentially put the provocative, innovative and disruptive brand firmly on the horological map. The brainchild of horological mega-doyen Jean-Claude Biver, the Big Bang arrived on the scene way back in 2004, and since then, it has not only reinvigorated but redefined what Hublot stands for. The evocatively named, plus-sized timepiece has been the wrist-worn proving ground for myriad material and technical revolutions that have broken boundaries and exceeded expectation time and time again. Not all Big Bangs are equal though,…