Category: Novelty

Hands-on – Bell & Ross BR-X1 Military

When you think Bell & Ross, you should apparently have “military-inspiration”, “pilot’s watch” and “round-within-a-square-case” in mind. So, with its squared case and round bezel, its chronograph, its military-coloured lightweight and robust material inspired by stealth fighter planes and an overall functional design, it seems that the new Bell & Ross BR-X1 Military ticks all the boxes, right? (spoiler alert: it does, and it even adds the cool technical look of the Experimental collection).

7 years ago

Introducing – The New Patek Philippe Twenty-4 Automatic Ref. 7300

Since its release in 1999, the Twenty-4 has been Patek Philippe’s entry-level watch (all genders) and certainly its female’s best-selling collection. Shaped like a bracelet, with a rectangular case seamlessly integrated into a metallic bracelet, it was unfortunately powered by a quartz movement (an in-house quartz movement for sure, but still battery-powered). So-to-say, a watch that never really made it as a true Patek in our books. Yet, there’s a new version of the Patek Philippe Twenty-4. It is round, it is more casual and sportier and it is powered by an automatic movement.

7 years ago

Introducing – Oris Movember 2018 Edition (Oris Big Crown Pointer Date)

For the second time this year, Oris will support “Movember“, a Foundation that tackles some of the biggest health issues facing men, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. After the cool-looking Movember 2017 Divers Sixty-Five, it is time for another great vintage-inspired to be launched. Meet the Oris Movember 2018 Edition, a watch based on the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date launched at Baselworld 2018.

7 years ago

Hands-on – The 2018 Ulysse Nardin Diver Chronometer – Redesigned, Cleaner, Tastier

Certainly, most of you might have the Marine Chronometer in mind when the name “Ulysse Nardin” is mentioned – and rightfully so, as this watch is the brand’s cornerstone. However, there’s more in the collection, a watch that is still linked to the nautical world: the Ulysse Nardin Diver. Previously not the most discreet watch available on the market – think this one for instance or that one as a more classical offer – it has just been relaunched in a more contemporary, cleaner and tastier package – following the trend initiated by the Torpilleur. Meet the 2018 Ulysse Nardin Diver Chronometer.

7 years ago

Value Proposition – The anOrdain Model 1 – With Enamel Dial Hand-Made in Glasgow, Scotland

There are a lot of new watch brands coming to market these days. And I mean A LOT. Some go down the popular Kickstarter route, whilst others – like the brand we’re looking at today – prefer to do things the old-fashioned way. The one thing they all share in common is a desire to differentiate themselves from each other and from other established players. It’s a tall order in what is a very crowded market, and many never quite get there. Newcomer, AnOrdain, from Glasgow, has adopted a decidedly simple approach to standing out from the crowd and so far, it seems to be working. Today, we’re getting hands-on with their first watch, the Model 1, which features a stunning enamel dial made in-house.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage GMT

The retro-hype is alive and to be honest, if it is done right, it can result in some very nice watches. Often considered as the golden age of watch design, the 1970s is used as inspiration by many brands to relaunch former collections or to introduce new ones harking back to historical models. Under the Startimer collection, Alpina’s pilot-style range of watches, the brand launched the Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage, in 4 different colourways. And indeed, the 1970s-inspiration is fully there.

7 years ago

Introducing – HYT H20 Brown Limited Edition

With HYT, an independent watchmaker headquartered in Neuchatel, time is fluid. Since 2012, it has measured time in the most unconventional way. Its flow is displayed by the continuous movement of a coloured and a transparent liquid in a capillary. Several models have been presented since the inception of the brand and here’s the latest creation: the HYT H2O Brown.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Frederique Constant Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Manufacture – the Sub-20K Case Study

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Frederique Constant wowed the crowds in Paris with its double complication at an unbelievable price. Once again, Frederique Constant sticks to its slogan of ‘accessible luxury’ and proves that acquiring a quality, manufacture watch with complications does not mean having to mortgage your house. Frederique’s Constant QP Tourbillon Manufacture snubs the tradition of hyper-expensive complications and offers its very own, in-house take on this classic complication for an exorbitantly contained price. As the culmination and showcase of all the technology FC has amassed over the years, the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon is equipped with the new automatic FC-975 in-house movement. Presented in three different metals and with an openworked or closed dial, the one everybody will be zoning in on is the stainless steel contender with an unbeatable price tag of EUR 19,495.

7 years ago

Value Proposition – Trifoglio Italia to launch its new Veloce model on Kickstarter

Things have really changed in the watch industry. When I was a boy, if you wanted a watch you went to a jewellery store and picked one out of the cabinet. If you were really particular, the dealer would let you look at his catalogue and you could order one and wait (and wait (and wait)). Now if you want a watch you can go to an online retailer and have it shipped to you the next day. What if you don’t want a watch that already exists? What if you want a watch that is either technically or stylistically cutting-edge? Thanks to Kickstarter, you not only get to see the newest and greatest watches, but you also get to take a hand in their very existence! Trifoglio Italia, the brainchild of Alessandro Baldieri and Jessie Yeo are launching their first series of watches on Kickstarter: The Veloce (speed in English).

7 years ago

Value Proposition – Martenero Edgemere Reserve – An Affordable Mechanical Watch with a Nautical Theme

Founded in 2014 in New York, Martenero already has six lines of watches in its portfolio. Their latest line, the Edgemere Reserve, is the most detailed piece yet with three complications. Inspired by the marine chronometer (a timepiece accurate enough to allow ships to use celestial navigation), the new line has bold, contrasting colours and a bit of playfulness that remind me of watches from Farer Universal. Like that company, Martenero has found a unique aesthetic without going overboard, being both fun and sophisticated. The Edgemere Reserve follows the original Edgemere with a more mature sequel and is the first follow-up to a piece for the company.

7 years ago