Brice Goulard’s Baselworld 2017 Top 10 Favorite Watches

After Xavier’s and Frank’s Top 10 watches of Baselworld 2017, after our list of the 10 most read articles of the fair (just to give us an indication of what collectors loved), it is time for your humble editor to come with his 10 favorite watches of Baselworld 2017. First all, before going into further details, this ranking is not about the 10 best watches of the show but it is based on my personal tastes – and as collecting dive and sports watches myself, you’ll see it is a little biased. From a super-friendly priced Oris to a complex Patek, here are my 10 favorite watches of 2017 (and yes, all of them are on my wish-list).

8 years ago

Frank Geelen’s Baselworld 2017 Top 10 and Musing about the Fair

Back in 2008 the world faced a new challenge. The worldwide financial crisis began with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The following year the watch industry was kind of nervous and saw a small drop in sales. And while the financial crisis went on, on a global scale (we’re still recovering from that), the big crisis in the watch industry didn’t really come through… yet. Last year was the first year that brands and luxury groups published numbers that showed serious signs of the crisis, and this year’s numbers are actually more than worrisome. This year the crisis could also be felt in the novelties as presented by the brands, not only during the SIHH in January, but also at the 100th edition of the Baselworld Watch & Jewelry show that has just come to an end. Still, it was possible to list ten watches that got me exited! However first some musings about this year’s edition of Baselworld…

8 years ago

Baselworld 2017 – Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition (Back to the Roots of Aviation)

Oris’ reputation in terms of pilot watches is not to be debated anymore. Their Big Crown Pro Pilot collection is composed of reliable, well conceived and efficient watches for pilots. Still, most of them are modern iterations. But for Baselworld 2017, the brand will look back at its past, by reviving its first pilot’s wristwatch with a special limited edition piece made in homage to the original. Introducing the Oris Big Crown 1917 Limited Edition.

8 years ago

Introducing – Oris Royal Flying Doctor Service Limited Edition II

Oris’ motto is “Real watches for real people“… and it’s not just a marketing gimmick (which happens rather often in this luxury watches industry, to say the least). Don’t be surprised to see that Oris watches are worn by ambassadors that are just a bit far away from red carpets. For instance, take a look at the Rega Altimeter, or the El Hierro Limited Edition… For their latest creation, it’s with Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service (one of the world’s most iconic aeromedical services) that Oris is teaming up, with a new watch, the Oris Royal Flying Doctor Service Limited Edition II.

8 years ago

Throwback Sundays: Six Watch Recommendations for Running Errands, from Our Archives

Imagine yourself in this situation: you need to head down to a supermarket that is ten minutes away to grab some ingredients that have just run out. As a Watch-Idiot-Savant (WIS), you would not want to leave the house without wearing a watch, and yet you also not want to wear something that is too pricey too. Well, what will you choose?…

8 years ago

Introducing the 2017 Updated Oris Aquis Date Collection (More Refined, Still Powerful)

Since its introduction, the Oris Aquis has always been the high-performance dive watch of the brand. Sturdy, robust, strong and powerful, this watch is all about performance and reliability. So to say, a real tool watch, which earned the status of icon in the Oris collection. Even if it remained modern, Oris has decided to bring a new take on the Aquis Date Collection, with subtle evolutions of most components, in order to bring modernity and extra-refinement to a still very toolish and professional-oriented watch. Here is the updated Oris Aquis Date Collection for 2017, more refined, still powerful.

8 years ago

Hands-On – Oris Divers Sixty-Five Silver Dial (And Why A Bright Dial Diver Can Also Work)

In a recent piece of news, Oris announced a new iteration for the 42mm Divers Sixty-Five. While this model already exists in blue or green, it now comes with a rather unexpected dial, which even if strongly playing on the usual vintage theme of the collection (and maybe even more now) is featuring a silver color, something rather unusual for a dive watch. Well, this Oris Divers Sixty-Five Silver Dial was clearly requiring to be seen in the metal (no press photo can give credits to a watch), something we did during the brand’s pre-Baselworld Preview where we already saw the Oris Altimeter Rega Limited Edition. And believe us, it was necessary.

8 years ago

Testing The New Oris Altimeter Rega Limited Edition Right Where It Should (… In the Swiss Alps)

Basically, what you see here is one of the most innovative – and coolest too – pilot watches on the market. No, it is not fitted with a super-high-end movement neither it has the most spectacular design ever. The point is not here. Certainly, you already heard about the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter, a watch we already experienced before. This watch actually is the world’s first automatic mechanical timepiece with a built-in mechanical altimeter. Admit that for a pilot watch, that’s quite an interesting feature. A few days ago, the brand introduced a new version, the Oris Altimeter Rega Limited Edition (resulting from a partnership with Rega, Switzerland’s air rescue service) and what’s better than a proper field-test, in the Swiss Alps, to experience the altimeter function.

8 years ago

Comparison – Original 1960s Oris Diver and the Oris Divers Sixty-Five

Oris Diver Watches Ever since the introduction of the new Oris diver watches, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five models, people have been praising them. A cool retro watch with a very affordable price tag. We have reviewed a couple of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five variations ever since (the original Sixty-Five, the 42mm model, and just recently […]

8 years ago