MICRO MONDAYS: AUDRIC SeaBorne 500 M is a proper spec MONSTER for the money
It seems like every week, another Kickstarter microbrand comes forward with its own take on a diving watch. Some of these are more successful than others, but the one certainty is that in order to stand out, companies have to increasingly think outside the box. AUDRIC Watches have done so with the home-run combination of outrageous value for money and exciting, bold design. In fact, the AUDRIC SeaBorne 500 M doesn’t just take the fight to the best of the microbrand world, but challenges the greats of established Swiss names, too. The main thing to understand about the SeaBorne 500 M is that it’s an absolute spec monster for its price. Compared with the big-brand Swiss divers up to double its RRP, the elements and features are equal, if not improved. You get the often-found Sellita SW200-1, a movement that can be found powering watches from the likes of Oris, Baume & Mercier, Bell & Ross, Sinn and many more. On top of the components level, the manufacturing complexity is also elevated above its pay grade, with the inclusion of a double-domed sapphire crystal, luminous sapphire bezel insert, and an incredible 22mm 5-link solid steel bracelet, with a perlage-decorated milled…
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It seems to happen about once a year. I must sheepishly admit that I was wrong about a watch. In 2019, I offered a full retraction to Girard-Perregaux regarding the Laureato, a watch that I not only came to love but purchase. In 2020, it’s apology time once again. And this time, it’s to the Bulgari Bulgari collection after the recent launch of the Bulgari Bulgari Aluminium pieces. I won’t steal all of the video’s thunder though, please watch it to hear in full. Jumping from the personal to the bigger picture, Bulgari is in the business of turning heads in 2020 with the announcement of their record-breaking Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic, the new Octo Finissimo in satin polished steel, and then their remarkable High-End Watch novelties. But there’s another collection that is causing worldwide whiplash – the Bulgari Aluminium collection. In a true revitalisation of the Bulgari Bulgari collection that saw success in the ’90s, the Bulgari Aluminium collection offers a new entry point to the world of Swiss-Italian watchmaking, and does so in a way that is oh-so-Bulgari. It forces a re-examination of what a luxury sports watch is and, just like the first Bulgari Octo…
It’s hard to believe it’s been four decades since the inception of arguably the most disruptive and provocative watchmaker in modern history. But we are indeed celebrating their 40th birthday and their first-ever watch – the Classic Original, otherwise known as the OG gold watch with a rubber strap. To commemorate the milestone, Hublot has unveiled a trilogy of 40 Years Anniversary watches in three different materials that it has championed in horology – gold, ceramic and titanium. And while these watches are virtually identical, the different case materials mean that each has a very different personality. We’ve been fortunate enough to spend some time with all three examples, but this story will focus on what has to be the most under-the-radar iteration – the Hublot 40 Years Anniversary Black Ceramic. The case As we’ve come to expect from modern Hublot timepieces, the case of this limited edition watch is not small. We’re talking 45mm across and about 13mm thick. Despite these XL measurements, the watch doesn’t feel very weighty or ungainly on the wrist, and that’s down to the liquid cool, silky smooth polished ceramic case, which is contrasted by a satin-brushed ceramic bezel and end links. The…
For many around the world, one of the unexpected side effects of a global pandemic is spending a lot more time on the couch watching Netflix. And if that’s something you can relate to, then you have probably watched (or at least been recommended to watch) The Social Dilemma, a documentary about the addictive elements of social media and how each platform is structurally designed to retain your attention. How is this related to the Bausele Vintage 2.0 Hybrid SmartWatch? Hear me out. While The Social Dilemma was not a catalyst for immediately deleting my social media accounts (I’d miss the #watchfam too much), it was cause for a moment of reflection as I watched the film with my phone in one hand, thumb scrolling through Instagram as a technology ethicist eloquently articulated the dangers of unchecked time spent using the very app I was on. Do I get too many notifications? Just how addicted to my phone am I? If you’ve asked yourself these questions in the past, then an additional screen on your wrist in the form of a smartwatch might not be the right thing for you. Another screen can be distracting, just offering another endless feed…
Editor’s note: Well, things haven’t exactly slowed down at G-Shock in the months since this story was published – the Japanese firebrand has been churning out more awesome and absurd watches than the rest of the Swiss watch industry combined, and it’s left us all thinking, “What will they come up with next?” Most recently, G-Shock have dropped a watch celebrating one of the biggest animated children’s TV shows of all time – Dragon Ball Z, and they’ve also collaborated with Bamford Watch Department to create a limited edition watch that sold out in six minutes! Needless to say, enthusiasts have never had more choice for whacky and wonderful digital watches … and that’s a very good thing. G-Shock have been going hard in 2020 — really hard. That’s right, not only have they released dozens of new watches across a range of different collections since the beginning of 2020, but many of those are pretty remarkable in their own right, some tracking heart rate or surf beach conditions, with others paying tribute to Kung fu legend Bruce Lee or representing streetwear label KITH. There is genuinely something for everyone, so let’s take a look at five of the coolest…
Editor’s note: Right off the bat, let us confirm that Luke Hemsworth is in fact, a legend. Westworld Season 1 is among the best single series of television ever created, and he was in it. Also, he is a great deal wealthier and more successful than me, just in general. So, Luke, keep doing what you’re doing But of the Hemsworth brothers, he is substantially the lesser known. It’s the same for the Rolex Explorer II ref. 216570. Within the Rolex Professional Collection, references you can actually get your hands on are few and far between. And this model is one of them, roughly speaking. That said, they’re hardly in the shop window, so this is all said with a degree of reasonableness and caution. Why? It’s simple. There just aren’t as many people out there who want one on their wrist. And this is where things get a little more opaque. For such a striking looking watch, with an approachable 42mm case, a wide open dial and the electrifying shock of orange that is the GMT-hand, there seems little empirical logic behind its relative availability. But is this simply that the crowds who follow the well-worn paths of steel sports hype have forgotten…
If you’re someone who spends more time looking at screens than you would like to, but don’t want to miss an important call, the Bausele Vintage 2.0 Hybrid SmartWatch is an interesting proposition. At first impression, or from across the room, you would think you were looking at a mechanical mid-century wristwatch. After all, the analogue hands don’t give much away about what lies beneath the dial. Under the dial is a Bluetooth-linked smartwatch, which offers almost everything you might want, including phone notifications, activity tracking, sleep monitoring and alarm, as well as multiple time zones with the press of a button. This blend of past and present is the most recent offering from Bausele, a Swiss-made but Australian-designed brand founded by Christophe Hoppe in 2011. The brand has released a number of mechanical watches over the years, but this is their first step into the smartwatch game, and it’s one they have done thoughtfully. This consideration has kept the mechanical watch lover front of mind, creating a watch that offers the convenience of a typical smartwatch, but with the balanced design of a traditional timepiece. In that way, it’s the best of both worlds, fusing form and function with a…
TAG Heuer continue to celebrate their 160th anniversary this year with the release of their latest heritage-inspired limited edition. This is a formula that has offered both surprise and delight to collectors around the world in 2020. With the release of several new references (which we have covered here, here and here) that not only show the depth of the archives at TAG Heuer but the willingness to revisit important designs and bring them into the 21st century. Both models are limited to 1860 pieces and have a price of $5,950US and $8,600AUD – you can pre-order the watches here and here. In this latest two-reference release, we have the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph 160 Years Limited Edition “Dato 45”, which takes its inspiration from the original Heuer 3147N “Dato 45”, a nickname it earned from the position of its date window at 12 o’clock. The latest expression of this design has been beefed up for modern tastes, as well as a sleeker, more sporty look and the use of contemporary watchmaking materials. The 2020 TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph 160 Years Limited Edition “Dato 45” features a 44mm steel case with the iconic sloping Carrera lugs that swiftly…
Grand Seiko has been a true value proposition for collectors since its rebirth, providing some of the highest quality watches for your dollar. Many have had some contention with the inevitable reality that the brand would eventually go further upmarket, anxious that their latest and greatest technical innovations would be out of reach of the more common consumer. The next instalment in the 60th anniversary collection, the Grand Seiko SLGH003, assuages the minds and wallets of everyone who was in awe of the new 9SA5 movement, which until yesterday was only offered in a high-price precious metal model: the SLGH002. With its latest release, Grand Seiko has made it clear that their finest mechanical movement yet is now available in steel – with more non-precious material models on the way as well. The Grand Seiko SLGH003 case is 40mm of Zaratsu-finished hotness, with the stainless steel rendered in contrasting satin and distortion-free mirror-polished surface that creates the signature light and shadow aesthetic known to the Grand Seiko brand. Only 11.7mm thick, the new movement does not add any height to the watch; it, in fact, presents one of the thinner offerings within the Grand Seiko catalogue. One hundred metres water…
The Yema Superman is a strong vintage diver, with two selling points that should be a wake-up call for other brands, starting with an obvious and rather rhetorical question: When you go out to buy a pair of jeans with your slimmer and shorter mate (speaking for myself here), do you buy the exact same size? If the answer happens to be no, then look at the Superman range from Yema, specifically the all-new Yema Superman Bronze collection. Yema is a small, proudly French brand with a strong following, yet they have understood the basics … we have different wrists. Really? When my mate Bob can wear a 45mm chunky long-lugged tool watch with ease, on me it looks like a bear balancing on a twig. Yema knows this and, lo and behold, gives you a choice of 39 or 41mm in the Superman range. Pure genius. Add a French manufactured in-house movement by Yema and, voilà, two top points scored even before looking at the new versions, launched in a limited edition this week to celebrate the 1948 foundation of the company. Yema is launching four references with their new 2000 and 3000 caliber on Kickstarter this week in…