The new Seiko Prospex "Save the Ocean" SRPE33K has a scratched blue ocean dial you have to see to believe…
An automatic dive watch that brings value to both your wrist and environmental efforts, the Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean SRPE33K is the latest special edition made in honour of protecting the ocean. Across the board, Seiko is known for providing high horological value at lower price points than its Swiss peers and the “Save the Ocean” special editions are an absolute exemplar of this. They have consistently been knockout watches with some of the best blue dials for your dollar. And boy, have they truly outdone themselves with this one. The case and bracelet The case is robust, made of stainless steel. True to its ocean and diver nomenclature, the watch has a screw-down crown (protected by surrounding crown guards), a unidirectional bezel, and a water resistance of 200 metres. Do not let the diameter of 43.8mm fool you into thinking this watch is too large for your wrist. Its lug-to-lug of 48.7mm makes this watch very wearable and compact for its size. The Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean SRPE33K is only 0.7mm larger in length than a modern Rolex Submariner and, being 12.8mm thick, is only 0.3mm thicker. This watch is more than capable of sliding under a cuff…
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It’s been a great year for new watches, and one of the biggest contributors to this slew of attractive wristwatches is TAG Heuer, who continue their run of strong releases in 2020. The latest release from the La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaker is the TAG Heuer Carrera Elegant collection, adding another feather to the Carrera cap after the announcements earlier this year of the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph collection. But in a year when the Carrera collection has been such a focal point for the brand, what does this latest release offer? The TAG Heuer Carrera Elegant collection continues exploring the vision of blending the past and the present, vintage design cues with contemporary flair, but rather than the bold vitality of the Carrera Sport Chronograph collection, the Carrera Elegant collection is a sleek and refined expression of the same source DNA. You won’t find any utilitarian tachymeter bezels here – instead you’ll find a much more subtle thin steel bezel that serves up a much less imposing presence on the wrist. Within the new range, there are three references with variously black, blue and anthracite dials, as well as a silver dial with rose gold dial furniture rounding out the…
It cannot be refuted how much Switzerland has influenced horology and the luxury watch industry at large. As a result, designs across brands can seem familiar when they all draw from the same well of inspiration and technique. Bulgari, however, continues to stand out from the pack, blending its Swiss watchmaking know-how with its Italian mastery of design. The Bulgari High-End Watch 2020 Novelties are clear examples of the fact that “high-jewellery” and “high-watchmaking” artisans can work in tandem to create pure magic for the wrist. All of these watches are true works of art from the Roman Jeweller of Time. The Octo Roma Arabesque ref. 103403 The Octo Roma Arabesque ref. 103403 is a gorgeous museum piece of a watch. Its 40mm 18k pink gold case is adorned with a baroque embroidery of pink sapphires, tourmalines, emeralds and diamonds. According to Bulgari, “The Arabesque shape is a key figure in baroque architecture, a touchstone of the romantic eclecticism that defined the era’s churches and palazzi.” You would think the dial cover would make the watch quite thick, but this is not the case (see what I did there?). Powered by the manufacture caliber BVL 268 — the thinnest tourbillon on the…
As most watch collectors will agree, there are few things better than getting a new watch in your collection. It’s the thrill of having a new watch on your wrist that you’ve been thinking about for weeks or months, and is the culmination of researching, considering and finally pulling the trigger on that special piece that you’ve wanted. But while that thrill might not be an everyday occurrence, the next best thing is a new strap or bracelet to wear your watch on. In that regard, the Rado Captain Cook interchangeable straps has both spots covered. With the new offering from the Swiss watchmaker, the Rado Captain Cook interchangeable straps offers, in effect, three for the price of one. The same vintage-inspired Captain Cook aesthetic as you would find across the rest of the collection, and more. Not only do you get a classy-looking three-link bracelet, but you also get a comfortable fabric strap and a subtly textured leather strap, all of which are simple to swap with Rado’s strap-changing mechanism. So if you’ve been eyeing off a Rado Captain Cook recently but haven’t yet taken the plunge, the diversity of these different straps might be the thing that makes…
Frederique Constant has updated and overhauled their Highlife line, which was originally created more than 20 years ago to bring a high-value horological offering to the consumer. Standard production models of this new lineup were recently launched in steel, gold-plated, and two-tone steel and gold-plated models — in both time and date only (Automatic COSC) and perpetual calendar versions. And now, something a little more spicy. The Frederique Constant Highlife RedBar Limited Editions bring a subtle, yet powerful punch of RedBar flavour to the new lineup of Highlife watches. The case(s): The two Frederique Constant Highlife RedBar Limited Editions are encased in a 3-part polished stainless steel case. They are both 41mm in diameter with a convex sapphire crystal covering the dial and anti-glare coatings on both the dial and exhibition crystals. The anti-glare coatings provide a subtle blue hue in the right light that plays well against the grey backdrop on each of the dials. The cases offer up to 5 ATM or 50 metres of water resistance. Where the Perpetual Calendar version differs is through its case-side pushers controlling the perpetual calendar complication. The pusher under the crown is for correction of the moon phase, the pusher at…
If you’re a motoring enthusiast, you know that the glory is in the details. Few vehicle manufacturers latched onto this ethos as much as Italian companies did in the ’60s and ’70s, designing breathtaking, voluptuous bodywork, with the most luxurious interior touches. Whether it was seats, shift knobs, or the instrument cluster, everything had to be a visual feast. That way, when you put your foot to the floor, you were guaranteed a driving experience that was both beautiful and visceral. Try as they might, modern manufacturers can’t reproduce that same feeling, whether it be down to necessary safety features, ever-tightening budget restrictions, or simply just an evolution in tastes. Thankfully, this passion is alive and well in motor-themed watches, as the lust for detail-focused engineering synchronises perfectly with obsessive artistry. MAALS Watches takes notes from heritage car brands and integrates them into their own personality-driven designs. Where some brands take legendary racing liveries and use those colours on a rather standard-looking watch, MAALS’ newest Kickstarter campaign, the Giri Ventiquattro, imbues subtle automotive details within an already highly unique timepiece. The UK-based micro are doing things with off-the-shelf Miyota movements that aren’t really seen anywhere else, such as on their…
Undone are reaching a point of ubiquity in the microbrand world where it is probably prudent to have tried one on the wrist. With, of course, one prevailing question in mind – how could these watches deliver on their looks? We ordered a couple in. Because, somehow Undone seem able to keep up a huge variety in designs whilst giving each one the right amount of attention to detail, from jeans-and-tshirt divers to lavishly decorated dress pieces. Quality, intrigue, and customisability are all distinct traits of the eclectic brand, and none of that changes for their art deco-inspired chronograph, the Vintage Killy. As one of their most popular designs, it’s a great place to start. The dial There’s no denying that for the Vintage Killy, the dial is the star of the show. The cream tone is phenomenally warm and inviting, with the domed crystal softly distorting the perimeter an ideal amount. The blue tachymeter matches the blue leaf hands and frames them perfectly, while the red telemetre track provides just enough contrast of colour to enhance the charm of the watch. The art deco numerals are incredibly characterful, making you feel as though you’ve just stepped into the 1927…
Close to being at a loss for words … almost thankful that I haven’t got this on my wrist for a hands-on review as I would not leave the house. Email to Director: Self-imposed lockdown initiated, reason — the new Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Flying Tourbillon Chronograph needs a full 10 days of attention, all Wi-Fi and mobile communication hereby disconnected. Let’s start with the obvious. The CODE 11.59 range has been expanded this year with new references featuring more expressive colours. From the first image alone, it is clear that this is something completely different again. The Tourbillon Chronograph is clearly the halo model of the range, a masterpiece of horological complexity that beguiles you with its midnight blue details and top-tier symmetrical beauty. The dial Any description of this CODE 11.59, with its openworked design having a lack of a traditional dial, is seriously underselling this symmetrical feast of angles, curves and delicately shaped bridges in galvanic black titanium and nickel silver. They sit in a holy union, forming an almost gothic pattern of skeletonisation, being both intrinsically distracting yet calming in its symmetry. The breathtaking details of the flying tourbillon, with its lack of an upper bridge,…
Now that Rolex has released watches and ended that dreadful rumour that they were sitting 2020 out, the important work begins. Nicknaming them. The one that has perhaps caused the most contention, is this one, the Submariner ref. 126619LB in white gold. We’re going to tell you everything you need to know about it below. But first, some data. We asked Instagram what its nickname should be. Our favourites are as follows: Sonic. BMW (or Beemer). Blueberry. Sega. Add to these a decidedly not-catchy suggestion of “I wish the stupid nickname game would stop and availability happens.” The winner, however, was overwhelmingly clear. It’s the Cookie Monster. Settled. Now let’s talk about the size. The iconic Submariner will for many always be pitch perfect at 40mm. Is the size increase as vast as we are told, and is it the end of the enthusiasts’ embrace of the Crown? The most coveted watch today becomes too large by a gut-wrenching, teary-eyed millimetre? From the vast traffic on forums, Facebook groups and Instagram, the 1mm difference is seemingly best illustrated by this monster – of a gargantuan 1mm in size, sharing its underwater habitat with the Submariner. Meet the gargantuan 1…
Hublot is known around the world for their larger, bold designs. Some collections literally have the word bold in their nomenclature. While this reference does not, the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Green Saxem is definitely one of their boldest designs yet – both technically and aesthetically. The case Hublot has made a huge investment in the industrialisation of sapphire – a notoriously difficult material to produce. This sapphire, or SAXEM, case is a deep green that can compete with the finest emeralds, with a brilliance that comes close to that of a diamond. SAXEM, an acronym for Sapphire Aluminium oXide and rare Earth Mineral, is a unique and proprietary blend of materials Hublot has developed that results in stunning and colourful luxury watch cases. Hublot explains, “In order to obtain this unparalleled shade of green, transparency and radiance, the Hublot manufacture – an expert in the concept of fusion – mixed aluminium oxide, the basic component of sapphire, with rare-earth elements like thulium and holmium as well as chromium.” Hublot claims the resulting material is both harder than emerald (which is too soft to be machined) and has a brilliance greater than a standard sapphire. SAXEM also ensures that…