Category: Reviews

Review – The Battle of Elegant Time-Only Watches Part 2 – Grand Seiko Hand-Wound SBGW231

This SBGW231, which belongs to Grand Seiko’s Elegance Collection, might not have the most seductive name, but this steel dress watch with classic aesthetics and sizing, impeccable hand-polished features, a superlative mechanical movement, and an attractive price is a rock-solid candidate for our upcoming battle of elegant time-only watches. It might not catch your eye in pictures and come across as disarmingly simple, but believe us this watch is absolutely stunning in the metal and makes up for its sobriety with refined details that underline the Japanese quest for perfection.

6 years ago

Review – anOrdain Model 2 – Vitreous Enamel Dial and Sporty Attire, from Scotland

It’s rare to see bold or hand-made elements in microbrand offerings, especially in the “under EUR 1,500” category. Hand-crafted guilloche dials, in-house calibres and advanced complications are generally reserved for luxury brands with steep prices. Grand Feu enamel dials are a part of that list, but Scottish newcomer anOrdain managed to produce them for its inaugural watch, the affordable anOrdain Model 1. It was a rough road to travel, and some of the highest-end brands continue to outsource enamel dials to companies like Donzé Cadrans in Switzerland, but after three years of research and experimentation, anOrdain accomplished what many others couldn’t – in-house vitreous enamel dials. After a well-received debut, the now sold-out Model 1 has a successor, the anOrdain Model 2.

6 years ago

HANDS-ON: Louis Vuitton Tambour All Black Chronograph 46

One of the malaises sweeping the Swiss watch industry is, in my oh-so-humble opinion, that of homogeneity. From a distance, the world from the wrist down looks remarkably similar: round, black-dialled steel sports cases in a style that sits somewhere on a spectrum between vaguely retro to full-blown reissue. I’m well aware that this isn’t a new phenomenon, but today a properly original watch design is an exception, rather than the rule. Louis Vuitton’s Tambour case is original. I mean, sure, it’s round and sporty, but it is also possessed of a really interesting case, with an inwardly curving profile that looks like it was actually designed by a person, rather than a committee. And it’s not just the case — the whole kit and caboodle is dramatically different from what you’d expect from a Swiss watch, which is unsurprising because the visual identity and IP of Louis Vuitton is so strong, and so pervasive. There are versions of the Tambour in the house’s famous motifs, but this option is a little more — for lack of a better word — stealthy. For all that the palette is monotone, this is not a shy watch. There’s that aforementioned sweeping profile,…

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6 years ago

Review – Porsche Design 1919 Globetimer UTC – The No Hassle Travel Companion

Travel watches, along with blue dials and vintage aesthetics, are all the rage these days. With the advent of globalisation, GMT/UTC watches are no longer the exclusive domain of jet-setters and Pan Am pilots. Today, a wider audience of frequent flyers – and people with business interests or friends dotted around the world – are taking an interest in watches that can give them two distinct time references at a single glance. When it comes to adjusting local and home time on GMT watches, few can beat the practicality and simplicity of the Porsche Design 1919 Globetimer UTC. Unlike so many GMT models that need adjusting at the crown or via correctors, the Globetimer offers travellers a simple, intuitive way to set the local time and dons the sleek, minimalist Porsche Design aesthetic many have come to love. Released during Baselworld 2019 in four different versions, we got to spend some hands-on time with the titanium model and brown dial.

6 years ago

Review – Reservoir Hydrosphere “Air Gauge” – A Very Unique Dive Watch

I know many people complain about dive watches. Not because of what they are intrinsically, but because many of them look the same (the Submariner-like market is huge…) Yet, there’s a very good reason for this: a norm, the ISO 6425 standard, regulates the concept of a dive watch. However, some watchmakers have decided to […]

6 years ago

Face-to-Face – The Battle of Luxury Daily Beaters Part 3 – Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra VS. Rolex Datejust, The Verdict!

In the grand scheme of things, watch collectors are a rare species and, however much we love you, do not represent the vast majority of men when it comes to watch needs. Most men tend to fall in the one-watch category. When it comes to investing in an all-rounder destined to last a lifetime (and some), there are two candidates you cannot overlook. Extremely specialised tool watches for specific sports won’t look right in the office, and that ultra-thin gold tuxedo watch will look pretty ridiculous during rugby practice. It’s all about striking a balance, finding a watch that works in all environments and that won’t let you down. For this Battle of the Luxury Daily Beaters we will be pitting two strong contenders. The three-hand-and-date Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m and the Rolex Datejust 41 are, in our eyes, versatility incarnate and offer a very satisfying answer to the “one watch for all occasions” conundrum. Squarely matched in almost every aspect, let’s take a closer look at their vital statistics and see if we can pronounce a winner.

6 years ago

Review – The Battle of Luxury Daily Beaters Part 2 – Rolex Datejust 41

When the new/updated Datejust 41 appeared in steel in 2017, there was jubilation among Rolex fans the world over. Not just because the Jubilee bracelet had made a welcome return, but also because a steel version translated into a lower price tag than its 2016 Rolesor siblings and increased the wearability factor no end. Like the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra we reviewed yesterday, the Rolex Datejust 41 is a solid candidate for the title of the best luxury daily beater.

6 years ago

New moon – the Longines Master Moonphase

The Master collection has been a staple in Longines’ catalogue for some time, epitomising the sort of casual elegance for which the bramd is so well known. The latest member of this family — the Longines Master Moonphase — continues to offer the strong combination of timeless style and well-integrated small complications that we saw last year with the clever Annual Calendar model. This time around the additional functionality is taking more of a romantic bent — in the form of a moon phase and pointer date combination. Before we dial in on the complication, let’s take a look at the overall picture. The new Longines Master Moonphase models are offered in either 40 or 42mm cases, with a range of dials — black or silver barleycorn, a fine textured pattern that is a hallmark of the Master line, and this version, in a blue sunray finish. This version is also the larger 42mm version with restrained applied baton markers (the smaller blue offering adds some top Wesselton diamond hour markers into the mix, if you’re looking for a bit of bling). The combination of classical case shape, versatile modern case size and on trend blue dial treatment add up…

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6 years ago

Review – The Battle of Luxury Daily Beaters Part 1 – Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Master Chronometer 41mm

Let’s face it; watch collectors are not the largest demographic out there. Yes, thankfully, there are plenty of you to keep the industry ticking and our webpage alive and well, but most men are confessed “monowatchmen”. By this, I mean that most men will probably own one good watch during their lifetime, perhaps two. If you are a monowatchman, you’ve come to the right place. Today we will be looking at a solid candidate for the one-watch-men of this world, a 3-hand and date watch that you can wear day in and day out. Let’s start our “Battle of Luxury Daily Beaters” with the Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m by Omega.

6 years ago