Review – The 2017 Seiko Presage Enamel Collection – Unlimited, Refined, Desirable

At Baselworld 2017, Seiko came with a very refreshing surprise (among all the superb watches they launched this year…) While we thought that the Seiko Presage 60th Anniversary Chronograph would forever remain an untouchable dream – way too limited in production, sold out way too fast – the Japanese brand came with a full range of watches: the Seiko Presage Enamel Collection. It means not one but four watches with luxurious but friendly priced hand-made enamel dials, all mechanically powered, including the comeback of the superb chronograph… and they are not limited in production!

8 years ago

5 Of The Coolest Vintage-Inspired Watches for This Summer

Vintage is one of the biggest trends these days… Really, what a piece of news! We all know that brands have been widely surfing on the vintage / heritage / reissue trend, and for now over 10 years. However, in the middle of the dozens of vintage-inspired watches launched every year, there are some good ones and the one you really need to consider. Here are 5 of the coolest vintage-inspired watches of 2017, to look good this summer.

8 years ago

Summer Is Coming… 10 Great Dive Watches Of 2017, For Every Pocket

You may or may not be planning a deep dive over the summer. It does not really matter. You do not need to be a diver to love these high-performing, utilitarian dive watches. They make great daily wearers too and as summer is fast approaching, we have picked 10 new dive watches of 2017, with choices to suit every pocket and every taste. In short, the best watches to look cool on the beach, on a boat and with your favorite summer cocktail.

8 years ago

Introducing – Seiko Diver Scuba Limited Edition by Giugiaro Design Ref. SBEE001 / 002

The association between Italian designer Giugiaro and Seiko watches is nothing new and already produced some of the most daring watches from the Japanese brand – as for instance the Seiko Chronograph 7A28-7000, famous for its appearance in Alien movies. Since a few years, Seiko reintroduces some of the greatest watches designed under the pen of Giugiaro, including the 2015 Limited Edition Reissue Seiko Sced035 or recently an Astron watch. Today, using the iconic asymmetrical case, Seiko reissues a rather unknown dive watch made in the 1980s with Giugiaro, with the new Seiko Diver Scuba Limited Edition by Giugiaro Design Ref. SBEE001 and 002.

8 years ago

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

Hands-On – Seiko Prospex Diver SLA017 – Recreation of the 1965 Seiko 62Mas ref. 6217

This is it; the star of show – or at least the watch that received most comments and that reached the 1st place in our “most read article of Baselworld 2017“. And believe us, surpassing Rolex in numbers during the Basel Watch Fair is properly impressive… All of that, just to tell you how expected this watch was and how well received it has been. Its name: the Seiko Prospex Diver SLA017. Its function: being a faithful recreation of the 1965 Seiko 62Mas ref. 6217, meaning the first professional dive watch of the Japanese manufacture. Its achievement: already being a collector. Overview of an upcoming success story.

8 years ago

Hands-On – Seiko Prospex Diver SLA017 – Recreation of the 1965 Seiko 62Mas ref. 6217

This is it; the star of show – or at least the watch that received most comments and that reached the 1st place in our “most read article of Baselworld 2017“. And believe us, surpassing Rolex in numbers during the Basel Watch Fair is properly impressive… All of that, just to tell you how expected this watch was and how well received it has been. Its name: the Seiko Prospex Diver SLA017. Its function: being a faithful recreation of the 1965 Seiko 62Mas ref. 6217, meaning the first professional dive watch of the Japanese manufacture. Its achievement: already being a collector. Overview of an upcoming success story.

8 years ago

The 10 Stories You Enjoyed Most During Baselworld 2017

Baselworld 2017 is over. Thus, we, at the redaction, have to come with our Top 10 watches of the show. You’ve already seen Xavier Markl’s picks and Frank Geelen’s top 10 watches, combined with a quite critical take on the fair. And don’t worry, my best of the show will come later this week. But what about you, readers? What are the 10 watches you enjoyed most during Baselworld 2017? The deal is simple: what were the 10 most read articles from the 22nd of March till the 30th of March 2017. And the result is not that surprising…

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 – Recreating The First Grand Seiko (SBGW251 – SBGW252 – SBGW253) Plus A Modern Reissue (SBGR305)

Seiko, for a long time, has been away from the trend of vintage and reissues. This was simply not their thing, the brand simply emphasized on evolution and modern designs. Yet, since a few years now, and mainly with the arrival of the Presage collection, the Japanese brand now looks at its rich history. For Baselworld 2017, the focus will be on the recreation of the first Grand Seiko, launched for Japan only in 1960 (while the international launch of Grand Seiko took place in 2010), with three limited editions (SBGW251 – SBGW252 – SBGW253). And for those who prefer present days, there will also be a modern reissue, the SBGR305.

8 years ago