It all started with the thinnest tourbillon in 2014. Later followed the thinnest minute repeater and the thinnest automatic watch. In 2018, Bvlgari unveiled the thinnest automatic watch ever (also the thinnest tourbillon). This year, the brand breaks its fifth record in ultra-thin watches, with the thinnest mechanical chronograph ever made – and it is […]
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.
For our latest instalment of “Spotted”, we are featuring Han Dieter Pötsch. Pötsch is the Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE. And on his wrist are watches that are linked to the cars he produces or to the world of motor racing (surprisingly…), by Omega and IWC/Porsche Design. Porsche SE is […]
From a concept of « Real Watches for Real People », meaning no-nonsense, practical tool watches with not much horological depth but solid manufacturing, to a higher-end, highly mechanical piece that will define the brand’s future… Oris’ latest watch had a long way to travel. We went down that same road with its creators to […]
Bell & Ross is a brand that has been defined for over two decades by its aviation and military inspirations. The creation of the BR01 in 2005 was a turning point in the history of this relatively young brand, with the introduction of the iconic round dial within a square case. 2019 marks another step in […]
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.
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 […]
Hamilton has recently been looking at its past, with multiple models in the “Heritage” line, including the 1970s Intra-Matic Chronograph and, of course, the military-inspired, accessible, cool-looking Khaki Field Mechanical. Really, there’s a lot to love in these collections. Today, the Swatch Group-owned brand takes another of its glorious military models, the W10, and reissues it in a (very) faithful way. Let’s take a look at the Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical.
Independent watchmaker De Bethune is in a category of its own. Simply beyond classifications… Ever since its creation in 2002, the brand has shown a unique approach to watchmaking combining artistic and technical innovation. The brand’s evolution of its sports-oriented watch is no exception… Bold, sporty, made to dive but still 100% recognizable, meet the De Bethune DB28GS Grand Bleu.
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.