Value Proposition – UNDONE Aqua Dive Watch – An Affordable, Highly Customisable Automatic Watch for Water Enthusiasts

The popularity of microbrands is rapidly spreading as unique mechanical watches are being sold at cutthroat prices. An interesting piece can be had for well under USD 500, but odds are you’ll be getting a Chinese movement and parts that are far removed from Switzerland. That doesn’t mean that many of these watches are bad products, but from both a reliability and collector standpoint, they’re often considered a lower tier. UNDONE is a popular microbrand that specializes in customization to help stand out in the crowd. Colours, cases, dials, hands, straps and even materials can be individually chosen to create a unique timepiece just for you, all for under USD 500. Many of their watches are attractive chronographs but equipped with quartz movements instead of mechanical. Their Aqua series of dive watches, however, have proven Seiko automatics inside and are an excellent value proposition for budding enthusiasts or active divers. Dive watches are among my favourite styles and the level of customization offered by UNDONE is almost overwhelming. Standard editions are also available if you’re happy with their selection of prebuilt models. I have their prebuilt Aqua Silver-Grey unit (with date) that I’ve been wearing for several weeks.

6 years ago

Opinion – Thoughts on the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref.5711 (and why I didn’t buy one)

The segment of luxury sports watches remains an interesting and intriguing category in the world of watches. Since the very first luxury sports watch was introduced in 1972 – the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 5402ST – many brands have tried to enter this segment, most of them without the success they had envisioned. The watch we will be looking at today did succeed, and might just have superseded the immense success of the Royal Oak. I’m talking about the Patek Philippe Nautilus and today we’ll be looking at this extremely popular luxury sports watch.

6 years ago

Introducing – Oris Chronoris Limited Edition

Renowned for its technical, modern and robust-looking watches, Oris started to introduce some vintage-inspired designs in its collections a few years ago, notably with the Divers Sixty Five collection. While the pilot’s watches hark back to the 1940s and the diving pieces play on the 1960s trend, the motorsport collection recreates the spirit of another era, […]

6 years ago

Opinion – A Personal Take on the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic Sandblasted Steel

No need to hide the truth, the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic was one of the highlights of 2017 – if not the most impressive watch (ultra-complicated ones excluded) of the year. Not only it is ultra-thin, but it is also ultra-bold, modernly designed, inspired and innovative. Certainly, some created even thinner (that one) but not with the same stylistic audaciousness. Presented first in titanium, I thought I had found my perfect watch. But that was before Baselworld 2018 and the new Sandblasted Steel version. You think it doesn’t change much? Yes… and no.

6 years ago

Hands-on – The new TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01 Manchester United Special Edition

Over the past few years, TAG Heuer has established a series of partnerships in the world of football/soccer: brand ambassadors (Mats Hummels…), championships (Premier League, LFP, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Major League Soccer…) and several clubs, including Manchester United, one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world. Born 140 years ago, Manchester United has won 66 trophies including no fewer than 20 English league titles! For its third season as the team official timekeeper, TAG Heuer is launching two new special editions in the frame of the ‘Red Devils’ United States tour this summer: a Carrera Heuer 01 and a Formula One.

6 years ago

Introducing – The Cool Omega Railmaster Master Chronometer now in Denim Blue

Following up on the release of the first Railmaster Co-Axial Master Chronometers last year (with anthracite or silver dials), Omega has introduced a denim blue version for 2018. Not much has changed in a year and a few cosmetic tweaks are the stars of the show, but they make a real difference in the overall look and feel. It may seem a bit like more of the same, but last year’s models were attractive and well priced with chronometer-certified movements, making them almost a bargain for what you were getting. The denim blue edition adds to the portfolio with a fresh coat of paint and new strap. Let’s take a closer look.

6 years ago

Review – Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m – A Serious Contender for the One-Watch collection

The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m is arguably one of the better value, all-round, entry-level watches available on the market today. It’s also most likely flying completely under your radar. In the collection since 2003, it received a subtle visual refresh last year, along with an in-house movement in the form of the Master Chronometer calibre 8900. Striking the balance between everyday wear and elegant dress watch, the Aqua Terra is the perfect choice for those people looking for one watch for all occasions. Read our detailed review below to find out what makes this model so attractive.

6 years ago

Review – Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumatic (non-COSC version) – Serious Watchmaking, Serious All-Rounder

Baume & Mercier has changed tack radically after introducing its first proprietary movement – Baumatic™-  during the SIHH in January 2018. Greeted with positive reactions, the Baumatic™ has been housed in the Clifton line of watches, Baume & Mercier’s all-rounder collection that includes the sporty Clifton Club series, clearly targeted at younger men. But above all, the Clifton Baumatic marks a new direction for the brand with its high-performance chronometer-grade movement, a diligent and admirable step up from third-party sourced movements that were the mainstay of the brand. Presented in a COSC-certified version – the Clifton Baumatic Chronometer – and three non-COSC versions with the same engine under the bonnet, this model on a steel bracelet is a casual verging on elegant watch, a perfect watch to introduce young men into the world of mechanical movements. Unassuming but handsome, well-endowed mechanically but not bulky, the Clifton Baumatic is Baume & Mercier’s proposal of a casual everyday watch with a prudent price tag.

6 years ago

Introducing – Oris and the Williams F1 Team Collaborate on the New Martini Racing Limited Edition Chronograph

Oris partnered with the Williams Formula 1 team back in 2003 and the two have successfully launched many limited-edition watches in the last 15 years. This partnership continues with the debut of the Oris Martini Racing Limited Edition, which commemorates the 50thanniversary of the Martini Racing Team, Williams’ principal sponsor. Design cues on the dial follow those on Martini race cars and there’s a special engraving on the steel case back. The overall design is based on the previous Oris Williams Chronograph.

6 years ago

Just Because – A Space Story – How a Micro-Brand Watch by Dave Sutton and an ErikasOriginals MN Strap Ended Up on the ISS

Space exploration is a recurring topic when it comes to watches. Of course, the Omega Speedmaster a.k.a. Moonwatch is the reference when it comes to space-linked timepieces, however, it’s not the only watch that made it up in the sky. Recently, we discovered that another watch had been launched via a resupply mission to the ISS, a custom-made pilot’s watch, by Dave Sutton, worn on a Marine Nationale strap by our good friend Erika (from ErikasOriginals). Obviously, we wanted to know more about this very cool story.

6 years ago