VIDEO: The mythical Bremont H-4 Hercules
The Twelve Labours of Hercules were impressive, sure, but not quite as impressive as the aircraft that provided inspiration for the new Bremont H-4 Hercules. Killing lions and hydras requires strength and focus, but building a plane in 1947 that makes a modern-day Airbus A380 look small, requires the unbridled ambition and enthusiasm of a Texan billionaire – Howard Hughes. The H-4 Hercules (nicknamed the Spruce Goose thanks to its wooden construction) inspired the most recent limited edition from Bremont that pays respect to the history of the aircraft. Limited to 75 pieces in Rose gold, we were fortunate to take a closer look at this very special watch, which holds something very special within its case. Inlaid in the watch’s automatic rotor are pieces of wood from the original H-4 Hercules, allowing rarefied owners to keep a piece of the historically important plane on their wrists. Bremont H-4 Hercules Australian price and availability Bremont H-4 Hercules in Rose gold has an Australian RRP of $31,995, and is avilable from Bremont’s Melbourne boutique. Made in partnership with Bremont. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
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As the 1960s drew to a close, the Swiss watch industry found itself entering one of the most significant periods of turmoil it would ever experience. Its response to the accurate and affordable watches coming out of Asia was not to compete in a race to the bottom — instead, the Swiss took the high road, and doubled down on the fact that watches would remain status objects even in the face of cheaper, practical quartz versions. The largest manufacturers in the world began producing luxury sports watches for the first time, and in the process they eschewed precious metals, preferring steel. Girard-Perregaux made their offering, among some famous company, in the form of their Laureato model, which debuted in 1975. A robust and recognisable watch, the Laureato has formed an important pillar of the Girard-Perregaux collection for several decades, with examples in a range of configurations. Here, we take a look at the steel time and date Laureato on a leather strap, which offers sportiness with a dash of dress watch that would see it comfortable at both the beach and in the boardroom. Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm price The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm is $15,600 AUD Made in partnership with…
Earlier this week, Felix took a closer look at a watch that has to be a frontrunner for nicest dress watch of the year, the blue dial Omega Trésor. While it’s certainly a good-looking watch, there are two other members of the Trésor family that might even beat it to the punch. The Omega Trésor has also been released in a yellow gold case, and a steel case with a diamond bezel, both with the same svelte case shape. Each piece brings its own character to the table, but these two options offer a little bit of something extra, with the respective warmth of the coloured precious metal case and a single row of diamonds. In the yellow gold example, the dial is cleanly refined without a date window to remind of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s quote: “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” In the steel example with a diamond bezel, you have a watch that offers less of a sense of restrained minimalism (which is only slightly oxymoronic), and more of a self-assured confidence that is an attractive reprieve from the typically conservative dress watch. An expression…
You might have missed the slick new updates to Omega’s dressy Trésor line amidst the cavalcade of Speedmaster and Seamaster releases this year but, trust me, they’re worth closer inspection. For one thing, steel joins the family this year, across a few versions. Of particular note is this gorgeous bleu number. Not only is the 40mm steel case an exercise in classic, everyday style of the old school variety, with a slender case and truly top-notch mechanical movement, but the dial is something else. For starters, the thin, long hands and hour markers are timeless. And then there’s the dial itself. It’s domed, which adds complexity and depth, and then there’s the pattern, a printed cross-hatched pattern that brings to mind the ‘linen’ dials of yore. And while it’s fair to say that the Trésor will never be the main arrow in Omega’s quiver — the Speedmaster and Seamaster families are far too strong for that — it’s an excellent, impressive take on a classic genre, and certainly one worth considering if a flexible dress watch is in your future. Omega De Ville Trésor 40mm Co-Axial Master Chronometer price Omega De Ville Trésor 40mm Co-Axial Master Chronometer, steel on leather, $9250.…
There was a lot going on in the middle of the 1960s. The space race was in full swing, the Australian dollar was introduced, and the launch of the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Collection. This collection was launched alongside a number of other projects that Girard-Perregaux were working on, including being aggressively competitive in the Neuchâtel Observatory chronometry trials, and producing the first watch movement to beat at 10 beats per second or 36,000 times an hour. Today, the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Collection lives on as cleanly sophisticated dress watches that have their designs rooted in the middle of last century, with movement technology that is firmly planted in the 21st. We were recently lucky enough to get a closer look at two attractive references from the 1966 Collection, the Full Calendar and the Date & Small Seconds. Both have their own very different charms despite being clearly from the same design DNA. Girard-Perregaux Full Calendar and Girard-Perregaux Date & Small Seconds The Girard-Perregaux Full Calendar is $16,000 AUD. The Girard-Perregaux Date & Small Seconds is $25,500 AUD. Made in partnership with Girard-Perregaux. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
Fifty years ago, Seiko released one of the first ever automatic chronograph movements in a watershed moment in watchmaking. To mark the occasion, Seiko has released the Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary SRQ029J, a watch that smartly dances the line between heritage and modern. We got a chance to take a closer look at the new anniversary piece, with all the details in the video below. If you love sporty chronographs that have a historically significant place in the history of watchmaking then this could be the piece for you. It’s well-sized at 41mm in diameter, features a movement with a vertical clutch and column wheel, and looks fantastic with the high contrast panda dial. Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary SRQ029J The SRQ029J has an RRP of $5950 AUD. Made in partnership with Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
The Fifty Fathoms is a stalwart of the dive watch, dating back to 1953. And, as you might expect, the watch has seen a few revisions over the years, including ones like this, that stretch the boundaries of a rough-and-ready tool watch. Because a 45mm fully gold dive watch is a heck of a flex. On its own the red gold case would be attention-grabbing enough, but add the gorgeous blue ceramic dial and the Fifty Fathoms’ typical glossy sapphire bezel insert and you’ve got a watch that makes a very splashy statement. It’s also serious watchmaking, with an exceptional automatic ticking away inside that hefty case. And while purists can stick to the steel, I think there’s something fun — and undeniably luxurious — about turning the paradigm of utilitarian objects on their head, with the help of some precious metal. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in red gold and blue ceramic dial price Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in red gold and blue ceramic, $47,050 AUD Made in partnership with Blancpain. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
Over the last few years, Seiko’s Presage collection has earned something of a reputation for excellence in enamel, with a quick succession of hot watches with fired dials. And while in the past these pieces have leant towards complexity, SJE075 and SJE077 simplify things a little, and serve as contrasting tributes to the original Seiko Laurel. Both watches feature plain dials, with a date at three, Breguet-style Arabic numerals, and well-sized 39.5mm steel case with a super-hard coating. Reference SJE075 is the white dial, which amps up the vintage look, with the distinctive red 12 and blued steel hands, while SJE077 serves some more low-key style, in midnight blue. Regardless of your dial preference, these Presage models would make an excellent dressy daily option. Seiko Presage SJE075 and SJE077 price Seiko Presage SJE075 and SJE077, steel on leather, $4700 AUD Made in partnership with Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.