VIDEO: A week on the wrist with the Chopard Alpine Eagle, a super in-depth breakdown of 2019's most controversial watch
This week, the Chopard Alpine Eagle was released, marking a brand new collection from Chopard, their first in decades. It revives the design of their first ever sports watch, and the brand’s first ever steel watch. Based on the St. Moritz from 1980, the Alpine Eagle features the same stainless steel case and integrated bracelet, exposed bezel screws, and an eye-catching mix of polished and brushed surfaces. Where the new Alpine Eagle flies to new territory is in the proprietary alloy that Chopard has developed called Lucent Steel A223 (a four-year R&D effort) and the finely grained and textured radial dial. It’s said to be inspired by an eagle’s iris. Maybe. Whatever. It’s bloody beautiful, and with the blue galvanic treatment, it gives constant surprise/delight from the wrist. Check this video for proof. If you’re wondering about the name, it refers to the ‘Eagle Wings Foundation’, yet another initiative from Chopard that proves how seriously they’re taking ‘sustainable luxury’ — the foundation is all about protecting flora and fauna in the Alps. The steel in the watch is 70 per cent recycled, with 30 per cent from traceable sources. They’re definitely serious. Contemporaries of the St. Moritz model — which sold a staggering…
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Most of the time we spend talking about Bulgari at the moment is dedicated to the gorgeous Octo, which, if I’m frank, makes perfect sense. But that’s far from the only arrow in Bulgari’s gem-set quiver. On the more feminine side of the fence there’s also the venerable (and not at all venomous) Serpenti, which saw a significant revision at Baselworld this year in the form of the Serpenti Seduttori, billed as a more everyday take on the serpentine icon. And while it’s the 33mm diamond-shaped head that is the focal point, for me the slinky bracelet is the centrepiece. The links are made to represent scales, and the effect is gorgeous. For this review we opted for the yellow gold model, because honestly, while pink gold is cool, it’s hard to beat the power and presence of yellow gold. The OG precious metal. Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori price Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori, yellow gold with diamonds, $40,900 AUD Made in partnership with Bulgari. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
The Snowflake looms large in the minds (and on the wrists) of Grand Seiko fans — the 10-year-old titanium watch is an undisputed champion, and deservedly so. But now there’s a phalanx of other Snowflakes in the family – the dial comes with gold highlights and even in dressier cases. But one Snowflake that stands out to us is the SBGA407. The most obvious standout is the dial, which is somewhat counterintuitive given how subtle it is. The texture is still that same Washi-paper-esque effect that gives that windswept snowdrift effect, but now it’s in a soft blue tint, like the heart of an iceberg. This colour, aside from adding novelty and a different flavour to the watch, also ups the contrast on the (as usual) exquisitely finished hands and hour markers, to create an effect that is, overall, deeply pleasing. What’s also pleasing is the case, here in steel — a more universally loved material than titanium. The lines of this case are also softer and dressier than the traditional SBGA211. The overall effect of case and dial is one of casual dressiness rather than dressy sportiness, if that makes sense. In this context the deep blue (Grand Seiko’s…
The travel watch is one of the classic tropes in the world of watch design — and as with all recurring themes, the travel watch is a broad spectrum, ranging from rough and ready all the way up to the private jets and mega-yachts version of travelling in style. The Grand Seiko SBGE201 treads a middle ground. It’s solid steel, but it also possesses enough innate pizzaz to hold its own in more formal situations. This tricky balancing act comes down to the materials Grand Seiko has used, and how they’ve been treated: the steel is hard-wearing and robust, but it’s been treated with Grand Seiko’s typical level of obsession and care, to transform the otherwise ubiquitous case-material into something far more sculptural. And, of course, that sapphire inset bezel adds more than its fair share of flash. So, if you’re the sort of traveller who likes to stand out while fitting in, the classic, sporty shape and ever-impressive Spring Drive tech of the Grand Seiko SBGE201 might be something you want to take a closer look at. Grand Seiko SBGE201 price Grand Seiko SBGE201, $8400 AUD Made in partnership with Grand Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are…
In general, Grand Seiko has a reputation for being somewhat stealthy on the wrist — but, to be honest, that’s not the case with this chunk of finely crafted steel, better known as the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronograph SBGC203. At a sizeable 43.5mm across by 16.1mm tall, this isn’t the sort of watch that slides under the cuff, and even if it did, those oh-so-distinctive chronograph pushers would happily be peeking out, no matter what. But really, this is the sort of watch that you lean into. It’s a big and bold example of Grand Seiko’s best technologies — there’s no hiding the quality of the case or dial work, and the chronograph pushers have been so exceptionally engineered that you’ll be looking for any excuse (boiling eggs, timing car parks — the usual) to start, stop and reset. The goodness extends to the inside too. The 9R86 is a technical wonder — adding a GMT and a chronograph with a very unique layout to Grand Seiko’s already superlatively accurate Spring Drive technology. With this set of features and the fact that it’s rated to a decent 100 metres of water resistance, it’s a watch that can go anywhere,…