“They polish places nobody can see.” Why the Instagram king of macro videography loves Grand Seiko
In this instalment of our discussion with the King of the Close-Up, Mr @horomariobro (you can find the first part right here), we take a deep dive into a brand that has a well-established reputation for getting the details right – Grand Seiko. Specifically, we take an extremely close look at his own Grand Seiko SBGY003, a watch that was released in 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Spring Drive movement. Here’s what he had to say. Andrew McUtchen: Your video of the Grand Seiko SBGY003 is pretty remarkable..! @Horomariobro: Yes, here I try to show a couple of things. One is how smooth the Spring Drive moves the second hand. It’s really smooth. And then the other one, I’m just trying to show how well polished the index marker is. It’s the mirror polish, the famous Zaratsu polish, and then using the mirror polish to show the underside of the moving second hand. View this post on Instagram We recently spoke to @horomariobro about why he loves @grandseikoofficial so much, and what sets them apart from similar watches. The answer? You're going to need to look very, very closely. Head to the site for the full…
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Despite being one of the most well-known and regarded watchmakers in Switzerland, Hublot is a relatively young brand when compared to its 18th and 19th century peers. Hublot was founded in 1980, a mere four decades ago. In celebration of this milestone, the brand is marking its 40th birthday with the all-new Hublot Classic Fusion 40 Years Anniversary collection, which pays appropriate tribute to the first watch to ever have Hublot on a dial. The Hublot Classic Fusion 40 Years Anniversary collection comprises three limited edition references, with 100 available in yellow gold, 200 in titanium and another 200 in black ceramic. Compared to the micro-mechanical marvels that Hublot are well known for producing in 2020, this collection is reserved, expressing a distillation of the core Hublot aesthetic that was established by founder Carlo Crocco. The crucial aspects of this aesthetic include the precious metal watch on a rubber strap (a world first in 1980), as well as the exposed case and bezel screws that are still present in many Hublot designs today. Hublot Classic Fusion 40 Years Anniversary collection price and availability: The Hublot Classic Fusion 40 Years Anniversary in yellow gold is AUD$35,100 and limited to 100 pieces.…
Most of us probably haven’t tried to draw anything since high school, and those high school drawings are unlikely to be works of art. Even to the encouraging eyes of our parents. But don’t worry, because it’s never too late to learn a new skill, especially when you’ve got the best teachers, and you’re learning about a subject you’re passionate about – a subject like watches. Earlier this year, Andrew McUtchen had the pleasure of speaking with Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, the head watch designer at Bulgari and the man behind the Bulgari Octo Finissimo, and Fabrizio was generous enough to offer a quick lesson on how to sketch our own Bulgari Octo Finissimo drawing. That’s right, a five-minute lesson on how to draw one of the hottest up-and-coming sports watches of the last few decades, from the man who brought it to life. Like I said, when you’ve got the best teachers it’s easy to learn a new skill, and it’s safe to say that Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani is the best person for the job when it comes to sketching the Octo Finissimo. The Bulgari Octo Finissimo case shape in its current form was first released in 2014, housing a…
Editor’s note: As I go to post this review, something very sad just dawned on me. It’s been over three years since I’ve had a holiday as long as the power reserve of this watch. Which is 10 days. Ten. Days. Which means this watch would still be ticking after one wind upon my return from these far-too-short ‘holidays’. I digress, but that sad example goes a long way to establishing the technical credibility of this watch, and to proving the point that as soon as lockdown ends, I’m outta here for a while. Enjoy – Andrew Hublot are well known for their patented brand of boldly designed and technologically advanced watchmaking, and if there’s one watch that embodies those qualities, it’s the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Meca-10 King Gold. The barrel-inspired case measures an extroverted 45mm and is hewn from one of the brand’s in-house precious alloys in King Gold, which has an array of complex finishes. The exposed bezel screws, articulating case shape and black rubber strap all see to the fulfilment of the bold design requirement. And within this thoughtfully designed case is where the technologically advanced component is evident. Powering this warmly toned behemoth is Hublot’s manufacture Calibre…
Seiko’s “Save The Ocean” program is an important one, helping raise much-needed funds for the conservation of the planet’s oceans. You can check out a couple of the places that benefit from Seiko’s work here and here, but today we’re looking at the watches that help raise money for these critical programs. This year, it’s all about the Seiko SRPE33K and SRPE39K, two references that offer what might be the most imaginative and spellbinding dial of the year at this exceedingly affordable price point. The Seiko SRPE39K is based on the classic Seiko turtle shape, the same as last year’s Seiko SRPD12K “Save The Ocean” edition, but with a couple of important changes. While the bracelet and movement remain the same, the key difference is in the shimmering blue dial, and the inky black ceramic bezel that elevates this watch into some very competitive territory. Similarly, the Seiko SRPE33K features the same blue gradient dial, with the faint outline of stingrays as though just below the water’s surface, and an eye-catching ceramic bezel. Even if you’ve already got a couple of Seiko watches in your collection, these two new offerings from the Japanese watchmaker are some of the most impressive pieces…