VIDEO: "Our planet is the most precious gem we have." Bulgari CEO adds his voice – and a $50K watch – to our bushfire appeal auction
There was not a moment’s hesitation. Jean-Christophe Babin, the CEO of Bulgari, and I were standing on a pool deck at a villa in Dubai. Within sight, an emerald green ocean. Swaying palm trees. Skies of blue. A world away from the scene I had left, when I’d jumped on an Emirates flight 24 hours before. Choking smoke in Melbourne. People wearing gas masks as they boarded the plane. Fires in Victoria you could see from 30,000 feet as we flew towards the Middle East. The air quality in Melbourne on the day I left for LVMH Watch Week was the worst of anywhere in the world, including parts of India that are considered hazardous. “Of course we would like to help. It is done. Speak to Antoine (Antoine Pin, the Managing Director of the Bulgari Watches Division), he will arrange the details.” The watch that was ultimately offered was the absolutely stunning Bulgari Serpenti in yellow gold picture above. At just over $50,000AUD it is the most valuable watch in the ‘Watch & Act!’ auction based on its RRP. With the cameras about to roll on an interview, I asked a second question. Would Mr Babin have a message…
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Chopard have been an important firm in the Swiss luxury landscape since they were founded in 1860, but they weren’t always the house of haute horology that they are today. It wasn’t until just over a quarter of a century ago, in 1993, when Karl-Friedrich Scheufele made the decision to refocus the brand’s energies into the art of watchmaking, and only thee years later marked an important year in the history of Chopard L.U.C as they launched their first in-house movement. Since then, the in-house component of Chopard’s watchmaking has gone from strength to strength, developing new movements at a steady rate till today, where the brand includes a stable of high complications, including full-strike complication watches and perpetual chronographs. The Chopard has also maintained an impressive cachet of exclusivity with the L.U.C collection, producing only 4500 pieces per year, which allows a total focus on quality finishing and mechanical accuracy. Made in partnership with Chopard. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
There are myriad impressive things about Seiko’s Presage collection. But if we had to single out one overriding thing that the Japanese watchmaker’s dress watches do better than almost anyone else, rather predictably, it would be their dials. Pound for pound, the Presage dress watches and their rapturous range of dials represent amazing value for money. It’s not just the design that marks these dials out as instant winners either, it’s the finishing, intricacy and attention to detail. These two new examples, SRPD36J1 and SSA392J1, are no exception. The lustrous chocolate brown dials these watches possess are sumptuous, and as Nick Kenyon pointed out, they almost mimic that of a horse’s radiant flank. Complemented by gold coloured hour indices and Seiko’s signature dauphine handset, these Presages are downright handsome, especially when you take in to account the stainless steel cases with gold coloured finishing. The Seiko Presage SRPD36J1 and SSA392J1 prices and availability: The Seiko Presage SRPD36J1 has a recommended retail of $995 AUD. The Seiko Presage SSA392J1 has a recommended retail of $1250AUD. Both of these watches are currently available in boutiques across Australia. Made in partnership with Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own…
There have only ever been three smart watch reviews in the three thousand review history of Time+Tide. Which makes this review special. The reason we wanted to get our hands on one of the latest Apple Watch Series 5 models was the host of new features, including some new and luxurious materials, many of which approximate the luxury watch world we live in – full ceramic? Full titanium? Don’t mind if we do. After spending some time with it on the wrist (including running a marathon with it on), I found that there were some things to report (other than Apple selling 6.8 million watch units in Q3 of this year), even if it doesn’t get your heart rate up in exactly the same way that a mechanical watch does. Or does it? I look forward to your thoughts in the comments section.
Ever since its shock unveiling at Baselworld 2017, Rado’s exciting range of Captain Cooks has represented a compelling proposition for anyone who’s in the market for a solid, fit-for-purpose dive watch on a budget. However, most of the collection is on the larger size, measuring in at a fashionable and contemporary 42mm. Fans fond of the original Captain Cook, which was first unveiled in 1962, shouldn’t fear however, because those who are after a smaller and more faithful reinterpretation of the Captain Cook need look no further than the limited edition ref. R32500315. Possessing the same exact dimensions as the first Captain Cook, the diminutive limited edition timepiece’s stainless steel case measures a period-correct 37.3mm across. The vintage aesthetics don’t stop there, though, as this watch also sports a gorgeous sunburst bronze dial that harkens back to the ’60s aesthetic, as does the fauxtina-lumed hour indices and accompanying handset, which comes complete with an exacting oversized arrow head of the hour hand. The vintage-inspired case is capped with a highly domed sapphire crystal, which is treated with an anti-reflective coating, ensuring legibility no matter the conditions. As a result of the crystal sitting proud of the case itself, and contrasting…
Sometimes, it pays to be conservative. It isn’t advice that should be regularly advocated; however, when it comes to what you wear on your wrist, sometimes it is a must to have something that is at the same time classic and crisp. In the case of the Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic white dial, that is exactly what you get, with a watch that tells you everything you need to know with its three hands and date window, and is quietly confident in how well it avoids seeking attention. Its starched white dial is almost vividly clear with minimal text across its surface, covering the Calibre BM13-1975A, which is a chronometer certified workhorse that boasts an impressive five days of power reserve. The 40mm stainless steel case fits nicely on most wrists, and the comfortable leather strap features a quick-change mechanism that allows it to be swapped out without tools in a matter of seconds. If you’re looking for a timepiece that makes no pretensions about what it offers, a wristwatch focused solely on the accurate and easy communication of time, you could do much worse than the Clifton Baumatic with a white dial. The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic ref.…