VIDEO: Vintage inspiration in a modern package – the Rado HyperChrome Captain Cook 45mm
Rado’s HyperChrome Captain Cook has made waves this year, mostly due to the nearly pitch perfect 37mm reissue. And while there’s a lot to like about that watch, I suspect that the comparatively petite case size will be a deal-breaker for some people. But that’s OK because Rado has covered their bases by releasing a contemporarily sized 45mm version. It’s not just the case size that’s impressive, but also the construction – with ceramic bezel, hardened titanium case construction and a solid 80 hours of power reserve. Rado Hyperchrome Captain Cook 45mm Australian pricing Rado Hyperchrome Captain Cook 45mm, $3175
The post VIDEO: Vintage inspiration in a modern package – the Rado HyperChrome Captain Cook 45mm appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Watching Andre Agassi play changed my tennis game, but reading his biography, Open, changed my life. I love tennis. And I was impressed, of course, by Andre’s second coming, when, in 1998, he rose from a ranking of 110 to number 6 in one calendar year. It was a quantum rankings leap that remains a record. But putting the whole context of professional tennis aside, I’ve never read a biography so excoriatingly honest. It is a self-examination few would have the mettle to undertake. “I’ve never been scared to admit my weaknesses because I’ve always needed to as a tennis player,” is one of his opening lines. Regular viewers of Time+Tide will recognise this as more of an ‘About Time’ episode, where we ask amazing people how they manage their time, and seek their thoughts on how to jump through those rare windows in life that open up. It’s about timing. I’ll be honest here. For the watch obsessed, there’s not a lot to learn. And we captured most of it in the shorter version launched earlier in the week. But for the human beings among us that are striving to be their best, to reach the heights, though? This…
Andre Agassi’s response to the question, “Are you into watches?” didn’t exactly go to script. “Not at all. I have no interest in them,” he said. It’s not the first time we’ve spoken at length to someone who doesn’t identify as a ‘watch person’ per se. Mark Bouris is one, Mark Richards another. But this really was a first. An interview subject, at the start of a 30-minute interview, declaring our whole subject area a dead zone. Ok then? There was a five second pause, and I let it be because he looked like he was going to continue talking. “But I’ve come to appreciate what watches mean to people…” He was off. Andre ended up landing on one of the most elegant, eloquent descriptions of why people like watches that I’ve ever heard. And, spoiler alert, he does actually have pretty deep feelings for a watch in his own collection. Typical Andre, really. When you ask about any topic, you’d better be ready to go deep, because it’s a place where he – after a few minutes of feeling you out – seems to feel most comfortable. Abandoning certain conventions of conversation to answer as honestly, as unflinchingly as…
Given that 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the Sea-Dweller, Rolex’s iconic deep diver, we were pretty confident that we were going to see an updated version at Baselworld. And the Big Crown did not disappoint, offering a brand new Sea-Dweller, the reference 126600, which quickly became one of the most talked-about watches of the fair. Now, any new, top-line release from Rolex will get people fired up, but the increased size, the single line of red text and – most significantly – the addition of a Cyclops really stirred debate. As is always the case with watches, it’s best to see them on the wrist, which is where our video review comes in… Rolex Sea-Dweller (ref. 126600) Australian pricing The Rolex Sea-Dweller, $14,400
It’s easy to get distracted by the brightest, shiniest watches of Baselworld; the watches that live up to the marketing parlance of ‘novelties’. But sometimes the real winners are the quiet achievers. I suspect Omega’s redesigned Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m will be one of these winners. The AT (as it’s often called) has long been the go-to casual dress Omega, the obvious choice for those looking for an alternative to the storied Speedmaster or the sporty Seamaster. This year that choice just got easier. The dial has been significantly improved, with less busy text, a new horizontal stripe, and a newly positioned date window at six, giving the whole dial really strong vertical balance, which looks great on the wrist. The changes don’t stop there either – the case (in 41mm and 38mm) has been subtly updated, and the crown has been modified to make it slightly more ergonomic. And of course they’re Master Chronometers, powered by mighty METAS-certified calibres. This particular model comes in at $7250.
One of the keys to success for any watch brand is to have something instantly recognisable – a watch that can be spotted from the other side of a crowded room. Hublot’s Big Bang is one such design. With its large size and uncommon case shape the Big Bang stands out, and the Sang Bleu is no exception. In fact, as this new version is made from a sizeable lump of King Gold, it’s guaranteed to be noticed. But once you get a bit closer you might start to notice things starting to look a little different. The normally rounded bezel has been clipped into a hexagonal shape, and the hands have been replaced with discs, resplendent with geometric motifs. Sure, it’s still clearly a Hublot, but the tattoo-inspired Big Bang Unico Sang Bleu is quite unlike any we’ve seen before.
If you love dive watches but don’t love the wrist-dominating size that typically goes along with the genre, you’ll want to pay close attention to Blancpain this year. Alongside new 38mm versions of the pared-back Bathyscaphe, they’ve also released a particularly hot limited edition – the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec. Not only does this heritage-inspired little legend come in at a crowd-pleasing 40mm, it’s also got a funky-yet-functional dial decoration in the form of a moisture indicator. If that bi-colour circle at six changes colour, time to get your watch out of the water and into the service centre. But as you should know, there’s more to Blancpain than the Fifty Fathoms – there’s also a Villeret Day-Date, a good choice for an everyday wearer if your style sits on the formal end of the spectrum.
Breguet may not have had the largest collection on display at Basel, but they certainly had one of the most complex. As well as some handsome new additions to the Classique family, Breguet released an epic new grand complication – the Marine Équation Marchante 5887, a completely new watch boasting a perpetual calendar, tourbillon power reserve and, wait for it… a running equation of time. What’s that, I hear you ask? Well, you’ll have watch the video and find out.
When you walk into the Rado booth at Basel you can be pretty confident that you’ll see ceramic – and lots of it. This year the brand did not disappoint, offering up their trademark hi-tech watches in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. There’s the new Ceramica – Rado’s distinctive rectangular design – which has been given an automatic upgrade and a fresh case of matt grey ceramic. Then there’s a brace of True models, made in collaboration with designers of all stripes. Our picks were the topographical True Stratum and the clever bling of the True Blaze. And then of course there’s the obligatory nod to the past, which for Rado means the Captain Cook collection. Several new version were released, including a very faithful reissue as well as a more modern take on the theme.
Oris seem to be going from strength to strength, releasing smart watch designs – like the Divers Sixty-Five – that impress critics and customers alike. This year it’s time for their modern diver, the Aquis, to shine. The entire collection has been revamped – it’s still big and bold, but it’s a little less blocky. Oris also released the Artelier Calibre 113, with loads of calendar complications (though truth be told, we’re still wondering who would use a week indicator), as well as some hot new heritage pieces: the old-school pilot that is the Big Crown 1917 and the funky cushion-cased Chronoris Date. All up it’s another strong year for the Hölstein-based brand, which is great news if you’re in the market for a well-priced mechanical.