GONE IN 60 SECONDS: Smoke and mirrors – the Hublot Big Bang All Black Sapphire
Ten years ago Hublot pioneered the black-on-black-on-black look in watches. Sure, it made it hard to read the time, but when your watch looked that cool who could care? They called it (appropriately enough) ‘All Black’ and this year they’ve released a number of special limited editions to celebrate. The standout is this not-so-stealthy Big Bang. Instead of PVD or black ceramic, Hublot has created a Dark Crystal Big Bang out of black sapphire, creating a blacked-out watch that’s surprisingly lively on the wrist, full of mirror-like reflections and smoky finishes. Just don’t expect it to fly under the radar. Hublot Big Bang Unico All Black Sapphire Australian pricing and availability The Hublot Big Bang Unico All Black Sapphire, limited to 500 pieces, $81,300.
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When I was in high school we had to buy an atlas/geography textbook from a publisher called Heinemann. Don’t ask me why I remember this – it’s just one of the scores of useless trivia facts that are stuck in my head, while much more important information (such as reference numbers and calibre names) seem to constantly elude me. One of the things I liked most about this atlas were the different types of map on offer: Political, altitude, rainfall, temperature – Heinemann had them all. And this is what the new, brightly coloured dial of the 4810 Orbis Terrarum instantly reminded me of. Turns out I wasn’t too far off. Aside from adding a dash of colour to the Orbis Terrarum, the multi-coloured world disc represents warmer and cooler parts of the globe. But the map isn’t the only thing that’s different about this Orbis Terrarum, it’s now part of the 4810 family, meaning it has a bigger, curvier case than the original. When it comes to looks it’s a hard call as to whether this version or the blue-on-blue Heritage Spirit model is more attractive, and will depend largely on personal preference. For me though, the 4810 Orbis Terrarum is…
At their packed Baselworld press conference Seiko announced that 2016 was to be the year of their middle-tier Presage collection. The lion’s share of attention has been on the truly excellent limited edition Presage Chronograph, but there’s a lot to love in the rest of the collection too. Presage honours the spirit of fine mechanical watchmaking that Seiko is well known for, but at a price point that’s far from prohibitive. Take for example the good looking three-hander that is the Seiko Presage SPB039J1 – not only do you get a quite handsome dress watch (with such a catchy name!), you get all the advantages of Seiko’s ‘Trimatic’ technology. This comprises of the magic lever (for efficient winding), Spron alloy (for stronger and longer lasting springs) and Dia-Shock (Seiko’s shock resistance technology). The watches in the Presage collection are a cut above Seiko’s popularly priced mechanicals in terms of movement quality and finishing, but the pricing, as you can see, is still highly competitive. Seiko Presage SPB039J1 Australian pricing Seiko Presage SPB039J1, in steel on leather, $1250.
It’s 2016, so why would anyone wear a pocket watch? That’s the question I found myself asking this week as I took the Tissot Bridgeport Lepine for a test drive. And look, I’m not going to lie to you, it took more thought to integrate this 45mm little number into my life. But if you’re up for this sort of challenge, and I know plenty of you out there will dig the self-consciously anachronistic look of wearing a pocket watch, then the rewards are definitely there. It’s a great talking point and style statement. Plus, I love how it made checking the time such a deliberate activity. Oh, and the quality to price ratio was way up there too. Tissot Bridgeport Lepine Mechanical pocket watch Australian pricing Tissot Bridgeport Lepine Mechanical, $900.
The idea is at once compelling and faintly ridiculous. Ask Oscar Hunt Tailors, who specialise in made to measure suits, to tailor a suit to a watch. That’s right. Treat a watch like a person – look at its shoulders, its shape and move to accentuate, flatter and embrace it with perfectly matched suiting. Not just any watch, though; the Cartier Clé de Cartier, one of our favourite releases of 2015, which charms with its ‘shape in shape’ case design, quite a breach from Cartier’s usually faithful one-shape story. Like Felix said at the time, it presents a soft geometric curve surrounding a circular dial and evokes Cartier’s spirit of classic elegance while giving a nod to the bold designs that characterised ’60s and ’70s watch design.” The mission was simple enough. The response required, it turns out, a lot of thought.
The story of the watch ended up being bigger than the act of me having the watch… This is perhaps the best video proof we have so far of the fact that watches can take on a depth of personal meaning to a wearer that will literally bring tears to their eyes when they’re asked about it. Even if that wearer’s one of the most hardened tequila drinkers out there… A little while ago Ben Cooper, Executive Chef of Chin Chin, Kong, Baby and Hawker Hall (phew, that’s quite a gig) invited us to his house for a stir-fry. There’s just no way to #humblebrag that. It was unreal, everything you might hope, full of flavours, beers and feels. While we were there Ben imparted some of the secrets of getting chilli-drunk, correct wok-technique and why chefs are so into watches. Coops also introduced us to his kitchen wrist-ware of choice, the Hublot Big Bang. Today Ben goes one step further and tells us the story of how he came to be wearing it. And in the immortal words of Big Chris (Vinnie Jones) from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, “it’s emotional”.Thanks for your openness chef. Watch and as Ben would say, enjoy.
After their square instrument pieces, Bell & Ross has made quite an impression with their vintage collection – a range of more classically styled round pieces that often riff on the icons of aviation. The BR 126 Aeronavale is a little different. The handsome, gold-accented blue chronograph is directly inspired by the uniforms, rather than the planes, of the air arm of the French Navy – the Aeronavale. It’s also a watch that you need to see shimmering and flashing in real life to truly appreciate.
Was it really necessary? To take a journey involving two flights (one of them aboard a very small plane) to a tropical island somewhere between Sydney and New Zealand that, at any given time, has a maximum of 750 people on it to test out the new Vacheron Constantin Overseas Collection? I would argue that, because Lord Howe Island occupies the very special timezone of UTC +10:30, and is one of the 37 timezones displayed on the gorgeous dial of the World Time, that it wasn’t just necessary… it was meant to be. The beauty of the location – aside from its outrageous natural beauty, good Lord! – was that it provided us the perfect testing ground to put all three new Overseas models, and their conveniently interchangeable strap options, through their paces. Fine dining and fruity cocktails in the restaurant of Capella Lodge, tick – hello tuxedo. A completely deserted beach, our very large outdoor gym for a chronograph session. And a glorious ex-volcano / mountain was our chance to get on top of the world for a view of the World Time. Before you say it, let me jump in, yes it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it, right?