The economic dimension of the world’s political division during the Cold War was paramount. Producing precise and reliable watches was essential, and just like other strategic industrial activities, the Soviet government supported Russian watch manufacturers such as Raketa, Poljot, Slava or Vostok. Naturally, Soviets also needed to produce their own tool watches. Among these were […]
This year, Longines is jumping on board the Black Friday sales and, boy, are there deals to be had. With watches from across their different collections up for grabs, if you’ve been in the market for one of the Saint-Imier brand’s watches for a while and haven’t pulled the trigger, today is the day to scratch that itch. Here are five of our favourites that are available in the Longines Black Friday sale. Longines Heritage Military COSD This watch is special because it was part of the first batch of Heritage models that Longines has since become so renowned for. Released back in 2015, the no-nonsense field watch is a faithful nod to the robust tool watches that Longines has long produced for the armed forces of the world. The blocky 40mm case houses the brand’s own automatic caliber L888, which features a very healthy 64 hours of power reserve. RRP: $2575. Sale price: $1545 Visit Longines right here to check it out. Longines Conquest V.H.P. GMT There aren’t many Swiss watchmakers who take quartz watchmaking seriously – Longines is one of them. Not only are they making very accurate quartz watches, but they are technically innovating with their Flash Setting…
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The Omega Speedmaster is one of the most celebrated watches of the last half-century, in part because of the countless different versions the brand has released. But in a world where a limited-edition Speedmaster isn’t a new thing anymore, is the watch community still interested in another new release? This watch has put it beyond any doubt. Absolutely, yes, they are. People can’t get enough of the latest Snoopy Speedy, with waitlists stretching around the figurative block as people line up to strap one to their wrist. But what makes the latest Omega Speedmaster ‘Silver Snoopy Award’ 50th Anniversary so exciting? Let’s take a closer look. Most people will know the Omega Speedmaster was worn by NASA astronauts during the space race in the late 1960s, and even worn on the moon itself. This lunar heritage kickstarted the Speedmaster stampede with thousands of collectors around the world. What is less well known is how the watch saved the lives of astronauts during the near disastrous Apollo 13 mission in 1970. After an oxygen tank exploded, crippling the Service Module, John L. “Jack” Swigert relied upon the Speedmaster’s chronograph function to time a critical 14-second rocket burn that enabled him to…
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When it comes to historical pilot chronographs, the name Hanhart can’t be overlooked. The brand was one of the first to issue pilot chronographs to the German Armed Forces. Known as Flieger watches, these chronographs were utilitarian wrist instruments for pilots. Relatively discreet and down to earth (one of the reasons why we like them), […]
For the first time in his celebrated career, master watchmaker Vianney Halter designs a watch for the general public; Louis Erard’s successful Régulateur watch is the conduit. The result is a fascinating creation blending Vianney Halter’s unique style in a round, 42mm steel case with an outsourced movement that will retail for CHF 3,500. Let’s […]
Just as IWC overhauled their Pilot’s collection in 2019, this year is all about the Portugieser collection for the Schaffhausen-based brand. While there are more than a dozen new references within the 2020 lineup, there’s one particular piece that not only captures the new direction of the collection but also encapsulates what IWC does so well as a watchmaker. We’re talking, of course, about the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 42 Boutique Edition, a watch that is both thoughtfully designed and offers a nod to the game-changing work that Kurt Klaus did on perpetual calendar calibers at IWC in the 1980s. This latest expression of the calendar watch features a 42mm case made from 5N gold, which is as warmly toned as it is resistant to wear. The attractive looks are supplemented with the reassuring physical heft of strapping a large gold watch onto your wrist. Despite the head-scratching complexity of the Caliber 82650 powering this watch, the case sits a hair under 14mm off your wrist, which is comfortable and balanced. Another engineering feat that IWC has achieved is that the entire calendar can be set via the crown instead of by the recessed pushers often found on the cases…
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What are we thankful for? You.
Collaborations between watch brands and external designers or watch customizers are a growing thing in the industry, the idea being to infused a different take on the watch, less ‘horological’, more design-oriented. So what happens when TAG Heuer, the avant-garde brand known for its robust sports watches, meets Bamford Watch Department, the famous UK-based personalisation […]
Watch consumers are always looking for a fresh new face to add to their wrists and collections. The irony, however, is we also tend to flock to familiar designs – references we believe are iconic. So how do we solve this problem? As per usual, Bamford has the answer. The Bamford Watch Department is known for taking watches to a whole new level, providing incredible makeovers to timepieces that leave some wondering how it was not made a production model in the first place. Today, TAG Heuer and Bamford once again team up with the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Bamford Limited Edition (click here to purchase). The case, made of grade 2 titanium, is 43mm in diameter. With an approximate lug to lug of 49mm, the case size should not pose a problem for smaller than average wrists. The unidirectional rotating bezel matches the case, in grade 2 titanium, and has a orange triangle pip at 12 with a 60-minute scale. It’s dodecagon-shaped bezel creates easy to grip angles, which enhance the tactile experience when in use. The only component of the case not fabricated in titanium is its stainless-steel screw-down crown. The crown, along with its screw-down caseback, gives…
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The new Omega Speedmaster ‘Silver Snoopy Award’ 50th Anniversary is many things, but limited in numbers it is not. That’s right, for the first time ever, the brand has released a non-limited edition Snoopy Speedy. For many collectors who missed out on the other two references – released in 2003 and 2015 – this is an exciting opportunity to own a part of the history that Omega and NASA share, a history that was first celebrated 50 years ago. But while the news of the normal production run is big, what the watch itself has to offer is also significant. The silver dial contrasts strongly against the navy blue sub-dials and bezel, and the 42mm stainless-steel case serves up everything you would expect from a modern Speedmaster. But the party really starts when you look at the caseback, where Omega have built a mechanical animation that shows Snoopy circling the moon in his own lunar module. This is a complication we’ve never seen from Omega before and we’re thrilled they’ve decided to use the depth of their watchmaking knowledge to bring to life one of the most beloved cartoon characters of the last half-century. But the Silver Snoopy Award also signifies…
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