Introducing – The Comeback of Airain and the Type 20 Re-Edition

If the concept of pilot’s chronograph is well-established today, it owes its origins to a series of legendary watches. Think about the WWII Flieger Chronographs for the Luftwaffe, the 1953 Breitling Co-Pilot Avi 765 and, of course, the Type 20 Chronograph of the French Aeronavale. The latter has gained true cult status among military and […]

5 years ago

Introducing – The Comeback of Airain, and the Type 20 Re-Edition

If the concept of pilot’s chronograph is today well-established, it bears its origins to a series of legendary watches. Think about the WWII Flieger Chronographs for the Luftwaffe, the 1953 Breitling Co-Pilot Avi 765 and, of course, the Type 20 Chronograph of the French Aeronavale. The latter has gained a proper cult status among military […]

5 years ago

EDITOR’S PICK: The Longines collection hiding in plain sight that offers value and quality

Longines Master CollectionEditor’s note: Sometimes we can miss things that are right in front of us. That’s how it is with the Longines Master Collection – which happens to be one of the bestselling lines for the brand. Watchmaking know-how does not just happen overnight, it is acquired over decades and centuries, and Longines offers such a rich history for new consumers to leverage – bringing quality and value-driven offerings to modern buyers looking for something classic on the wrist. Time+Tide always strives to bring awareness to all quality watch offerings, so it would be remiss if we didn’t remind you of the value found in the Longines stable. Let’s revisit the time Andrew personally went to see the watch in the metal, and how pleasantly surprised he was with the lineup … When it comes to Longines’ yearly new releases we are like heatseeking missiles for the vintage fire the brand has at its disposal – few archives are as deep or as versatile as Longines, and it means they can pick and choose between adventurers’ watches, avant-garde designs, classic dress … the options are almost endless and they impress with regularity. But we rarely look at the everyday collections that,…

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5 years ago

Introducing – The Ulysse Nardin Freak X “Qatar Watch Club” Edition

Watch clubs are certainly a growing phenomenon, with more and more local initiatives to encourage collecting. Clubs are a great way to generate passion and increase horological knowledge among their members. Among the many clubs that have popped up recently, one seems very active and even creates special watches for its members, the Qatar Watch […]

5 years ago

RECOMMENDED READING: Patek Philippe production is down 30% due to COVID-19

If you have been holding your breath for the 5711 you put your name down for seven years ago, it’s time to listen to Queen Elsa and let it go – alternatively, you’ll suffocate. Like all watch manufacturers in these unprecedented times, Patek Philippe has taken a hit to its productivity for the year, enduring lockdowns and, later, staggered workforces and interrupted production. The brand has also had to adapt the way they engage with and present to consumers – allowing authorised dealers to list their watches online and recently launching their first watch via a digital announcement. By no means is the esteemed brand in financial trouble, as their years of success have built a nice fiscal cushion, or “a lot of reserves of cash”, as Thierry Stern puts it, for moments such as this. But for a brand that does not produce Swatch Group-level quantities, many cannot help but wonder what this means for watch availability and production quantity for this year. In a recent interview with Forbes magazine, Thierry Stern has provided us the answer: Patek Philippe production is down 30 per cent, due to COVID-19. Thierry Stern explains, “For Patek, we have a lot of reserve…

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5 years ago

HANDS-ON: The elegance and nuance of the IWC Portugieser 2020 Collection in the metal

IWC Portugieser 2020 CollectionEarlier this year, in April, the IWC Portugieser 2020 Collection was announced at Watches & Wonders. The Portugieser was created in 1939 due to a demand for a marine-deck chronometer experience that could be translated into a wristwatch. Legibility and accuracy are the two pillars that hold up the Portugieser line, and IWC has changed very little to the winning formula over the years. As IWC puts it, this year was the evolution of a classic. In order to maintain the Portugieser aesthetic we have all come to know and love, the majority of the evolution throughout the lineup is actually internal – with new in-house calibers raising the bar more than ever. IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 The Automatic 40 is the most compact watch within the collection, and also the most faithful to the original Portugieser profile found in the original reference 325 from 1939. Water resistant to 30 metres, the cases are 40.4mm in diameter with a thickness of 12.3mm – providing a sporting yet elegant profile on the wrist. The dial has the same traditional layout with large Arabic numerals surrounding the dial, and sub-seconds complication found at the 6 position. The dial crystal is made with…

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5 years ago