Independent watchmaker Ressence and Sotheby’s Watch Division are joining forces against coronavirus this season and launching a competition to design a unique watch. For the first time ever, watch lovers will have the chance to create their own interpretation of one of Ressence’s latest models, the Type 1 Slim. And the winning design will make […]
In tune with the times – and also with the current situation, with most brick-and-mortar shops closed – Omega goes digital and now offers the possibility for European collectors to purchase most of its watches online, via a newly opened boutique on its official website. This means that you can now order your Speedy or […]
The thing about understated magnificence is that, at first glance, it’s often overlooked. And then it happens. The “why-Miss-Jones-without-your-glasses-you’re-beautiful” moment. Suddenly noticed, the full force of its charm slaps you sharply in the face, to leave you genuflecting with slack-jawed wonder and a slightly goofy smile. This is how I feel about the just-released Jaeger‑LeCoultre Master Control Calendar. Not that there’s some drudge-to-goddess transformation going on here. The appeal of this watch is hiding in plain sight (except for one very cool once-a-month party trick, about which, more later). JLC introduced its Master Control collection in 1992, naming them after the fact that they were the first to undergo the brand’s ‘1000 Hours Control’ certification. Essentially, this is like an SAS bootcamp for watches – a merciless system of internal tests that includes chronometric testing, fall resistance, climatic hazard resistance, waterproofing and accelerated aging. Every aspect of the movement, from power reserve to waterproofing, is tested, both before and after casing the watch. In comparison, it makes COSC certification seem almost recklessly negligent. This is a serious watch in other words, a point worth stressing because it wears its technical credibility lightly. At 40mm, the silvery-grey dial lifted with a…
The post The hidden party trick that makes the Jaeger‑LeCoultre Master Control Calendar a (relatively) accessible work of art appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Born in 1966 and made available to the public in 1967, the Doxa SUB 300 is one of the most iconic pieces in the history of dive watches. It was the first truly 100% purpose-designed, professional-grade diver’s watch available to the general public. More than 50 years later, and following multiple sold-out vintage-inspired editions (Black […]
Tragically, Covid-19 spells economic doom for many businesses. But while many industries are flat-lining or being forced into hasty reinventions, there are signs that the vintage watch industry will not just scrape through, but that some corners are in fact going from strength to strength. Cam Wolf in GQ explores how auction houses and watch dealers are currently doing record business when it comes to their vintage watch trade. Earlier this month, for example, two weeks in a row, Sothebys broke its record for most-expensive watch sold online. Wolf explores why vintage watches are booming in the face of the global pandemic. Some investors, he discovers, are building portfolios of classic vintage pieces – vintage Rolex, Royal Oaks etc – and using watches as a relatively safe haven to park their money while the stockmarket undergoes extreme volatility. “Vintage watches, not modern ones, seem to be untouchable for collectors,” writes Wolf. “What old watches have over their newer counterparts is that they’re already out of production—they’re inherently limited and therefore typically scarcer. The biggest watch enthusiasts believe that even in a time of economic turmoil, it will be these watches that save them.” Another factor, Wolf points out, is the…
The post RECOMMENDED READING: If you own a high-value vintage watch, this story could make your day appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Three…two…one… Liftoff! We have a liftoff!
Don’t let modern divers get lost in the shuffle.
Even if most of the buzz has been generated around the successful Octo collection – and its multiple thinness world records – there is more than just one modern icon produced by the Italian watchmaker/jeweller. Based on a model introduced in the mid-1970s, the Bvlgari Bvlgari collection perpetuates this love affair between Bvlgari and its […]
A worldly and artful release with inspiration from Bulgari’s archives.
Chopard adds a new dial and a new precious metal to their L.U.C QP lineup.