Continuing its expansion strategy, Maurice Lacroix presents the Aikon Chronograph Skeleton, the first skeletonised chronograph movement in its Aikon Automatic line-up. The openworked chronograph movement is not new; it was first featured in the Masterpiece collection and reappears today in the virile case of the brand’s vision of an accessible luxury sports watch. The modern, […]
For an industry with such a rich tapestry of history, it’s surprising to realise just how many mysteries remain unanswered in the world of horology: Who really wore the Explorer up Everest? Who bought Paul Newman’s Daytona? And why is the California dial called the California dial? While Tenzing Norgay probably knows the answer to the first question, and Aurel Bacs definitely knows the answer to the second, nobody really knows the answer to that last question. Some theorise that the “California dial”, which splits half the numerals on a watch’s dial between Roman and Arabic, is so-called because that particular design was exceedingly popular in the state of California in the ’30s and ’40s. Others speculate that it’s because of a notable Californian watchmaker dial and refinisher, Kirk Rich, who was churning out this particular design in the 1970s. The truth is, we’re probably never going to know the real answer to this question, but we do know one thing for certain — a watch with a California dial is a good-looking thing, and below are four timepieces you can still purchase with the distinctive design: Panerai Radiomir California – 47MM Panerai has a very long history with the…
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This week on Great ‘Grams we get up close and personal with the number of the beast, a custom Eastern Arabic dial from an independent watchmaker, and a very rare Rolex thought to be sold by a retailer off the coast of Miami. The Bahamas-based retailer in question is John Bull, established in 1929 and a current-day Authorised Dealer of Rolex, who once sold some rather unusual sports watches. There is little information out there on these watches, but it seems that John Bull would modify the cases of a handful of Rolex watches with a bark finish and engrave the caseback with the name of the boutique and sometimes an edition number. While it seems unbelievable that a retailer would be allowed to modify a Rolex prior to sale, a comparison could be drawn to some early examples of Rolex watches that featured both the Rolex and Tiffany & Co. signatures, which were sold by the New York retailer and had the Tiffany & Co. stamp applied at the boutique. Examples of John Bull Rolex sports watches that have come up for auction include Daytonas, Submariners, and GMT-Masters, but in small numbers as a result of their rarity. It’s a…
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Editor’s note: Today, love is in the air. Florists are being run off their feet, restaurants are booked out and Cupid has spent the week on the archery range. If you’re planning to get a gift for your significant other, you’d better hurry up, but don’t forget to make sure your gift is a romantic one. As the air is thick with passion this fine Friday, we can’t help but consider one of the most expressively passionate watches of the last few years, the Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex ladies tourbillon. Complete with a heart-shaped tourbillon cage, diamond-set flanks and an intimately curved case that wraps around the wrist, it’s a watch that shouts to the world that romance is far from dead. In a world overflowing with safe-and-similar watch designs, Franck Muller is a breath of fresh air. As in this ladies tourbillon (a recent addition to the Cintrée Curvex Collection), the confident use of colour, the beautiful balance of traditional and avant-garde, the refined details on the dial, and the voluptuous curves of the case have been signatures of the brand since it was founded by the eponymous Mr Muller 28 years ago. For anyone whose interest in watches…
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The new boutique will mark a dramatic new presence for Vacheron in New York City.
Inspired by dashboard flight instruments… This statement alone could easily define most of Bell & Ross’ creations. Whether we talk about the design of the watch itself, its features or the quest for optimal legibility, both day and night. The latter is particularly important for today’s matter because there’s a new watch in the LUM […]
Is there a great watch under all the hype, or is the Daytona all sizzle and no steak?
Eight watches with the ability to fit into every facet of your life.
It’s the 100th episode – party to follow.
It’s very easy to get caught up in the aesthetics of a watch and subsequently make a judgement call based purely on how it looks … we’ve all done it before. And that’s not to say that looks aren’t important — they are crucial. But equally, if not more important than the way a mechanical watch looks is, well … its mechanism. A timepiece’s movement is its heart, its soul — it is the thing that gives it life. Because of this, I reckon more appreciation and admiration should be heaped at a watch’s case back, rather than its front. Nicholas Hacko, the only watch manufacturer in the entirety of Australia, recently uploaded a wonderful video to YouTube that showcases the various bespoke tools and machines used to make their latest watch, the Nicholas Hacko NH2 Timascus. It only lasts for a couple of minutes, but it gives you a pretty profound appreciation for just how intricate and precise the art of watchmaking is. Additionally, it did, for myself at least, fill me with a great sense of patriotic pride knowing that there are still people in this country keen to make mechanical things from scratch, to challenge the status quo laid…
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