Hands-on – Graham’s Chronofighter Vintage 2018 Collection Flies New Colours
Graham has forged a powerful brand image around its Chronofighter, a watch collection designed to evoke the mood of vintage aviator watches. Revisited time and time again since its launch in 2001, the Chronofighter amplifies its vintage aura with a new squadron of watches. Using colours that are indelibly associated with military aircraft, the trilogy of Chronofighter Vintage watches are a nostalgic flight back in time to the 1940s.
So, you’re interested in a TAG Heuer Carrera? Great! But I’m afraid I’m going to need a lot more information. Are you into modern, larger watches? Do you prefer time-only or complications? Ceramic or steel? Do you like Pandas? Because where once ‘Carrera’ was code for sporty, broadly classic-looking chronographs, it can now encompass some decidedly not-vintage inspired designs such as the Heuer-01, and the futuristic Heuer-02 range. So, how do you break down in your mind the three distinct pillars of product in the Carrera family? With Chris Hemsworth of course. His movies are remarkably — and reliably — analogous to the types of watches on offer.
Editor’s note: Sometimes there’s a fine science to what gets posted as an ‘editor’s pick’ — perhaps the watch is newsworthy again, or the story ties into some sort of seasonal holiday (get ready for tax time stories). This time, though, I didn’t overthink it. I was simply scrolling through our YouTube, and spotted the blue steel Laureato and olive bomber combo and was all “yep, that’s a hot look”. Superficial, or just plain super? There’s something about the combination of utility and exclusivity that really appeals to people. And as I look down at the Laureato on my wrist as I type this, I can honestly say, I get it. Sure, tool-like dive watches and sporty chronographs fill a place in our watch-loving hearts that crave functionality and purpose, but a watch like the Laureato offers something more. Purpose and practicality, with ample lashings of beauty. I mean, just look at how that Clous de Paris dial, or those bracelet links, blaze in the light. This watch looks good in pictures, but it comes alive on the wrist. Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Australian Pricing Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm, in steel on bracelet, $16,080
Watch collecting can often lead people down increasingly specialised, niche paths. One such example is Loh AKA @Super.Corgi – a collector from Singapore. He lives with his wife, two grown-up kids, a corgi and a French bulldog. He also has a thing for Disney characters on watches … Hi mate, what’s your daily watch and why? I don’t have a fixed daily watch. Every morning I get up and pick a watch in my collection to wear. I try to give every watch some wrist time. What else is in your collection? Have you got a favourite? I own watches in various Disney characters. My most important piece is a Mickey Mouse Classic I bought for my wife. My personal favourite is the Mickey Sailor (Mariner/Navigator). When it comes to buying watches, the number one thing I look for is obtaining the best condition within my budget. I try to buy the best condition I can afford. How did you find yourself collecting Gérald Genta Disney watches? I first learned about Gérald Genta Disney watches around 1993 when my wife (then my girlfriend) took me to a retailer and told me she was saving to buy that watch with a big Mickey…
Editor’s note: What with this year’s impressive overhaul of the Seamaster Professional, and last year’s revamp of the Aqua Terra, it looks like Omega’s main lines are getting some major love at the moment, which is good news for people who like high quality, great value watches (which, tbh, is all of us). But anyway, in case you missed it, here’s our deep dive into the AT … The story in a second: The Aqua Terra received a major upgrade in 2017, and now we’re seeing Omega’s staple in a whole new light. Since it first surfaced in 2003, Omega’s Aqua Terra has been a versatile everyman: stylish and sartorial, but tough enough for the real world. This year, the collection levelled-up to Master Chronometer status and we thought we’d take this sparkly 41mm rubberclad model for a spin. The case The case of the Aqua Terra hasn’t changed too obviously, it’s still the same classic shape, with sporty, swooping, twisted lugs and polished surfaces aplenty. It’s a combination of casual style and dressy finish that helps the Aqua Terra’s chameleon-factor. All models are offered in 38 or 41mm widths, a slight reduction from the previous generation, in line with changing…
Sometimes I like to think of the watch industry’s annual releases like an epic, sprawling house party — the sort where everybody shows up. There’s the classy guys who show up at the scheduled start time (SIHH) with nice wine and house gifts, and then, when it’s all settling into polite chit-chat mode, talking about the latest highbrow TV shows, the rest of the party shows up (Baselworld) and it starts getting hectic. Like all good parties, there are cliques, frenemies and drama. Pretty soon all eyes are on the cool kids — your Pepsi GMTs and the like — and you get caught up in the excitement with everyone else. Next thing you know it’s 4am and you’re having an awesome conversation with six randoms you hadn’t noticed before, but who are absolute legends in their own right. These are those six watches. Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 Rolex’s hottest 2018 releases are pretty flashy – Pepsi bezels, rainbow bezels, Everose cases, jubilee bracelets … and the new black and white dial OP 39s are as classic as they come. Zero complication, but still all the hallmarks that make Rolex great. $7150 Panerai Luminor Marina Logo 3 Days Acciaio – 44mm (PAM…