Watch Dandy

Lupin the Third, ever heard of it? We hadn’t either … that is, until Zenith made this, the A384 Revival Lupin The Third Edition. Turns out, Lupin The Third, or Lupin III as it’s otherwise known, is a Japanese manga cartoon created in 1967 by the doyen of the traditional Japanese art form, Monkey Punch. The cartoon follows the escapades of Arsène Lupin III, a master thief and grandson of fictional phantom thief Arsène Lupin. The manga cartoon was quickly adapted into an anime television series, which first aired in 1971 and subsequently catapulted the popular comic onto the international stage. Now I know what you’re thinking: “What’s this got to do with the watch Zenith has just unveiled?” Well, the protagonist, Arsène Lupin III, had a sidekick named Mr Daisuke Jigen, and in the first episode of the anime series, Jigen can be seen wearing a version of Zenith’s A384 — the first watch the Swiss marque ever produced to house the now prolific El Primero movement. Thing is, though, Zenith never actually made a A384 like the one seen in Lupin … it was fictitious, dreamt up by the artists working on the animated series. But, when Zenith unveiled…

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Editor’s note: Hot off the heels of their latest release with the Heritage Classic Chronograph 1946, we thought we’d take a look at another smash hit from Longines’ Heritage collection – the Longines Heritage 1945. Few watches unveiled in the last couple of years have nailed the vintage aesthetic quite like the 1945, and for good reason. Whether it be the brushed copper convex dial, blued steel handset or mid-tan nubuck leather strap, this watch just oozes antiquated charm. A few years ago, we went hands-on with the mid-century stunner, and these were our initial impressions.  One of the highlights on our Baselworld calendar is seeing what heritage re-release Longines has cooked up, and whoo boy, have they pulled out all the stops in 2017 or what. You’re looking at the Heritage 1945, an absolutely on point interpretation of a mid-century dress watch. Based on a 1945 design called the Calatrava by collectors, this watch does everything right. Funnily enough it’s the exact watch that Sunflowerman illustrated as part of the Watercolour Watch project back in 2015. The 40mm steel case is simple, and not overly fussy, with a flat bezel just the right width and a slender-yet-functional crown. The mid-tan nubuck…

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The topic of watch water resistance is a tried and true watch forum favourite, showing just how motivated watch enthusiasts are to keep their wristwatches running underwater. If it’s expressed in bar, metres or feet, anyone who has spent a few months salary on a new watch is understandably interested in keeping their watch away from the limits of the reported water resistance, just in case disaster should strike. What most of those watch owners don’t know, however, is there is a method to ensure the water resistance of their watch from the comfort of their own home. That’s right, DIY watch waterproofing. While this is certainly not something we can recommend as a Sunday afternoon activity, we are able to recommend the step-by-step guide as some Sunday afternoon reading, which you can find right here.

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Editor’s note: One of Tudor’s lesser-known model ranges, the 1926 is an admirable everyday watch with a number of great benefits. For a start, it’s powered by a tried and true ETA movement, not one of Tudor’s in-house calibres. Why is that a good thing? Well, for a start, it keeps costs down, as evidenced in the price of the watch. Another positive about ETA movements, as I’m sure you’ve probably heard countless times before, is that they are nigh on bulletproof and easy to service. The 1926 is also a handsome and classically styled watch, ensuring that it offers a great amount of versatility. Late in 2018, we were fortunate enough to go hands-on with the 1926, and these were our thoughts.  One of the more intriguing releases from Tudor this year — and one that didn’t get quite the attention it otherwise would have, thanks to the show-stealing GMT — was the classically styled 1926. Taking its name from the year the Tudor name was registered, it also owes some design cues to this golden era of style. Take, for example, the finely textured waffle dial, with the blued Arabic numerals interspersed with arrow-head markers. Lovely, but also…

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