What Sealed The Deal – Nic and his custom military Bremont ALT1-WT
Nothing raises the heart rate of a watch enthusiast faster than the story of a tool watch being used in the environment it was originally designed for, which was why I almost needed to call an ambulance when Nic told me the story of his Bremont ALT1-WT made for his RAAF squadron. Nic’s job is flying the fuel tankers of the sky, Australia’s KC-30s, which are able to refuel other aircraft while mid-flight. In his squadron’s collaboration with Bremont, they customised a number of elements of the original watch, including striping the GMT hand the same colours as their refuelling boom, editing the world timer ring to reflect the airport codes of locations they’ve operated out of, and adding their unit crest to the sub-dial at 9 o’clock. It’s one of the coolest custom watches I’ve ever seen, so without further ado – what sealed the deal on Nic’s custom military Bremont. When did you first see/hear about it? I first heard about the Bremont Watch Company when I was undertaking my pilot training. One of our flying instructors had ejected from an aircraft the previous year and was in the process of purchasing the MBI he’d become eligible for, telling…
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Of all of the high-quality, well-finished and technically impressive Breguet watches, it is probably the Breguet Classique 5177 that you think of when you consider modern watches from the brand, and there’s a very good reason for that. Its spartan conservatism forces you to look for any notes of flair or extravagance, and you’re rewarded all the more for it. Amidst the inky depths of the expansive Grand Feu enamel dial, you are treated to the classically proportioned silver Arabic numerals, finished with an expressive serif that speaks to its discreet élan. As we discuss in the video, while Breguet are known for their mastery of the guilloché technique on all manner of surface materials, they employ some of the best enamel dials on earth, exemplified in the dial of the Breguet Classique 5177. While the dial is sparse, the restraint offers one of the most perfect expressions of a modern dress watch on the market. Far from being dull, the thoughtfulness of each element shows exactly what can be achieved when more than 200 years of collective expertise is distilled into a single watch. Breguet Classique 5177 price The Breguet Classique 5177 has an RRP of AUD $32,000 For more…
With Only Watch 2019 now just a few short days away, there’s a veritable smorgasbord of gorgeous piece-unique watches and timekeeping devices heading to the auction block. In fact, there are 50 watches in total taking part in this year’s charity auction, with all funds raised going to the research of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. And while all the timepieces are gorgeous and inimitable, the price from one watch to the next can vary greatly in terms of their estimated value. So, we thought it’d be interesting to take a look at the top 3 most expensive timepieces up for grabs at Only Watch 2019: Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010 We couldn’t write this list without mentioning the truly astonishing offering from Patek Philippe for this year’s Only Watch – the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A-010. Now, let’s not beat around the bush with this one, the Grandmaster Chime was always going to command an eye-watering price, but the extent of the estimate borders on what most mere mortals would consider absurd. However, for the lucky winning bidder, they will have purchased one of the most complicated timepieces ever created from arguably the best watchmaker on planet Earth. $2,500,000…
We have recommended taking a look at the master watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin deconstructing various watches in the past, and that’s because how interesting it is to get a proper look into some of the most popular watches out there. What makes this deconstruction by Peter interesting is that it is with the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT, a watch from a brand that has carved a name for itself thanks to the unparalleled levels of finishing to its cases and dials. But it does beg the question: is the interior of their watch movements — usually hidden from even the most prying eyes — as well finished as the exterior? As you’ll see, the more closely you look at the 9S86 movement, the more impressive it gets. From skeletonised escape wheels and pallet forks, to the stunningly even application of the Tokyo stripes, it is certainly a sight to behold. To watch the video and see the full deconstruction explained, visit The Naked Watchmaker right here.