Suit up with Omega De Ville Trésor
Omega’s recently updated line of De Ville Trésor presents as a compelling proposition for anyone looking for a beautifully made, elegant dress watch. And, for the first time in the De Ville Trésor family, there’s now the option of steel-cased models, which can be had in a few different iterations. For a start, there’s this gorgeous blue dial example, ref. 435.13.40.21.03.001, which looks positively replete with its almost linen-like textured aesthetic. And when paired with slender and sophisticated 18k white gold indices, as well as hour, minute and second hands, this is a watch that offers a great amount of wrist presence, but without shouting about it – it’s a charming timepiece. In addition, the dial, as well as the sapphire crystal, is domed, which gives the Trésor an impression of real depth. Inside the svelte stainless steel 40mm case, which measures just 10.6mm thick, the new dress watch houses Omega’s prodigious Calibre 8910, a manual-winding movement that benefits from a great many impressive features. These include a date complication, the Swiss marque’s signature Co-Axial escapement, 72 hours of power reserve thanks to twin barrels, Master Chronometer certification approved by METAS, silicon balance spring, and magnetic resistance rated to 15,000…
The post Suit up with Omega De Ville Trésor appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Editor’s note: Grand Seiko is typically seen as a restrained brand design-wise (dials excepted), but this 46mm chunk of titanium and ceramic proves that the brand has it in them to pull a modern sports chrono out of the bank when it matters … To be honest, when I first saw Grand Seiko’s contemporary-looking new modular ceramic Spring Drives, I was on the fence. I didn’t expect it, and wasn’t sure what to think. Of course the quality and technical precision were very much in evidence, but the aesthetics were well outside the norm for the brand. But over time the slick looks grew on me – Grand Seiko’s trademark crisp lines look great in black ceramic, and the sporty style was well-suited to the Spring Drive Chrono. So, in the lead up to Basel this year, I was looking forward to seeing where they’d take the nascent collection, and I was not disappointed. It’s fair to say the blue and gold limited edition requires a somewhat outgoing personality to pull off on a daily basis; this black version, while not quite stealthy given the 46.4mm case, is far more restrained on the wrist. I’d go so far as to say…
The handful of BIG Rolex collectors meet-ups around the world represent the sanctum sanctorum of the vintage watch world, secretive affairs (which is sensible, given the dollar value of watches on the table) that offer a glimpse not just into the ultra-rarefied, and slightly odd, world of very high-end watch collecting, but also where the market is going. So this outsider’s perspective, from GQ’s Cam Wolf, is a very interesting take on the phenomenon, and the aforementioned World Economic Forum comparison is apt (a little too apt for my tastes). Perhaps ironically, a bunch of dudes obsessed with time-keeping devices show an inability to stay on schedule. It’s a good read, and you can read it here.
Watches with complications — like the chronograph, moonphase or, in this case, the GMT — are less about practical function and more about possibility. Sure, these watches are designed to excel on the road (or in the air for that matter), but for most wearers, that is an infrequent reality. Still, the possibility of far-off places is enough for many people to fall in love with the GMT complication. It’s also a complication that doesn’t have to break the bank, something these five watches can attest to. Grand Seiko SBGN003 You can make a strong case for this plucky Grand Seiko being one of the greatest GMTs period, regardless of price point. The style is classic sport, and the 39mm case (that isn’t too tall at 12.1mm) is super wearable. Truly versatile and it’s also rocking one of the coolest quartz (!) movements in the business, the mighty 9F. $4400 Montblanc Heritage GMT Here’s a watch that bucks the perception that a GMT has to be sporty. This handsome salmon-dialled fella puts the style in ‘travel in style’, with a 40mm case, gorgeous grey gator strap and that aforementioned dial, which is sophisticated and full of surprising textures. The blue…
Imagine, if you will, that you’re a watch fan in the 1990s or even early 2000s. Through some incredible new complication (I suspect Urwerk’s invention), you’re jumped forward in time to 2019. While some things remain the same, the changes are pretty incredible. Take, for example, this watch. It’s a one-off piece made by Zenith, designed by Phillips (in association with Bacs & Russo). Not only is the thought of an auction house designing a unique watch — which they’ll then sell (for charity) at their Geneva Watch Auction X next month — kind of bonkers, but it’s also amazing just how really, really good-looking it is. Let’s start with the dial. Sure, it’s blue and pretty vintage in a way befitting the mighty El Primero, but that doesn’t begin to express how special this piece is — because it’s made from a slender slice of lapis lazuli, a vivid blue stone flecked with golden inclusions. It’s patina of an entirely different kind and it looks awesome. Add to this the fact that the case is platinum — and you’ve got an even more compelling proposition. And Zenith CEO Julien Tornare says this will be the only platinum A386 ever made, so…