Unless I’m mistaken, we hadn’t seen any Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph models since its debut in 2014. Despite having a distinctive, original presence on the watchmaking scene (and it is, admittedly, one of my favourites watches), this steel sports watch had been relatively discreet. Luckily, the Saxon brand has decided to bring back its TV-shaped […]
Chinese New Year kicks off on 25 January 2020 and according to the Chinese zodiac, this means we are entering the reign of the Year of the Rat (metal rat, to be precise) replacing the pig. The rat is the first animal in the Chinese Zodiac and is associated with many positive qualities such as […]
Often we talk about emblematic or iconic models or shapes in a brand’s line-up, such as Franck Muller, with their distinctive Curvex line. Less often do we talk about a brand’s trademark complication, as it is much less likely that a brand has such a strong association or identity with a particular function, but again that’s something that Franck Muller can lay claim to, with their Crazy Hours. The Crazy Hours complication, the invention of the eponymous watchmaker, was born in 2003. It’s as ingenious as it is simple. The complication consists of a regular automatic movement with a jump hour module stacked on top. This cunning combination means that the hour hand jumps on the hour around the dial at seemingly random intervals — hence the ‘crazy’ hours. And while the hours don’t follow the traditional, incremental clockwise arc, the hand does follow a logical progression around the dial, as each sequential number is placed at a roughly 150-degree arc from its predecessor. The effect, though, is seemingly random. It’s a clever and fun take on traditional timekeeping, and a distinctively Franck Muller take on the passage of time. This limited edition ‘Blue Tones’ model is from a series of pastel…
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Nicholas Foulkes is an author, journalist and perhaps the closest thing the 21st century has to a genuine flâneur. He’s also deeply entrenched in the finer workings of the finer elements of the Swiss watch industry, so when he writes, it’s worth reading. His latest column in the Financial Times’ excellently titled ‘How to Spend It’ sees Foulkes focus his lens on independent watchmaking, which is a bit of an industry-specific term referring specifically to lower production, artisanal brands (after all, Rolex is technically an independent brand). As Foulkes explains, it’s a segment of the industry that’s heating up on both the demand and innovation fronts. So, if you’ve never really paid too much attention to these bleeding-edge makers (which, given the typically high price points isn’t unreasonable), this piece provides a good primer, and also includes this truly excellent quote from de facto independent advocate Aurel Bacs: In every watchmaker’s career, there comes a point where they look out of the manufacturer’s window and wonder if they have what it takes to make it on their own. For a comprehensive look at the current state of (independent) play, and a glimpse at the future, read the full story here.
The post RECOMMENDED READING: How independent watchmakers are changing the game appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
The argument could quite easily be made that most watch manufacturers in attendance at this year’s Baselworld watch fair tended to err on the side of caution when it came to releasing new timepieces. However, Seiko certainly bucked this trend, unveiling quite a few new and exciting timepieces, and surprising the collective horological community with this, the new Seiko SNJ025 Solar ‘Arnie’. A faithful re-creation of a cult classic, the Seiko H558-5000, the new SNJ025 Solar does a great job of paying homage to the original timepiece that earned its colloquialism as a result of being worn by the one and only former “Governator” of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in several of his biggest hits, most notably Predator. The SNJ025 isn’t, however, resting on its laurels, and the 2019 release comes equipped with a host of practical features to be expected from the Japanese manufacturer. For a start, the Arnie benefits from a fully automatic calendar accurate to the year 2100, alarm and power saving function, and an LED backlight. In addition, as a dedicated dive watch, the SNJ025 is capable of 200m (660ft) of water resistance and utilises a screw-down crown, screw-down case back and unidirectional rotating bezel. The rugged…
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A new home for the storied brand and its history.
The latest Ulysse Nardin hour striking watch: loud and proud.
Chronoswiss and regulators are synonymous these days. The company was the first to introduce this style on production wristwatches back in 1987 and has built a brand identity around it. That’s not to say that three-hand and chronograph pieces don’t exist (they’re alive and well in the Sirius and Timemaster collections), but regulators have become […]
A diverse fleet of dive watches makes landfall.
Sitcoms, sport watches, and a whole lot more.