It’s becoming more and more frequent for watch brands to create special, exclusive editions for bona fide collectors. A collector’s club based in Silicon Valley is the latest recipient of a customised Zenith watch for its members. With such a high concentration of IT companies and the looming presence of Apple, it would be fair […]
Godzilla meets fine watchmaking.
One of the hottest watches on the planet just got even hotter.
The Serpenti (snake in English) has been Bvlgari’s signature, iconic, cult women’s watch design for decades. Bold, feminine, precious, this watch captures the alluring sensuality of the snake that has become Bvlgari’s mascot in both jewellery and watch pieces. This year, the Rome-based brand revisits its cult Serpenti watch. More contemporary and versatile, meet the Bvlgari […]
Founded in 2000, Room to Read is a non-profit organisation helping children in Asia and Africa to get access to the education they deserve. In the frame of their different initiatives to support Room to Read, H. Moser & Cie. asked the kids of two classes receiving educational support in India and Sri Lanka to […]
The watchmaking industry can sometimes be ambivalent. On the one hand, we hear taglines of “timeless objects made to be transmitted to the future generation” and on the other hand, it’s safe to say that luxury watchmaking has never been closer to fashion and its constantly evolving trends. Customers want to change, to switch, to […]
Editor’s note: Who knew that a fully white ceramic open-worked watch would be one of this year’s freshest looks? No one, that’s who. But that’s OK, a surprise hit wouldn’t be a surprise if everyone saw it coming. Which is somewhat ironic as everyone will see you coming if you’re rocking this bad girl on the wrist … I’m not sure if Lou Reed would have liked this watch (I hope he would have), but I know I certainly do. The modern sports line that is the Defy is an increasing priority for Zenith – a key, future-facing pillar for the brand that is both distinctive and incredibly versatile. This new version, all 41mm of blinding white ceramic, proves this point. Do me a favour: take a minute and check out another version of this self same design. Now, look at the watch below. It’s a marked difference. With the matt ceramic case, open-worked dial (replete with that signature star motif) and textured white rubber strap, there’s little argument that this is a watch intended to make a statement. Legibility, for example, is not the aim of the game. Having said that, in the few minutes I wore this piece (a…
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If you’ve ever picked up a glossy magazine or attended a major sporting event it should come as no surprise to learn that marketing is hugely significant in the world of watches. It’s also hugely expensive, competitive and, all-too-often, dull. From awkward posed photographs with A-list celebrities, to baffling brand ambassadors and the most tenuous of partnership tie-ins, for the average watch enthusiast the business of marketing these objects in which they invest so much passion can be confronting at best and alienating at worst. But obviously, it’s a strategy that works for many brands. Not all brands have the deep pockets and infrastructure to support this sort of sweeping approach to marketing, and instead they rely on a more surgical approach. H. Moser & Cie is one such brand. With a boutique approach and comparatively small production (these are ‘Very Rare’ watches, after all), Moser is proud to take a more personal approach with their marketing. Moser takes pride in personally knowing many of their end customers, and this one-on-one relationship between manufacturer and wearer leads to some interesting oppurtunities, like the Pioneer Tour. The Pioneer Tour, or #pioneertour for those on the ‘Gram, is a clever marketing activation…
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The Snowflake looms large in the minds (and on the wrists) of Grand Seiko fans — the 10-year-old titanium watch is an undisputed champion, and deservedly so. But now there’s a phalanx of other Snowflakes in the family – the dial comes with gold highlights and even in dressier cases. But one Snowflake that stands out to us is the SBGA407. The most obvious standout is the dial, which is somewhat counterintuitive given how subtle it is. The texture is still that same Washi-paper-esque effect that gives that windswept snowdrift effect, but now it’s in a soft blue tint, like the heart of an iceberg. This colour, aside from adding novelty and a different flavour to the watch, also ups the contrast on the (as usual) exquisitely finished hands and hour markers, to create an effect that is, overall, deeply pleasing. What’s also pleasing is the case, here in steel — a more universally loved material than titanium. The lines of this case are also softer and dressier than the traditional SBGA211. The overall effect of case and dial is one of casual dressiness rather than dressy sportiness, if that makes sense. In this context the deep blue (Grand Seiko’s…
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Have you ever had a real snake wrap itself around your wrist? If not, I urge you to do so. Really. It’s a wonderful sensation. If you have, you will know exactly what I mean. It feels amazingly sensuous. Gentle, warm, almost fluid. And those were pretty much my first impressions when I tried on the pink gold Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori at Baselworld earlier in the year. Visually, the design is a much more abstracted representation of a serpent than some of its predecessors (notably, the stunning enamel and gem-set versions of the 1960s – some of which I have been lucky enough to try on my wrist over the years). However, the way it feels on the wrist makes it the most snake-like of the countless variations of Serpenti that Bulgari has produced over the past seven decades. This watch really is all about the bracelet – in the best sense. The engineering that makes those hexagonal scales (links) feel as supple as a satin ribbon is testament to Bulgari’s 135-year heritage as a jeweller. Each link has been designed with a very subtly convex surface and angled cutaway around the edges. Barely perceptible details – but they are…
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