Introducing – Girard-Perregaux 1966 Blue Moon
Recently, Girard-Perregaux, which is now managed by the same man as sister-brand Ulysse Nardin, has seen a rather bold evolution, with sportier designs and modernity in the construction of the movement. Still, one of the pillars of the collection remains the elegant 1966 watch – a piece usually on the restrained side, with precious metals and dressy design… Usually, because the latest version of this watch, the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Blue Moon, is certainly less classic.
Tudor S&G this, Patek 5172G that, but wouldn’t you rather have something … different? Year after year it’s the same story. News breaks in January and March, and all you hear about are these “hero watches” from brands X, Y, and Z time and time again. Sure, that’s cool, and there’s a reason there is immense buzz around certain pieces (another limited edition Speedmaster, oh my!), but this hype is precisely why so many cool watches wind up going unnoticed and underappreciated. Once again, that’s why I’m here. My tastes consistently run somewhere out in left field, leaving me to consistently appreciate those watches that seem to be either missed or simply unloved by the horological media machine. With that in mind, here are the pieces that have been on my radar so far this year. Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered Chronograph Why this watch got no attention this year is still beyond me. Though there have been other chronographs in other collections over the years, this is the first monopusher, as well as the first time in recent years that the complication has landed in their dressy Grande Seconde collection. At 43mm, she’s a bit chunky for a dress…
Piaget is a brand that exudes class, and has style to spare. This was something that Time+Tide and our guests got an up-close lesson in on Wednesday night, when the brand showcased their ultra-thin masterpieces for us. For watches that look so slight, the Piaget Altiplano packs a punch — I had the pleasure of wearing an Altiplano Chronograph for the night, and I’ve got to say that the stark, slender lines of this watch made a welcome change from more sporty chrono fare, and I wasn’t the only person to think so, as I think it spent more time off my wrist, being passed around and photographed, than on it. But the Chronograph was far from the star of the show — there was a case full of diamond-studded watches, hand-painted enamel and delicate colours. But even these watches, in their precious splendour, were not the heroes of the night. After introductions from Time+Tide’s Andrew McUtchen, Pétronille de Parseval (Piaget’s Managing Director for South East Asia and Australia) and Marc Menant (Piaget’s Watch Marketing Product Manager), we got to see the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Watch. The Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept Watch is the world’s thinnest mechanical watch — at…
Editor’s note: OK, so ‘fight’ might be a touch hyperbolic, but back when the Hermès Slim d’Hermès was first released it caused quite a stir. The most ardent fans were Ceri and Felix, and this is an account of their slightly tête-à-tête over this elegant, well-designed watch … The story in a second With a slender profile, top-notch movement and a dial to die for, the Slim d’Hermès has a lot more going for it than just the name. Hermès might be better known for its much-coveted Birkin bags than high-end horology, but the Slim d’Hermès looks set to change all that. First unveiled in 2015, the watch has evolved this year with two new dial variants in slate grey and blue — and when we tried to assign this piece, both Ceri and Felix wanted it, and wouldn’t let it go. Our first solution was to let them wrestle it out on the office floor, which would have produced some compelling video footage, but then we remembered we’re grown-ups. So, instead, here they are comparing notes on how the French house’s confident, characterful timepiece might well be the start of a new chapter when it comes to fashion brands playing in the watch world. The case Felix Scholz: Hermès has made a few interesting watches in…
Editor’s note: People love seeing the insides of a Rolex. Perhaps it’s because of their popularity or perhaps it’s the fact that their insides are always hidden behind a solid caseback. Whatever the reason, people love the chance to get a glimpse at these industrially impressive machines. So, here’s another look at that time Peter Speake-Marin took the mighty Rolex Submariner apart. If you follow the world of independent watchmaking you’re likely familiar with the name Peter Speake-Marin. Until recently, Speake-Marin was the man behind the eponymous watch brand. After 17 years, the English watchmaker stepped away from the brand (which is still in business) and announced a new venture – The Naked Watchmaker — a site that bills itself as a sort of horological encyclopaedia, utilising Peter’s formidable watchmaking skills to strip watches down to their barest essentials, taking numerous macro photos along the way, with brief (not overly technical) explanation. It’s an excellent resource, regardless of where you are on your watch journey. The other day we spotted a watch deconstruction we suspect a few of you might be interested in — the mighty Rolex Submariner. Thanks to its solid back, you don’t typically see inside the Sub. But…
