RECOMMENDED READING: The ultimate guide to the vintage Heuer Monaco
The Monaco Grand Prix kicks off on May 26, and amidst the high octane and hairpin turns, it’s widely expected that we’re going to get some sort of announcement from TAG Heuer that’s celebrating the 50th anniversary of what’s arguably TAG Heuer’s most famous watch, the Monaco. And while we can’t be sure about details like the dial and other specifics, we can be pretty sure that it will be a chronograph, and certain that the case will be square. And while we’ve certainly looked at some of the greatest modern Monacos, our work doesn’t have a patch on Calibre 11, who have assembled an exceptionally comprehensive guide to the vintage Heuer Monaco. The backstory and the finer details in the Monaco story are well worth a read. Something you can do here.
The post RECOMMENDED READING: The ultimate guide to the vintage Heuer Monaco appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
The use of bronze as a case material in watchmaking has surpassed trend to establish itself as a mainstay. Certain bronzed, beautiful models have achieved legend status, such as the Panerai Bronzo, the OG of modern bronze watches, but just as many go undiscovered and unheralded – we compiled a quartet of very different offerings, from big and square, to a very cool indie execution from an Asian-based brand, to the extremely odd pairing of bronze with ceramic. All watches are taken from our recent Buying Guide, which you can access free, and in full, here. Zelos Mako 500 Singapore-based Zelos Watches are a prime example of why microbrands matter, by using unusual materials like carbon fibre, meteorite and, in this case, bronze. The brand offers great quality at a more than reasonable price. That’s evident here, with a wavy radial patterned dial that adds visual depth and reminds you that this diver is good for 500 metres. Case size 40mm Case material CuSn8 Bronze Movement SW200 Price $799 USD Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Bronze In 2017, Bell & Ross caused a splash and introduced their first ever square cased dive watch. This year they’ve done it again,…
It takes a lot of physical abuse to make a watch as iconic as an Omega Speedmaster verge on unrecognisable. But the owner of this watch tried. When photos of a badly beaten 1969 Omega Speedmaster started doing the rounds on Instagram, it had our immediate attention. So many questions: What the hell are ‘welding warts’? And what are they doing all over the case and pushers? What kind of monster does this to a Speedy, or any watch? And, most importantly, what kind of a maniac would take on a restoration project like this in the first place? “He was merciless. For him, the Speedy was not a status symbol, [or a] collector’s item, he could not care less about Omega or Moon missions, landings or space exploration. He just loved it, full stop.” To answer those questions in turn, welding warts are blobs of hardened solder, and they usually coat the area around where a welder is doing their work, and whatever is on their person. The monster who did this is indeed a welder. And the lunatic that agreed to try to restore the watch is Australian watchmaker Nick Hacko. We contacted him as soon as the…
