INTRODUCING: The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph

The Seamaster Planet Ocean, with its bright orange details, is a favourite in the modern Omega lineup, a compelling combination of brightness and brown. And now we’ve been treated to a brand new version. First of all, this watch is large: 45.5mm across, and  tall on the wrist. It’s also heavy thanks to the steel case. If you really want to double down on the weight, there’s a steel bracelet option, which sees the entire package weigh a hefty 260 grams. If that sounds a little too intense, there are options on a NATO strap — Omega is offering two different bright 5-stripe straps, which are lovely. The other notable new feature is the orange ceramic. The colour is less bold than previous iterations, as adding certain colours to ceramic is notoriously difficult. To my eye, it’s more of a burnt orange — perhaps even pumpkin. It’s an attractive look. The design of the bezel has been updated to bring it in line with the third-generation PO bezel designs, with all the salient numerals and hash marks filled with white liquid ceramic and Super-LumiNova. Finally, there’s the dial. The soft, matt grey dial is a nice foil for the shiny, bright…

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7 years ago

INTRODUCING: The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms ‘Nageurs de Combat’ 

Like it or not, the origin story of Blancpain’s famous diver is inseparable from that of naval warfare. The development of the original watch was driven by two men, Captain Robert Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud, who were in charge of a newly formed French unit, the Combat Swimmers — or Nageurs de Combat. They came up with a list of ideal characteristics for the perfect underwater wristwatch, one suited to their very specific needs. And, in 1953, Blancpain managed to meet these requirements, which came to define the needs of modern dive watches. To celebrate this legacy, Blancpain has released a limited edition Fifty Fathoms (of 300 pieces). And even though the shape is familiar, the overall effect is far more tactical than we’re used to. The 45mm case is steel, with a black dial and bezel. The caseback is solid with a very nice engraving of the Combat Diver Qualification Badge, an anchor flanked by winged seahorses. This detailed caseback means you don’t get a look at the 135 automatic movement, which is pacing a silicon balance and 5 days of power thanks to the three barrels. As you’d expect, this watch is good to 300m. The final subtle…

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7 years ago

Introducing – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda Re-Edition (Live Pics)

The Fifty Fathoms was and still is one of the most legendary dive watches ever. Launched in 1953, it was one of the first (if not the first) professional dive watches created. When Blancpain recreated the model in 2003, it came with already some vintage elements, and recently the brand played hard on re-editions of past watches. Today, Blancpain revisits one of these rare versions, a 1960s model delivered to the German Bundesmarine. Meet the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda Re-Edition.

7 years ago

Introducing – Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395 (Live Pics)

Back in 2014, Breguet introduced what certainly is one of its best watches, a watch that both sums up the classic design of the brand and its innovative spirit: the Classique Tourbillon Extra-Thin Automatic 5377. Thin, elegant, fitted with a tourbillon (of course, it’s Breguet), complex and equipped with a peripheral rotor… It was followed […]

7 years ago

Introducing – Glashütte Original Returns to the Dive Watch Market with the SeaQ Collection (Live Pics)

For most of the watch enthusiasts, Glashütte Original means this – elegant and high-end watches inspired by the German School of Watchmaking. This would, however, be reductive, as the brand (and the entities that existed before) is also known for precise timekeepers and instruments, such as navigation chronometers. What fewer might know is the impressive collection of historical observation, pilot and diver’s watches made in Glashütte. Today, Glashütte Original capitalizes on this rich past to create a new range named “Spezialist” – and today we have the premiere model in this new collection, the Glashütte Original SeaQ, a vintage-inspired dive watch.

7 years ago

Introducing – Blancpain Air Command Chronograph Re-Edition (Live Pics)

The story behind certain watches remains something of a mystery. For those, their very rareness exacerbates their appeal to collectors. We call them unicorns… We know they exist, we’ve seen some but scholarship is almost inexistent and no archives can help! The vintage Blancpain Air Command Chronograph is part of these watches, and this is one of the reasons to be excited today, as Blancpain is about to reissue this watch. Meet the Blancpain Air Command Chronograph Re-Edition.

7 years ago