To many, the notion of elegant, dressy watches usually means beautiful finishes, high-end movements and precious metal cases. In short: expensive pieces. Yet, Baselworld 2019 proved that you don’t necessarily need to spend a 5-figure amount to look classy. So, in order to avoid going to the bank for a mortgage or to enter a […]
Editor’s note: The Reverso is, hands down, one of the all-time classic watch designs. And now, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface in pink gold is double the fun with twice the dials … Believe it or not, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is one of the original sports watches. The oft-quoted origin story about this iconic rectangle is that it was the dusty polo fields of colonial India that gave birth to the reversible watch, which could be easily flipped to protect the delicate dial during the rough and tumble of the chukka. That was way back in 1931, and in the subsequent decades the perceptions of the Reverso have, much like its ingenious case, done a complete about-face. In 2017 the Reverso stands out as one of the default black-tie watches. Nowhere is that more apparent than with this Tribute Duoface, which looks absolutely stunning in pink gold. The case size is reasonable – but by no means overwhelming – at 25.5mm wide by 42.9mm high. The one thing that shines brighter than the gold on this watch is the clever and varied use of texture. Everywhere you look there’s a different finish. The front dial is described by JLC as a…
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Editor’s note: The other week news dropped about Timex’s lastest line, which is significantly made in America. Which got us to thinking about some other watches born in the USA. So we thought it was high time to have another look at this list … It might surprise you to know that in the first half of the last century, America was regarded as the force to be reckoned with when it came to watches — especially modern, efficient and mass-produced watches. But now, with great legacy brands like Waltham and Illinois consigned to the scrapheap of history, while others, like Hamilton, are part of larger Swiss portfolios, the American watch industry is a shadow of its former self. But that’s not to say that the land of the free and the home of the brave is entirely bereft of local timekeeping concerns. Here are five brands keeping the faith, though it must be mentioned that in most cases the heavy lifting of manufacturing is done offshore. Weiss American Issue Field Watch A few years ago the American Federal Trade Commission tightened up on ‘American Made’, dictating that to be eligible it wasn’t good enough for a product to be…
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We had a hint of it a little while ago when Justin previewed the larger Captain Cook models, but now it’s official. The fan favourite Rado Captain Cook Automatic in 37mm is now offered in a limited edition champagne (or to give its official, but less romantic, name — brown sunbrushed) dial. Dial aside, the details are unchanged: polished steel case, ceramic bezel insert in black, boxed sapphire crystal and automatic movement with 80 hours of juice. But this time around, there is a quite cool new addition, in the form of a handy leather travel case that includes space for the watch, and the two extra straps that come with it as standard. So, there’s the suede-like leather, a Milanese mesh with straight end pieces for that authentic diver vibe, as well as a stylish fabric strap. And, of course, a tool to change them. So, for a little watch, this Captain Cook sure packs a punch. It’s limited to 1962 pieces. Rado’s Captain Cook Automatic limited edition Australian pricing Rado Captain Cook Automatic, with brown sunbrushed dial, $2900
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Editor’s note: You don’t always need bells and whistles to make something truly exceptional. Sometimes less is more. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 is a case in point. Here we look at the colourful series that was released a few years ago. And even though they’re not the latest, they’re still among the greatest. The story in a second: This could well be the only watch you’ll ever need. There’s a concept in the world of watch enthusiasts that’s referred to as ‘only one watch’. For the majority of the population, this concept is better known as ‘normality’. But if you’re the sort of person who has a watch for work, one for the weekend, as well as a dedicated timepiece for special occasions, there’s a good chance the thought of committing to just one will fill you with dread. How could you choose? Can you live without a chronograph? And do you go for fine finishing or bulletproof reliability? Well, allow us to humbly suggest that all you really need a watch to do is tell the time. Everything else is superfluous. We’d also argue that you need a watch that can handle the daily rigours of regular wear…
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We’ve got the links you need, just add a big spoonful of weekend and relax.
Editor’s note: It’s slender, but it weighs a lot. It’s gold, but it doesn’t look like it. I just can’t get the Bulgari Octo Finissimo in rose gold out of my head. And that’s even factoring in the epic new black ceramic version we saw at Basel. Seriously, will someone spot me $60K? The story in a second: Bulgari’s latest take on the Octo Finissimo Automatic is the anti-gold gold watch. How about a riddle to start your day off right? When is a gold watch not a gold watch? When it’s Bulgari’s darling, the Octo Finissimo Automatic, in rose gold. Now, obviously it’s a gold watch, but it looks and wears like no other gold watch I’ve ever had the pleasure of wearing. The case While the movement and other elements of habillage are important to this watch, really, it’s about the case (and bracelet — more on that shortly). The design, the material, the treatment. All of it really. Let’s start with the familiar. The Octo Finissimo case itself is a pretty well-known quantity by now. It’s a much thinner (5.15mm to be precise) version of the regular Octo, which is an evolution of Genta’s original design. The Octo Finissimo…
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Editor’s note: It’s easy to get caught up in the hype around Grand Seiko dials (and these two beauties still pack a punch in that category), but the unique Spring Drive movement and 44GS-style case are just as noteworthy – as is the wearable size … In addition to the scene-stealing 9S 20th anniversary pieces, Grand Seiko have announced two new Spring Drive models at Baselworld 2018. Reference SBGA373 with a champagne dial, and SBGA375 in rich blue. Vital statistics With its inexorably smooth sweeping seconds hand, there’s something hypnotic about Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive technology, powered and regulated by an ingenious combination of kinetic, magnetic and electrical energy. And while the Snowflake tends to garner the most attention, there are other time and date members of the collection, the most recent being these two. Both are powered by the 9R65, visible through clear casebacks on both models, and housed in broad-shouldered 40mm, 44GS-inspired steel cases. It’s worth noting that these pictures are of prototype models, and I’ve been told that the (very) large crowns are likely to be replaced by something a little smaller and more balanced. On the wrist Grand Seiko’s champagne dials are exceptional and — apparently…
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Watch lovers don’t need to be told that great things take time. And that’s certainly been the case leading up to this moment. As readers of our NOW magazine know, last year we had a little dalliance with the brand that used to inhabit our HQ space, and now lives next door. Royal Enfield. Basically, we had a few beers one afternoon and found some matt black, lightly modded common ground between watches and vintage-inspired bikes. Shortly after, we started work with them on a project that had sheer, exuberant fun as its intention. A Time+Tide motorcycle. We wanted it in the Bobber style, first made popular in the golden age of the wristwatch, the 1950s. We worked with Australian Royal Enfield Dealer Mid Life Cycles to mod it just how we liked, with a leather solo saddle, a mean matt black Moto Wings Performance exhaust and custom bar-end mirrors to complement the low, retro style of the timeless, ever-badass Royal Enfield Classic 500. Today, we are excited to announce that the very bike we conceived of could be yours. So, let’s get to it. How do you win it? You must first be Australian (Bronx cheers here, I know,…
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Field watches are a bit of a paradox — at once a very broad, yet quite niche category. Essentially these are watches originally made for military use — on battlefields. But having said that, there’s also many other tropes of military-inspired watches, like pilot and dive watches. The easiest way to think about it is, while those watches are made for a quite specific purpose, field watches are generalists. They have to be tough enough to handle some pretty rough conditions, and do their job of telling the time quickly and reliably. If we’re honest, a lot of the time these days the job will fall to a G-Shock (ain’t nothing wrong with that) — the genre of the field watch has come to typically be defined by black dials, strong legibility, and a robust build in a fairly classic body. Here are our picks of the five best field watches, ranging from high-end to much more affordable. Hamilton Khaki Hamilton is a great name in watchmaking (apparently it’s a pretty popular musical too), with a strong American legacy. It’s now part of the Swatch Group portfolio and (sadly) not available in Australia. They’re also one of the most well-known producers…
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