EDITOR’S PICK: That time Batman and Kryptonite collided
Editor’s note: Batman has been on my mind a bit recently, what with his bracelet upgrade. Which brought back this photographic comparison from a few years ago. Cue dramatic theme music … Earlier this year, we witnessed a chance encounter between two giants of both the superhuman and horological pantheons. The showdown took place at dusk, on the shores of Lake Geneva, at Franck Muller’s Watchland. The combatants? None other than the Batman, in the form of Rolex’s GMT-Master II BLNR, versus Superman, in the shape of the Franck Muller Vanguard Carbon Krypton. The Rolex will be a known quantity to most, but just in case, here’s an excellent review by Bruce (Duguay, not Wayne). Its opponent, however, is probably new to you, a variant of Franck Muller’s sporty Vanguard, the Carbon Krypton. This eye-catching creation features a highly unusual case and dial combination of carbon fibre flecked with Super-LumiNova. By day, the watch is Clark Kent, with a good-looking face and a broad-shouldered 44mm body. By night, the watch transforms into Superman, suffused with the glow of deadly Kryptonite, making it look meaner than ever. In this battle, the winner won’t be determined by case shape or mechanical prowess, but rather…
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I don’t know about you, but when the price point of a timepiece starts to creep beyond the realms of the everyday, things like price points start to get a little abstract. And, let’s be real here — for most people (though perhaps not most people reading this), watches with a sticker price north of $35,000 are definitely not an everyday proposition. But Baselworld is something of a fantasy land, so we thought it only right and proper to indulge in some hypothetical high-end watch speculation. Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726/1A In the land of high-end steel sports watches, the Nautilus is king. Baselworld 2019 saw that reign (and corresponding waitlist) grow longer with the release of the complex and symmetrical reference 5726/1A, which added a gradient blue to that famous striped dial. Also, I think Andrew’s a little bit in love. De Bethune DB28 Yellow Tones Speaking of love … It might be a many splendored thing, but in the straight-up splendour stakes, De Bethune’s latest take on their classic, sculptural DB28 has it beat, thanks to a rich yellow gold treatment of the titanium case. Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon And finally, Hublot. One of my metrics for…
In a watch that was — surprisingly — not shown to media at the brand’s recent townhouse events, Bremont has added to their ‘tested beyond endurance’ tagline with a new strap option for their Supermarine family. Details around the strap are scarce, but the press release describes how, in the event of a marine mishap, a simple pull of a ripcord causes the rubber strap to inflate, like a life cuff, improving your buoyancy, and the chances of the watch surviving the mishap unharmed. No official word on who Bremont worked with in the development of this technology, but given the brand’s close working relationship with a range of aviation partners, I have no doubt they’re well connected in the marine safety sector. However, I suspect that the technology is proprietary to Bremont. Also unclear is whether this innovative strap will be offered on other timepieces, or for purchase separately. For one, I would love to see this offered across their marine releases. 
Editor’s note: One of the things watch people like to bond over is the sighting of something uncommon, stylish or downright cool. But sometimes our laser-like wrist focus goes too far, as Cameron is about to explain … To all the strangers on the streets, in the cafes, and just generally going about your own business … I have no shame in admitting that I am a wrist stalker. If you’re a regular reader, then chances are you’re one, too. We all do it. Some of us are just better than others and can pick a watch from across the room with only the hint of a bezel or a clasp. I’m not one to normally blow my own trumpet, but call me Louis Armstrong, because that’s me. Others, though, tend to get themselves into trouble, going for a peek at the most inopportune times – you know who you are. As a self-confessed (or maybe it’s crowned?) “pro” wrist stalker, I feel compelled to first apologise on behalf of those less-skilled individuals (they really need to read our handy guide on watch spotting). And then to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry to everyone I’ve ever made feel uncomfortable…