Year In Review: The Top 10 HODINKEE Videos Of 2018
American Pie, the Admiral, and the Apple Watch.
Review – The Superb Patek Philippe World Time Minute Repeater 5531R
The Patek Philippe 5531R was born with the perfect pedigree to become a cult watch. Combining for the first time two of the most iconic complications from Patek Philippe, it is both a world time watch and a minute repeater. This remarkable timepiece was premiered at the Patek Philippe Art of Watches exhibition (New York […]
LIST: Tudor’s 4 brand ambassadors, and the watches they wear
As 2018 comes to a close, we thought it appropriate to look back at one of our favourite brands — Tudor, who’ve had a noteworthy few years, especially in the ambassador department. It’s particularly interesting to reflect on, given the fact that until recently the brand never really played the ambassador game. Now that they’ve got a handful, here’s what we think … David Beckham Tudor’s first brand ambassador, David Beckham, took the watch world by surprise. Many questioned the move, but once the dust settled, it made complete sense. Although now a retired athlete, Beckham truly is a worldwide icon with a solid reputation. Tudor was looking for an ambassador with global reach and recognition, one who lived up to their values and was known for excelling in their chosen field. This strategic move was undoubtedly a good one, and although years into his retirement from soccer, there’s no arguing that Beckham ticks all those boxes. Beckham wears the Tudor Black Bay Chrono, the Black Bay S&G and, most recently, the Glamour Double Date. Being Tudor’s biggest ambassador, it makes sense to have him across core pieces and new releases. That being said, the Black Bay S&G certainly suits his…
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IN-DEPTH: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantième Annuel Phase de Lune
The story in a second: A classy calendar for the life aquatic. Expanding on a dive watch collection — especially one with such a rich history as the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms —is a challenge at the best of times. Do you stick to classic tool watch roots? Do you step outside the box with a complication or design with more commercial appeal? Do you start toying with unorthodox case materials? There are a lot of ways to go here, and as we’ve seen year after year, the results can be fantastic, just as easily as they can be questionable. We’ve seen Blancpain take some interesting approaches with the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe collection recently, including the blue ceramic-cased flyback chronograph Ocean Commitment II, but for 2018 we were presented with a couple of very unexpected dive watches from the longstanding brand. The most curious is the annual calendar moonphase (Quantième Annuel Phase de Lune, per the brand), taking the classic 43mm satin-brushed Bathyscaphe case, and fitting it with a very vintage-y dressy-feeling triple calendar moonphase complication. It’s weird, it’s confusing, it’s the first and only diver with this complication, but it also makes the mind roam to the much-loved phrase: “That’s…
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HODINKEE Radio: Episode 25: Jean-Claude Biver And Joe Thompson (Live From HODINKEE 10)
Two legends talk about the rebirth and future of the watch industry at large.
SPOTTED! BY AG: December 2018 – Holiday Edition
Wow, 2018 really got away from us. I mean, I can’t believe we’re just moments away from wrapping up one hell of a year. In between the expected December chaos, I spotted a couple of nice watches. Here they are. Irwin’s Rolex GMT-Master II ‘Coke’ Irwin’s recently acquired Rolex GMT-Master reference 16710 from the late ’90s. Irwin always had a keen eye for vintage Rolex and is always on the hunt for the next piece. After letting a GMT-Master go to a family member many years ago, he’s always felt the urge to add one back into his collection. Luckily for him, this particular piece (with the full set) came up for sale locally — and here we are. Bernard’s IWC Big Pilot Annual Calendar Edition ‘Antoine de Saint Exupéry’ Melbourne locals know Bernard (GM of Melbourne retailer Monards) for his supercars, which we often spot outside the office, covered in the livery of one of his watch brands. On this particular occasion, Bernard was sporting his IWC Big Pilot Annual Calendar Edition ‘Antoine de Saint Exupéry’, in red gold. This cult classic has quite the presence in the regular stainless steel edition, and even more in red gold. It’s always…
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VIDEO: Tudor’s 1926 is a classic charmer
One of the more intriguing releases from Tudor this year — and one that didn’t get quite the attention it otherwise would have, thanks to the show-stealing GMT — was the classically styled 1926. Taking its name from the year the Tudor name was registered, it also owes some design cues to this golden era of style. Take, for example, the finely textured waffle dial, with the blued Arabic numerals interspersed with arrow-head markers. Lovely, but also wearable, and entirely wearable nearly 100 years later. The case is well-sized, the movement rock solid, and the solidly made bracelet adds a nice dash of slash. It all means you’ve got a watch that looks the business, no matter what the business is. Tudor 1926 Australian pricing Tudor 1926, white dial with blue numerals, $2210
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Buying Guide – The 10 Best Watches of 2018 from EUR 25,000 to… No Limit
Our 2018 buying guides have to come to an end. After the top 10 watches below EUR 2,000, followed by 10 watches between EUR 2,000 and 5,000, our 10 prefered watches between EUR 5,000 to EUR 10,000, and finally out top picks between EUR 10,000 and EUR 25,000, it is now time to look at the best of the best, when money doesn’t matter anymore: the best watches of 2018 in the high-end category, all priced above EUR 25,000. Complications, Haute-Horlogerie movements, hand-made decorations… what dreams are made of!
HANDS-ON: A flash on the wrist – the carbon and gold TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 02 Carbon
TAG Heuer has never been afraid of trying new things, and the new Carbon collection is proof. To date, it consists of three popular models that have been given a carbon makeover: the Monaco, the Aquaracer and the Carrera. Earlier this week, we showed you the stealthier Carbon Carrera, but today we’re going to make a quick trip to shine town, with the carbon and rose gold model. Now, funnily enough, thanks to the liberal lashings of gold on the dial, crown and lugs, the carbon inclusions on this watch are quite understated, with only the bezel being made of the light and interesting carbon material. Add to this the fact that the case middle is made from steel given a black PVD treatment, and a rubber strap is attached to the spring bars, and you’ve got a watch that has quite a lot going on. But you know what, it works pretty well, especially if aggressively modern takes on two-tone floats your boat. In addition to the obvious aesthetic elements, there are two things worth noting about this Carrera. First of all, this is the 43mm version, which makes a big on-the-wrist difference compared to the 45mm version you…
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Introducing – Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet-One Ceramic Black And Blue
Presented at Baselworld 2018 – when Jaquet Droz and the rest of the Swatch Group was still exhibiting at the Basel-based fair – the Grande Seconde Skelet-One was a surprisingly modern take on the classic 8-figure on the dial of the watch, the signature design of the brand. Launched in three inaugural versions, two in gold […]