Introducing – The new URWERK UR-111C – No More Wandering Hours but Still Spectacular
It is not every day that URWERK presents a brand new piece – not an adaptation of an existing piece, but something truly different and unique. So when URWERK announces something new, we’re always excited to see the result of many years of development… And its latest baby does not disappoint. Bold and ultra-modern, as a URWERK should be, the new creation gets rid of the signature wandering hours indication to restore another iconic display: linear retrograde minutes. Meet the URWERK UR-111C, the direct descendant of the UR-CC1 King Cobra and a watch that brings many, many cool details and mechanical innovations.
Like for so many other people, Robin Williams was, and still is, a hero of mine. Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, his movies and brand of wacky comedy taught me that life doesn’t always have to be so serious, that growing old was inevitable but growing up was optional. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve watched Mrs. Doubtfire or Hook. So it came as a huge surprise when news of his sudden suicide came through on August 11, 2014. It seemed as though everyone and everything came to a standstill, while the world mourned the loss of a man who was always seemingly filled with a constant buzzing energy. An energy that he carried through to his various collections of art, furniture, video games and watches. On October 4, Sotheby’s will be auctioning off some of the collections that he shared with his second wife Marsha Williams. And looking through the lots, which include street art by Banksy, and a blue two-metre-tall statue of a cowboy toy figurine, we can see that the larger-than-life actor/comedian – who was often seen wearing an IWC Doppelchronograph Top Gun Edition – not only owned quite the collection of…
This week we’re looking at Hublot watches that aren’t the Big Bang. Yep, you read that right. For all that the brand is virtually synonymous with their iconic (or is that iconoclastic?) sports watch, it turns out Hublot isn’t afraid to show their softer side on occasion. You know what else Hublot has never been afraid of? Colour. Both these characteristics are very much in evidence with this stylish Classic Fusion Chronograph in green. First of all, a quick primer on the Classic Fusion line — the collection, introduced in 2010, is intended as a slightly more subtle (dare we say dressier?) offering than the traditional Big Bang, while still possessing some of those indisputable Hublot hallmarks — the ‘H’ screws on the bezel, the solid end links on the strap, and those contrasting ‘ears’ on the case at three and six. It’s a softer Hublot, sure, but it’s still a Hublot. It’s also an incredibly stylish watch. The green they’ve opted for is a rich olive, dark, and far from garish. The satin-finished green sunray dial is a wonder to behold, throwing light all over the place thanks to the polished, faceted markers and hands, not to mention the…
There are watches that are tough, and then there are watches so tough that they’re guaranteed to survive in even the most extreme environments, even if you wouldn’t. We’re talking over-engineering to the point where no man has been before. Watches that can take on the most dangerous of adventures, that push far beyond the limits of the human body’s capabilities, and yet come out the other side completely intact. Here are six over-designed watches that were built for the extremes. Note: This list is not exhaustive. I could have included multiple watches from a handful of brands – special mention to the Omega Speedmaster Alaska Project – or filled it full of G-Shocks and Sinns. But instead I chose to list away in the name of diversity. Now back to your scheduled reading. Rolex Deepsea D-Blue Dial Rolex actually call the Deepsea their most over-engineered diver’s watch. And they’ve got a point. Featuring the Ringlock system – made out of high-performance nitrogen-alloyed steel (BioDur 108) – the deeper you go, the better the case seals. The system also prevents the case from deforming under the immense pressures of the deep. Modified versions of the Deepsea have reached the bottom…