Watch Dandy

From the People’s Champion to the people’s choice. Over the past year, semi-retired professional wrestler and Hollywood megastar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has earned himself $US125 million, the highest-ever total for acting in the 20-year history of the Forbes’ Highest-Paid Celebrity List – which ranks him at number five, and up 17 spots from last year’s list. All that money isn’t for nothing either, with the hardest-working man in Hollywood lighting up countless box offices the world over. His latest all-action film, Skyscraper, sees him play a former FBI agent and US war veteran who now assesses security in skyscrapers. But when he’s framed for setting the world’s tallest and safest building ablaze he must quickly work to clear his name and somehow rescue his family who are trapped inside. Naturally, on his wrist is something that must stand up to the type of abuse and mayhem that awaits. And after a few team emails, WhatsApp messages, and sleepless nights in the Time+Tide office, our own Dan “The Man” Senia confirmed the spot as the MTM Black 3-GER. Headquartered in Los Angeles, for 25 years MTM (Multi-Time Machine) Special Ops Watches have specialised in making watches for the US military…

The post ROCKSPOTTING: Dwayne Johnson goes full milspec in his latest blockbuster, Skyscraper appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.

Editor’s note: “What watch would you recommend to someone who wants just one do-it-all piece, and that doesn’t require a remortgaging of the family home?” As someone who writes about watches on the daily, this is one of the most common questions I get asked. Usually right after, “How many watches do you own?” While I do love answering the question, it first requires the asker answering a few questions of my own: “What do they do every day? What’s their style?” If they tick all the right boxes, it’s hard to go past the Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph. A stylish, versatile and sporty value-driven offering for your every day. The story in a second: A value-packed chrono from one of the few remaining family-owned watch companies. It wasn’t all doom and gloom during the quartz crisis of the mid ’70s. While brands and manufacturers were disappearing left, right and centre, never to be seen again, others like Raymond Weil were only just starting out, which makes them a relative newcomer to the watch world. However, unlike many others, they’ve managed to remain independent and create a diverse catalogue that’s bursting at the seams with collections like the Freelancer. Introduced in 2007, it’s now one of…

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Jaquet Droz is a brand that has built its reputation on incredible automata and extravagant finishing. Fluttering birds, delicate miniature painting, and exquisite handcrafts are all par for the course for the brand. Which is why this watch, the Astrale Grand Heure Minute, was such a surprise. It’s no less beautiful, but much more spartan in its style. In fact, besides two hands, some tiny hour markers and some words, there’s hardly anything on this dial at all. This Astrale has been pared back to its most essential elements, and I’ve got to say the strength of the design holds up on its own. For me, it’s a completely different look for Jaquet Droz, and a good one for Australia. If Jaquet Droz is a brand you’ve never considered before, I’d suggest checking out the latest Astrale. It might just change your mind. Jaquet Droz Astrale Grand Heure Minute Australian pricing Jaquet Droz Astrale Heure Minute, in steel, $11,250

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