HANDS-ON: Stay golden – the Girard-Perregaux Classic Bridges 

One of Girard-Perregaux’s leitmotifs is the golden bridge. Typically deployed in a trio, the golden bridges — with their broad, arrow-headed shoulders and pleasing, perfectly aligned symmetry — have been holding the brand’s wheels and balances in place since 1860. The golden bridges first showed up in a wristwatch in 1981, and these days it serves as a de facto logo. Girard-Perregaux has also been playing with tradition, with their modernist neo-bridges watches and this new, more accessible model, the Classic Bridges, which sees two bridges take pride of place on the dial; the smaller of the two looking after a balance wheel instead of the loftier tourbillon. That’s not to say that the Classic Bridges isn’t an impressive piece — this 40mm version (there’s also a suitably more epic 45mm option) is pure flex, with a large, no-nonsense pink gold case, and exceptionally finished, partially openworked dial. The satin polished steel components provide a nice contrast to those bridges and the broad, brushed hour and minute hands (there’s no seconds hand). The combination of contrast and power is compelling enough, but for me it’s the balance of the in-house movement that takes the Classic Bridges to the next level. The bridges are…

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8 years ago

VIDEO: Jaquet Droz’s Grande Seconde Skelet-One shows off its strong bones 

One of the things I love most in watches is when a brand challenges my preconceptions. That’s exactly what happened in Jaquet Droz’s Basel booth earlier this year. I was surrounded by writing machines, jewelled butterflies, automata of all shapes and sizes (well, not really, but you get my point), and then BAM! I saw the Skelet-One. I mean, sure, technically it’s part of the Grande Seconde family (just like the Tribute), but to my mind it’s aggressive modernity meets classical proportion and peerless finish. A seductive mix, indeed. In and of itself the skeletonisation is very cool, but the real deal-sealer is the sapphire subdial. Not only does it look like the titular seconds hand is floating on air, it allows maximum light into that golden case, to great effect. Minimal dial. Maximum impact. Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet-One Australian Pricing Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet-One, $44,950.

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8 years ago

Hands-on – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Grande Date – with More than Just a Change of Display

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms needs no introduction anymore. It was, back in 1953, one of the very first purpose-built dive watches and has since been in the minds of most collectors as a true icon. This watch – which production stopped when the brand was out of business during the 1970s – has been revived in 2007 and since then, multiple versions have been created. This year, the brand presented a new version with updated display, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Grande Date – which has more than a new date window to offer.

8 years ago

Hands-on – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Grande Date (with more than just a change of display)

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms needs no introduction anymore. It was, back in 1953, one of the very first purpose-built dive watches and has since been in the minds of most collectors as a true icon. This watch – which production stopped when the brand was out of business during the 1970s – has been revived in 2007 and since then, multiple versions have been created. This year, the brand presented a new version with updated display, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Grande Date – which has more than a new date window to offer.

8 years ago

Introducing – IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic Bucherer Blue Editions in Red Gold

When you are one of the largest watch retailers in the world (and the largest in Europe), you obviously can use this power to create your own limited edition watches. This is what Bucherer is now doing for several years, with the Blue Editions – you probably guessed that all of these watches have a specific blue dial (see here for instance). Today, the watch retailer is presenting a special edition of the IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic, in red gold and, of course, with a blue dial.

8 years ago

Value Proposition – French Brand YEMA Reissues the Iconic Superman – and it’s a 1-on-1 reedition of the 1970 model

Watchmaking isn’t only a Swiss story. Watches have been produced in many other countries, including France. Unfortunately, the Quartz Crisis dragged most of the French manufactures down, including Yema – certainly one of the most iconic French brands – which has been revived recently. As part of an upcoming “Heritage” collection, the brand is now presenting its first model and I’m proud to say that it is a faithful and automatic re-edition of its legendary dive watch. Meet the 2018 Yema Superman Heritage.

8 years ago