Buying Guide – 5 Complication Watches Offering Excellent Value For Money
After going through some of the best dress watches of 2017 (part 1 and part 2), it is time for our year-end buying guides to pick 5 traditional complication watches from 2017, stressing value – because an expensive watch is not necessarily a better watch. All you need from a watch, without having to take out a new mortgage. This doesn’t mean affordable watches, but rather impressive complications with a price that is far from being shocking.
Andy Zhang is among Australia’s most high-profile collectors — and highly active on social media. His pieces tend to inhabit the top end of town, and statements such as “I thought I’d wear Richard Mille for life” should not surprise. There are some horological heavyweights appearing on his Instagram account, daily. Which was where we noticed the 2017 Sea-Dweller. Andy explains how and why he’s fallen under the spell of a watch he initially thought was “average”. When did you first see the 2017 Sea-Dweller in the metal? I first saw it in Sydney on the wrist of a friend. It looked average. I though it was just a bigger Submariner. But when we went out of the restaurant and the sun hit it, I noticed the dial. What about the dial surprised you? Not just the red line of text, which is most obvious, but it was the matt, almost tropical dial. It’s apparently technically a gloss dial, but if you look at it in contrast to my Patek Pilot’s dial, it’s the same finish. It’s not glossy at all. When the sun hits it, it looks grey, not 100% black. Eventually it will look tropical, it’s amazing. The ceramic bezel, it…
This might come as a surprise to you, but the luxury watch industry is a well-oiled, smoothly running hype machine. Every year at the two big fairs of SIHH and Baselworld, watch brands release numerous new watches. Some completely new, some only new variations. But, invariably, a small fraction of these watches dominate the conversation. And that’s no accident, as many brands invest much of their considerable marketing clout into a few heavy-hitting models that (they hope) will be total knockouts. That doesn’t mean there aren’t diamonds in the rest of the catalogue. Here are seven truly excellent watches that snuck under the radar … until now. The Omega Aqua Terra Master Chronometer Overshadowed by the epic trilogy boxed set, the trusty Aqua Terra received some slight but significant upgrades this year, resulting in a seriously strong contender for best all-rounder of 2017. The Rolex Datejust 41 The other contender for Miss Versatility 2017 is that perennial favourite the Rolex Datejust, released this year in a steel 41mm model. Upgraded size and upgraded specs give a new lease of life to this timeless classic. The Tudor Black Bay Steel The Black Bay is pretty established by now, but this year Tudor…
Today we talk to the globetrotting and glamorous Matt Hranek about travel, watches, the perfect travel watch and his just-released book, A Man & His Watch. Tell us about yourself, what does a typical week look like for you? Well, let’s start with the day. I wake around 6.30am, robe goes on, dogs are let out to the garden, and the coffee pot goes on (a drip dark roast). Then I start my day by picking out the watch that speaks to the day for wardrobe, activity or feeling I have. The week could involve travelling on assignment for Condé Nast Traveler (where I am the Luxury Editor, and often shoot for them or edit/produce stories) or, if I am in the city, I am taking meetings and lunches with clients and brands, or general “flaneuring”. So, Matthew, what’s your daily watch, and why? Tough to say — I have a dozen or so that I choose from. That watch is chosen based on wardrobe, activity or general aesthetic feel. I will usually wear that choice for at least the week, but I can be fickle. Browsing through your feed, I can see a clear penchant for all things vintage, especially…
For some, turning 30 is a daunting occasion. It’s an age when we’re expected to be mature and take life seriously. And just getting yourself up and down from a chair now takes effort and involves a distinctly loud groan. It’s not all bad though. And in the case of the new TAG Heuer Link it can actually be a very good thing. First released in 1987, the Link began life as the TAG Heuer S/EL (short for Sports Elegance) and throughout the ’90s was one of their most successful models. In recent years, however, the Link was overshadowed by the other big players in the TAG Heuer catalogue. At least that was until last year when it was relaunched in the women’s collection, and this year it’s the men’s turn. Now measuring 41mm, the case of the updated Link treads the curved line between a round and cushion shape. With satin brushing and polished edges creating contrast and emphasising its silhouette, particularly on the two-piece bezel. The smooth lines mean that this Link is elegant and dressy, but with subtle crown protectors and 100m of water resistance, it harkens back to the sportiness of the 1987 original. While the…
