For SIHH 2017 Ulysse Nardin continues the daring know-how and innovative path forged by visionary entrepreneur Rolf W. Schnyder and his watchmaking genius Ludwig Oechslin. Oeschslin was the driving force behind Astrolabium Galileo Galilei in 1985, the Planetarium Nicolaus Copernicus 1988, the Tellurium Johannes Kepler 1992 or the Perpetual…
Though Piaget has made a lot of noise in the past 12 months with the sporty steel Polo S, the undeniable heart of the collection is the ultra-slim and ultra-sexy Altiplano. Born in 1957 and named for the flat South American high plains, the Altiplano and the legendary caliber 9P that powered it, have become synonymous with thin. This year marks the collection’s 60th anniversary, and to celebrate Piaget has released two limited editions in white gold that speak to the model’s rich heritage. Today we’re looking at the larger 43mm automatic version, though there’s also a manually wound 38mm option. For a watch that slides under the cuff at a mere 5.25mm thin (and a movement that’s less than half that, at 2.35mm), this Altiplano has ample presence on the wrist. Basically, that’s because this watch is all dial. It’s a blue sunburst, which – as you can see from these pictures – shifts from cool grey to far richer tones, depending on the light. Aside from the colour, the dial is an exercise in pure design, with long white gold indices and matching hands. Somehow the elegant printed dial text and pale blue cross hair (another nice nod to…
The post HANDS-ON: 6 decades on and still going strong – the Piaget Altiplano 60th anniversary appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Though Piaget has made a lot of noise in the past 12 months with the sporty steel Polo S, the undeniable heart of the collection is the ultra-slim and ultra-sexy Altiplano. Born in 1957 and named for the flat South American high plains, the Altiplano and the legendary caliber 9P that powered it, have become synonymous with thin. This year marks the collection’s 60th anniversary, and to celebrate Piaget has released two limited editions in white gold that speak to the model’s rich heritage. Today we’re looking at the larger 43mm automatic version, though there’s also a manually wound 38mm option. For a watch that slides under the cuff at a mere 5.25mm thin (and a movement that’s less than half that, at 2.35mm), this Altiplano has ample presence on the wrist. Basically, that’s because this watch is all dial. It’s a blue sunburst, which – as you can see from these pictures – shifts from cool grey to far richer tones, depending on the light. Aside from the colour, the dial is an exercise in pure design, with long white gold indices and matching hands. Somehow the elegant printed dial text and pale blue cross hair (another nice nod to…
The post HANDS-ON: 6 decades on and still going strong – the Piaget Altiplano 60th anniversary appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
This year’s SIHH sees Panerai introducing new releases and most notably the Panerai LAB-ID and the new Submersible. These releases sees Panerai leveraging a wide variety of materials to make the watches, from Carbon to Bronze and even the use of precious metals such as Red Gold, this can only lead to a promising lineup of watches with…
2017 for IWC is all about the complete overhaul of their Da Vinci collection. With the basic automatic model, IWC is attempting to capture the spirit of the earlier 1980s Da Vinci timepieces while presenting a watch that is designed for and marketed to both men and women.
For me, the real beauty of mechanical timepieces lies in the movements which power them. Having said that, not all movements are created equal, and the price, complexity, functions, as well as level and type of decoration, of course, vary read more…
Carole Forestier-Kasapi and her team really got carried away with the new Minute Repeater Mysterious Double Tourbillon. The result is a mechanical behemoth that doesn’t hide its horological prowess, but rather grabs the attention of the senses of those fortunate enough to behold it.
For years IWC has staked its claim as being one of the biggest, baddest and most masculine of the major Swiss brands. Recently though, we’ve sensed a change in the wind. In 2014 they released the delicate Portofino, and last year their more petite pilot had women firmly in its sights. That’s set to continue for 2017, with the latest evolution of the historic Da Vinci collection very much conceived with the female wrist in mind. The core of the collection is a range of eight 36mm references, three with moonphase complications. These models with their smaller size, optional diamonds and numerous colourful straps are intended purely for female customers. Things get a little more ambiguous with the two 40mm versions – including this one, the Da Vinci Automatic. I’d comfortably wear it, but I could also easily imagine my partner purloining for the day/week/rest of my natural life. It’s quite simple, with handsome rose gold hands and applied Arabic numerals. So far so good. But hold the watch in your hands and the party trick becomes apparent. The lugs aren’t just unusual and distinctive, they’re articulated. This means the Da Vinci is supremely comfortable on the wrist, whether it be large or small.…
The post GONE IN 60 SECONDS: The Da Vinci Automatic shows the gentler side of IWC appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Heading into the first day of SIHH, there were a handful of watches I was already dying to see. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin Openworked in stainless steel was certainly one of them. Luckily my very first appointment was with AP and I made quick work of asking to check out this new skeleton. So, how is it? Every bit as awesome as you’d think.
It’s amazing to think that some of the most fascinating and important vintage Rolex watches in the world are still out there with their original owners waiting to be discovered. If you don’t believe me, have a read of this story on Rolex Passion Report about a Tektite 1 diver’s prototype Rolex Single Red Sea-Dweller. If you don’t know what any of that means, that’s okay – you’ll still love reading about what this man did with his life, the undersea world whose exploration he helped pioneer, and how this watch came into his possession. .