The Villeret collection unites Blancpain’s most classic and elegant watches. Named after the village where the brand was born, it is an ode to classicism and tradition with discreet watches equipped or not with complications – this collection ranges from time-only to tourbillons and minute repeaters. Usually available in sleek cases with subtle-coloured dials, today […]
Editor’s note: A few months back, we announced that former Editor of GQ Australia, Mike Christensen, was to be our first European Editor. In this series, ‘11 Days of Londoners’, Mike will be sharing the stories of a few notable local collectors, starting on Day 1 with King Nerd, and with a stellar lineup still to come. Lastly, you might ask, why 11 days? That, friends, will become clearer over time … Bill Prince served as the Deputy Editor of the British Edition of GQ for 23 years and aside from his interest in all things horological, Bill is also a former music journo and has interviewed everyone from Mick Jagger to David Bowie and Elton John. He is also a member of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève Academy – further proof of his standing in the watch business. I buy watches … Because they represent the intersection between engineering, aesthetics and design. Rather like a fine wine, a great watch reflects the successful combination of a number of discrete disciplines, in service to the creation of a genuinely beautiful yet functional object. There’s a reason why the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” is currently the most coveted male accessory on…
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We recently covered up-and-coming British manufacturer Zero West, and their Spitfire S4-P9427 aviation watch. But pilot’s watches are not the only horological ace up their sleeve, they also encapsulate great moments in British history on land and sea. Across all three lines, one common theme they share are distinctive cases and aesthetics that can only be construed as Zero West. Founders Andrew Brabyn (designer) and Graham Collins (ex-black ops military engineer) truly work to make creations that stand out from the norm and rework heritage inspirations in fresh forms. Today, let’s dig in to one of their British automotive-inspired timepieces, the Zero West TT-58. The backstory The Zero West TT-58 was inspired by the sixth and final round of the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy held in West Sussex. Renowned as the world’s oldest continuous motor race, the event drew competitors from all over the globe. The drivers behind the Aston Martin cars, Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks, were dominant from the start and soon established a sizeable lead over their fellow racers. According to Zero West, “The race was frantic and saw some accidents and mechanical failures. Multiple pit stops ensued but the David Brown Aston Martins finished 1-2-3,…
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‘Tis the season for gifting – the HODINKEE way.
The low-key peak of Japanese watchmaking.
As we’ve recently established, in Matt’s story here, we are no stranger to the discussion around Rolex scarcity. Trust me, as regular watch buyers, we totally get it. I am personally disappointed and dismayed each day I don’t hear back from the authorised dealers in New York City and beyond that I visited to express interest in the Oyster Perpetual 36 model upon its release this year. Sadly, these Perpetual watches perpetually frustrate customers who can’t seem to get ahead in the enigma that is the Rolex waitlist. But you don’t have to suffer in silence. Here are five Rolex models available just over and just under retail pricing via Bob’s Watches – which enjoys a reputation as a trusted vendor of pre-owned Rolex worldwide. Each of the photos below are actual shots of real inventory available now at Bob’s Watches Rolex Explorer 214270 The Rolex Explorer is an extremely versatile timepiece that will go with any wardrobe and can be utilised in any daily or formal situation. This modern Explorer 214270 is 39mm in diameter, with its case and bracelet made of Rolex’s coveted 904L steel that wears akin to a precious metal on the wrist. One hundred metres…
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Dive watches… are not even a style or a category of watches anymore, but a proper market with its own codes, its icons, its contenders, its specifications and its aficionados. Needless to say that a well-built and nicely designed dive watch is almost a necessity for accessible or luxury watch brands, with only a minority […]
There’s a famous Bond scene in Octopussy where Roger Moore’s 007, clad in his customary white tuxedo, sits down to play a spot of high-stakes backgammon. His adversary – the malevolent Kamal Khan – is surreptitiously cheating, using a set of loaded dice. Unfazed, Bond accepts Khan’s 200,000 rupee wager and, using a Fabergé egg as collateral, promptly switches the dice to throw a perfect double six. Moore shrugs off his triumph with his usual expression of wry bemusement. “It’s all in the wrist,” he insists. It’s a throwaway line, but it turns out that the wrist is indeed regarded with inordinate significance in certain quarters. Some people believe that it really is “all in the wrist”, with the complex joint that bridges the hand to the forearm credited with determining everything from your sex life (or lack thereof) to your gym gains and choice of wristwear. More specifically, it’s the precise size of your wrist that counts. Does your wrist size dictate your choice of watch? Let’s start with the most relevant category for Time+Tide readers. Assuming you want your watch to complement your appearance, rather than become a Flavor Flav-style accessory, then case size and proportion matter. You…
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Editor’s note: A few months back, we announced that former Editor of GQ Australia, Mike Christensen, was to be our first European Editor. In this series, ‘11 Days of Londoners’, Mike will be sharing the stories of a few notable local collectors, starting on Day 1 with King Nerd, and with a stellar lineup still to come. Lastly, you might ask, why 11 days? That, friends, will become clearer over time … Over the past few years, man about town, Mr James Yates, has made a name for himself in the health space, specifically as a mental health advocate working closely with the likes of Mr Porter. He also happens to know a thing or two about horology, so we caught up to chat all things watches in his life right now. The watch I’m wearing today is a … Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight, based on a vintage Tudor from 1958. I like the vintage look of it, where they have used a softer colour on the dials. I also prefer the 39mm case as it’s a little smaller than most modern watches and sits better on my wrist. It was recommended to me by my close friend Max Newlan, who deals…
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Last week, Phillips held their latest watch auction in Hong Kong: the Phillips Hong Kong Watch Auction XI. As per usual, there were some very neat, rare, and illustrious lots that collectors would salivate over – eager to add such fine timepieces to their collections. While the globe may have taken a beating this year from the pandemic, it is clear that top-tier collectors and buyers are still eager to acquire fine watches for top-dollar hammer prices. This auction, however, had an unexpected assembly of new watches. Each of the new colours within the 2020 Stella-inspired Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 models were up for grabs – a fact that has invoked the ire of many on our, and Rolex’s, social media platforms. It is rather sad that consumers, myself included, can’t find one of these watches at retail and yet all of them were together in one auction for purchase. This inaccessibility has been the elephant in the room of the watch industry for a couple of years, but never like what we’ve seen in 2020, and we had to cover it in more detail in the 2020 edition of NOW Magazine (you can buy it and read the 3000…
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