HANDS-ON: The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic 10551 is a true everyday hero
The definition of an everyday watch is one that doesn’t excel in any one particular area. It has to do everything, from jeans and hoodies, to bow ties and dinner jackets, and it has to do them all well. It needs to be noticeable yet invisible, characterful but discreet, and the Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic 10551 with its smoked-grey dial manages to be all of those things and more. The dial Although fumé dials are rising in popularity, this one is definitely a showstopper. The balance between the darker charcoal tones and the lighter wispy-cloud grey in the centre offers a perfect blend for the steel sword-hands, indices, and white printed details to pop with legibility without becoming garishly visible. The crosshair and Arabic numerals surrounding the minute track, along with the “5 Days – Chronometer” text, add a level of sophisticated detail that sets it apart from other dressy, everyday watches. The black-backed date wheel also doesn’t draw too much attention, with its slightly rounded window not being overcomplicated by a shiny frame. The case The Clifton Baumatic case is a masterclass in considered taste. Its bubble-like shape allows its 40mm width to be mostly occupied by the…
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Bamford and Nike? You read that right. It’s no secret that I am a big fan of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato. To me it’s a quietly spoken grail watch in that hotly contested category of integrated bracelet sports watches. Its slim case design and smooth ergonomic bracelet make this an easy collection favourite. So much so that it’s included in a list of Nautilus alternatives here. But now, BAM! FORD! (sorry), the lead purveyor of custom chic in collaboration with some of the biggest players of 2020, has dropped a white-hot ceramic version of the GP classic, the Laureato Ghost. To make up a killer two-watch collection, I’d pair it with the gloss-black onyx dial version we covered here. Perhaps the perfect ebony and ivory pairing. At the same time, Hypebeast has given us the perfect new white leather kicks from Nike in matching ice-cool white and black shades with a tough rollercoaster buckle on a soft black leather strap. What at first seem like small details, transform the Timeless Nike Air into a fighting-fresh urban contender for 2020. Combining forces, we’re looking at some true monochromatic magic from Bamford and Nike. Crisp is the word in this 1017 ALYX SM…
If there is any single watch to lovingly blame for the craze of luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets, it’s the Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet. When initially launched in 1972, it wasn’t the beloved reference it has become today – in fact, many people were confounded by its introduction, especially given its hefty price tag in steel. Since its launch, however, the Royal Oak has taken the watch-collecting world by storm – with celebrities from The Rock to Jay-Z opting to sport the coveted timepiece. It has also undergone many evolutions; its technology endlessly upgraded with new complications and case compositions. This week the collection welcomes another novel entry in the form of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Black Ceramic. The black ceramic case is a modern 41mm in diameter, and manages to retain the exquisite hand-finished externals seen on the metallic models within the catalogue. To achieve AP’s standard of finishing on a ceramic canvas is no easy feat, but the hallowed manufacturer was more than up for the challenge. The bezel, bracelet and case maintain the rich satin brush the Royal Oak is known for, as well as the hints of high polish…
As 2020 draws to a close, so does the first year of the existence of the Time+Tide Club, which means, joy of joys, it’s time to unveil our 2021 Club Strap! Look at this beautiful thing, another winner from Erika’s Originals, and this time in a refreshing shade of baby blue. The two-line design of an Erika’s Original strap remains exclusive to the Time+Tide Club. Always get a kick writing that, thanks Erika! Renew your club membership right now, right here. In addition, Club members who renew for an annual fee of $129 AUD / $95 USD will also be the first to receive Issue #3 of NOW Magazine, which has some high-quality feature-length journalism by the team on subjects such as ‘Why Rolex is Out of Reach’, as well as interviews with rockstars Carl Cox and Matt Heafy from metal band Trivium, and a spot of myth-busting with none other than Jean-Claude Biver. It’s a thriving mix, rounded out by more than 200 of the best watches of the year, including prices. The magazine drops tomorrow. We’re excited about it! OK, I’m ready to renew, let’s do this. Some FAQs about the club, so you don’t have to ask…
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 … David de Rothschild is an adventurer and environmentalist, who has a laundry list of feats to his name. Born into the English banking dynasty, he was a top-ranked horse rider as a child, trekked to both geographical poles before the age of 30, and sailed across the Pacific Ocean on a boat made from recycled plastic bottles only a few years later. He hasn’t slowed down in recent years, though, continuing to work on different environmental conservation projects around the world, aimed at protecting different ecosystems and building awareness about climate change. What’s your watch of choice on any given day, David? I’ve always been drawn to the ocean [understatement — he’s sailed from San Fran to Sydney on a boat made of plastic bottles], so for me it’s Breitling’s Superocean…