Auction Report: Bonhams Announces An All-Seiko Online-Only Auction
More than 200 Seiko watches from an incredible private collection.
FRIDAY WIND DOWN: This one goes out to the watches that got away
Is there any question that lights up a watch lover more than this one: What is the watch that got away? The answer is always interesting. Always! And it can plumb the very depths of emotion. You will likely see a visible wince, followed by regret, anger and recriminations flashing across the storyteller’s face as he or she relives the episode as they talk about it. As part of our editorial meeting on Monday, the question was floated to the whole team. James’ face was racked with pain as he relived passing on a 16520 Daytona. “While I was at uni, a mate offered me a mint Zenith Daytona Ref.16520 W-Series ‘Patrizzi’ dial with full box papers for $8000 AUD,” James sighed. “I had about enough money in my bank account to afford a 24-piece bucket of Colonel Sanders’ finest, so I had to pass on the Rolex. Seeing as a good one now goes for about the same as a 10 per cent deposit on a house, I’m more than slightly emotional about the missed opportunity.” There were howls from the rest of us that cackled over our laptop speakers. Zoom mini-screens showed all of us bent over with…
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HANDS-ON: The Rado Captain Cook Bronze is going to stay golden, care of its copper alloy
To even the most casual Time+Tide reader, the Rado Captain Cook is likely to be a known quantity. A strong, stainless steel, vintage-inspired design, backed up by a reliable modern movement in a range of sizes … all true, but that’s no longer the extent of it. For the first time, we can now add three Rado Captain Cook bronze references to the collection. Named after the British explorer who achieved the first recorded European contact with the east coast of Australia, the Rado Captain Cook was first produced from 1962 until 1968. This was a legitimate dive watch that capitalised on a golden age of underwater exploration, when scuba diving became popular with the public at large, and watchmakers rushed to put watches on the wrists of this new breed of submerged shopper. The instantly recognisable design was revived in recent years, and the collection has enjoyed strong success as a fresh and eye-catching offering from the brand. The exciting addition of the Rado Captain Cook Bronze marks a tangent within the collection that gives a totally new look and feel to a well-established part of the brand’s stable. The bronze produces an attractively warm tone in the 42mm case,…
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Video – Reviewing the 2020 TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph 44mm
The Carrera is more than a watch for TAG Heuer. It has become an icon and a standalone collection hosting countless models from 3-handers to vintage-inspired, highly attractive editions – such as the recent Silver Edition or the Montreal version. But all the Carrera family has one thing in common: a timeless and easily recognizable […]
This is why I didn't trade my entire collection for my grail, a Patek Philippe 5066 Aquanaut
Almost two years ago I had the opportunity to acquire a watch that was on my grail list – the Patek Philippe 5066 Aquanaut. The deal Not having an unlimited source of funds to blow on a beautiful watch, the transaction necessitated that I not part with one of my watches, but rather all of the watches in my collection (in addition to a few thousand dollars). Like a fantasy football trade, to get one of the best of the best it meant I needed to let go of some pretty well-known brands and watches to get close to their asking price. The Aquanaut The 5066 really resonates with me for its discreet yet haute design that proudly displays its beautifully finished movement via an exhibition caseback. Being 36mm in diameter, with a less integrated rubber strap that was more flexible for my smaller wrist, it was a watch from Patek Philippe I felt could be a safe daily wearer, especially as the watch was over 100m water resistant (provided one routinely checked and maintained its gaskets). In the moment, to make this deal happen, I was prepared to part with four watches that were the most valuable in my…
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Watches And Hollywood: A Prop Master Talks Interstellar, Westworld, And Watches In The Movies
Plus, why Christopher Nolan needed 10 Hamilton ‘Murphs.’
Hands-on – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 44mm Camouflage Collection
The Royal Oak Offshore was presented in 1993, heralding a bolder style for the iconic Audemars Piguet luxury sports watch. The ROO offers a more powerful and sportier take on the model. Since then, this testosterone-fed version of the Royal Oak has stood out for its bold design and generous dimensions and it has given […]
Recommended Reading: Four (Highly) Recommended Movement Deconstructions From The Naked Watchmaker
A real look inside a watch movement involves skills most of us will never have, but you can go deeper than you ever thought with The Naked Watchmaker.
Business News: Geneva Watch Days To Take Place August 26-29
Switzerland’s first major watch trade show of the year is scheduled for later this month.
RECOMMENDED READING: Apple sold nearly 10 million more watches than the entire Swiss watch industry in 2019
A few years back, I remember interviewing Jean-Claude Biver and asking how he thought smartwatches would impact the traditional watch industry. Biver insisted the innovation was positive, saying that he believed smartwatches “will bring the attention of young people back to the wrist”. In other words, they would persuade a new generation to start wearing watches once again. Well, smartwatches certainly seem to have stimulated something. This piece from Business Insider reports that Apple shipped 31 million watches last year compared with the estimated 21.1 million shipped by the entire Swiss watch industry put together. That’s an astounding feat of leapfrogging by Apple. We reviewed the Series 5 model here. “Analogue wristwatches remain popular among older consumers,” says Neil Mawston, Strategy Analytics’ executive director, in the article. “But younger buyers are tipping toward smartwatches and computerised wristwear.” Three key facts from the story about Apple outselling the Swiss Watch Industry There is an established preference among younger consumers for smartwatches instead of traditional Swiss timepieces from the likes of Tag Heuer, Swatch, and Tissot. With its numerous health-related features, the Apple Watch has helped blur the lines between traditional wristwatches and health-specific wristwear such as Fitbits. This represented growth of…
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