A YEAR ON THE WRIST: With a twist… Why I love the polarising Rolex Air-King Ref. 116900 but why I won't wear it
Ever since its unveiling at Baselworld back in 2016, I’ve wanted a Rolex Air-King Ref. 116900 . And, perhaps rather oddly, I’ve yearned for this polarising watch even longer than that. Allow me to explain. Back in 2014, Rolex announced they had made a bespoke pair of dash clocks for what was formerly known as the Bloodhound SSC, a supersonic missile on wheels that aimed to break the outright land speed record and reach speeds in excess of 1600 km/h. I remember reading about the dash clocks at the time, and thinking to myself, “That is cool.” The fact that Rolex had gotten behind the project was utterly fantastic and, without wanting to sound overly gushing, it was downright inspiring to see that the Big Crown still supported those who dared to push the boundaries of what we previously thought wasn’t possible. I also loved the way the dash clocks looked – the archetypal Rolex green of the text, contrasted by the distinct yellow of the regal crown motif, and the unique looking typography of the Arabic numerals, was all such a radical departure from the watchmaker’s normal design language, yet it somehow worked. A couple of years passed, and…
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Normally, when the name Transylvania is uttered, a certain fictional monster comes to mind. But for this week’s Micro Mondays, we’re taking a look at something hailing from the gothic region of Romania that doesn’t want to suck your blood … just your bank account. And not nearly as vociferously as many rival brands. Peren watches, short for the word perennial, is a micro watchmaker that aims to pay homage to the inimitable terroir from which it originates, while also embracing traditional avenues of Swiss horology. They haven’t been around for long, but the outfit has already released some great watches, such as the Nera, SOD and Classic. Their latest timepiece, the Hintz, is a field watch that blends timeless characteristics with a few unique twists, and honours one of Transylvania’s oldest watchmakers – Eugen Hintz. We’ve had this watch on our radar here at T+T for quite some time, and were very happy when Peren sent us a prototype, so we could go hands-on with the handsome timepiece. These are our initial impressions. The case Hewn from 316L grade stainless steel and measuring a larger than expected 42.5mm across, 11.2mm thick and 22mm lug to lug, the Hintz’s case…
Floyd Mayweather looks straight down the barrel of the camera as he waves around a watch that’s not so much dripping in diamonds as drenched to its blinding core. The watch is the Jacob & Co Billionaire watch, a one-of-a-kind piece produced with Italian businessman, fashion label owner and Formula 1 personality Flavio Briatore. The 47.5mm case and integrated bracelet are bedecked with 239 emerald-cut baguette diamond stones while a manually wound tourbillion beats within. Over the top? Yes. And then down the other side before spiralling into a high-speed blur of double loops. “Over $15 million or under $15 million?” asks Mayweather, the man commonly regarded as the best defensive boxer of all time. The question is posed as part of a new video series entitled “The Ice Is Right”. Sitting alongside celebrity jeweller Greg Yüna (AKA “Mr Flawless”, who we interviewed in this story), the video is part of a recent partnership with online sports betting company BetOnline.ag that showcases some of the most decadent pieces in Mayweather’s insane watch collection. Punters can bet on how much they estimate the true value of each piece of bling. (For anyone planning to wager, the price tag of the Billionaire…