Watch Dandy

In a move to be expected of a brand like Hublot, the provocative wunderkind of the industry has just released a new limited edition in collaboration with Garage Italia and the grandson of the Rake of the Riviera himself, Lapo Elkann. The Big Bang Millennial Pink is based on the Unico 42mm chronograph and features what the brand is calling a gender-neutral soft pastel pink colourway that can be seen throughout the entire watch. The colour Righto, let’s call it. Pastel pink can only be considered ‘gender neutral’ if you factor in Don Johnson’s pastel-masculinising Miami Vice wardrobe. But somehow – through oddly pleasing fleshy tones, and weird colour alchemy – it hits the spot. It’s been considered attractive by both genders in the Time+Tide office. As for “can’t stop looking at it”, that’s me quoting Andrew in the headline. He’s said exactly that multiple times this week. At this point, I’ll throw to some imagery to thicken the plot. Here are some men in an office wearing it. (As well as one further down the page). Do they look wildly effeminate? We think not. First impressions First impressions aside, this does represent a departure. While Hublot has a reputation…

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Despite the temptation to re-tune our tiny violins and cry to the world that our virus numbers have skyrocketed and that we’re all on the brink of yet another endless day indoors, I’m going to flip this one to the positive and talk about the kinds of amazing, heartening and impressive letters and emails we get in here on a daily basis. Not every few days, or every few weeks. Every single day. It’s incredible. Please don’t stop. And if you’d like to start, do it here. (There is, as always, a standard and perpetual apology here to those who have not received a reply, please forgive me.)   So let me start this Friday Wind Down by addressing all who have ever taken the time to pen us a letter, or send an email. Be assured of this: we have not only read it. We have shared it. Forwarded it to other team members. Sometimes to family members and friends to say — see, we have real people! See, my job matters! But in all seriousness, it’s usually to say, look at this effing cool letter we just received. As for the complaints, we read them too. And yes, my mates have had…

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Patek Philippe’s first wristwatch of 2020 didn’t go down quite as well as the complicated models that have followed this week to practically unanimous praise. By contrast, the Calatrava Ref.6007A-001, limited to just 1000 pieces and made to celebrate the legacy brand’s new manufacture was met with many more brickbats than bouquets. Why? Well, according to many it didn’t quite manage that delicate dance between being inspired by existing models and, uh, borrowing too heavily from them. But are the criticisms well founded? Without deferring a judgment entirely (I’ll certainly get to that), the truth really is in the eye of the beholder in cases like this. Personally, it’s not what I’ve come to expect from the world’s greatest watchmaker. So, to get into it, and to see the comparisons side by side I present to you the three most cited models the Calatrava Ref.6007A-001 apparently owes a debt to. Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date limited edition Hmm … has the best watchmaker on the planet straight out copied the “watchmaker’s watchmaker”? While we’ll openly admit that there are some stylistic elements that are similar – the inner recessed chapter ring, the wide flange, the centre dial – and the dial of…

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