Weekend watch spotting with JR: The Sunday Blues
Blue — that was certainly the colour of this weekend just past. Whether it was Rod Laver’s packed tennis court, the fleeting moments of sky that Melburnians witnessed on Sunday … for about 30 minutes, or indeed the watches that people were wearing — the vogue colour was definitely a recurring theme. Anyway, here are three of the nicest blue dial watches I spotted: James’ Rado Captain Cook Automatic: The irony of James owning a watch called “Captain Cook” isn’t lost on him, but unfortunate name aside, he simply couldn’t resist the glossy dark blue dial of this wristwatch, especially when paired with the factory tan brown leather band. James had been looking for quite some time for a timepiece that reflected a Saturday and Sunday savoir faire, and this Captain Cook’s vintage aesthetics, combined with a modern 42mm case size and the aforementioned colour palette, was, according to James, an absolute no-brainer. He added that the Rado had also been a very versatile timepiece, commenting that it transitioned perfectly from a winter to summer watch by simply swapping out the leather band for a light grey NATO strap. Henry’s TAG Heuer Carrera Henry is a massive petrol head, and when it…
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At the beginning of last year, the famed Le Brassus-based watchmaker Audemars Piguet released their first totally new collection in decades, the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59. It is safe to say that the release got people talking, with an outpouring of expression on social media articulating many people’s disappointment with the collection, blaming it for being underwhelming in the context of the iconic Royal Oak. If you were one of those people who disliked it initially, let’s take a closer look now that a full year has passed and any immediate reactions have had time to cool off. Pre-owned watch dealer Watchfinder & Co., known for their Attenborough-like narrator and macro-videography, have put together a short video explaining the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59, both in the context of the Swiss watch industry and the state of the watchmaking firm themselves. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s certainly worth a look, no matter where your opinion stood on the collection, to see if it offers any insights you didn’t already have.
Sometimes you just want a watch that does what watches do best — tell the time. The clean designs and open savannahs of negative space give the wearer of a more simple time-only watch plenty of ground to project their own personality, while also offering a sense of simple refinement. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best time-only watches from 2019, and see if we can be seduced by the more simple life. BALTIC AQUASCAPHE Baltic is fast making a name for itself as a seriously cool microbrand with a vintage range of accessibly priced timepieces. The Aquascaphe is the pick of the bunch, with a clean and clear dial that blends both pad-printed lume with a sandwich construction (the cardinal hours are given the sandwich treatment). A sapphire bezel insert alongside a double-domed sapphire glass gives a luxurious appearance on the wrist and puts it well above its pay-grade in the cost/value stakes. Ref No: Baltic Aquascaphe. Case size: 39mm. Case material: Steel. Movement: Miyota 9039. Price: USD$654 SERICA W.W.W. Serica is a brand that has released their first model this year with the W.W.W, a watch that wants to be on your wrist…
Seventeen-time Grand Slam Champion Novak Djokovic has once again teamed up with long-term sponsor Seiko to create this — the Seiko Astron Novak Djokovic 2020 Limited Edition. Based on the standard Astron SSH019J1, the limited-run watch has been designed to celebrate both the Serbian and Japanese flags. The new Djokovic Astron is a handsome-looking timepiece, thanks to a number of bespoke styling cues. The dial, for example, is finished in a gorgeous shade of blue that symbolises the blue in Serbia’s flag, and in Japanese culture is meant to represent the notion of being victorious. The other two major colour themes of the dial are white and red, which both feature prominently on the Serbian and Japanese flags. The striking white can be found on the UTC indicator ring and sub-dials, and the splashes of bright red can be seen on the tip of the seconds hand, as well as the one and nine numerals of the UTC ring, which represent the Serbian and Japanese time zones. The limited edition Astron also scores a unique ceramic bezel, finished in a matching shade of navy blue as the dial, which also shows off a thin red line in its centre. Measuring…
Editor’s note: The Longines Master Collection is one of the current pillars of the brand, offering you everything you want in a classic dress watch, but in a modern package and at a sensible price. Andrew took a closer look at the full collection just as it was hitting its stride, and it is certainly worth watching if you are considering adding a contemporary dress watch to your collection. When it comes to Longines’ yearly new releases, we are like heatseeking missiles for the vintage fire the brand has at its disposal – few archives are as deep or as versatile as Longines, and it means they can pick and choose between adventurers’ watches, avant-garde designs, classic dress … the options are almost endless and they impress with regularity. But we rarely look at the everyday collections that, to put this bluntly, are the watches that the brand sell in staggering quantities. The Master Collection, for example. That is, until I noticed it for the first time at a launch in Sydney, last year. That discovery led to more discoveries. All of which are captured in this video, in which we look at the watch that won me over, and…
I have been trying to buy an Omega Speedmaster for a couple of years now. I have to admit I’m finding it nearly impossible to purchase one. Yes, I know they are readily available. That isn’t the problem. In fact, one of the problems is that the Speedmaster universe is infinite and daunting. First, let’s gather some context to quantify that opening statement. Currently listed on the Omega website are nine different categories, three or four different case sizes and an exponential array of material and bracelet/strap choices. If you’re handy with a spring bar tool, the permutations could run into the millions, and that’s just the brand-new ones. Then you have to consider the second-hand market. There have been many Speedys over 60 years of production and they range from bargain basement deals to pricey and sought-after limited editions. You want Snoopy on your Speedy? That’ll cost you, but then again who can resist the Red Baron? If I was just another moon-landing fanatic, the choice would be easy. Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch in 42mm, right? Wrong, and let me explain why. Depending on just how fanatical I was about the history of lunar exploration and the Omega tie-in, I…