Watch Dandy

Editor’s note: OK, I’m guessing that 99 per cent of people reading this are already well aware of Rolex’s eponymous Daytona … and, admittedly, it’s hard not to be. Here is a watch that is deeply desirable, seemingly unobtainable, and a cashed-up speculator’s veritable dream timepiece. And, of course, it’s not just the modern iterations of the Daytona that are so revered, with some models from years gone by now commanding price tags that would normally be associated with three-bedroom homes. Just a few weeks ago, for example, Ellen DeGeneres purchased an incredibly rare, solid 14k yellow gold Daytona ref.6241, and while we can’t know for certain how much she forked out for the uber-rare timepiece, the last similar ref.6241 that sold at auction went for well over one million Aussie dollars. However, the Rolex Daytona is so much more important than its sizeable aftermarket value – this is a timekeeping device that is steeped in the history of motorsport, and has been utilised by several doyens of the car racing world, like Enzo Ferrari and, of course, Paul Newman. Earlier this year, Alan Seymour wrote a history of Rolex’s famed Daytona for Sotheby’s. If you’ve got the time, hit…

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Bremont brand ambassador and former British Special Forces serviceman Nirmal “Nims” Purja has destroyed the world record for scaling Earth’s 14 tallest mountains, completing the amazing feat in just six months and six days, eclipsing the previous record, which stood for more than eight years. Project Possible kicked off in April this year, and Purja proceeded to scale, in order, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, K2, Broad Peak, Cho You, Manaslu and finally Shishapangma. All 14 of these mountainous peaks tower more than 8000 metres above sea level, which means that every single one of the summits is well and truly qualified as sitting in the “death zone” – an area in which it is said human life cannot survive. Speaking about the astonishing accomplishment, Purja said, “I believed in this project and I made sure to surround myself with people who believed in it too. This was never just about me, which is the reason I’ve been able to overcome some huge obstacles on this journey. By achieving this goal, I knew I could inspire people from all generations, across the world. I hope to have shown that anything is possible when…

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Editor’s note: An attractive neo-vintage diver is a de rigueur part of any self-respecting watch brand’s lineup in 2019, and Bremont is no different. In fact, these days the brand has a few offerings in their stable. And one of the first options out of the gate was the handsome Supermarine S301 …  Bremont is a brand fuelled by avgas and the spirit of Icarus. The fledgling British brand has their roots in the sky, as it were. But that doesn’t mean they’ve neglected other spheres of influence, including motorsports and, as we can see here, diving. The Supermarine (even their dive watches have an aviation tie-in) first entered the catalogue in 2010, in the form of the Supermarine 500, a large 43mm steel piece with a distinctive ‘crown-at-two’ case design. This year the Supermarine has evolved, with several new references joining the family — the S300 and the S301. These divers — while still having plenty of Bremont DNA, such as the Trip-Tick case — are much more traditional. They’re smaller, at 40mm across, and slimmer, with a 13mm height. And if the proportions are constrained, so too is the style. The S301 plays the vintage card, with its…

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