A quick flyover of IWC's Pilot's collection feat. the Classic, Le Petit Prince, Spitfire and Top Gun lines
A little while ago, Andrew ran a series of overview videos on the various members of the IWC Pilot’s family. And, to be honest, it’s a story well worth telling, as the Pilot’s watch is one of the most recognisable and iconic wristwatch designs of the last 100 years. And while IWC don’t have a monopoly on the style, they’ve certainly made it their own and their various versions are supremely popular for the brand. So, (if you’ll pardon the odd visual pun) take another dive into the world of aviation watches as Andrew talks through the oversized crowns and legible markers of the Classic, Le Petit Prince, Spitfire and Top Gun lines. You won’t regret it.
The post A quick flyover of IWC’s Pilot’s collection feat. the Classic, Le Petit Prince, Spitfire and Top Gun lines appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
With Melbourne’s world famous Spring Racing Carnival now in full swing, there’s a fair bit of chatter about what sort of watch you should be wearing to accompany your (let’s face it) inevitably blue suit. Now, if you’re planning to rock a three-piece, firstly kudos to you, and secondly, definitely consider a pocket watch – Longines has just released a great example, which actually honours their long affiliation with the noble sport of horse racing. However, for the rest of us who are planning to keep time via a wrist-worn timepiece, there are a great many options for such an occasion, and while we understand that personal preference will always dictate the end result, there certainly are criteria that should be abided by. For a start, suit means shirt, and shirt means cuffs, so the watch you wear absolutely cannot be some 45mm, 20mm-thick leviathan that sticks out like a horse’s … you get the picture. No, a shirt cuff requires a watch that’s relatively thin and preferably no larger than 41mm. In addition, the timepiece you don for a day out with the ponies should be relatively elegant and simple, free from gaudy colours, OTT dial designs or obscene…
To say Ellen DeGeneres likes a timepiece or two is probably one of the larger understatements of the year. In fact, you’d have to be living under a rock not to be aware that the comedian and talk show host’s watch collection is probably among the very best of the Hollywood glitterati. There have been countless spots of DeGeneres sporting wrist-worn icons like the solid yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116718 with green dial, and the Patek Philippe ref. 5271 replete with diamond bezel and lugs. However, these watches pale in comparison to her latest purchase – a solid yellow gold Rolex Daytona ref. 6241. That’s right, Big Crown aficionados, it’s a Paul Newman Daytona, and a rather special one at that. Nicknamed the “John Player Special” dial, thanks to its colour scheme — which is reminiscent of cigarette manufacturers’ famed use of black and gold colours — this yellow gold timepiece is one of the rarest 6241s that money can buy. And there’s no denying it’s a great-looking timepiece, replete with its highly contrasted black dial, contrasting yellow gold sub-dials, black tachymeter bezel and yellow gold pump pushers. DeGeneres purchased the timepiece from Amsterdam-based watch dealer Jasper Lijfering, of Amsterdam…
There’s a tension and drama in Grand Seiko’s dial work that is … compelling. Colours, textures, patterns: Japan’s premier watchmaking brand offers it all. Two exciting new limited editions that demonstrate this point are SBGH269 and SBGR319. The former is an attention-seeking stunner, with an incredibly rich and vibrant red dial. The inspiration for this lush, textured dial is very Grand Seiko — the hues of autumn leaves in the Japanese mountains. SBGR319 is a bit of a different beast — a regular, rather than high-beat movement made for the Asian market, its dial is frosty white, bisected with seemingly irregular lines. It’s a subtler, but no less stunning offering. So, would you go with ice or fire? Grand Seiko SBGH269 and SBGR319 price and availability Grand Seiko SBGH269, limited to 900 pieces, $9000 AUD; SBGR319, limited to 350 pieces, $7500 AUD Made in partnership with Grand Seiko. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.