First Look – Seiko Presage Green Enamel Dial SPB111J1
When Seiko internationally launched its Presage sub-collection a couple of years ago, the goal was clear: offering a classic approach of watchmaking and a focus on traditional craftsmanships, still at a relatively accessible price. To do that, the brand introduced several classic, elegant and discreet pieces, with dials made of enamel or using ancient Urushi lacquer. A few years later, we’ve seen some very nice editions in white or blue enamel and today, Seiko brings a slightly different and no often seen colour. Meet the new Seiko Presage Green Enamel Dial SPB111J1.
This year, for the first time in history, the complete collection of nominees for the 2019 GPHG – the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève — were presented in Australia. All 84 of them, by a sum total of 50 brands. And this stellar mega-team, worth well over $30 million AUD, is visiting only four locations before the big show in Geneva on November 7. So, in other words, Australia is being figured into the global future of watchmaking. We matter. And we sure turned out to witness this explosion of creativity and colour in droves. The exhibition ran over last weekend in partnership with The Hour Glass in Sydney, and what we witnessed at the launch event were people five and six deep encircling each showcase, craning to see, and photograph, the crème de la crème in person. On this occasion, we sat down with Ms Carine Maillard, director of the Foundation of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and asked the questions that have perhaps been on the tip of your tongue about the still relatively new (it started just eight years ago) landmark event for the industry. 1. What is the mission of the Foundation of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de…
While there are some enthusiasts out there who feel as though the vast majority of new watches released at this year’s Baselworld and SIHH were a bit … safe, there were still some real stunners unveiled from legacy outfits like Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. And, because the collective products of these three aforementioned watchmakers are arguably the most desirable in the horological hemisphere right now, they’re particularly hard to actually get a hand on. So, chances are you’re not going to be able to walk into your local AD and pick up one of these wrist-worn rock stars, but here are five of the hottest and hardest watches to purchase in 2019: Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLNR While it might have come as a surprise to some, being released so soon after its predecessor was discontinued, the new GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLNR “Batman” or, as it’s being referred to by some, “Batgirl”, caused quite the stir when it was revealed at Baselworld 2019. The black and blue GMT now features Rolex’s latest Calibre 3285 movement and, in keeping with the other steel GMT Rolex currently offers, the “Pepsi”, ditches the Oyster bracelet in favour of the prodigious Jubilee bracelet.…
The Franck Muller Vanguard Crazy Hours landed in Melbourne last week, and not only was I fortunate to take a closer look at it, but the kind people at Franck Muller invited me to celebrate it with them at a dining event with some of their important local clients. It was a great opportunity to view the new collection, as well as share a meal with a group of like-minded watch enthusiasts. There were some special people seated around the dining table, including Franck Muller’s global COO, Nicholas Rudaz, and Franck Muller’s General Manager of Australia, Mr Heng, both of whom enthusiastically shared their passion for mechanical watches and Franck Muller alike. Watches from the new collection were dotted around the room in display cases, as well as a number of pieces from other current collections that are available at boutiques, including the Happy Magpie from the Long Island collection, a charming rectangular watch with an immaculately hand-painted dial. Unsurprisingly, Nicholas Rudaz was carrying some serious horological heat, with a watch on each wrist. On one wrist, he wore a Franck Muller Crazy Hours, which he described as his “party watch” (and you can’t disagree with him on that), with…
Editor’s note: Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak is unquestionably one of the most important wristwatches of all time and it is steeped in history for so many reasons. For a start, the unique aesthetics of the now iconic watch and integrated bracelet were designed by the doyen of horological design, Gérald Genta, in less than 24 hours. Let that sink in: the timepiece that completely changed the game of luxury sports watches forever was conceived in less time than it would take us to fly to Geneva. What’s more, when it was released in 1972, the Royal Oak cost 3300 Swiss franc … for a steel sports watch! To put that in context, you could have bought close to a dozen Rolex Submariners for the same money at the time. Anyway, we could go on forever about this wonderful watch but, instead, we thought it would be worth drawing your attention back to the time we went hands-on with the solid yellow gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph. HANDS-ON: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in yellow gold STORY IN A SECOND: When the first Royal Oak was released in 1972 in steel it was a revelation. Now, in 2016, there’s a milder…
Hublot has teamed up with the initiative Save Our Rhino Africa/India (SORAI) to create the fetching, limited edition Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI. Stylised to mimic the tonal colours of Africa’s vast bush land, the new Big Bang Unico SORAI’s 45mm case is finished in microblasted beige ceramic, as is the watch’s bezel. Providing a stark contrast, the chronograph pushers and the crown of the limited edition watch are finished in a black composite resin. The dial of the Unico SORAI has been given the same aesthetic treatment, and the openwork-skeletonised movement is finished in matt beige, while the running seconds sub-dial displays the distinctive SORAI logo – a white rhino. The movement itself is Hublot’s self-winding HUB1242, and in addition to featuring a flyback chronograph complication containing both a column wheel and dual clutches, the watch also features a date complication and offers customers up to 72 hours of power reserve. The Unico SORAI is paired with two different straps: a beige NATO bracelet and a camouflage rubber bracelet that features some world-first technology. Essentially, through the employment of an innovative vulcanisation technique, Hublot is able to create a distinctive camouflage theme that is drawn onto the rubber bracelet…
Paying homage to a man widely regarded as the father of modernism, Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret), Rado’s stunning range of True Thinline Les Couleurs Le Corbusier could definitely be worth a look as your next summer watch. Le Corbusier, the visionary Swiss designer, architect and writer, created the concept of Architectural Polychromy – a palette that employs 63 different colours of architectural significance to assist with the portrayal of depth and space. These 63 colours are then grouped into nine different categories: vibrant, velvety, balanced, bold, powerful, expressive, luminous, impressive and pure. Rado’s new True Thinline collection wonderfully encapsulates these nine different palettes, and each of the watches distinct colours, nine in total, has an equally vibrant name to match. What’s more, when paired with Rado’s storied expertise in creating ceramic timepieces, which dates back more than 30 years, the combination makes for a compelling proposition, not least for the fact that ceramic is scratch resistant, light and hypoallergenic. The True Thinline watch itself is a very well proportioned wristwatch, thanks to a versatile 39mm case size that’s just 5mm thick. Housed inside the slim ceramic case is a 13-jewel quartz movement that powers the watch’s hour and minute hand.…