Video – Patrick Dempsey on Watches, the TAG Heuer Monaco and the man who did it all, Jack Heuer
During the F1 Grand Prix in Monaco, last weekend, we sat down with TAG Heuer’s CEO, and we managed to steal fifteen minutes from actor, race driver and TAG Heuer ambassador Patrick Dempsey. Admittedly, I didn’t know Patrick from anything else but him being ‘an actor who loves racing’. My better half knows him, of course, for playing Dr. Derek Shepherd in the series Grey’s Anatomy. Now I also know him for being a great guy with an intense passion for racing and TAG Heuer watches, and owning a very nice 1972 Heuer Monaco.
Seiko’s distinctive shrouded diver (commonly called the ‘Tuna Can’) is a real cult model, due in equal parts to its indestructibility and its distinctive design. It’s a watch that stands out from across the street, or in five metres of murky water — depending on how you like to use your dive watches. Having said that, this solar-powered iteration — one part of a trio — is aimed more at a topside clientele, as the ‘Street Series’ sobriquet suggests. The series is offered in three colours — navy blue (which we’ve got here), an olive-y green and grey. The colour is due to the silicon strap, the shroud, the bezel and the dial. And for all that this is a lot of colour, the lack of contrast or superlative (dare I say flashy) design elements give the Street Series watches a serious, purposeful sensibility. They will also go quite well with a variety of outfits, which is a boon. But don’t be mistaken for thinking that these watches are style over substance. They’re still every millimetre the legendary Seiko diver — all 47 of them. They’re rated to 200 metres, and generally considered to be bombproof (don’t test the theory). Adding…
Editor’s note: One of the more interesting Instagram accounts I’ve followed in recent times is @adpatina, dedicated to sourcing (and selling) vintage watch ads. Clearly, I am not alone, as Ad Patina has graduated from Instagram and is now a fully fledged site and store. So, if you ever wanted to know what makes a good watch ad, or just want one to hang on the wall, read on … So, how did you get into vintage watch ads? Ah, it all started when I was a teenager in the mid ’90s … I remember taping Rolex ads to my bedroom wall. The ads weren’t vintage, and, oddly, most of the models advertised weren’t ones I wanted to own. They were just random Rolex ads (I even had Lady Datejust ads pinned up). It was less about the actual watch, more about the brand. You see, I aspired to own a Rolex, and having these ads greet me as I entered my room — looming over my head as I did homework, the last thing I saw before falling asleep — served as a reminder and motivation to get good grades, work hard, stay out of trouble, so one day I’d be in a position to get one.…
Editor’s note: Root beer is a peculiarly American drink, sweet and vaguely medicinal – not at all unappealing but an acquired taste. Can the same be said for the Rolex GMT-Master II in Oystersteel and Everose? Perhaps, but it’s a particular flavour of Rolex that Andrew fell hard for at Basel 2018, and 12 months on, the love is still going strong … In the wee hours of this morning, as I was recording this voice-over, it occurred to me that the only watch from the new Rolex GMT-Master II collection currently not receiving a massive amount of coverage at Basel 2018 was the one in the middle – with both Oystersteel and Everose elements, the two-tone, or as Rolex call it, Rolesor model. It just so happens that, at this point in time, it’s the one I’m most fixated on. I think, without stealing too much of my own thunder, it’s the way that all the colours, finishings, materials, and fine details come together – and play off one another. I’m sure that once the Pepsi sugar high has worn off a little, the glittering Rolex GMT-Master II in Oystersteel and Everose will have its time in the sun, but…
Editor’s note: Sapphire watches, while technically amazing, sometimes run the risk of being a little — um — dull. Mostly because there’s nothing to really look at (what with the clear case and all). That’s certainly not a problem with the (impressively named) Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Power Reserve 5 Days Sapphire Rainbow which delivers some double action thanks to the colourful bezel and complex movement. There are a lot of things I love about Hublot, and I’ve got to say, this watch manages to cram pretty much all of them (barring ceramic) into one awesome, 45mm package. It’s the Big Bang Tourbillon Power Reserve 5 Days Sapphire Rainbow, and it does pretty much what it says on the tin. Let’s start with the case. Hublot has been playing with (and seriously democratising) ultra-hard, ultra-slick and ultra-cool synthetic sapphire cases since 2016, and it’s become something of a staple in their higher-end limited editions. For all its transparency, this 45mm wide and 14.25mm thick case has stacks of presence, providing an almost unbearably crisp, sharp silhouette. The incredible wrist presence provides an amazing juxtaposition with the transparent nature of the material. But in a twist that’s exclusive to the Australian and Japanese…