The ever-refreshing Rolex Pepsi, AKA the GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLRO
Editor’s note: A little more than a year has come and gone since the new Jubilee Rolex Pepsi entered the world (and it’s since been joined by Batgirl), but the chances are good that you’re still waiting for yours — so how about another look at what’s still one of the most desired wrist accessories in the world right now. Take it away, Andy. You’ve either been sleeping or taking a break from social media to have missed the news on this one. As part of their new Baselworld 2018 releases, Rolex have released for the very first time a ‘Pepsi’ GMT-Master II in ‘Oystersteel’ (which is the new Rolex terminology for their 904L steel). Yes, a two-colour red and blue Cerachrom bezel insert, WITH a Jubilee bracelet. Vital statistics The five-link Jubilee bracelet is also made from Oystersteel and features an ‘Oysterclasp’, which allows for 5mm of adjustment. It’s also worth noting that this is the first time we’ve seen a Jubilee bracelet on a sports Rolex in modern times. The Oystercase also received some changes and has been redesigned. It’s noticeably different in comparison to the GMT-Master II BLNR (Batman), which is also still in production. Aesthetics aside, the…
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Editor’s note: Last Baselworld (2018, not 2019), I decided to mix things up a little and leave my normal bunch of plain and simple three-handers at home for something a little, um, busier. Well, a lot busier if we’re honest. But trust me, all the colours and text on the dial of the Montblanc Orbis Terrarum didn’t detract from its awesomeness … There’s a lot of important planning that happens in the lead up to Baselworld. But perhaps the single most important question is — what watch do I wear? In previous years I’ve taken a handful of pieces, something I wasn’t keen to do this year, as I find it vaguely stressful travelling with more than one (what if I leave it on a plane!), and I typically end up wearing only one the whole week. So this year I decided to travel with just one, and I also thought it was the perfect opportunity to put a travel-oriented watch through its paces in a real-world setting. So, a bit of back and forth later, one watch emerged at the top of my short list. The Montblanc Orbis Terrarum, released back in 2015. I’ve always liked this watch; it looks…





Editor’s note: The Santos de Cartier is the perfect dress watch for modern times. Adaptable, versatile and restrained — but with a clear personality. It’s also based on a watch that’s more than 100 years old. Which really is a testament to good design. Long live the Santos! Few watches can rival Cartier’s Santos in terms of on-the-wrist recognition and sheer weight of history. The design debuted in 1904 and has remained fundamentally unchanged in form since. But while the new Santos might look familiar, quite a lot has changed. Small changes have been made to the design and ergonomics of the case, resulting in a watch that looks and wears better on the wrist. Bigger changes have been made to the inside, with an in-house movement upgrade and, most excitingly of all, a new QuickSwitch strap change system that allows you to swap your strap quickly and painlessly. This is something I’d be really excited to see rolled out more widely across the Cartier collection. On a related note, there’s a similar functionality for the bracelet, allowing you to add and remove links without tools. These changes on their own are all fairly incremental, but package them up together, on…
Pitching any ‘best of’ list is always more effective when you have very strict parameters and are forced to think sideways to come up with creative suggestions. Being asked to come up with a list of the best classic watches for different budgets is not easy. Less so, when one considers how open to interpretation the term ‘classic’ is. The TAG Heuer Monaco is a ‘classic’, but it is no dress watch, nor does it have ‘classic’ styling. For that reason I’ve chosen three price points, and decided to pick one sports and one dress watch that fits the bill in each. Feel free to @ us your agreement/disagreement/other options. Two choices under $5000 – Tudor and Oris For less than $4000 Australian, it is actually possible to get your hands on an ETA-powered Tudor Black Bay 41mm watch with a stainless steel bracelet. It’s a preposterous value proposition from a brand whose star is set to shine brighter and brighter as their presence continues to be bolstered by the mythic power that Rolex (the brand’s big brother) wields over the industry. At this price point my sporty suggestion is the Oris Divers Sixty-Five, on a bi-colour bracelet. In terms…