9 things you need to know before buying an Omega Constellation
Editor’s note: This guest post, from noted vintage watch dealer Derek Dier of WatchesToBuy, was written a few years ago now, but the advice is timeless, even if the prices for Omega Constellations are only going up. So, if you’re in the market for one of these old school beauties, make sure you read this first … The Omega Constellation is so easily wearable. It’s one of those vintage watches almost every collector seeks at some point in their perpetual search for another piece to add to their collection. First appearing in 1952, the Constellation was designed to be Omega’s bellwether watch. This was the brand’s first mass-produced chronometer grade wristwatch and the brainchild of designer René Bannwart (who later founded Corum.) The Constellation was originally called the ‘Globemaster’ in the USA, though it was dropped in 1956 as Douglas Aircraft, manufacturers of the huge transport planes of the same name, held the trademark on the name. (As an aside, last year Omega brought that historic Globemaster name back, in a watch that channels the spirit of the original.) And while the Constellation has a long and broad history, today I’m going to focus on its golden age, which ran…
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It’s black. It’s inspired by Bobber bikes from the ’50s. And it could be yours. Our competition to win a Royal Enfield Stealth Black Time+Tide Special Edition Motorcycle is open. Entrants can also win one of hundreds of premium ballistic nylon Time+Tide NATO straps instantly. Enter to win a Royal Enfield Stealth Black Time+Tide Special Edition Motorcycle here To read more about the competition, see this post. Please note, this competition is for Australian entrants only. However, to celebrate the moment, we’re making our previously print-only Buying Guide available for free; you can read it here. A quick summary of the Terms and Conditions: Competition starts 9:00 AM AEST 29/04/2019. Ends 11:59 PM AEST 20/05/2019. Open to Australian residents 18+ (if entrant under 18, consent must be provided by a parent or guardian) who fulfill the entry/eligibility requirements. Prize is a Royal Enfield x Time+Tide ‘Stealth Black’ Special Edition Motorcycle valued at $9,990 (inc GST). Excludes on-road costs and registration. Major Prize draw 2:30 PM 21/05/2019 at Peazie, 2/27 St Edmonds Road Prahran VIC 3181. Winners notified via Email within 2 days and published at Time+Tide watches website 27/05/2019. Promoter is Time and Tide Watches Pty Ltd. ABN 18 367 821 559. 22 Cremorne Street…
To understand the Vacheron Constantin Twin Beat, we need to begin with a universal truth: in most areas of life, the most meaningful innovations are those that address real-life needs, solving practical problems in a sensible way. And those solutions come through questioning orthodox assumptions. In the case of mechanical watches, the received wisdom is that the running time of a watch before it needs rewinding (its power reserve) is fixed by the amount of energy the mainspring can store. In other words, the mainspring barrel has a fixed capacity and thus can release energy only for a fixed timespan. Therefore, a longer power reserve requires either a longer mainspring (much larger barrel) or multiple mainsprings that release their energy one by one (multiple, series-coupled barrels). Both of these conventional solutions require more space in the movement and, consequently, a bigger watch case. It’s like the range of a car: have a bigger tank or build in some energy-saving technology. Now, for time-only automatic watches this limitation of power reserve is not a huge issue, since even a very slim case can accommodate enough mainspring to provide 60 hours of running time (and those who really do find it an…
Editor’s note: The Reverso is, hands down, one of the all-time classic watch designs. And now, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface in pink gold is double the fun with twice the dials … Believe it or not, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is one of the original sports watches. The oft-quoted origin story about this iconic rectangle is that it was the dusty polo fields of colonial India that gave birth to the reversible watch, which could be easily flipped to protect the delicate dial during the rough and tumble of the chukka. That was way back in 1931, and in the subsequent decades the perceptions of the Reverso have, much like its ingenious case, done a complete about-face. In 2017 the Reverso stands out as one of the default black-tie watches. Nowhere is that more apparent than with this Tribute Duoface, which looks absolutely stunning in pink gold. The case size is reasonable – but by no means overwhelming – at 25.5mm wide by 42.9mm high. The one thing that shines brighter than the gold on this watch is the clever and varied use of texture. Everywhere you look there’s a different finish. The front dial is described by JLC as a…
Editor’s note: The other week news dropped about Timex’s lastest line, which is significantly made in America. Which got us to thinking about some other watches born in the USA. So we thought it was high time to have another look at this list … It might surprise you to know that in the first half of the last century, America was regarded as the force to be reckoned with when it came to watches — especially modern, efficient and mass-produced watches. But now, with great legacy brands like Waltham and Illinois consigned to the scrapheap of history, while others, like Hamilton, are part of larger Swiss portfolios, the American watch industry is a shadow of its former self. But that’s not to say that the land of the free and the home of the brave is entirely bereft of local timekeeping concerns. Here are five brands keeping the faith, though it must be mentioned that in most cases the heavy lifting of manufacturing is done offshore. Weiss American Issue Field Watch A few years ago the American Federal Trade Commission tightened up on ‘American Made’, dictating that to be eligible it wasn’t good enough for a product to be…
We had a hint of it a little while ago when Justin previewed the larger Captain Cook models, but now it’s official. The fan favourite Rado Captain Cook Automatic in 37mm is now offered in a limited edition champagne (or to give its official, but less romantic, name — brown sunbrushed) dial. Dial aside, the details are unchanged: polished steel case, ceramic bezel insert in black, boxed sapphire crystal and automatic movement with 80 hours of juice. But this time around, there is a quite cool new addition, in the form of a handy leather travel case that includes space for the watch, and the two extra straps that come with it as standard. So, there’s the suede-like leather, a Milanese mesh with straight end pieces for that authentic diver vibe, as well as a stylish fabric strap. And, of course, a tool to change them. So, for a little watch, this Captain Cook sure packs a punch. It’s limited to 1962 pieces. Rado’s Captain Cook Automatic limited edition Australian pricing Rado Captain Cook Automatic, with brown sunbrushed dial, $2900
Editor’s note: You don’t always need bells and whistles to make something truly exceptional. Sometimes less is more. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 is a case in point. Here we look at the colourful series that was released a few years ago. And even though they’re not the latest, they’re still among the greatest. The story in a second: This could well be the only watch you’ll ever need. There’s a concept in the world of watch enthusiasts that’s referred to as ‘only one watch’. For the majority of the population, this concept is better known as ‘normality’. But if you’re the sort of person who has a watch for work, one for the weekend, as well as a dedicated timepiece for special occasions, there’s a good chance the thought of committing to just one will fill you with dread. How could you choose? Can you live without a chronograph? And do you go for fine finishing or bulletproof reliability? Well, allow us to humbly suggest that all you really need a watch to do is tell the time. Everything else is superfluous. We’d also argue that you need a watch that can handle the daily rigours of regular wear…