With its new Lab collection, Corum aims at taking risks and experimenting. The timepieces of this collection eschew traditional codes and instead provide an off-beat take on watchmaking where mechanics take precedence. Meet the Heritage Corum Lab 01, a shaped watch with a bold design and an openworked, micro-rotor movement. The first two ‘Labs’ are […]
When the watchfam get together, it’s only a matter of time before the hot topic of grail watches rears its curious head. It’s no surprise, either, that for many collectors, their ultimate goal is usually found at the higher-end of the watchmaking spectrum. Perhaps a Patek Philippe or something of the Vacheron variety? Or maybe the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Brought to life by Gérald Genta, when he famously sketched the design for the “unprecedented steel watch” on the eve of the 1971 Basel watch fair, it was almost a year to the day later when the luxury sports watch made its debut in 1972. Taking its inspiration from traditional diving helmets, with an octagonal case featuring exposed screw heads and an integrated bracelet, the Royal Oak is widely considered as the very first luxury sports watch and sparked the trend that has since become the much-loved norm. Forty years later, in 2012, Audemars Piguet released this version of the Royal Oak, the ref. 15202ST, their most faithful tribute to the original yet, and one that is still in production and winning countless watch fans the world over. Matching the original’s 39mm case diameter – a size once considered huge…
The post HANDS-ON: Grail material – the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Ref. 15202ST appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
When it was announced last year, I thought Hublot’s Orlinski case was one of the freshest, coolest new shapes I’d seen in quite some time. And then they went and released it in blue ceramic and I quietly lost my mind. But before we dive into the blue, let’s have a quick refresher on just what — or who — an Orlinski is. Richard Orlinski is a French contemporary artist, known for his bright, poppy, faceted sculptures. In this partnership, Orlinski has brought his geometric approach to Hublot. Fundamentally, the Orlinski Hublot is a classic fusion — a two register chronograph with a heavily skeletonised dial that’s well-worn territory for the brand. It’s big — 45mm across and 13.40mm high, and powered by the non-Unico HUB1155. From a distance, the case still has that classic Hublot look — brawny shoulders and big bezel. But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that while the fundamental clay that forms the watch is the same, it’s been remoulded into something entirely new. The clay metaphor is a (not so clever) play on the fact that Orlinski is a sculptor, but it also works on a more literal level. The incredibly vibrant blue ceramic…
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This watch was the undisputed king of the week’s Geneva sales – and it performed like it too.
A new documentary prompts us to look back at one of the most remarkable watch stories you’ll ever hear.
As part of the brand’s ‘Special Projects’ line, the UR-111C is Urwerk at its best, a mature watch that soars with mechanical ingenuity and a design ethos straight out of Blade Runner. Although it does not bear the hallmark satellite hour hands we have come to associate with the brand, the UR-111C is packed with imaginative displays (jumping hours, linear retrograde minutes, optical fibre-augmented seconds) and a look and feel that is 100% Urwerk.
The first non-limited release from the upstart Chicago brand is an everyday watch that can take just about anything.
Burners, baseball players, and watches thrown from moving vehicles – experience the fall of a watch-obsessed SoCal smash-and-grab robbery ring.
The ongoing partnership between Swiss watch manufacture Bovet and the Italian car design studio Pininfarina has resulted in one of the most fascinating timepieces on the market. Packed with all the mechanical complexity and refined finishes we associate with Bovet’s timepieces, the OttantaSei has a sleek, aerodynamic case and the symmetrical layout that belies the hand of Pininfarina.
Being a Tudor enthusiast (or, for lack of a better word, a bit of a fanboy), the Black Bay Fifty-Eight was the watch that really caught my eye amongst the new releases from Tudor at this year’s Baselworld. Yes, like everyone else, I love the look and functionality of the Black Bay GMT, but being more of a vintage watch guy, the size and retro design of the Fifty-Eight really appealed to me. I’ve been dying to get my hands on the watch ever since, and I guess I wasn’t the only one. Just like the GMT, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight has been an instant success for Tudor, and if you’ve tried looking for one, you’d know that it’s near impossible to find one available to purchase, let alone at anywhere near retail price. When I was fortunate enough to get one, my expectations were sky-high and I’m glad to say that the Fifty-Eight did not disappoint. My first impression was … that the Fifty-Eight is one of those watches that looks great in photos, and even better in the metal. Not only does it look the part, it also feels extremely well-made and like it could take its fair…
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