EVENT: 4 watches & 4 quotes from the Australian launch of the new Grand Seiko quartz GMT calibre
During the week, we were privileged to host the official Seiko Australia launch of the Grand Seiko GMT Quartz Calibre at a Melbourne restaurant called Kuro Kisumé. We’ve had some good old times over the years, but this was really up there. Minds were blown by the food – believe the hype – wrists were tempted by the watches, and new friends were made, from all walks of life. From firefighters to plastic surgeons to an elite bodyguard, to ‘Mr Grand Seiko’ (handle: @mrgrandseiko — too legit), we had the right people in the room. The atmosphere of the evening, my tablemate John commented, was “like we were in a private home” – an ambience complemented by the genial presence of Seiko Australia Managing Director Toru Koizumi, who spent much of the evening in deep conversation with some of the most fanatical Seiko fans in the country. There were four watches in particular that received the most attention, and four quotes that summed up the night’s proceedings. “TIME+TIDE WILL HAVE EXCLUSIVITY ON THE FIRST ALLOCATION OF THE LIMITED EDITION PRESAGE ‘FUYUGESHIKI’ COCKTAIL TIME MODELS …” The announcement by Mr Koizumi that we would be selling the first allocation of the Presage…
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In case you’ve been living under a rock this past year and a bit, ever since industry great Georges Kern took hold of the reins at Breitling, the big, bold brand of the skies has undergone a serious streamlining. Finding inspiration in their past and releasing focused collections that encompass four separate categories: air, sea, land, and professional. The latest addition to the revamped catalogue is the land-based Premier Collection, which not only reflects the design of Breitling’s first truly elegant watch – released in the 1940s – but also takes on its name. Home to four models, plus one special Breitling for Bentley chronograph, the collection starts with a duo of simple yet debonair three-handers. The Premier Automatic 40, a time-only model with small seconds subdial, and the Premier Automatic Day & Date 40, a slightly more complicated model with central seconds and a day/date display. Both feature 40mm cases and a water-resistance of 100 metres. Naturally, there’s also a pair of chronographs, with one powered by the brand’s impressive B01 column wheel chronograph movement and the other containing the venerable Valjoux 7750. While both use very similarly sized 42mm cases – varying only slightly in their thickness –…
Editor’s note: Heritage is no longer a thing of the past — it’s here to stay. Retro-inspired watches are no longer just a little something extra tacked onto a product category, they’re an increasingly important, mainstream part of the product offering. It’s also a design trope that’s become increasingly diverse, incorporating near 1:1 reissues, all the way down to thoroughly modern offerings with a vintage twist. Last year, we rounded up 10 of the best watches that looked to the past. And now, as we’re thinking about this year’s crop of reissues, we thought it was a good time to revisit the list … Cartier Tank Américaine When it comes to heritage, it’s hard to beat Cartier’s venerable Tank, which celebrates its centenary this year. But having said that, the version we particularly liked this year is a little younger, from 1989. The Américaine is a more modern design, and now it comes in steel! RRP $8050 Omega Railmaster We know the Railmaster had to make this list, but the only question is — which one? Do you go for the super legit, super limited reissue of the 1957 original, or go with the vintage-esque vibes of the regular production,…
When you’ve been around for 150 years you can afford to take the long view when it comes to the vagaries of fashion and trends, and start to take some perspective. Perhaps this is why IWC’s celebratory anniversary collection is jam-packed full of classics, like this Portugieser. A round gold watch in the classic style, with a beautifully simple dial design — Arabic numerals and leaf hands look the business, especially on the rich white lacquer dial that is a hallmark of the “150 years” limited editions. The only thing that bucks convention is the size — at 43mm, the case is a little on the large size for traditional tastes, but even then it fits into the narrative of the Portugieser, originally conceived as a pocket watch movement in a wristwatch. Really, though, what all this means is a watch that’s simple, and simply stunning. IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days Edition “150 Years” Australian pricing and availability IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days Edition “150 Years”, limited to 250 pieces, $27,100