Introducing: The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Grand Complication Phoenix
One of the brand’s most complex movements in a richly engraved case to match.
Hands-On: The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton Power Reserve
A barely-there take on Bulgari’s ultra-thin, hand-wound caliber.
Hands-on – The Impressive Armin Strom Masterpiece 1 Dual Time Resonance
In 2016, Armin Strom impressed us with a brand-new watch featuring a stunning complication. Armin Strom is a watch brand that was known mainly for its bold skeletonized movements, however mostly time-only watches. But with the Mirrored Force Resonance, the brand showed unprecedented horological skills. This year, the brand pushes the concept even further, not only by using the concept of Resonance but by using the double-balance construction to create a Dual Time watch. Two movements in one watch… Meet the Armin Strom Masterpiece 1 Dual Time Resonance.
Bring a Loupe: A Breitling SuperOcean Ref. 1004, A Tudor Big Crown Submariner Ref. 7924, And A Sharp 1940s Movado Calatrava
This week’s round-up of vintage watches from around the world.
NEWS: Battle of the brands – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born
When ‘Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper – Shallow (A Star Is Born)‘ came up on my Discover Weekly Spotify playlist, it caught my attention for three reasons. Firstly, I had no idea that Bradley Cooper could also sing (of course he can). Secondly, it’s delightful. But thirdly, and most relevantly, the duo were both recently appointed brand ambassadors for two of the world’s best watch brands. Now, the song is from 2018 musical romantic drama A Star Is Born, which centres on Gaga and Cooper as star-crossed lovers, and also happens to be Cooper’s directorial debut. And so, I got thinking: What would these rock stars wear on and offstage if they had just two watches from their respective brands? And then I went to town. Lady Gaga — Tudor In case you missed it, Tudor made waves late 2017 when they appointed Lady Gaga as a brand ambassador and global face of the #BornToDare campaign. Here’s what we think she’d wear … On stage: The Black Bay Dark This is the obvious choice for an onstage watch. The 41mm case will have enough of a presence to match Gaga’s voice, and the black PVD case fits in perfectly with any rock star look. Being…
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Value Proposition – E.C. Andersson Calypso Arctic Sport
It isn’t the first time that we talk about E.C.Andersson on MONOCHROME – and for valid reasons. Indeed, the Swedish micro-brand has arguments in the “value proposition” category. Good designs, great quality/price ratio, attention to details… This was true with the North Sea II, later followed by the brand’s vision of a sports watch, the Calypso. In order to be even more competitive, E.C.Andersson recently introduced the Calypso Sport (with a Miyota movement in lieu of the ETA calibre). Completing the collection, this watch is now offered with a new dial and an appropriate Arctic look.
VIDEO: Smaller, thinner – the Seiko Astron GPS Solar 5X
Most of the watches we talk about here at Time+Tide are mechanical — if there’s a battery involved, the watch has to be pretty special to get our attention. Well, Seiko’s Astron meets (and exceeds) the ‘pretty special’ criteria. The original Astron watch was released in 2012 (well, if you want to get technical, the original Astron was Seiko’s first quartz watch from 1969), and is significant as it was the world’s first GPS Solar watch, a particularly useful pairing of technology, which means that the watch can ‘talk’ to satellites, ensuring perpetual accuracy, and the solar cells on the dial ensure perpetual power. But cramming these technologies came at a cost — size. The earliest iterations of the Astron wore substantially on the wrist, but that’s something that Seiko has worked on over the years, as this latest generation, powered by the Calibre 5X, proves. In addition to smarter power usage, this Astron clocks in at a very respectable 42.9mm across by 12.2mm wide. It might not be elegant dress watch territory, but for a gadget-heavy daily wearer, it’s impressive. Add titanium construction to the equation and this might just be the best Astron yet. Seiko Astron SSH003J Australian pricing…
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VIDEO: The disruptor – a closer look at TAG Heuer’s Carrera Heuer 02 Tourbillon in black ceramic
Owning a tourbillon is a dream for many watch-loving folks. The little, eternally whirling cages, designed to counteract the effects of gravity on a timepiece’s isochronism, aren’t particularly practical, though they hold within them a charm that in many ways sums up the appeal of mechanical watches. But for many, the dream of strapping the pinnacle of watchmaking’s craft onto your wrist would always be just that — as, traditionally, tourbillons have come with a very high price tag. And while no one is suggesting that $20,000 is pocket change, when TAG Heuer introduced a Swiss, automatic tourbillon at this very aggressive price point, the industry as a whole took notice. It’s worth pointing out that TAG Heuer was able to achieve this by using more industrial processes in creating the tourbillon, as well as making them at a greater volume than other brands. But still, the Carrera Heuer 02 Tourbillon presents a very strong value proposition and, more importantly, looks great on the wrist, especially in that all-black ceramic case. TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 02 Tourbillon Australian pricing and availability TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 02 Tourbillon, in black ceramic, $21,750. Available at TAG Heuer boutiques.
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The Value Proposition: The Seiko SKX013 Dive Watch
A smaller take on one of the best budget watches of all time.
Hands-on – Bell & Ross BR-X1 Military
When you think Bell & Ross, you should apparently have “military-inspiration”, “pilot’s watch” and “round-within-a-square-case” in mind. So, with its squared case and round bezel, its chronograph, its military-coloured lightweight and robust material inspired by stealth fighter planes and an overall functional design, it seems that the new Bell & Ross BR-X1 Military ticks all the boxes, right? (spoiler alert: it does, and it even adds the cool technical look of the Experimental collection).