Introducing – Farer Launches Three Automatic Chronographs – Cobb, Eldridge and Segrave
You’d be hard pressed to find a more mature and unique watch company in the world of microbrands than London-based Farer Universal. Their production is predictably limited in number for a small brand, offering a maximum of 300 individual watches within most series (many are limited to 100) and they often sell out in a matter of months. They’re known for using a lot of colours and whimsical designs, yet maintain a sophistication and maturity that keep them from resembling expensive Swatch watches. With the exception of their initial quartz line, Farer always releases new watches in a series of three, all having very different dial designs that share a common case. Following up on the 37mm Hand-Wound series released a few months ago, the company just launched three automatic chronographs that continue their distinctive design language – The Cobb, Eldridge and Segrave.
Right now in the world of watchmaking, there’s a distinctly warm and fuzzy feeling of nostalgia in the air. A sentiment that is owed in no small part to Longines, who more than 10 years ago pioneered the popular heritage reissue trend we all know and love today. With a history that stretches back over the better part of the last two centuries, the winged-hourglass brand has a vast, and rather historically important, back catalogue to choose from. And with plenty to inspire the Saint-Imier watchmaker, the Heritage collection is full of our favourites. Longines Heritage 1945 As part of the Watercolour Watch project, back in 2015 renowned artist Sunflowerman actually illustrated the inspiration for the 1945. Two years later and Longines brought his art to life, delivering its salmony gold tones and wonderfully blued hands to wrists around the world. RRP $2340 Longines Legend Diver The legend that started it all. Introduced to our wrist back in 2007, the Legend Diver quickly became a fan-favourite, with its on-point retro styling and a ’60s-inspired Super Compressor case. We’ve seen it in date or no date variations, worn it on the original black strap and its superb mesh bracelet, and felt…
Editor’s note: Following on from our revisit of Felix’s divisive bombshell yesterday, where he confessed and made some rather good arguments as to why vintage reissues are the way to go, we thought it only fair to also share the other side of the coin — the side that not only shows a little more patina, but wears it with pride. As written by Julian Sack, friend of Time+Tide and avid vintage watch collector. I’m a watch collector. I didn’t know it when my father gave me an IWC after my graduation, but in the years and decades since, I’ve realised that collecting vintage watches is a part of who I am. I’ve come to love the stories and history that live in old watches, as well as the challenge of finding the perfect example. The thrill of the chase I don’t mean to disparage people who buy new, but I find little joy in walking into a shop, throwing down a piece of plastic and walking out with a watch. For me, it’s all about the journey. When I started collecting, the only information I could obtain about a watch was a picture – and by this I mean a Kodak, not…
To most people, The Dirty Dozen is the prototypical misfit movie, starring the late, great Lee Marvin. But to watch fans, it’s something else entirely. In watchland, the Dirty Dozen refers to the 12 suppliers of watch, wrist, waterproof timepieces (the WWW engraving on the caseback) to the British Ministry of Defence during World War II. Some of those suppliers, such as Longines, IWC and Omega, are well-known names today, but others, like Timor, Vertex and Grana, are consigned to those particularly brutal pages of history. But, as with all things military, these watches have a cachet and a cult following, thanks to their utilitarian style. And amongst aficionados of the Dozen, the Longines Greenlander is seen as one of the most desirable. It’s fairly rare, with only about 8000 being made, but it’s also the largest, at 38mm, and has an interesting stepped design. All things that proud owner Andre points out. What makes this watch even more special (to my mind at least) is that Andre wears it regularly, and without fear. Andre’s example is special in that it’s retained its radium dial, and looks exceptional on that worn fabric strap. A beautiful watch, worn well and full…