EDITOR’S PICK: Fit for purpose – this is what a NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster X-33 looks like
Editor’s note: Omega’s Speedmaster is famous for being worn in space, but it’s not every day you meet one that has, well, actually been worn in space. Yet, that’s exactly what happened when Andy Green noticed the beaten-up Speedy on an astronaut’s wrist … A little while ago, I was in Sydney attending a conference for my day job. The opening speaker was Ron Garan Jr, a former NASA astronaut, who’s travelled 71 million miles for work, spent 178 days in space, orbited Earth 2842 times and enjoyed a grand total of 27 hours and three minutes taking part in EVAs (extravehicular activity) over four spacewalks. As Ron took the stage to share his experiences on the International Space Station (ISS), giving the sort of perspective that only an astronaut can have, I found myself a little distracted. You see, in the world of semi-pro watch-spotting, nothing is as cool as an astronaut’s watch, so all I could do was stare at his wrist with laser-like focus. From several rows back, it was obviously an Omega bracelet, but I was thrown by the chunkier case and unusual dial configuration. I couldn’t pick the model. Driven by a need to find out more, I hustled…
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2018 is a fascinating time to be a watch collector, and as we can all agree — social media has an impact on the hobby we all love. This impact has been felt at all levels, whether that be market prices of specific ‘hot watches’, an increase in consumer influence over the design of watches, and the way watches are not only announced but ultimately sold. Whether the impact is positive or negative is open to interpretation. In recent years, we’ve not only seen all the major brands jump onto Instagram (thanks for joining us, Patek) but a notable increase in activity from the CEOs driving these brands. After all, it’s a great way to engage the audience, release new info — and, of course, promote the brand! Today we take a look at five watch industry executives, who are at the top of the ’gram game. Jean-Claude Biver – LVMH Watch Division – @JCBiver First up, the legendary Jean-Claude Biver, President of the LVMH Watch Division, Chairman of Hublot and Zenith, and CEO of TAG Heuer. Aside from being an industry tycoon, Mr Biver was one of the first CEOs we saw not only taking up but embracing the use of social…
A Swiss watch is a near-universally recognised symbol for quality, precision and tradition. And while that’s all well and good, there’s another thing that fine Swiss watches tend to be synonymous with — and that’s high sticker prices. And broadly speaking that perception is true — I constantly find myself uttering phrases like “this $60,000 watch offers tremendous value”, and Justin recently went into a little bit of detail as to why that’s the case. But, let’s be real here, that sort of watch is for the very few. But you know what? Just because the median price of a Swiss mechanical watch is the equivalent of a decent car, that doesn’t mean there aren’t outliers. So, we’ve rounded up six quality mechanical offerings, mostly from large, established brands with storied histories, all offering watches at under $1500. So if you’re looking for your first good watch, or are just a sucker for great value, check these out. Mido Commander Shade If there’s one valid complaint to make about watches offered at the more accessible end of the spectrum, it’s that they can tend to look a little samey. That’s one accusation no one will be throwing at the Commander…
In May last year, Tudor unveiled a brand new tagline – #BornToDare – and with it, a suitably daring ambassador, David Beckham. The choice of Beckham was a bold one on several fronts: he’s a bona fide A-lister with massive international star power, propelling Tudor to the next level of mainstream visibility. But beyond that, Beckham is a pretty perfect fit for the brand, as is clearly evident in the newest chapter in the brand’s #BornToDare campaign. Beckham, as captured by noted fashion photographer David Sims, is clad head-to-toe in natural, neutral tones and fabrics – a subdued colour palette perfectly in keeping with the Black Bay Bronze on his wrist. I’ve spent hours writing thousands of words on the Black Bay Bronze, about its rugged reliability, casual charms and individual patina, but it turns out that a picture does speak a thousand words, as the entire vibe of the watch is neatly encapsulated in this single picture. This campaign also sees Beckham don flannel and denim to go with the Black Bay Fifty-Eight, and appear in a series of videos where he tells stories of family, life on the pitch, and his first Tudor — a vintage model with its…