EDITOR’S PICK: Throwback fun with the Oris Chronoris
Editor’s note: Too often watchmaking is perceived (even by people inside the tent) as a Very Serious Business. And, yes, timekeeping is important, but you know what’s more important? Having a fun, fulfilling life. And while it’s a stretch to say that your watch can make your life better, I suspect that the pure hit of unadulterated joy I’d get every time I checked the time on this funk-tastic watch wouldn’t hurt. Cameron explores the pint-sized packet of fun that is the Oris Chronoris … The story in a second: Disco might be dead, but the ’70s live on in Oris’ latest re-edition. A decade for experimentation, the ’70s was an era of bold shapes and brightly coloured designs (men’s turtleneck ponchos, anyone?). While many of these experiments should never be repeated (men’s turtleneck ponchos), there are a few special exceptions. One of which is the Oris Chronoris. Released in 1970, it was the brand’s first foray into the world of motorsport and their very first chronograph. Since then, Oris has built a strong stable of auto-themed watches, maintaining connections to the sport of motor-racing with partnerships including Audi Sport and Williams’ F1 teams. Oris first paid tribute to the Chronoris in 2005, in…
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The story in a second: Classic on the outside, contemporary on the inside. Baume & Mercier are onto a winner here. I’ve always thought Baume & Mercier were at their best when they were playing with the classics. The Clifton, with its classical proportions, vintage inspiration and strong value offering, is a proposition that was hard to beat. But beat it they did, with the deceptively simple Clifton Baumatic, and its powerful movement. The case An elegantly proportioned case is a hallmark of the Clifton family, and this Baumatic version delivers, with neat and tidy dimensions of 40mm across by 10.3mm tall. But even though it’s a Clifton, it’s not quite the same Clifton as before. The regular — non-Baumatic — Clifton is shade wider at 41mm. It’s not just the overall width here that’s slimmer, the lug shoulders are more slender too, giving a greater air of timelessness overall. As you’d expect, the crystals are sapphire on the front and the rear, and it’s rated to 50 metres of water resistance. The dial The classic aesthetic that’s evident on the case continues onto the dial, which could perhaps be best described as simple but stylish. Crisp black printing on…
Invented in the 1930s by Geneva watchmaker Louis Cottier, world time watches brought – at a glance and all at once – the time across 24 of the world’s key time zones to the hands of international jetsetters and business-makers. Indeed, no complication provides a greater desire to conquer the world, or induces a greater sense of adventure, especially if it’s made by a watchmaker as adventurous as Franck Muller and then packed inside the curvaceous Vanguard case. Vital statistics As you may have guessed, if not just from the name but perhaps from the centralised world map encircled by a 24-hour day/night ring, this is a world time watch, displaying 24 time zones, from Chicago to Tokyo through to Moscow and London. As if that wasn’t enough, as well as displaying the local time with central hour, minutes, and seconds hands, a separate red-tipped hour hand provides a second reference time that is set in one-hour increments via a pusher at 4 o’clock. The 44mm x 53.7mm trademark Vanguard case is available in 18k rose gold, titanium or, as shown here, in stainless steel with a combination of silky brushed and mirror polished finishes. And making the magic happen…