Value Proposition – Peter Speake-Marin Is Back In The Watch Game With Affordable Watches: Stoic World
A few years ago, when you mentioned the name Peter Speake-Marin, you probably had in mind an independent watchmaker with creativity and complex watches – such as a fully-opened tourbillon minute repeater… This was before Peter sold his company and left to become someone else, independent again. After starting a unique concept named “The Naked Watchmaker”, Peter Speake-Marin is back in the watch game with something truly unexpected: affordable watches. Meet Stoic World.
Two hundred and eighty years is pretty big as far as milestones go. So, given that Jaquet Droz is marking the big two-eight-o this year, you’d expect them to have a few tricks up their sleeve … and you wouldn’t be disappointed. They’ve released this special version of their signature watch — the Grande Seconde Tribute, a limited edition of 88 pieces cased, for the first time, in yellow gold. The original precious metal is perfectly paired with the warm ivory tones of the Grand Feu dial, printed with the characteristic dual dials — including the oversized seconds hand that gives the watch its name. It’s a design that is quite timeless, yet not old-fashioned, due in no small part to the fact that Jaquet Droz has executed the whole affair with restraint and taste. I particularly liked that the individual number of the watch (5 in this case) is printed on the dial. Classy stuff. Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Tribute Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Tribute, in yellow gold, $28,650.
Editor’s note: Late last year I hung out with Andrew and some strangely undrunk drinks on a hot rooftop bar and rolled through my favourite watches of 2017. Six months and two watch fairs have passed since then, and do I still stand by my picks? Well, scroll down and find out. Legend has it those Coronas are still there … Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Master Chronometer Timeless style and a seriously impressive movement ensured the Aqua Terra won over the pragmatic side of my heart. My only dilemma is — which version? Do I still rate it? Heck yes I do! I’m leaning more towards the bracelet version these days, as well as the grey dial with light blue seconds hand. Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic I’ve loved this watch from the first time I saw it. Impressive engineering and avant-garde style makes for an irresistible combination for me. Do I still rate it? The OG version is pretty amazing, but I think I love the new gold and rhodium-plated steel versions even more. So I guess I rate it more? Apple Watch Series 3 Shock! Horror! Apple Watch! Not only am I continually impressed by how well Apple does luxury…
Is anyone else struggling with the fact that it’s June? I am, and this month’s Spotted is jam-packed with some crazy cool watches. Kicking things off, I started this month with ‘coffee and cars’ – and going in I was well aware that any combination of Heuer and Vintage Chronograph is always a winner amongst car enthusiasts. I quickly spotted this very interesting piece – a vintage Leonidas ‘Easy-Rider’. These Leonidas Easy-Riders have quite an interesting history and were introduced in the 1970s for a short period of time by Heuer, developed as an affordable model to battle the increasingly popular quartz watches coming out of Japan. For a more in-depth look at their history, check out Calibre 11’s ‘Ultimate Guide to the Heuer Easy-Rider’ (it’s very good). Later that morning, I spotted another icon on the wrist of @AutoReligion, who was wearing his Seiko PADI. Although owning a large collection of Swiss watches, like Rolex and Omega, its owner loved the classical design and robustness of the PADI. It’s his watch of choice for weekend activities and is also a nice reminder of the special place Japan holds in his heart. Later in the month, I found myself in…
It’s seven years since Chanel Horlogerie decided to start developing its own movements in-house and in the last three of those years it has launched three new calibres – or four, when counting Calibre 2.1 separately. Each is strikingly different from anything offered by other haute horlogerie brands – and all are noticeably different from each other. That’s due to Chanel’s singular approach to watchmaking, which does not follow the usual path of “making engines to then put into various cases”, says Nicolas Beau, the global head of watchmaking and fine jewellery. “We think of a collection or model at the same time as we think of a calibre because there is a very strong intimacy between the two. It’s one calibre per model. So the first thing we do is imagine a calibre that has the capacity to evolve. And that creates another difficulty, which is that we must try to envision how we want a model to evolve, and in which direction the movements can evolve for it – not just technically but aesthetically as well.” That’s because, in Chanel’s way of thinking, the aesthetic side is the leader and decision-maker. The creative team first draws the movement,…
This week our feeds have been blowing up with all the hot new lewks from Florence as the #menswear and #influencer brigade descended for Pitti Immagine Uomo 94 — a trade show that seems, from the outside at least, to be more about lounging around faux-casually, in immaculate, over-the-top outfits. These guys are known collectively as peacocks. And we thought we’d help out these Pitti Peacocks by selecting some of the finest au current timepieces for their sartorial needs. And then we thought we’d find some real world examples too … Check out this #dapper #gent in his #sartorial #tailoring. He’s got it going on. Not only is he flexing in his Redford-as-Gatsby-esque double breaster, but dude has a feather in his hat AND an earring. A style pirate if ever I saw one. And what do pirates love more than sailing boats and maritime violence? Gold, they love gold. So we found the perfect gold watch to complement — and not outshine — his look, the sandblasted Bulgari Octo Finissimo. Bonus points for being an Italian brand, because #italiansdoitbetter Next up is this fella, who I’m calling Dapper Dan the Man in Tan. He’s busy living his best safari life.…