WHO TO FOLLOW: @Tom.inslay – watch engraver and artist
Tom Inslay is your typical Aussie, with the obvious exception of being wholly consumed by the beautiful world of horology. He’s also got a few interesting talents … Hey Tom, we’ve been wondering — what do you actually do? I have been in the manufacturing industry my whole life, the past six years as a CNC Machinist for a multinational mining company which designs and manufactures niche equipment for hard rock mine sites. On the side, I also run my own business, primarily as a bespoke hand engraver, and now watch art. What’s your daily watch and why? My daily watch is a Blue Tudor Pelagos. For me it’s the perfect work watch: the titanium makes it light, the clasp makes it easily adjustable and comfortable, the ceramic bezel is durable, the lume is second to none. It’s also not a $20,000 watch that I am too afraid to mark and wear, yet it’s a nice enough watch that an enthusiast would enjoy to wear. What else is in your collection? Have you got a favourite? I also have a Rolex GMT-Master II 116710BLNR ‘Batman’, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400 Blue, and a Rolex Submariner 5513 (birth year 1988). Which one…
The post WHO TO FOLLOW: @Tom.inslay – watch engraver and artist appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Editor’s note: Speculation is, by definition, risky. But it’s also fun. And here at T+T we don’t speculate on shares or cryptocurrency — no, we make guesses on watch releases. So last year we made nine semi-educated guesses as to what watches we’d see this year … and we didn’t do so well. If you’re charitable, we can kind of claim three out of nine. Their is a new Polaris (though not the Mark II), the new Navitimer 8 does have a bit of Top Time DNA in there, and Andy did predict a gradient grey dial Blancpain Diver Date. But you know what, there’s always 2019 … Today’s list is, without doubt, one of the most meta we’ve done in a while. We’re looking forward … to the past. There’s no escaping that vintage reissues are a part of the watch collection landscape, now being a ‘key pillar’ for many brands, and guessing what they’re going to pull out of the archives is always a fun game. So Andy and I polished off the crystal ball and had a stab at what we’re going to see at SIHH and Baselworld 2018. Omega Flightmaster Andy: The Omega Flightmaster is one of…
Earlier this week, Jaeger-LeCoultre held the Australian launch of their brand new Polaris collection at Carriageworks in Sydney, and it was — to borrow Neil Patrick Harris’ line — legendary. In watchland, the Polaris is a legend in its own right (a watch I incidentally had the pleasure of seeing in its various stages of assembly), so it was only appropriate that Jaeger-LeCoultre assembled some local legends to celebrate its arrival on our shores. Sporting legend John Eales (this guy) officiated over the launch of the sporty line, dropping surprising titbits like the fact that Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Vallée de Joux manufacture has its own rugby team (the fact that Eales politely suggested their skills were better suited to watchmaking is beside the point). Eales wasn’t the only legend in attendance; entertainment was provided not by your typically muted string quartet or jazz band, but rather by Australian rock royalty. Darren Middleton opened with a little song called My Happiness that he happened to have co-written while in legendary Brisbane band Powderfinger. Shortly after, he was joined by the equally legendary Kram (this guy) on drums, and finally by Davey Lane — guitarist for You Am I. Not a bad lineup for…
In the world of vintage watch collection, ‘issued’ watches — timepieces that were supplied to military personnel — typically command a pretty penny, and brands with a history of producing timing instruments for armed services often lean on this heritage with military-inspired reissues. However, it’s not always so simple, as some brands are wary of glorifying conflict. Regardless of how the story is articulated, there’s no denying that the simple, clean and purposeful designs that so often characterise watches intended for military use is an attractive look, and not one that’s disappearing any time soon. Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Hamilton is famous for its military watches, particular their simple, tough watches issued in the latter half of last century. It’s a legacy that lives on in their popular Khaki Field watches, and this 38mm, manually winding watch is one of the best we’ve seen in a long time. The dial is ultra-spartan, with an internal 24-hour track, vintage lume and nylon strap. But the real winner is the price. 450 CHF. Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds Now this is a bit of a tricky one, as the Seamaster 1948 Limited Edition takes its design cues from the first Seamaster, a…
