Anyone truly familiar with German watch brand A. Lange & Sohne can be considered an insider. Established in 1845 in the Saxony region of Germany, this Dresden brand was expropriated after World War II and nearly experienced extinction. However, after the Wall came down and Germany was reunified, Walter Lange, great-grandson of founder Ferdinand Adolph Lange had the vision to start the brand new in the early 1990’s.
Just because Jaquet Droz is a relative newcomer to Australia doesn’t mean they don’t have history. The brand dates back to the mid-18th century, and, besides watches and clocks, is famous for their incredible automata. And while the incredibly complex, high-end art/engineering pieces are still important for the brand, we thought we’d keep it real and focus on their slightly more down-to-earth offerings from Baselworld 2018, offerings that focused heavily on their signature Grande Seconde model, with its oversized seconds subdial. And like any good signature model, the Grande Seconde is versatile. It excels at traditional — as evidenced by the black enamel moonphase model, and the yellow gold and grand feu Tribute — but can pivot nicely to contemporary, with the addition of a ceramic case or skeletonised treatment. Excellent stuff from a niche brand, with a strong and sophisticated identity.
The post VIDEO: The top Jaquet Droz watches from Basel 2018 (hint, there’s a lot of Grande Seconde in the mix) appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Given that T+T is an Australian-based site, I’ve spent a fair amount of time over the years looking at watches from local brands. And I’ve got to say, I haven’t seen a single offering as all-round impressive as this Creux Automatiq Ghost Explorer. What I was most impressed (and surprised) by with the Ghost Explorer was the overall build quality. But I’ll get to that in a bit. First, let’s look at the bigger picture. Creux launched in 2016, the passion project of Kiwi rapper-cum-jeweller Dane Rumble. And what initially separates these watches from the rest of the indie/micro/Kickstarter pack is the look. Creux have opted for a more modern aesthetic, a style that owes inspiration to Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet, Hublot et al. The exaggerated tonneau shape, the skeletonised dial, exposed bezel screws, and sporty rubber strap is familiar, but not derivative, or a homage in the pejorative sense. In and of itself, this style is a bold move, enough to instantly set the young brand apart from the majority of its round, dressy or heritage-inspired peers. Not for everyone, sure, but honestly, if this style is your jam, you won’t find much else at this price point. This…
The post HANDS-ON: The most surprising watch I’ve worn this year – the Creux Automatiq Ghost Explorer appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
We’re not going to say “we told you so,” but…
When the new normal isn’t normal at all.
The Carrera, a pillar of TAG Heuer’s identity, turns 55 this year and is feted with a rush of Carrera models, including this racy 45mm Carrera Chronograph GMT fitted with the souped-up in-house Heuer 02 movement. Displaying the 3-6-9 chronograph configuration of the original Carrera, TAG Heuer steams ahead and embraces a contemporary skeletonised look to ensure the Carrera stays in the fast lane.
We’ll be seeing some new faces … along with more than a few familiar ones.
Whatever is the world coming to?
The latest addition to the Big Crown family comes in the form of a limited edition green-dial Pointer Date model inspired by a Swiss Air Force training plane.
As of January 1st, 2018, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, or short GPHG, has a new president: Mr Raymond Loretan. He took over the helm from his predecessor Carlo Lamprecht, who, together with Mrs Carine Maillard, director of the GPHG foundation, has built the GPHG to what it is today. What they achieved in only seventeen years is very impressive! Besides a new president, there are two more prize categories that we wanted to know more about. MONOCHROME sat down with Raymond Loretan and Carine Maillard to talk about the GPHG’s past and future.