MY WEEKEND WITH: The Bulgari Octo Ultranero
When it comes to watches, I’m very big on buying watches that suit your lifestyle, for the simple reason that if they suit your life, then you’ll get maximum wear out of the piece — and therefore maximum enjoyment. So, when I was flicking through Bulgari’s catalogue and spotted the Ultranero, I knew I had to give it a test drive. With a name like ‘Ultranero’, how could I not? And so, a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of spending a weekend with the Bulgari Octo Ultranero. Not-so-coincidentally my blacked-out weekend happened to come shortly after I’d spent the week with another far more golden Octo. My first impression was … yeah, this thing is cool, I could definitely get used to this. And, sure enough, the Ultranero really grew on me! Usually, I find myself naturally drawn to dive watches, so it was quite refreshing to give them a weekend off, and wear something completely different. I actually think this added to the appeal; it was like living out a horological fantasy. Once I put it on, it felt … ultra comfortable. The rubber strap is super soft, and with a 100m water resistance, I see this as…
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Many brands and many people have taken a chance on Time+Tide since we launched, way back in 2014. One of the greater leaps of faith was earlier this year, when Longines gave us permission to spend time in their archives, and extended a standing invitation to several international events. The aim was to create a year’s worth of stories to celebrate the brand’s 185th anniversary. Well, what feels like only weeks later, I’m dismayed to say that the year has passed. But not without a frankly alarming amount of stories created. In the time since that first phone call we’ve enjoyed quite an itinerary. And we’ve had an immersion in the brand like no other. If you missed any of our ‘Longines Time Machine’ episodes, you can watch them all below, after you’ve had a quick flashback run-through of the new video, which also includes footage from the 185th Anniversary celebration in Beijing, which happened just last week. Special thanks to Amelia and the Longines Australia team for their support over the year, as well as to Longines President Mr Walter von Känel, who endured so many interviews with us that by Beijing he greeted us with a raised eyebrow,…
While the sun kept shining (of course, it’s Dubai), it rained – rained watches – for the five days of Dubai Watch Week. Organised by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the leading retailer of high-end watches in the UAE, with a strongly educational purpose, it offered a whole range of panel discussions; hands-on workshops led by some of today’s most talented watchmakers, engravers and enamellers; riveting talks on collecting by Christie’s experts; exhibitions (including the 17 GPHG winners, a perspective on time from the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, and stands where you could meet-and-greet and play with amazing watches – often in the company of the makers themselves); and a whole lot more. But, as with previous editions of DWW, the best part wasn’t even on the impressive official programme — the opportunity to hang out with the who’s who of horology, in totally relaxed surroundings, over the course of five days makes it an event like no other. And that, as much as anything, is why the makers and brand owners keep coming back: “We never get a chance to talk to each other like this normally – we are always too busy in Switzerland/Germany/The Netherlands.” It’s fair to say…
Living the dream is a phrase overused to a point of meaninglessness. But make no mistake about it, Chris Hemsworth is living the dream. We meet on a yacht in Port Hercules, Monaco, hosted by TAG Heuer. It is to be our home for the next few nights as the Monaco Formula 1 takes place on the streets of Monaco which pass right by the boat. When qualifying begins, the scene on deck is an odd mix of Dunkirk – with high-octane engines whining around the boat like a swarm of Spitfires – and Ocean’s 11, taking into account the intimidating savoir faire of other guests on the boat, a mix of global influencers and luxury lifestyle media. The Ocean’s 11 atmosphere is heightened by the presence of Matt Damon. Matt and his wife Luciana are guests of Chris, whose wife Elsa is joining him for this little sojourn. There’s a slightly rogue atmosphere around the group who are kid-free and off the leash. “I can’t remember the last time this happened,” Damon says at one point with a big smile on his face. We’re farming through canapes in the TAG Heuer Lodge, a corporate box of sorts with magnificent…