HANDS-ON: Get in the bling – Hublot’s Big Bang Steel Diamonds is a knockout
Let’s face it, women are not buying women’s watches necessarily; they want a watch that does not discriminate, with a bit of bravado, whether by means baller or boxer. That said, the full diamond effect in every direction, of the kind that was Hublot’s 2 million Euro 44mm 145-ct Big Bang behemoth, with its baguette-laden strap, case and dial, is too chunky a statement for most women. Well, with the exception of the wife of a Vegas casino owner, who naturally felt right at home in it and swiftly claimed hers. I prefer to make like a Mayweather cornerman, not exactly all-retiring, more the fall-back of outlandish. And this ladies 38mm Big Bang Steel Diamonds has just the right proportion of diamonds to monochrome styling and height on the wrist to make that spot attainable, while It feels more unisex in fact. The black rubber Hublot hallmark strap — in this case finely lined, though the tactile sensation approaches suede rather than any noticeable ridging — sets the sports luxe tone. Followed nimbly by the enduring industrial, tool watch details of the Big Bang’s multi-material, polished and matt case that sits in eminent view on the wrist, with its six exposed titanium screws…
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Usually, an event recap refers to one single event. This one, however, details a week-long bash during Melbourne’s Motorclassica that saw the town literally painted red when the Royal Exhibition Building was lit up in a bold Italian red, with Hublot and Ferrari logos stamping the iconic site. It also included the largest ever convoy of Ferraris ever assembled in Australia, and a hell of a party to reveal the new LaFerrari Aperta in the Melbourne Docklands. Last, but certainly not least, was a new watch co-designed by Ferrari and Hublot, the extremely limited Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph. Remember, this was a 70th. If this is what the two brands mustered for a birthday party, just imagine what they would have done for a buck’s night. Hublot has a long-standing global alignment with Ferrari and it’s as perfect a match as any between watch and vehicle, with both marques striving to change their respective niches with technology and flair. The Drive What is the collective noun for a group of Ferraris? May we suggest a ‘growl’? That’s exactly what the idyllic lake and seaside suburb of Albert Park heard when more than 100 Ferraris took to the M1 on…
A few weeks ago I had the distinct honour and pleasure of spending some time with Montblanc (and 50 or so other watch journalists) in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Now, prior to booking flights I had a decidedly foggy understanding of where Jackson Hole was and what it was all about (not coastal, mountains). And while that exceptionally broad understanding is factually correct, it doesn’t accurately encapsulate the awesome beauty of the place. Jackson Hole is a small town, on the outskirts of the Grand Teton National Park, surrounded by mountains. One American colleague told me that it’s the sort of place politicians mean when they talk about “Real America”. Confusingly, a local also wryly remarked that it’s a tough place to find a place to live because the billionaires are pushing out the millionaires. And did I mention it’s beautiful? So what does Jackson Hole have to do with Montblanc? It’s a good question, but one that will have to wait until SIHH 2018 to be answered. But given that I was making the long trek over, I thought it a great opportunity to test-drive a Montblanc watch for a while. It would have been rude not to. I opted…
Andy Zhang is among Australia’s most high-profile collectors — and highly active on social media. His pieces tend to inhabit the top end of town, and statements such as “I thought I’d wear Richard Mille for life” should not surprise. There are some horological heavyweights appearing on his Instagram account, daily. Which was where we noticed the 2017 Sea-Dweller. Andy explains how and why he’s fallen under the spell of a watch he initially thought was “average”. When did you first see the 2017 Sea-Dweller in the metal? I first saw it in Sydney on the wrist of a friend. It looked average. I though it was just a bigger Submariner. But when we went out of the restaurant and the sun hit it, I noticed the dial. What about the dial surprised you? Not just the red line of text, which is most obvious, but it was the matt, almost tropical dial. It’s apparently technically a gloss dial, but if you look at it in contrast to my Patek Pilot’s dial, it’s the same finish. It’s not glossy at all. When the sun hits it, it looks grey, not 100% black. Eventually it will look tropical, it’s amazing. The ceramic bezel, it…
This might come as a surprise to you, but the luxury watch industry is a well-oiled, smoothly running hype machine. Every year at the two big fairs of SIHH and Baselworld, watch brands release numerous new watches. Some completely new, some only new variations. But, invariably, a small fraction of these watches dominate the conversation. And that’s no accident, as many brands invest much of their considerable marketing clout into a few heavy-hitting models that (they hope) will be total knockouts. That doesn’t mean there aren’t diamonds in the rest of the catalogue. Here are seven truly excellent watches that snuck under the radar … until now. The Omega Aqua Terra Master Chronometer Overshadowed by the epic trilogy boxed set, the trusty Aqua Terra received some slight but significant upgrades this year, resulting in a seriously strong contender for best all-rounder of 2017. The Rolex Datejust 41 The other contender for Miss Versatility 2017 is that perennial favourite the Rolex Datejust, released this year in a steel 41mm model. Upgraded size and upgraded specs give a new lease of life to this timeless classic. The Tudor Black Bay Steel The Black Bay is pretty established by now, but this year Tudor…
