Omega Goes Complicated with the Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer (Hands-On)
This year marks the 15th anniversary of one of the most discreet yet desirable collections of Omega, the Seamaster Aqua Terra. In order to celebrate, Omega slightly refreshed the classical model (3-hand and date version), by giving it some more modern details, new Master Chronometer movements and new dial variations. Yet, this 2017 collection will also include a more complex and highly luxurious piece, with an unprecedented complication for the Biel-based brand; a Worldtimer – and this Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer debuts in a highly limited solid platinum edition…
Editor’s Note: Seiko’s re-released ‘Turtle’ is rapidly becoming an essential in any self-respecting watch collector’s roll. And given the winning combination of heritage and quality at a supremely wallet-friendly price, we can see why. Seiko dive watches have a massive – at times fanatical – following. It’s these guys and gals who are responsible for giving the brand’s cryptically coded watches their colourful nicknames – the Tuna, Monster, Sumo and, in this case, the Turtle. Officially, the Turtles we’re looking at here are known as SRP775 (black gilt dial on bracelet), SRP773 (blue dial on bracelet) and SRP777 (black dial on silicone). From now on, collectively, we’ll just call them Turtles. But wait, there’s more. These SRP77 divers are actually reissues of the original Turtles – historic divers from the 6309 family, produced from 1976 until 1988. Not only is this new version a faithful homage to the original, it also represents nigh-on-unbeatable value for money. The case It was the broad, cushion-shaped case that inspired the watch’s nickname, because if you look at it from a distance and squint a little it resembles the shell of a turtle. Of course, the broad sides have a functional purpose as well, the ample flanks serving to…
Ancient Greek and Roman mythology furnish Bulgari with emblems from across the epochs, but their love affair with bold women in history also holds sway on their aesthetic. Like serpents, these dangerous beauties are sinful and sinuous — and nothing less than paradoxical. Fittingly, their latest Serpenti watch is a timepiece that can literally shed its skin. I regret not unravelling my tape measure to record the length of the thin double tour strap of the Bulgari Serpenti Skin, but it just felt so at ease on me I was happy to let it linger a while, almost unobtrusive except for its expansive curvature. This watch is a subtle charmer, and that was the point. Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Director of Bulgari Watches Design Centre in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, was evidently looking to diverge from the statement dressing of the potent Tubogas and explore personalisation and transformability with this first release on a leather or skin strap. Beyond choosing watch elements and one of the two straps the watch is accompanied by, the way your Serpenti Skin is wrapped to your wrist is uniquely your own. Whether anticipating a combatant or work ally, your snake head dial may be tilted towards a…
I don’t want to get all KPI on you, but image selection is something that I spend a lot of my time working on. Of the dozens of shots of any given watch that one of our photographers take, only a handful make the final cut. That’s not because the shots are out of focus or poorly lit, but because we strive to hit the right balance between written and visual information, and both elements are complementary and essential. Typically on this sort of review, I’ll end up running with four or five images. Today I’ve we’re at 12, more than double what we’d usually publish. Not just because they’re stunning, drool-worthy pictures (they are), but because they tell a story about the watch, showing the form and quality in a way that a written description of the specifications cannot quite compete with. But that’s not to say I won’t try. Just in case the tell-tale Curvex shape and the name on the dial didn’t give it away, you’re looking at Franck Muller’s Cintrée Curvex Skeleton Tourbillon, a mighty 39.5mm wide by 55.3mm long white gold case, polished to a mirror like finish, with the thick, domed sapphire case seamlessly integrated…
Last week, with Sydney turning on weather that thawed the cold, cold hearts of all Melbourne people present, Montblanc hosted a lunch at Quay Restaurant to launch the new ‘re-tooled’ TimeWalker. The intimate event combined fine dining, fun storytelling, and a wide range of watches – from accessible new TimeWalker models to the extremely limited Rally Timer. The entirely hand-fashioned Minerva movement, visible through the caseback, drew audible gasps from the watch-aware in the audience, and looks of curiosity from those to whom the intricate movement architecture just looked pretty. It all took place in a location that is about as Australian as it gets – with a 180-degree view of the Bridge, the glittering Sydney Harbour and the Opera House. Look, let me not feign surprise, we make regular visits to this most spectacular of the world’s stages, but even still, wow, Sydney, you outdid yourself this time. While the day was divine, to begin, Montblanc GM Randall Foote went back in time. He described the connection between Minerva and Montblanc and why the somewhat mythical manufacturer and chronograph-maker, which has been continually producing watches since 1858, is beginning to radically reshape Montblanc’s watch collections in terms of their movements,…