IN-DEPTH: The Seiko Prospex ‘Turtle’ Diver

seiko-turtle-diver-sliderThe story in a second: The Seiko Turtle offers a winning combination of heritage and quality at a supremely wallet-friendly price. 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 protect the case, as well as the crown. As you might expect…

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9 years ago

LIST: 4 pens that are considerably mightier than the sword

montblanc-writing-instrument-4We often wax lyrical about our love affair with Montblanc’s watches, but we’ve also got a soft spot for their famous writing instruments. We were lucky enough to come face-to-face with a selection of their absolute finest recently.  It’s not often these golden, gem-encrusted rockstars of the written word, in their lavish presentation boxes even make it to our fair shores, but when they do, it’s almost (we said almost) enough to make you throw your iPhone, tablet and computer out the window and go back to pen and ink. Here’s a glimpse at our favourites. Limited Edition F.D. Roosevelt America’s Signatures for Freedom A stately writing instrument if ever there was one, this fountain pen in blue lacquer, princess cut diamonds and 750 solid gold fittings commemorates Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served as 32nd President of the United States from 1933 until he passed away in 1945. The laurel leaf pattern on the cone is an homage to the logo of the United Nations, founded by FDR in 1942, while its limited run of 50 pieces references the number of states in America. 
RRP $46,700 Limited Edition Prince Rainier III With a production of 81 – to honour the age of…

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9 years ago

Hands-On: The NOMOS Nachtblau Collection, Four NOMOS Classics Get A Cool Dark Blue Treatment

When I say the word “NOMOS,” what probably pops into your mind’s eye is a slim, modern-looking watch with a silvered dial. Those traits have been finely honed over the last two-and-a-half decades, giving NOMOS an instantly-recognizable design language. But sometimes the German watchmaker likes to break its own rules. The new Nachtblau collection is a perfect example of this, four classic NOMOS watches rendered in inky midnight blue with bright accents and the manufacture’s latest movements.

9 years ago

Business News: Bremont Pulls Out Of Baselworld 2017, Will Show In London And New York Instead

Bremont has just announced that it will not be showing at Baselworld next year. In lieu of setting up shop in Switzerland next March, the British watchmaker will release its new collection both at a London townhouse and an event in New York City. While it is news to hear that Bremont will not be part of the watch world extravaganza that is Baselworld, it is actually not surprising that another watch company has left the fair as a new trade show and release schedule landscape is developing.

9 years ago

Introducing: The Patek Philippe 5204/1R-001 Split-Seconds Perpetual Calendar Goes Black Dial With Rose Gold Bracelet

Just after Baselworld of this year, our editor in chief Jack Forster gave us a superb look at a watch that, as he put it then “is a reminder of why Patek enjoys the reputation that it does,” a true grand complication in its reference 5204R. The split-seconds chronograph with perpetual calendar in rose gold was introduced with a silver opaline dial and offered on a lovely leather strap – a traditional offering, not intended to offend anyone. Today, however, we caught wind of a new take on the 5204R, and it’s a big, bad mother if there ever was one.

9 years ago

Hands-On: The Parmigiani Fleurier Centum Perpetual Calendar Openworked Graphite

The Parmigiani Fleurier Centum Perpetual Calendar Openworked Graphite is an open-dial version of Parmigiani’s existing Centum Perpetual Calendar. This isn’t an openworked watch in the traditional sense of that term – openworking, or skeletonizing, is the removal of material from the movement of a watch in order to create a sense of transparency. The Centum Perpetual Openworked, on the other hand, has a transparent, tinted dial that lets you see some of the mechanisms driving the perpetual calendar as well as the moonphase disk.

9 years ago