FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Ulysse Nardin Blast, Blancpain, and our NOW Buying Guide

Zach Blass

TGIF! But, before you gear up for your weekend fun, here are some highlights from this week – along with a reminder that now is the time to pick up our NOW Magazine.

Ulysse Nardin drops a new Blast Tourbillon Blue & Gold

• 45mm 18K rose gold and PVD blue titanium faceted case inspired by the lines of stealth aircraft design
• Flying Tourbillon. Hours and minutes. Escapement wheel, anchor and balance spring in silicium.
• Movement comprised of 137 components allowing you to have a truly open view on the dial

In the meantime, for more information on the watch you can head to Ulysse Nardin’s website here. Price: US$67,000

Blancpain unveils the second act of their 70th anniversary celebrations

• The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa presents a world-first three-hour timing bezel
• The “absolute black” dial captures almost 97% of the light to make the lume pop and enhance underwater legibility
• The release continues the 70th birthday celebrations of the Fifty Fathoms

You can read more about the Blancapin Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa here. Price: A$38,900 / US$28,000

Have you seen our new issue of NOW Magazine – The Watch Buying Guide?

• A watch-buying guide that curates the top watch releases of the last six months (207 of them to be precise)
• An assortment of features that delve into what makes some of the most interesting people in the watch world tick
• We have even put together a sneak peek of what you can find inside

You can purchase issue 6 right here in the Time+Tide store. Price: A$19.95

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Zach

Watch meme of the week: Before and after

Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023 is not far off on the horizon, and you better believe the entire watch industry has plenty of planning going on behind the scenes. Earlier this week, former Time+Tide-er Felix Scholz shared the above on his IG stories. While perhaps a commentary on the difference between how press and influencers show up to W&W, it makes me think of how Watches & Wonders is definitely an exciting and exhausting time for watch media, that begins with a blast of adrenaline and ends later in the week with espressos being mainlined just to stay awake. But you know what, we cannot wait to be back in the trenches. While tiring, nothing is more satisfying than the Time+Tide team being all in one place – grinding together to deliver you top-notch coverage of the fair. So, come the end of March, it’s GAME ON!

Wrist shot of the week: Michael Douglas wins Valentine’s Day

Two things that will likely forever remain in my dreams. One, owning a Patek Philippe Aquanaut. Two, having Catherine Zeta-Jones call me darling.

Time+Tide Shop select of the week: Billstone – Voyager – 3 Dark Brown

The Billstone Voyager is a lightweight watch roll designed for individuals constantly on the move. The shape of the watch roll allows for it to fit in a hand-carry suitcase, especially if you use the cube-packing technique or roll your clothes to pack the suitcase. The structure of the watch roll is made of thick and strong material to protect your watch, should your suitcase be slammed or piled under suitcases. The Billstone Voyager is uniquely designed: each watch pad is individually fastened to the watch roll, thus preventing your watch from accidentally falling upon opening the watch roll.

Each section of the watch roll is reinforced with a soft surfaced yet strong partition to protect your individual watches preventing scratches. The inner part of the watch case is covered with soft velvet, perfectly safe for various watch straps: leather, rubber, metal, and gold. With the Billstone Voyager, you’ll feel free and secure while travelling with your favourite dress and sports watches!.

You can purchase the Billstone – Voyager – 3 Dark Brown right here in the Time+Tide store. Price: A$250

Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week:

INTRODUCING: IWC give their Portugieser Automatic 40 a salmon makeover

IWC recently introduced a sunburst salmon dial to their Portugieser Automatic 40 collection, and, as you already know, salmon-coloured dials are a fan-favourite amongst watch enthusiasts. The watch will first be available exclusively in the UAE as of this month, and then will be available worldwide later in April 2023. So best to check out our review of the IWC Portugieser Automatic 40 Salmon now so you are ahead of the game come April.

VIDEO: The Seiko Prospex SRPJ35 & SNJ039 bring new colours to cult classics

 

 

Seiko is back with two new limited editions in their Prospex tool watch line, and they both feature a bright new colourway that evokes the brilliant hues of tropical fish. This time, the new colours are featured on Seiko’s classic Turtle diver, and the big, bold “Arnie” analogue/digital model. Dive in and have a look at these wonders of the deep in the video above.

Meet my pet watch: Scientists create living smartwatch powered by slime

It’s probably a sign of just how much some people care about their watches, but timepieces have long been attributed human characteristics. We have often heard the movement of a watch described as its “beating heart”, while it’s also routine to talk about a watch’s “face” or “hands”. Perhaps this is a natural development given that a watch is an unusually intimate device that we wear day-in, day-out next to our skin. But a new creation from researchers from the University of Chicago has taken this anthropomorphic idea to a whole other level.