FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Blancpain finds its way into the Jack Reacher universe
Zach BlassEarlier this week I swung by the 5th avenue Blancpain boutique for an evening with NYC Watch Crew and bestselling author Dan Ames.
You may be wondering: why was an author a special guest at a watch meetup?
In Ames’ latest expansion of the Jack Reacher universe, a beloved series of books by Lee Child once adapted into a film with Tom Cruise and now a series on Amazon Prime, the author has outfitted the leading character with a Fifty Fathoms watch in his book Hit Them Fast Hit Them Hard.
The book synopsis explains: “When former Special Investigator John Heller discovers the bodies of two women, he quickly becomes the target of their killers. Soon, Heller and other members of Jack Reacher’s Special Investigators become caught up in a deadly conspiracy.”
From Ames’ speech, it was abundantly clear he was a watch nerd like the rest of us. He noted how he loves watchspotting in novels, and how he can always tell whether or not the author has a genuine knowledge or passion for watches. Ames particularly appreciates the example of Ian Fleming, who carefully selected the Rolex Explorer for Bond in his novels. In Ames’ evaluation process, he ultimately decided the ultimate dive watch companion for his character was the Fifty Fathoms – noting he knew some in the room would have said the Rolex Submariner. But, he carefully outlined his thought process, noting the heritage the Fifty Fathoms has in its rigorous testing and acceptance into the US Military. It was really neat to hear him geek out over watches and the thought process behind the Fifty Fathoms being included in his book. Not a soul in the room disagreed with his decision after hearing his full explanation.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend,
– Zach
Watch meme of the week: Tomei knows more than just the ins and outs of a Skylark
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I do not need to qualify this meme. Any watch meme that incorporates My Cousin Vinny gets immediately included in my Wind Down. In all seriousness though, the watch community is more educated than ever – and very meticulous with facts and figures (case in point: the great Rolex Explorer v. Smiths Everest debate). Nothing gets by the watch community.
Wrist shot of the week: More Parmigiani please
I had the privilege of being able to spend some time with the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor on the wrist, taking it along for a typical NYC weekend adventure to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a stroll through Central Park. It is a watch I believe would flatter any wrist, you can check out my full thoughts on the watch and the full details of Ricardo and my weekend adventure here.
Time+Tide Shop select of the week: Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic
Match your next adventure to a watch that honors Hamilton’s military heritage with authentic, built-for-action style. Truly fit for life in the field, the Khaki Field Titanium Automatic is the ultimate all-purpose watch for modern heroes. Read more about the watch here, or click to purchase below.
Price: $1,500 AUD Buy it now at the Time+Tide Shop.
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week:
HANDS-ON: The Hublot Big Bang Integrated Time Only is ceramic luxury, simplified
While certainly a more simplified take on a classic Hublot recipe, the Integrated Time Only keeps all the familiar flavours. With a more wearable profile and pared-back styling, the Integrated Time Only is another entry into the saturated integrated-bracelet market. The model that we had a closer look at is the All Black, part of the 250-piece limited edition release. Watch the full hands-on review above.
Five of our favourite watch and fashion brand collaborations
Collaborations have been the headlining trend in the fashion world in recent times, serving as the perfect way to create excitement, owing to the generally limited nature of the releases. Borna assembled a list of five of his favourite watch and fashion brand collabs. Check out the full list here.
MICRO MONDAYS: The Circula Supersport delivers a reimagined Super Compressor diver at a great price
There are plenty of watch brands that have been resurrected from the past. But Circula set themselves apart with their authentic German heritage and the benefit of original family ownership. Focusing mostly on high-quality mechanical watches at an attainable price, their latest release is a neat blend of modern functionality and vintage quirkiness in the Circula Supersport. Read the full story here.