HANDS-ON: Is the Bulgari Octo Finissimo blue dial in satin polished steel the best steel sports watch of 2020?

Editor’s note: We’ve had quite the flurry of Bulgari lately, mostly in celebration of the brand’s 2020 collection. And, increasingly, the pinion of the collection is emerging as this model right here. Make no mistake, it doesn’t rightly deserve to be. It’s a simple dial variation away from the black lacquer dial variation that the satin polished steel Octo Finissimo debuted with in January this year. But that’s the logical take. The emotional response, for the broader team, and not just me it seems – is very much centred around this lavish combination of rich blue dial, and the highly…

Conor McGregor’s jumping back in the octagon … what watch will he buy to celebrate?

Editor’s note: Conor McGregor, the biggest name in UFC history, looks set to come out of retirement a mere six months after announcing he was done with the sport. While nothing official has been confirmed, “The Notorious” is strongly rumoured to be squaring off with Dustin Poirier within the next six months, with UFC President Dana White today saying, “He’s been offered Dustin Poirier on Jan 23”, and adding, “It’s a yes or no answer.”  So the ball’s in Mac’s court … we can only hope he accepts what would inevitably be a bloody brilliant bout. All this talk about…

HANDS-ON: The Hublot 40 Years Anniversary Black Ceramic

It’s hard to believe it’s been four decades since the inception of arguably the most disruptive and provocative watchmaker in modern history. But we are indeed celebrating their 40th birthday and their first-ever watch – the Classic Original, otherwise known as the OG gold watch with a rubber strap. To commemorate the milestone, Hublot has unveiled a trilogy of 40 Years Anniversary watches in three different materials that it has championed in horology – gold, ceramic and titanium. And while these watches are virtually identical, the different case materials mean that each has a very different personality. We’ve been fortunate…

INTRODUCING: The Chopard Alpine Eagle XL Chronograph

One of the more surprising watches of 2019 was Chopard’s Alpine Eagle. Based on the Swiss outfit’s St. Moritz wristwatch of the 1980s, here was an entirely new take on the luxury stainless steel sports watch with integrated bracelet. It was, and still is, an important timepiece for Chopard as it’s the watchmaker’s best attempt yet at taking it to the stalwarts of the industry who dominate the steel sports watch space. Now, more than a year after the collection’s unveiling, Chopard has added to the Alpine Eagle family with this – the Chopard Alpine Eagle XL Chronograph. From launch, there…

INTRODUCING: New Monaco, who dis? A black dial, a steel bracelet, and we’re looking at an icon with fresh eyes

The Monaco celebrated its 50th birthday last year, so you’d think, given the slew of new and limited releases, that it might be given a break in 2020. But somehow, TAG Heuer have saved the best for the square classic’s 51st in the form of a sexy black dial, and a steel bracelet. What a profound difference this one/two punch makes to the mood, and the experience of the watch. The case TAG hasn’t gone about reinventing the wheel for this new iteration of the angular icon– its stainless steel case remains identical to the one we first saw last…

3 reasons why Rolex fakes are getting so good, and some tips to avoid them from Watchfinder

Rolex fakes have existed for a very long time. But where it used to be pretty easy to spot an impostor – from the dull lustre of the cheap materials, to laughable aesthetic inaccuracies, to the sound of the rotor rattling from across the boardroom table like a bag of Skittles – it is now increasingly difficult. It’s something Watchfinder has demonstrated in this extraordinary comparison video. As I’m sure almost all of you will know, the meteoric rise in the popularity of steel Professional models like the Submariner, GMT-Master II and Daytona has meant that enthusiasts are paying as…

VIDEO: The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Meca-10 King Gold with 240 hours power reserve is testosterone-drenched tech at its absolute finest

Editor’s note: As I go to post this review, something very sad just dawned on me. It’s been over three years since I’ve had a holiday as long as the power reserve of this watch. Which is 10 days. Ten. Days. Which means this watch would still be ticking after one wind upon my return from these far-too-short ‘holidays’. I digress, but that sad example goes a long way to establishing the technical credibility of this watch, and to proving the point that as soon as lockdown ends, I’m outta here for a while. Enjoy – Andrew  Hublot are well known for…

FRIDAY WIND DOWN: British invasion! Time+Tide, already overrun by Brits, opens UK office

For a kid growing up in rural Victoria, Australia, England always seemed closer than the 16,000 or so kilometres away that it was in actuality. We had to sing God Save The Queen once a week. There was a picture of the Queen in our classrooms, and my dad had a serious penchant for English literature. The only books in my childhood house were about steam trains and wars that England won. Little England, for real. The bedtime book most favoured, Paddington Bear. So, in my mind over the years, I’ve dreamed of the place. When I could finally visit…

INTRODUCING: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Mariner Memovox is an alarmingly different type of Polaris

Although it’s never really taken off as an uber-popular complication like a chronograph or moonphase, the alarm function of JLC’s Memovox watches has, since they were first unveiled in 1968, been exceedingly practical. But it’s a complication that’s usually been found in the watchmaker’s daintier, and perhaps less practical, dress watches. This has meant that one of the sharpest tools in JLC’s shed has remained pigeon-holed, and off limits for those who prefer a sportier, bolder option. That is, until now. Introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Mariner Memovox, a bulletproof stainless steel diver’s watch that — as its name suggests — houses the…

INTRODUCING: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Mariner Date, is a bolder, more confident move for the Polaris

Jaeger-LeCoultre is widely regarded as making some of the finest dress watches on the market. But for those not familiar with the Le Sentier firm’s full collection, JLC also makes a very good stainless steel sports watch – the Polaris. And now the legacy watchmaker has decided to up the ante with the Polaris, broadening its breadth of abilities and unveiling an entirely new model aimed squarely at taking on some of the best steel dive watches on the market. Introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Mariner Date. The case JLC has described the new Mariner as being both sporty and elegant,…

MICRO MONDAYS: Galvin – a female-founded Australian microbrand producing classic, curved crystal designs

When life gave Finnish-born watchmaker of more than 10 years, Susan Galvin lemons, she made a refreshing glass of lemonade, donned a watchmakers coat, and began work on a company that is now ready to share the fruits of her labours. Galvin was made redundant due to a restructure back in March, and to make matters even more challenging, it happened while she was on maternity leave. For many this would have been a debilitating blow, but Galvin opted out of lockdown on the couch watching Netflix, and instead founded her own watch company, designed her first timepiece and raised…

FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Sorry, it’s short this week, I’m thirsty …

Some Friday Wind Downs are long, some have a point, and others are just the last thing standing between me and a cold, cold beer. That’s a dangerous place to be at the best of times — in Australia we talk about “murdering” a beer, we don’t mess around — but after a week like this, it’s truly ill-advised. Why? Because I’m excited! In just over three hours, we’ll be hitting the button on a video project with Audemars Piguet that is one of the most significant and substantial of my time in watches. It stars collector and watch dealer Eric…

FRIDAY WIND DOWN: The Thank You Edition (read and see if you get a mention)

If you don’t like public displays of affection, you might want to scroll down to the top stories of the week, because it dawned on me today, as I prepared for an interview with the CEO of TAG Heuer, that I have a lot of people to thank at this point in time. As I’ve described probably too many times by now, my home city of Melbourne has been in a seemingly unending lockdown, treated to the harshest stay-at-home conditions on the planet we believe. I want to thank some brands in particular, because they know this – that it…

VIDEO: Oh, hello there Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212 in Green, looking sharp in the metal

Well, the enthusiastic comments on the video, the site post and the socials have confirmed it – this new Raymond Weil Freelancer in a pitch perfect olive green, with that eye-catching exposed balance well and truly have your attention. Which is why we thought we’d upgrade the Hands-On review and bring it to you in the metal, as well. Questions about the dial, its texture, and case and size etc will all be answered herewith. To recap, and in short, Raymond Weil has spent the best part of a decade languishing a good distance away from the zeitgeist that has…

INTRODUCING: The legend of the Rolex Submariner Date 41mm Ref.126610LN grows (by 1mm)

Shock. That’s been the general consensus for the last few days among our enthusiast community. Rolex has just unveiled the all-new Rolex Submariner Date 41mm Ref.126610LN, and they’ve made one of the biggest changes to the dive watch in its 51 years of existence. For the first time in the legendary moniker’s history, the Oyster case of the new Submariner has been enlarged to 41mm, up from 40mm. Now that may not sound like a big deal to the dilettante, but for those who have lauded the Submariner as one of the most iconic, recognisable and celebrated watches of all…

HANDS-ON: This Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212 in olive green is their most attractive model in years

If you were to travel back in time and ask a circa 2010 horological enthusiast what some of the big players in the mainstream watchmaking game were, there’s a fair chance that Raymond Weil would get a mention. However, a lot has happened in the subsequent decade that’s followed – it could even be argued that the last 10 years have been the industry’s most transformative, full stop. Loads more eyeballs, lots of new watchmakers and a whole heap more punters. Because of these factors, Raymond Weil just hasn’t got the same recognition it once did. No question about it,…

Father’s Day gifts for six different types of dads

Father’s Day – a 24-hour span when dads across the country are celebrated for their patriarchal guidance and then receive dreary presents like jocks, socks, gift vouchers and the best bottle of Penfolds that can be had for 20 bucks. Sounds awful, doesn’t it? And, for most men, that’s what it’s like. But, for the dad who happens to be a watch enthusiast, things can be different – you can actually buy your old man something he’ll like. Trouble is, just as every father is not the same, every horological aficionado differs, too. That’s why we’ve devised this handy list,…

The Ulysse Nardin Blast is an explosive ode to the hottest jet ever created

Since time immemorial, Ulysse Nardin has been renowned in the maritime world for their marine chronometers and nautically themed, complicated wristwatches. In fact, for the latter part of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, the Le Locle watchmaker created bespoke timekeeping devices for the navies of over 50 different countries. Now though, UN has set its sights slightly higher than sea level, trading aquatic inspiration for the aeronautical, and in doing so, creating an all-new timepiece with an explosive new design language. Introducing the Ulysse Nardin Blast. Taking visual cues from what is surely the…

HANDS-ON: The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Meca-10 King Gold is kingmaker on the wrist

The advent of Hublot’s Big Bang essentially launched the provocative, innovative and disruptive brand. The brainchild of horological mega-doyen Jean-Claude Biver, the Big Bang arrived on the scene way back in 2004, and since then, it has not only reinvigorated but redefined what Hublot stands for. The evocatively named, plus-sized timepiece has been the wrist-worn proving ground for myriad material and technical revolutions that have broken boundaries and exceeded expectation time and time again. Not all Big Bangs are equal though, at least as far as recognition goes. The lesser-known, tonneau-shaped Spirit of Big Bang has always been somewhat left in…

IN-DEPTH: The Longines Spirit Chronograph 42mm is the best Longines all-rounder in years

Collectively, a decent amount of people were shocked when Longines decided to revive the Spirit appellation earlier this year … and shocked in a good way. You see, as far as novelty unveilings go, the Saint-Imier watchmaker had already outdone themselves in 2020 (think Heritage Classic Chronograph 1946 or HydroConquest 41mm in Khaki Green), they could’ve just put their feet up, cracked themselves a crisp Swiss lager and called it a day. But they didn’t. Instead, Longines set its sights on the sky, creating a collection of timepieces that aimed to honour the mavericks of early 20th century aviation. After…

MICRO MONDAYS: The global launch of the Undone Aero – First-Class looks for the cost of Coach

Undone has got to be one of the best in the business when it comes to making uber-affordable, attractive, quality timepieces for the enthusiast. We’ve spent a lot of time with quite a few of their watches now, and given the amount they offer, for such a low RRP, they’re pretty much in a class of one. Spend even a modicum of time with any of the Hong Kong watchmaker’s offerings, and it also becomes immediately apparent that the team behind the brand really cares about the history of horology, and they want to celebrate it. The latest incarnation of…

VIDEO: The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT SBGJ237 & SBGJ239 are two of the boldest, and best looking steel sports watches of 2020

Editor’s note: When I first saw this video in the middle of last week, I hit the team WhatsApp message thread with a vengeance. Omitting some more colourful language, the gist was: “I am mind blown by these GMTs, they can’t possibly look as good in the metal as they do in this video?” Both Nick and James responded immediately with a barrage of emojis. The answer was clear. They absolutely do. It’s rare to be moved on such a visceral level when you’re looking at watches every day. I expect you might have a similar reaction. If you once…

4 watches that look like rip-offs that are actually legitimate

Few things in watch world conjure more contention than the six letters that make up the word homage … and understandably so. Are homage watches just shameless replicas with a different name slapped on the dial? Or are they harmless fun that aim to democratise an aesthetic normally only accessible to the uber wealthy? As is the way with most things in life, the answer isn’t black and white. No, some tribute timepieces, like the Gevril Tribeca or anything by Dan Henry, seem to be more than OK. They’re outright desirable, and executed with total respect to the original. While…

Hublot and Ferrari create new Esports series with Assetto Corsa, and a little help from their friend, Charles Leclerc

One of the most interesting things about the Coronavirus pandemic is how everyone has had to adapt to the new norm. Social distancing, working from home, Zoom catch-ups and stockpiling booze and toilet paper like it’s gold bullion. All part of a day’s work in 2020. It’s also been fascinating and, for the most part, motivating to see how sports franchises across the globe have dealt with essentially not being able to operate since March. Now, for some disciplines, nothing much could be done – NFL, NBA, MLB, AFL, NRL, EPL … they all had to pack up shop for…

HANDS-ON: The new DOXA SUB 300 is slimmer, COSC-certified and more refined than its tool watch origins

The meteoric resurrection of DOXA over the last 18 months has been both exciting and heartwarming to witness. What started out as a strong showing at Baselworld 2019 (think solid gold SUB 200T and SUB 200) has been followed by a succession of compelling offerings that neatly bridge the gap between heritage and contemporary watchmaking. And now we have a new Sub 300. And there is quite a story here. This watch drastically dials down the tool watch vibes and sees DOXA honing in on the hotter than ever steel sports watch market. It is more wearable, more refined, has…

Seiko answer people’s prayers with the smaller and bezel-less 2020 Seiko 5 Sports models

Say what you will, but there are few cooler mods you can make to a stainless steel sports watch than removing its bezel … just ask Marlon Brando. It’s obviously a sentiment that Seiko agrees with, as 2020 has seen them release no fewer than 11 new iterations of its iconic 5 Sports model without the uni-directional, ratcheting diver’s bezel. And the response? Rescapement calls them “The most important [watch] of 2020.” Seiko has replaced the functional feature with a brushed, fixed bezel with a highly polished outer lip. To our eyes, this seemingly innocuous move has completely changed the…

Anicorn and NASA must have created the Mars Time when they were seriously spaced out …

Watchmaker Anicorn has teamed up with the most important space exploration outfit on the planet(s), NASA, to create a brand new watch that aims to celebrate the Perseverance Rover touching down in Jezero Crater on Mars. And the results? Ladies and gentleman, we bring you the most bizarre watch of 2020. Called the Mars Time, this striking hexagonal timepiece has been styled as a homage to the space traversing all-terrain vehicle, and the finished product is so out of the ordinary it looks like it could’ve been created in a bunker near Area 51. Either that or its a short…

6 of the best smart watches released in 2020, including Timex, Hublot and Bausele

Most watch enthusiasts are guilty of – at one point or another – scoffing at the advent of the smart watch, confident that they would be a fad. And more confident still that they would never appeal to one with a love for ‘real’ watches. But that hasn’t been the case for most. Whether you like it or not, smart watches are here to stay, and they’re only getting better with time. And while the last 12 months has most definitely spawned several undesirable things, there have been some great new additions to the intelligent, battery-powered fraternity, so we thought…

INTRODUCING: The Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire Malachite Ref. 103231 is where Bulgari’s two worlds meet

Bulgari has, for more than a century, been regarded as one of the finest luxury jewellery makers on this blue marble we call earth. Their expertise, attention to detail, passion and visionary design has resulted in some of the most stunning pieces of jewellery and objet d’art imaginable. As such, throughout the 20th century, the Italian firm’s creations were sought after and worn by royals, dignitaries, celebrities … basically, if you had wealth, power, notoriety or fame, you wore Bulgari jewellery. Then, at the turn of last century, Bulgari decided to try its hand at another discipline contiguous to that…

A YEAR ON THE WRIST: With a twist… Why I love the polarising Rolex Air-King Ref. 116900 but why I won’t wear it

Ever since its unveiling at Baselworld back in 2016, I’ve wanted a Rolex Air-King Ref. 116900 . And, perhaps rather oddly, I’ve yearned for this polarising watch even longer than that. Allow me to explain. Back in 2014, Rolex announced they had made a bespoke pair of dash clocks for what was formerly known as the Bloodhound SSC, a supersonic missile on wheels that aimed to break the outright land speed record and reach speeds in excess of 1600 km/h. I remember reading about the dash clocks at the time, and thinking to myself, “That is cool.” The fact that…

MICRO MONDAYS: Hands-on with the Peren Hintz, a field watch with warmly nuanced touches

Normally, when the name Transylvania is uttered, a certain fictional monster comes to mind. But for this week’s Micro Mondays, we’re taking a look at something hailing from the gothic region of Romania that doesn’t want to suck your blood … just your bank account. And not nearly as vociferously as many rival brands. Peren watches, short for the word perennial, is a micro watchmaker that aims to pay homage to the inimitable terroir from which it originates, while also embracing traditional avenues of Swiss horology. They haven’t been around for long, but the outfit has already released some great…

5 watch releases that you might have missed in 2020, including a $200k+ Omega tourbillon

You’d be forgiven for not really caring about whether or not there’s been any new watches released this year – there are definitely more serious matters at hand. But, nevertheless, watchmakers have continued doing what they do best and there have been a plethora of great timepieces unveiled. Now, we’re not going to attempt to talk about all of them — there are not enough hours in the day, and many have already graced the site. But we thought we’d share with you our favourite five watches that you might have missed this year. Omega De Ville Central Tourbillon   Omega…

HANDS-ON: The Seiko Prospex SNR045J is like a Rolex “Hulk” Submariner on steroids

The first time I held the Seiko Prospex SNR045J in my hands, I laughed, turned to my left, and said to Deputy Editor Nick Kenyon, “What on earth is this?” To describe the limited edition dive watch as evocative is more than an understatement – it conjures up many, many thoughts in my mind, scrambles them, and leaves me feeling very confused, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s yet another (ir)regular Seiko that blurs the lines between Seiko and Grand Seiko. Secondly, look at the size of it! Who is this watch made for? And thirdly, why can’t I…

INTRODUCING: The Grand Seiko SBGE253, SBGE257 and SBGE255 – 3 GMTs with colour, curves and cutting-edge tech

Twenty-seven … that’s how many watches Grand Seiko have already unveiled this year. And that’s not really an accurate statement – 27 new watches have been released to the Australian market. If you include limited editions, boutique editions and models from other regions, the number is closer to 40. The wheels may well have fallen off 2020 in just about every sense, but Grand Seiko seems to have actually gained a set – making some damn fine watches and trucking through chaos in fine style. Better still, it seems as though someone back at HQ in Tokyo has twigged that 44mm+…

INTRODUCING: The Dan Henry 1937 might just be the best value vintage-styled chrono on the market

We’ll spoil the suspense here straight up and say that we’re fans of Dan Henry here at T+T – the Brazilian watchmaker’s ability to create timepieces that capture the enthusiasm and spirit of some rare (and much more expensive) watches is no mean feat. That’s why last year, when Dan himself reached out to us to help launch his great 1962 model, we were only too happy to oblige. Now, I think we can all agree: A LOT has happened in the last 12 months. However, the tradition that Dan Henry and T+T started a year ago is being honoured.…

HANDS-ON: The Bulgari Octo Finissimo 100m in satin-polished stainless steel is simply extraordinary

LVMH’s Dubai Watch Week may have been only seven months ago, but it genuinely feels like it could’ve been last century. Cast your mind back those long, long … long seven months, though, and there seemed to be a general consensus among punters and professional hacks alike that there was one novelty that eclipsed all else. I am, of course, talking about the TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Silver. Kudos to TAG, it is a brilliant timepiece. T+T founder Andrew McUtchen even said that it “might be the perfect watch”. Thing is, though, it wasn’t the best watch unveiled at…

INTRODUCING: The new Omega Constellation 41mm demands that you look on the model with fresh eyes

Omega’s Constellation has always been somewhat of a quiet achiever – a low-key collection that has, thanks to the endless popularity of its space and seagoing siblings, been often overlooked and maybe even, at times, forgotten. That’s all changing in 2020, though. Omega appears steadfast in breathing new life into the dressy-come-sporty collection. In January, we saw a brilliant new array of redesigned 36mm and 39mm iterations, and now the Bienne outfit has unveiled an entirely new 41mm variant. The DNA Like the aforementioned smaller members of the collection, this new large-sized model is, of course, based on the ‘Manhattan’…

10 of the best digital watches you can buy in 2020, Part 1, including Braun, G-Shock, Hamilton and HD3

Digital watches may not be mechanical masterpieces that harken back to the romanticism of time-telling from a bygone era. But they’re an increasingly exciting corner of the hobby we love, and what they lack in pedigree and soul they make up for in almost boundless functionality. If you look down at your wrist right now and see a digital watch, in place of your usual ‘real’ watch, you’re a pragmatist as well as a poet, inspired by technology and its brilliant ability to democratise information and accuracy. We’ve chosen 10 new digital watches to bring to your attention that might…

A design that divides – the Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref.6007A-001 meets its lookalikes head on

Patek Philippe’s first wristwatch of 2020 didn’t go down quite as well as the complicated models that have followed this week to practically unanimous praise. By contrast, the Calatrava Ref.6007A-001, limited to just 1000 pieces and made to celebrate the legacy brand’s new manufacture was met with many more brickbats than bouquets. Why? Well, according to many it didn’t quite manage that delicate dance between being inspired by existing models and, uh, borrowing too heavily from them. But are the criticisms well founded? Without deferring a judgment entirely (I’ll certainly get to that), the truth really is in the eye…

HANDS-ON: The Longines Heritage Military Marine Nationale is peak heritage watch perfection

As a person who writes about and reviews timepieces all day every day, and as an avid enthusiast of horology since my mid-teens, there really isn’t too much that surprises me anymore in the watch world. Very few watches have the ability to stop me in my tracks, or, for lack of a better word, leave me feeling shook. This Longines Heritage Military Marine Nationale did exactly that. First impressions Ask anyone in the office who was there at the time … I completely lost it when I pulled this watch out of a plain cardboard box filled with Longines’…

MICRO MONDAYS: Spinnaker watches might just be your next sub-$1000 throwdown

It’s Monday in July in 2020, folks, and that means two certainties for yours truly – the first of five full weeks stuck in lockdown, and a chance to focus on another independent watchmaker. That’s right, it’s MICRO MONDAYS, and today we’re taking a closer look at a brand that is already well known in the watch world – Spinnaker. The Hong Kong-based watchmaker creates cost-effective timepieces with a strong emphasis on yachting and nautical inspiration, hence their name and logo. All of the timepieces are hewn from hardwearing 316L steel, and Spinnaker sources all its movements from third-party Japanese…

Audemars Piguet add three new black-cased Royal Oak Offshore models with smoked fumé dials

Audemars Piguet have been slowly but surely unveiling some quietly inspired new releases in 2020. First came the bite-the-back-of-your-hand beautiful [Re]master01 Selfwinding Chronograph, then came a diminutive new Royal Oak 34mm. More recently, AP saw fit to bestow its much-lauded Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin with two new models – the dazzling Diamond Indexes In Platinum (15206PT) and Rose Gold (15207OR). Now the Le Brassus outfit has set its sights on its ever-popular Royal Oak Offshore and, boy oh boy, have they turned the wick up. What Audemars Piguet have done is release three entirely new iterations … and quite a…

The top 5 Omega James Bond watches of all time as chosen by you

Editor’s note: Earlier this week, we asked a question on Instagram stories, what is your favourite Omega Bond watch from the last 25 years? Imma jump in here just to say, uh, wut? Where is the Spectre Seamaster 300 Limited Edition (my clear favourite Bond watch)? Where is Pierce’s watches? Any of them! It seems you either have short memories, or a serious penchant for the Planet Ocean. Or, more broadly speaking, a preference for the new, because these were the top 5, including a Number 1 that hasn’t even been seen on the screen yet! Really? OK, OK. Hey, we don’t…

The boldly modern new TAG Heuer Carrera Chrono Sport is here to save those tiring of heritage remakes

Much like a car manufacturer does when it designs a brand new engine, TAG Heuer are making sure that their flagship self-winding chronograph movement, the Calibre Heuer 02, finds its way into every chrono they’ve released this year. And just days after letting us know that their three in-demand limited edition chronographs equipped with the accomplished movement are still available for pre-order, the La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaker has gone and dropped more bombshells in the shape of not one, but four entirely new Carreras. Called the Carrera Chrono Sport, these steely racers have scored a host of completely novel features and…

NEWS: Hublot launch an ecommerce site with a big bang, huge number of references available for purchase now

Adapt or die. You either get with these troubled times, or consign yourself to the pages of history. For watchmakers and retailers alike, or really anyone in the world of horology, this sentiment has never been more real or more confronting. COVID-19 poses a threat to the luxury watch industry that may dwarf even the quartz crisis. And even though we’re still in this pandemic’s infancy, the news is dire. In fact, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, Swiss watch exports fell 81.3 per cent in April compared to the previous year, and exports to Hong Kong…

His & Hers: 4 of the best couples watches money can buy, including Audemars Piguet, Omega and TAG Heuer

Recently, a reader from the Land of the Free dropped us a line asking if we could help with a conundrum he’d been having. You see, this lovely fellow and his wife are soon to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, and he wants to purchase a matching his and hers set of timepieces to mark the occasion. Trouble is, there are so many options to choose from; he doesn’t know where to start. So, we thought we’d lend a hand. Alex, these are four of the watches you should be keeping an eye out for. Rolex Datejust   Perhaps the…

Attention all! You can preorder TAG Heuer’s 3 recent limited editions online right now, including Fragment Design and Montreal 160th

So, remember how TAG Heuer pretty much stopped the show at LVMH’s Dubai Watch Week at the start of this year with their stunning Carrera 160 Years Silver? Remember how much you, and pretty much every other person in our community, immediately wanted one, only to be told that all 1860 examples were sold out? Well, turns out, they weren’t. In fact, TAG Heuer’s three best limited edition releases of this year thus far – the aforementioned Carrera 160 Years Silver, the ultra funky Carrera 160 Years Montreal and the fresh to death Fragment Design Chronograph – are available for online…

HANDS-ON: The Jay Gatsby of the class of 2020 is in the (Art Deco) house, meet the Longines Heritage Classic ‘Tuxedo’ and ‘Tuxedo Chronograph’

Longines has had quite the 2020. First came the excellent Khaki Green addition to the HydroConquest collection, and then we scored an entirely new and very exciting collection in the Longines Spirit. And now, to round out something new and something updated, comes something from the past –  but, we think you’ll agree, very much fit for these times, even if Luke from the team considers that the times they are a changin’. Called the Classic Tuxedo and Tuxedo Chronograph, these two timepieces are faithful re-creations of two Longines wristwatches that were made a long, long time ago. With enough…

What kind of blue is the new Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight actually? 4 side-by-side shots with the Pelagos, Patek, Lange and more…

Well, one of 2020’s worst-kept secrets is out of the bag – Tudor has gone and released a brand new iteration of the best watch it makes. Ladies and gents, introducing the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Ref.M79030b-0001. Now, we’ll skip all the conjecture and polarisation that this watch has already managed to conjure up in the community, because there’s a question that needs answering – just what kind of blue is the new Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight? That may seem like a silly question. I mean, there’s myriad renders and press photos floating about. But for anyone who’s ever seen…

INTRODUCING: A breath of fresh Classic Fusion, Hublot’s Aerofusion Chronograph Special Edition “Boutique Monaco”

How do you celebrate a first birthday? Balloons? Candles? Maybe a cake? That’s what most folks would do. Hublot, however, like to do things a little differently. That’s why, to mark a year since their Monaco boutique opened, the provocative Swiss watchmaker has unveiled this – the Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Special Edition “Boutique Monaco”. Mouthful of a name aside, this limited edition timepiece is based on the standard Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph, but it’s been adorned with a number of bespoke stylistic elements that aim to commemorate the iconic principality and its flag. Chief among the new visual…

GAME ON: Gucci and Fnatic have bridged two worlds with their new collaborative dive watch

In the timeless words of Lil Pump, “Gucci gang, Gucci gang, Gucci gang, Gucci gang, Gucci gang, Gucci gang, Gucci gang (Gucci gang!)”. Evidently, Italian fashion juggernaut Gucci has heeded these wise words of advice, because the vogue maison’s gang has just swelled considerably, as a result of partnering with eSport giant Fnatic. For those of you who don’t indulge in video games, this may seem like a slightly odd move for a company whose usual remit has been making luxury sandals … but it may prove to be a smart one. In fact, just last year, Yahoo Finance published…

MICRO MONDAYS: Hands-on with the William Wood Valiant White

Editor’s note: Well, this little brand from London that thought it could, sure has convinced us of their seriousness over the last six months. It started with an email to us practically begging to donate a watch to the Watch & Act! Auction in aid of the Australian bushfires. It was a bit late in the game, but the fit was too good to not make it happen. Jonny had us at upcycled fire hoses. So we did it, we put it in. The watch sold high. Then the Valiant Red watch sold out, generally speaking. The fire emoji is appropriate on…

7 potential bargains from Phillips’ Geneva Watch Auction XI, launching later today in Geneva

Phillips’ Geneva Watch Auction XI is just around the corner, and we must say – it is so refreshing to see something in the watch world that’s actually going to happen. No cancellation, no postponement, this auction is going ahead … and it’s got the potential to be quite interesting. Given the precarious state the industry is in, it’s going to be very illuminating to see whether or not the vintage, pre-owned and auction markets have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the auction launching at 2pm CET today, we’ve selected our top seven favourite watches from a…

INTRODUCING: The TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition

January … they really were simpler times: no global pandemic and no lockdowns. The first month of 2020 also saw TAG Heuer completely and utterly steal the show at LVMH’s Dubai Watch Week with the limited edition, nigh-on faultless Carrera 160 Years Silver. In fact, it was such a good timepiece that T+T founder Andrew McUtchen said it “might be the perfect watch”. Sadly, however, it wasn’t perfect, because TAG only made 1860 of those beauties, and they sold out almost instantly. All hope is not lost though, because while you may no longer be able to purchase the Carrera…

INTRODUCING: The masterclass in macho minimalism that is the TAG Heuer x Fragment Design Chronograph

Who says the sequel can’t be as good as the original? TAG Heuer have just dropped their second collaborative timepiece with Japanese outfit Fragment Design, and it looks fresh to death. Consider it the Empire Strikes Back to equal, or even exceed Star Wars. This watch is an absolute masterclass in masculine minimalism that is more of a case of what’s been left out, than included. Called the TAG Heuer x Fragment Design Chronograph Limited Edition, the sporty timepiece is the brainchild of Fragment’s founder, Hiroshi Fujiwara. To say Fujiwara is a pioneer of design and culture in Japan is…

Michael Klim has just been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, but he needs a watch for free-diving…

In part three of our epic digital Baselworld event, Time+Tide’s Andrew McUtchen and Luke Benedictus spoke with Aussie swimming legend Michael Klim. Our timing was perfect, as Michael has just been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as part of Class of 2020. Swimmingworldmagazine.com reports that “Michael Klim has been called the best relay swimmer ever”. He is a three-time Olympian, multi-time world champion and 21-time world record holder. Congratulations Klimmy! The Olympic gold medallist and all-round legend spoke to Andrew and Luke about some of the antics the trio got up to at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Klimmy may…

MICRO MONDAYS: AHW Studio, jewellery for the watch enthusiast

Often in the watch community, it’s difficult to celebrate the art of horology in any other way than simply wearing a watch. I mean, sure, you can consume editorial content (bravo, you’re already nailing this), wear a pair of socks covered in watches and maybe even pick up a copy of your favourite watch magazine (I can definitely think of one or two). But, for the most part, expressing your passion for this all consuming hobby is not easy. There’s one locally owned and operated Aussie business that’s looking to change that though, and to give you plenty more ways…

Monochrome’s Rolex predictions are scary accurate, will they be right again in 2020 / 2021?

The most common, and irresistible, grist for the watch industry rumour mill each year is what new models Rolex and, to more of an extent than ever before, Tudor, will unveil each year at Baselworld. Further proof of this is the fairly fresh flurry of speculation around this little possibility right here. A blue Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight This prediction hasn’t come from Monochrome, who we worked with on the video with this post, but the image has been doing the rounds on Instagram (if you are the original creator, please let us know) and it’s a smash with the…

FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Revolution and The Rake are kicking Covid’s arse, the Seiko modding craze and *eggplant emoji *

It’s been another big week of Covid-19 era life here at Time+Tide, with Zoom calls with the Girard-Perregaux HQ (up to 90 people joined in at its peak) to join in on, a live chat with Wei Koh of Revolution and the CEO of DOXA watches to discuss our involvement in the Covid-19 Solidarity Auction and what seems now like an endless schedule of video conferences, including our own team meetings. If this is the new normal, then I guess we’re getting used to it. Though, with a rotating schedule of the team visiting the office, with staff rarely overlapping…

Apples to Apples: Longines HydroConquest Vs. Oris Aquis, specs, pricing and value propositions compared

We want to start this post with a shoutout to some YouTube commenters by the name of Nicolas, Hani and Lee. This trio recently commented on the Longines HydroConquest 41mm in Khaki Green video and each echoed the same sentiments, which to paraphrase, are: “We are in doubt between this Longines and an Oris Aquis.” We all took note. It reminded us of a segment we did on YouTube some time ago called Apples to Apples. The idea here was that we pick watches that are likely be in competitive sets and – after a flip of the coin to…

The 4 details that make the the all-new Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 6007A-001 Limited Edition so compelling

2020 has been a year for a lot of things: a global pandemic, a quarter of a year spent indoors, no Baselworld, no Olympics, and iconic watchmakers like Patek Philippe and Rolex seemingly putting the kibosh on any new novelties. Except, while the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation has so far stuck to their guns, a short while ago Patek Philippe told authorised dealers across the globe that they would indeed be releasing a limited number of new watches this year. And now, praise be to the watch gods, we finally have a new Patek Philippe! Called the Calatrava Ref. 6007A-001, this…

Dive Watch Fundamentals – DOXA, a sleeping giant in the dive watch world that is slowly waking up…

DOXA is a Swiss watchmaker deeply submerged in the annals of dive watch history. It all started in 1967 at the world watch fair, Baselworld, where, after three years of painstaking research and development, DOXA unveiled the SUB 300 – the first dive watch of its kind. Water resistant to 300 metres, the 45mm case was hewn from a solid piece of stainless steel, ensuring case construction was impervious to water. The SUB 300 was also the first DOXA to feature the now quintessential “DOXA Orange” dial. The fit-for-purpose dive watch quickly rose to prominence in the professional diving fraternity…

Oris has an answer to the horrors of 2020, and it’s an all-bronze Hölstein Edition 2020 with a bear on the back

The ‘My Plans’ memes are right. 2020 has been annus horribilis. It’s ruined just about every party on the planet. Oris knows this, and they’ve got a plan. It involves what is claimed to be Switzerland’s first all bronze watch. Yes, including the bracelet. And, oh, to turn up the smiles, there’s a bear on the caseback, too. If this year needed to get more bizarre, more bronze, more bear-able (boom boom), I think we have mission accomplished. As Oris themselves explain, “No one needs a wristwatch, some argue. But even given the myriad alternative ways of telling the time,…

5 interesting watches you can bid on right now from the Revolution x The Rake Covid-19 Solidarity Auction, inc. one worn on screen by Ryan Reynolds

Revolution and The Rake magazines have rallied together to put on a charity auction to support those impacted by Covid-19. Called the ‘Revolution x The Rake Covid-19 Solidarity Auction’, this online event is now live and there are plenty of interesting and noteworthy watches to bid on. The auction will feature several one-off piece-unique timepieces, as well as prototypes that have never before been seen. Speaking about the initiative, Revolution and The Rake founder, Wei Koh, said, “Those of us who are lucky enough to live in a first world country are starting to see [Covid-19] restrictions lifted and our…

VIDEO: The Longines HydroConquest 41mm in Khaki Green is flat out the best value dive watch on the market right now

The Longines HydroConquest 41mm in Khaki Green possesses two of the most popular characteristics found on any timepiece today – it’s a dive watch, and it’s green. But there’s so much more to this watch than those en vogue features. In fact, when you consider its very reasonable retail price, it might be one of the best value-for-money dive watches on the market. Period. Its stainless steel case is well finished and sized, at 41mm across and 12mm thick, which means that it will look good on just about anyone’s wrist. It’s also water resistant to 300 metres, which is…

Grand Seiko has just dropped two limited edition watches to celebrate their new Paris boutique, and the dials are incredible

Grand Seiko really knows how to say bonjour with style – not only is their new Paris boutique the largest of its kind in the world, it’s also easily their most palatial. Set amongst the cobblestones and opulent retailers that line the Place Vendôme, the new Grand Seiko flagship is rubbing shoulders with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels and Piaget. To celebrate their beautiful new European home, the Japanese watchmaker has decided to create two new limited edition iterations of its handsome SBGK dress watch – SBGK011 and SBGK013. Hewn from either solid 950 platinum…

Suited and booted – 8 of the best new dress watches for under $2000, with a focus on colour and character

A good mate of mine recently told me that he had to attend an important business meeting in a couple of weeks at his company’s headquarters ­– boardroom, CEO in attendance, the whole shebang. This meeting was going to be an annoyance for him. Until recently, the corporate garb he’s been able to get away with on Zoom calls comprises a suit jacket, untucked shirt, tie, track pants and moccasins. But with civilisation starting to crawl back to normality, so too is corporate Australia. We are no longer able to live out our professional lives from the waist up. So,…

The Seiko x Sega 60th Anniversary Chronographs are worth a trip to Japan, if you can get there in time

Japanese arcade gaming doyen Sega is celebrating the big SIX ZERO this year, and compatriot Seiko has decided to mark the occasion with not one but two new limited chronographs. The special chronos are hewn from stainless steel and stainless steel with a blackened hard coating, and measure in at a surprisingly middling 38.5mm across and just 9.6mm thick. Both cases are capped with a flat Hardlex crystal and, rather neatly, are also water resistant to 100 metres.   “GO SEGA” has been engraved into the casebacks in the quintessential Sega font, along with a unique serial number. Likewise, the…

IN-DEPTH: The Zenith Chronomaster El Primero 38mm

Just a few short weeks ago, Time+Tide had the distinct pleasure of globally unveiling the last of the 50th anniversary special edition Zenith El Primeros. Called the Zenith Chronomaster Manufacture Edition, this gorgeous watch was the result of a surprise discovery that the team at Zenith had found in a dusty old cupboard in their fabled attic at the watchmaker’s manufacture in Charles Vermot. It’s a great story … in fact it was so good that we made an epic 35-minute video about it – the second episode of Watch & Chill.  So, why am I telling you all this?…

INTRODUCING: The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Memovox and Memovox Timer

Jaeger-LeCoultre must be strong proponents of the adage “you can never have too much of a good thing”. Why? Well, it’s not even been two months since the Le Sentier outfit unveiled their excellent 2020 novelties at this year’s digital Watches & Wonders, and already they’re dropping two new models that are sure to have us watch enthusiasts … chiming. That’s right, JLC has bestowed us with not one, but two new iterations of the Memovox; the Master Control Memovox and Master Control Memovox Timer. These new timepieces carry on a complication that JLC themselves lament is, often times, too…

Edouard Meylan of H. Moser & Cie and Maximilian Büsser of MB&F just had twins, and they’re bloody beautiful

Collaborations, no matter the context, are fraught with the potential of being, more often than not a curious reduction in the individual talents involved. Instead of following the apparent logic that it may be ‘twice as good’ as the individual party’s work, it’s commonly quite the opposite. Half as good, if that. And consequently, neither party wins. Allow me to present “Cruisin’” by Huey Lewis & Gwyneth Paltrow as Item A for the prosecution. Sometimes, though, against the odds, two parties can come together and the effect is not a doubling, or a redoubling of the artistic life forces, but…

Live pics and prices of the new aviation-themed Longines Spirit Collection

For some time now, I think we can all agree, Longines has been on a hot streak like few other brands. All of their additions to the fantastic Heritage Collection have ranged from commendable to award-winning fire, and new iterations of the HydroConquest and Master Collections have continued to punch well above their RRP weight. They have also started to push the winged hourglass’ pitch to more urban and on-trend sensibilities, with models like the all-black Legend Diver remixing a heritage model for decidedly modern tastes. The cornerstone of the Swiss watchmaker’s triumphant last few years has been simple – give…

Vitamin D for the wrist: 9 of the best sunburst dials money can buy

The dial truly is the make or break factor when it comes to a timepiece. Think about human beings in general – we’re largely simple creatures and we’re drawn to pretty things. I mean, just look at the state of the dating world: apps that make you judge a person quite literally on their face value. It’s the exact same in the world of horology. Nobody is swiping right on a watch with a dull ol’ dial. So, we’re singling out the most popular dial types, and listing our favourites, with a few classics thrown in for good measure. First up…

MICRO MONDAYS: Autodromo, for the rev-head that drives tastefully, or the watch lover that lives adventurously

It’s Monday, baby! June. The. First. I’ll skip the “pinch and a punch” nonsense – the first half of this year has been a dystopian nightmare … we can only hope things get better from today. Luckily, there are indeed slivers of hope that our fortunes are on the rise, even if our thermostats aren’t (damn you, winter!). For example, from this evening here in Victoria’s capital city, Melbourne, we’re allowed to go to the pub, have up to 20 mates ’round for a bevvy and, crucially for me, indulge in regional travel. Why is that last point so important?…

The Goldilocks zone, Part 2 – 7 of the best mid-size watches money can buy, inc. a brand new Grand Seiko to die for

To recap: in Part 1 of this series, we took a look at seven of the best watches money can buy that measure between 34mm and 39mm … aka the “Goldilocks” zone. There are so many more great examples of mid-size watches, however, that we thought it only right to mention a few more. So if you’re after a timepiece that isn’t going to sit on your wrist like a Roman sundial, your search may well be over. Enjoy. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref.114200 Representing the very smallest of what we would consider to be a mid-size timepiece, this Rolex Oyster…

Enter the Goldilocks zone – 7 of the best mid-size watches money can buy, Part 1, 36 – 39mm only

A recent encounter with Zenith’s quite brilliant Chronomaster El Primero 38mm got everyone in the office thinking about the firmly held belief in watch world that there is indeed a Goldilocks zone when it comes to watch sizes. Yes, while 40mm-plus timepieces are still the most prevalently proportioned on the market, watches that measure between 34mm and 39mm are well and truly on the rise, popularity-wise, which of course makes total sense – who wants something that could be mistaken for the wheel of a shopping cart on their wrist? So, for all you slim-wristed folks out there who don’t…

CELEBRITY WATCH DEATH MATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo Vs. Lionel Messi, and we’re calling it a thrashing

Celebrity Watch Death Match is back, and we’re kicking off from the centreline with the watch collections of two of football’s biggest ever names – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. These two princes of the pitch have both been described as the GOATs of the modern era; however, if you’re going off stats alone, Leo wipes the floor with Ronaldo. Don’t believe me? Read this. Judging these footballers’ watch collections is not so clear-cut, though – we can’t go off something as dull and clinical as hard data that gives us nothing but the facts. No, to ascertain the MVP…

MICRO MONDAYS: Three key models that are on the way to making Halios a household(ish) name

Monday is once again upon us, and here in Melbourne, Australia that means we’re oh so close to things starting to crawl back to normality, with pubs and restaurants set to open their doors for the first time in nearly three months, starting next week. Those with school age children are also painfully aware that many of them go back tomorrow. No matter what watch you wear, parents are counting the hours.  Aside from thinking non-stop about just how good that first ice cold brew is going to go down at the local (we can’t wait), the start of the…

The savage watch flex in The Last Dance that saw Pip one-up the GOAT…

It’s MJ Monday! Which means there’s a creeping sense of loss all over the world. Because The Last Dance is done. It’s over. Michael Jordan will not be gracing our screens tonight. We will not be gathering like excited children around his armchair tonight, while he pours himself a no doubt single malt on the rocks with a Partagás Lusitania in hand. Sob. So we felt both a personal sense of obligation, and the opportunity for some replacement therapy, to find a story to bring to you. Admittedly, it’s on the trivial side, because Michael Jordan is the principle owner…

IN-DEPTH: The Longines HydroConquest 41mm in Khaki Green, a value proposition like few others

Right now, the dive watch market is more saturated than a saturation diver’s wetsuit. If you want a fit-for-purpose timepiece made to withstand the pressures and perils of H20, you are most definitely spoilt for choice. Of course, it’s understandable why watches that aren’t going to completely capitulate when coming into contact with water are so popular – it’s a very desirable feature. But it can be daunting trying to separate the good from the bad and, more importantly, trying to understand the gulf between the inexpensive and the very expensive. That last point is something that I think about…

INTRODUCING: The TAG Heuer Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Limited Edition

It may have been made to celebrate an event that, like everything else this year, has been cancelled, but that hasn’t stopped TAG Heuer from unveiling a new, high-octane variant of its iconic moniker – the TAG Heuer Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Limited Edition. Mouthful of a name aside, this latest iteration of the squared-off icon has been made, rather obviously, to celebrate the wonderful Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, which TAG Heuer is the official timekeeper for. The motorsport event is a stunning two-day spectacle that sees historic race cars from yesteryear being belted around the…

Black Bay flashbacks! The ultimate Tudor Black Bay Buyer’s Guide, with 27 key references and a call on the best one yet

Ever since it was unveiled at Baselworld way back in 2012 (Fun fact: Andrew’s first Basel!), Tudor’s extensive and diverse range of Black Bays have represented some of the best value-for-money propositions on the market. Genuinely, every time anyone asks me what watch they should buy for around $5000 AUD, the answer is always the same – Tudor. Black. Bay. Trouble is, even though the formidable, heritage-inspired dive watch has only been around for a mere eight years, it has already gone through myriad changes and spawned several different models. So, we thought we’d take a look back at some…

IN-DEPTH: The Rolex Explorer II Ref.216570, sleeper classic or on the brink of extinction?

Let me start this review with an admission: I thought the Big Crown was going to turf many of its current models in 2020. The Milgauss, for example, is well past due for an evolution from its current form, if it remains at all. Likewise, the Air-King – which stylistically borrowed heavily from a set of dash clocks made for a land speed record car that Rolex no longer has any affiliation with – was also rumoured to be disappearing for good. In my opinion, though, the model that was most ready for a reboot was the divisive Explorer II…

G-Shock’s latest GMW-B5000 is off the grid, here’s how they did it (frickin laser beams, man)

** It is mandatory that all readers of this post be listening to this song while they do it. Thank you for complying.** We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – G-Shock are losing the plot, and we’re loving it. And now, to cut straight to the chase, as direct as a frickin laser beam, they’ve created a watch that’s been fully etched by one. How did they do it? Did they drop it into a pool with sharks with laser beams on their heads? No, it’s called the ‘Grid Tunnel’ effect. But we won’t kill the suspense here,…

MICRO MONDAYS: 5 almost instantly sold out collaborations that have consolidated the cult of Unimatic

Editor’s note: There are more micro and independent watchmakers out there than you could possibly ever discover in one lifetime – literally thousands upon thousands of different brands, all vying for your hard-earned. Ascertaining which makers are the successful ones is pretty simple. If they’ve been established for anything more than two years and they’re still solvent, chances are they’re doing OK. And if you want to figure out which small watchmakers are excelling, you need only look at their back catalogue. If the watches made so far have sold out, then guess what? This is a successful watchmaker. That’s why…

After years of middling it, Baume & Mercier novelties are peaking, and people should be reconsidering

Baume & Mercier’s collection of timepieces has been on a discernible upward trajectory for some time now – after years lost in the woods with middling collections and co-brands, the Geneva outfit is quietly making waves. And 2020 looks like it’s going to be another level again, with B&M layering up their sensational Baumatic model with a host of poetic, aesthetically pleasing complications. In addition, we have a new version of the Art Deco-inspired Hampton collection in a manly rectangular case, with lots of considered details. We’ve had a look at all the new models, and picked the ones we…

What Sealed The Deal: Daniel’s Zenith Chronomaster El Primero 45mm

Editor’s note: For many watch enthusiasts out there, including me, one of the biggest problems we can come across is timepieces that are just too… big. I’ll freely admit it: I’ve got dainty wrists, and yes, it’s a problem. Luckily, though, watchmakers are catching on that there are more than a few individuals like me who are slight of hand. As a result, we’re seeing more and more timepieces being released that fall in the widely recognised Goldilocks zone of 36 – 40mm watches, which is a good thing. This has, however, caused a bit of an adverse problem for…

James picks his 5 favourite new watches from 2020, including Bulgari, Omega & Grand Seiko

I must have written and rewritten this yarn half a dozen times. Every single moment I think I’ve cracked it, something in watch world happens that completely changes the narrative and content. First, everything got cancelled because of the pandemic we’re all sick of talking about. Then Patek and Rolex said no new watches this year. Then Baselworld became extinct. And then Watches & Wonders, which wasn’t happening, suddenly was, and a plethora of novelties were released. And now there’s a worrying nagging feeling in the back of my head that says if this story isn’t published soon, all hell…

The New Blacklist Part 2: best of the new all-black watches from $315…

To recap: Zenith’s latest release, the uber stealthy Chronomaster Revival ‘Shadow’, has had us thinking about all the other great all-black timepieces that have been released in recent memory. The blacklist is an ever updating thing. So, we ran through some of our favourite models from the last little while. And after going through the list, we’re firmly of the opinion that blacked-out watches are just plain cooler. But in case you’re still not convinced, here are some more surreptitious stunners that have got the ninja aesthetic down pat. Luminox Bear Grylls Survival 3780 LAND Series Watch Bear Grylls is…

The New Blacklist, Part 1: The best new all-black watches, from around $250 to over $200,000

Black, noir, sable, stygian … whatever name you wish to call it, there can be no debate – black itself is always cooler than whatever is “the new black”. Anyone who’s seen Tarantino’s 1992 cult classic Reservoir Dogs will know what I mean. And anything that is painted black instantly becomes far, far cooler. Henry Ford famously said, “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants, so long as it is black.” The Model T Ford only came in black. What else did you need? The man was onto something. Watch brands know this too, because…

INTRODUCING: The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Racing Green is a gleaming green engine for the wrist

Unless you’re colour-blind, it’s patently obvious that green watches are the thing right now in watch world. It’s not just our industry that’s going through a green renaissance either – the highly versatile colour has also championed the revolution of custom, factory-painted sportscars. Don’t believe me? Check out this Insta page. See what we mean? The verde adoration is real. With this in mind, it borders on bizarre that TAG Heuer hadn’t already created a green-dialled version of their motorsport-inspired Formula 1 chronograph. If ever a watch could lay claim to ultimate automotive and motorsport inspiration, it’s the Formula 1. The…

INTRODUCING: The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic Day-Date and Moon-Phase Automatic in steel ­– the sleeper hit of W&W 2020

In the end, watch fairs can sometimes be remembered for the sleeper hits. Sure, ‘fairs’ aren’t currently really a thing, but the global chaos didn’t stop Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) from rallying and creating a fully digital version of Watches & Wonders. Which we promptly translated into a TV show, because we wanted to give you the option to watch fair and chill, if trawling a website sounded too much like work. The best thing about this, was when the FHH then linked to our show from their fully digital version. The circle was complete. We digress. The…

CELEBRITY WATCH DEATH MATCH: Ellen DeGeneres Vs. Trevor Noah, a toe-to-toe bout inc. Rolex, AP and Patek

Ring the bell, Celebrity Watch Death Match is back for another round of mayhem, and this time we’re squaring off two of Tinseltown’s most talented anchors, both of whom demonstrate an aficionado’s taste in timepieces – Ellen DeGeneres and Trevor Noah. These talk show hosts are known for interviewing some of the world’s biggest celebrities each and every week, and in doing so they’ve become mega-celebrities themselves. However, for watch lovers, the real rockstars of both their shows are the ones attached to their left wrists. To make this a fair fight, we’ve designed each round to feature a single…

Undone have released their first ladies watch, the Urban Killy 34mm, and it may be a $330AUD key to your next spousal approval

Spousal approval for watch purchases is a thing. Plain and simple. It’s also, we should add to be responsible, the sign of a healthy and balanced relationship. You want a new watch? You’re going to draw from shared funds to buy it? It’s right and fair that you get the green light from your partner in crime. While we acknowledge and respect this process, we have also discovered, in our own experience, certain ways to stack the approval process in your favour. One of them is to buy said spouse attractive watches at any opportunity. Including but not limited to…

ANNOUNCING: You can now buy our favourite H. Moser & Cie models in the Time+Tide Shop

We have been fans of H. Moser & Cie. for precisely as long as we have known about them. Which is why we are so proud and excited to announce that, from today, a capsule collection of our favourite H. Moser & Cie. models is available in the Time+Tide Shop. The backstory of Time+Tide and H. Moser & Cie. is one of deepening obsession. From the minute we laid eyes on their watches, which combine inimitable fumé dials with verticalised production that includes – like just a handful of manufactures can – production of the hairspring, we were intrigued. And…

CELEBRITY WATCH DEATH MATCH: Kevin Hart Vs. Mark Wahlberg, a Patek and Rolex-only battle for the ages

This week’s CWDM is going to be controversial and it’s going to be subjective. There’s no way around it. These guys are Hollywood’s high-end horologists. Their collections are pure class. So get ready for some of the craziest watches on planet earth and prepare for opinions, because we all have them, and when it comes to this selection, I certainly have mine. It’s a throwdown for the ages. It’s Kevin Hart Vs. Mark Wahlberg in the biggest Celebrity Watch Death Match ever staged so far. Soundtrack suggestion: *Hey Siri, play Eye of the Tiger*. These two leviathans of the silver…

ISO-FIX: Depressed? Here are 15 fun, guilt-free watches you can buy right now for under $1000

There have been several strange side effects of the rubbish situation we currently find ourselves in. Pushbikes, for example, are now more valuable than palladium. And because everything social (cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs etc.) is closed, it’s enabled some of us to save cash that we otherwise would’ve blown on boujee smashed avo brunches. Now that’s not much of a silver lining, but you’ve got to take the Ws where you can find them at the mo. And as watch enthusiasts, I’m confident that we all operate under this guiding financial principle: any significant cost savings we make must immediately be spent on watches,…

Our 4 picks from the new IWC, Breitling, Bell & Ross and Montblanc 2020 releases

When it rains it drips. And in April 2020, at a time when we need it most – our kingdom for some new watches to write about! – it drips technicolour divers, classic chronos and two absolute blue beauties. Seriously. Like blue dialled watches? Prepare yourself. In a case of simply weird timing, just a couple of days after the news that Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chanel, Tudor and Chopard have all permanently ditched Baselworld, we have witnessed a brace of new 2020 novelties. We’ve picked the great from the good, the rainbows from the duller skies and the blue in…

Bid now on a Russian cosmonaut’s Omega Speedmaster, worn in space for 14 hours

Ever wanted to own an Omega Speedmaster that was actually worn in space? Is that the most rhetorical question you’ve ever heard? If so, a) get in line, and b) you’re in luck, because online auction house RR Auction are offering just that – an Omega Speedmaster that has slipped the bonds of terra firma and glimpsed into the infinite blackness of outer space. Owned by Russian cosmonaut Nikolai Budarin, the flight-qualified timepiece was strapped to Budarin’s wrist when he took part in several of the missions that were part of the fabled Shuttle–MIR space program between the United States…

Tools of the trade: The sports stars that actually wear their mega-luxury watches when they play

My position on wearing a watch while playing sports is already well established – I think it is a very bad idea. However, recent footage of UFC legend Conor McGregor hitting the reflex bag with a series of “bare knuckle pin pointers” has once again stirred up quite the storm in watch land. Why? Well, “The Notorious” decided to unleash hell on this freestanding bag while rocking a solid platinum Rolex Day-Date 40 Ref. 228206IBLDP with factory diamond dial. View this post on Instagram Focus on the task at hand with Bare knuckle pin pointers. A post shared by Conor McGregor Official…

The bar for car and watchmaker collabs is now very high, and Zenith’s Defy El Primero 21 Land Rover smashes it

Let’s not mince words. Watch and carmakers have been jointly responsible for some very, very lazy collaborative timepieces. I won’t pick on too many examples … but to say that some of Ferrari’s early efforts with Panerai and Girard-Perregaux lacked imagination would be a gross understatement. The Prancing Horse turned it around though – Maranello’s latest limited edition timepieces made in conjunction with Hublot have been wonderful. In fact, it could be argued that Ferrari and Hublot’s collaborative efforts have set a new benchmark for what the automotive and horological industry needs to create moving forward. The key, it turns out, is…

INTRODUCING: The TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT with black and blue bezel. Shut the garage door, Batman!

TAG Heuer has beefed up its popular Aquaracer GMT lineup with their latest release – the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Ref. WAY201T.BA0927. And is it just us or is that ‘WAY’ in the title sent to trigger a subtle reference to you know who? If that’s the intention, there are many interesting details this Aquaracer brings to Wayne Manor. Similar to its red and blue brethren, which was unveiled in 2017, this new Aquaracer has got a lot going for it, so let’s walk you through the salient specs. The size of the stainless steel case, which features both brushed and polished…

Celebrity Watch Death Match – John Mayer Vs. Ed Sheeran … the rematch!

Last week’s Celebrity Watch Death Match pushed it to the limit, as John Mayer and Ed Sheeran, according to you guys, ended in a white-knuckle draw. I called it 3-1 for Mayer, but you begged to differ. We had ourselves a 2-2 deadlock. So we were forced to clarify the rules. What happens when it’s a hung jury? In this case, given the depths of both gents’ collections, the answer was simple. We go deeper into their catalogue, find some contenders and get the show back on the road for round two. So buckle up, because we’re hurling the watches of these…

The Audemars Piguet [Re]master01 Selfwinding Chronograph is like a remastered classic on vinyl, played on crystal clear modern speakers and turned up to 11

In what we hope will be the first of many watches to be unveiled in these dark times, Audemars Piguet has recently released their latest model. Called the Audemars Piguet [Re]master01 Selfwinding Chronograph, this new piece is actually a reinterpretation of one of the Le Brassus firm’s early 20th-century watches. In no way is this a reissue, in the vein of many other note-perfect renditions of old models by older brands. It is a true remaster, in the audio sense. It is cleaner. Bigger. And crystal clear both in its looks and in its contemporary intentions to sit comfortably among…

H. Moser & Cie started a joke that started the whole world wanting, now it’s ready for your wrist, for real

Anyone remember H. Moser & Cie.’s “April Fools” prank from last year? We just revisited it on our Instagram stories. If you missed it, allow me to explain. The @moserwatches Insta post from April 1, 2019, displayed what looked like a brand new model of the Swiss watchmaker’s popular Venturer range. But it was immediately apparent that there was something off about this watch … its handset appeared to be missing, just a deep black Vantablack dial. Look ma, no hands. Moser explained in the caption of the post, “Something new and unprecedented for #MoserMonday: meet the Venturer Concept Vantablack…

CELEBRITY WATCH DEATH MATCH: John Mayer Vs. Ed Sheeran – the results

We’ve tallied up the results from last week’s CELEBRITY WATCH DEATH MATCH: John Mayer Vs. Ed Sheeran … there’s been an upset, and it’s a big one. I declared the bout, which was mostly a Patek vs Patek punch-up, a win for the longer in the tooth collector that is John Mayer. I marked him up the winner of three out of the four rounds, with Sheeran scoring just the one W. But you disagreed. The people have scored it differently and, in doing so, you’ve thrown this enterprise into complete disarray. Let’s see how this shocking revelation transpired: Dress watch…

Who wore it better: Batman or Batgirl? The cases for and against Gotham’s power couple

Few acronyms in the watch world are as recognisable, or as likely to trigger emotions than the BLNR. Rolex’s steely professional model GMT-Master II Ref.116710BLNR and subsequent Ref.126710BLNR have been unendingly popular ever since the former was unveiled way back in 2013 at Baselworld. What might have seemed like a hype watch has well and truly gone the distance. The origin story goes that Rolex was keen to release their first Cerachrom bezelled “Pepsi” GMT-Master II to market, following on from the all-black variant Ref.116710LN being released in 2007. But the watchmaker was having considerable trouble manufacturing the two-tone ceramic bezel in…

NOT ON MY WATCH: Please stop with the Bund strap, it is just terrible

The truth is, I’m pretty easygoing. I can get along. Very few things get anywhere near grinding my gears in the watch world – I’m a fan of, and can appreciate, just about anything that’s associated with the little timekeeping marvels that we love. That is, unless you are talking about Bund straps. Because Bund straps are terrible. I don’t use the word hate very often, but when I do, it’s in reference to the Bund strap. Here’s a fun game. How many redeeming qualities do Bund straps have? Answer, none. The only man who could pull one off was the…

CELEBRITY DEATH MATCH: John Mayer Vs. Ed Sheeran

Last week’s Celebrity Death Match was an absolute juggernaut, as we pitted Jay–Z’s watch collection against Drake’s in a hip-hop heavyweight showdown. And while Hova clearly decimated Champagne Papi’s collection, this week’s fight to the death is set to be one for the ages. We’re really ramping it up a notch, swapping out spitting bars for picks and guitars, facing off two of the foremost collectors in the world – John Mayer and Ed Sheeran. I should preface this bout of CDM by saying that both Mayer and Sheeran are the real MVPs of the watch world – both their…

CELEBRITY WATCH DEATH MATCH: Jay-Z Vs. Drake’s watch collection – and the winner is…

Well, the results are in for the inaugural round of Celebrity Watch Death Match, and everything is coming up not just roses for Jay-Z, but “Rose Gold Concepts”. Which the man himself raps about in ‘Summer’ from the Everything Is Love album, a reference to his Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Chronograph in 18KT Rose Gold. Hove smashed Drizzy across four categories by three winning watches to one, though things did get tight in the ‘Modded & Murdered’ category, where he prevailed with a margin of just six per cent, his Franck Muller modified Rolex just beating out the murdered and iced Nautilus. Dress…

Everything you need to know about Unimatic

Unless you’ve been practising a technological and communications ban as well as self-isolation, you no doubt will have heard about the Unimatic x Massena LAB Modello Uno Ref. U1-ML6. But while the new limited edition timepiece garnered some serious press in the watch world, and all 99 examples sold out in less than one minute, a lot of you are still asking: “Who is Unimatic?” So, sit back, relax and allow us to explain. Established in 2015 by two Milanese natives, Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato, Unimatic is an independent Italian micro watchmaker like no other. Moro and Nunziato met…

CELEBRITY DEATH MATCH: Jay-Z Vs. Drake’s watch collection

Today, we’re facing off two of the music industry’s biggest names – the one and only Hova, AKA Jay-Z, is going to have his watches pitted against none other than Champagne Papi himself, Drake. There’s going to be four rounds in this horological heavyweight showdown, spread across four different categories – dress watch to die for, modded and murdered out mayhem, weekend warrior, and deathblow, the ultimate flex piece. Whose watches will come out on top in this instalment of Celebrity Death Match? There’s only one way to find out. Dress watch to die for: Jay-Z – Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso…

RECOMMENDED READING: Platinum is back, baby

A short while ago, Nick Foulkes, writing for How To Spend It, espoused that the last 24 months have seen a significant rise in the popularity and production of solid platinum watches. Foulkes postulates that this may be, to a degree, down to the relatively recent vogue of steel watches, as platinum — at least from a passing glance — does have a similar appearance to its far more humble, utilitarian metal brethren. It also has the distinct advantage of flying under the radar in a way that yellow or pink gold simply cannot. However, platinum’s resurgence in timepieces might also be…

What Sealed The Deal – Peter’s Rolex Explorer II Ref. 216570, “when I got it there wasn’t a huge amount of demand”

The Explorer II often does the rounds at the top of ‘the most underrated Rolex model’ list, and it’s not difficult to see why. In addition to many of the attractive hallmarks of steel sports Rolex models, it also has just a dash more personality – is it the pop of orange that catches your eye? The bezel? Or in this case the almost luminous white dial? Peter counts the ways he loves this model, and explains what sealed the deal for him.  When did you first see/hear about it? I’ve always been a fan of the Rolex Explorer II, and…

Bulletproof: These G-Shock Utility Series watches show off Casio’s 21st century take on the mil-spec watch

Casio’s G-Shock watches are already widely regarded as some of the toughest SOBs in the business, capable of taking more punishment than Tyson Fury and still coming back for more. But the Japanese watchmaker has seen fit to, aesthetically at least, step it up a notch, by taking some of their most iconic timepieces and giving them a proper mil-spec treatment, and in doing so creating the G-Shock Utility Series. Comprising a number of different models in G-Shock’s current lineup, we thought we’d take a look at our favourite four iterations from this exciting new collection. Casio G-Shock DW-5610SUS-5  …

London, New York, Paris, Tokyo: The limited edition Hublots that celebrate the big 4 cities

Hublot has decided to celebrate their love of Britain’s capital city in quite a literal way – by producing this, the Hublot Classic Fusion Special Edition London. Based on the standard Classic Fusion, the 45mm case of the new London edition features bespoke elements such as a polished black ceramic case, black satin-finished bezel and a rubber band that’s capped with a velvet-effect “City Of London” tartan theme. The real pièce de résistance of the new limited edition watch, however, is its brushed black ceramic dial, which features a micro-blasted Union Jack motif, which is etched into the dial and…

Our 3 favourite watches from H. Moser & Cie.’s new Certified Pre-Owned Collection

In an increasingly common trend among Swiss watchmakers, H. Moser & Cie. has unveiled a dedicated, in-house managed range of certified pre-owned watches. Available for purchase directly through the H. Moser & Cie. website, the curated collection of timepieces are, according to Moser, meticulously inspected, serviced and polished back to factory original condition by the Swiss firm’s master watchmakers. What’s more, every pre-owned watch sold will come with a guarantee of authenticity as well as 24 months of factory warranty, which is a nice touch. We’ve spent the last couple of hours poring over the pre-loved range and we’ve got…

Land, Sky or Sea – 5 Bremonts whose claim to fame is toughness

British watchmaker Bremont may have only been around since 2002, but in that time they’ve earned respect for watches that are durable and robust to an extreme degree, and British to a tee at all times throughout. Few breakthroughs have helped this reputation quite as much as the significant percentage of watches Bremont produce being set aside for an increasing number of men and women serving in armed forces across the globe. Bremont are also, impressively, official suppliers to the British Ministry of Defence. Their most recent collection includes fit-for-purpose timepieces for several different disciplines, whether that be pilot’s watches,…

Is Jonah Hill low-key one of Hollywood’s biggest watch collectors?

When you think celebrities and timepieces, most people with an inkling about watch collecting would throw up the same names – Mark Wahlberg, Ellen DeGeneres, Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Kevin Hart, Drake … you get the picture. What many people might not have realised is that Jonah Hill’s watch collection is really starting to take shape. In fact, so filled with bangers is the man’s assortment of timepieces, you could say it’s straight-up Superbad … OK, that’s a terrible pun, but you get the picture: he’s bought into hypebeast horology in a big way. So, without further ado (or another terrible…

The watches of Drive To Survive Season 1: What you could’ve seen if the 2020 Rolex Australian Grand Prix hadn’t just been cancelled

Another day, another sporting event falls victim to the rampant spread of COVID-19, aka Coronavirus. This time it’s one of Australia’s premier sporting events – the 2020 Rolex Australian Grand Prix. Its cancellation is a huge shock, but with one of McLaren F1’s team members being confirmed to have fallen ill with the potentially deadly virus, and a further 14 team members under quarantine, the British outfit had no choice but to immediately pull the pin, and less than 12 hours later, the whole event is kaput. If you’re a fan of motorsport and cars, chances are you’re also a…

The Report Card: Seiko’s 2020 novelties so far

We may only be three months into 2020, but Seiko is dropping new novelties like the world could end tomorrow … which, given the current state of affairs, does feel ever so slightly plausible. Anyway, I know what you’re thinking: “enough of the doom and gloom, what about the watches?” Well, the Japanese watchmaker has released myriad new timepieces so far, some limited and some not, across their various collections. So we thought we’d round them up, present them to you and then, in a manner not dissimilar from the tasks my former educators had to undertake, give them a…

Diving through the decade – Seiko’s latest dive watches pay tribute to three classics

Blancpain, Rolex, Omega, DOXA … these are the watchmakers we normally associate with being the doyens of creating dive watches. However, as Seiko is keen to point out in their latest trilogy release, the Japanese firm has been deeply submerged in the art form of birthing amphibious timepieces for quite some time too – 55 years to be precise. The three new limited editions in question, called the 1965, 1968 and 1975, aim to celebrate not only Seiko’s first-ever dive watch but also their first decade of creating water-resistant timepieces. But, while the three watches have been very closely styled…

Weekend watch spotting with JR: Labour Day edition

It’s the Labour Day long weekend here in Victoria, which means that while the rest of the country is experiencing their weekly dose of Mondayitis, us southerners get one more day in the sun. And, in the interest of entertaining you all, I did the right honourable thing and went out in search of what people were wearing on their left (and right) wrist. This is what I found. Jimmy’s Tissot Le Locle Automatic Jimmy has only recently started getting into watches, and this Tissot Le Locle Automatic was his first “nice” watch. Named after the third smallest city in…

Post Malone’s insane watch collection Part 2: With Rockstar Ratings

If you missed out on the first instalment of us rating Post Malone’s watch collection, stop reading and hit this link right here. And, if you haven’t seen GQ’s latest On The Rocks video featuring Posty and his multimillion dollar assortment of timepieces, you can click here. Done that? OK great … let’s, as Malone would say, “get after it”. Patek Philippe Nautilus 5719/10G Rockstar Rating: 11/10 If the previous watches in his collection haven’t convinced you that Malone is getting serious about collecting timepieces, then take a look at his factory diamond-clad Patek Nautilus 5719/10G. This is, undeniably, one…

Are mil-spec watches the perfect weekend warriors?

Editor’s note: Few other types of watches have transitioned so well from being utilitarian tools into weekend warriors as military-spec watches. Whether it be a broad arrow brandished member of the “Dirty Dozen”, a vintage Tudor Submariner used by the Marine Nationale or even a more contemporary Bremont Broadsword, watches that have been and are used by armed forces are just cool. And their robustness, tactility and ability to look great when paired with a camo green textile strap mark them out as the perfect watch to be worn Saturday through Sunday. A while ago, we took a look at…

Post Malone’s insane watch collection Part 1: With Rockstar Ratings

GQ just dropped the latest video from their On The Rocks series, with the face-tatted hip-hop heavyweight that is Post Malone. His watch collection is nothing short of unreal – it’s a “hypebeasts” delight … which suits Posty down to the ground. But as is the case with just about everything in life, not all his watches are created equal. Some watches are far more rockstar than others, so we’ve rated them all: Rolex Day-Date 40 Rockstar Rating: 2/10 OK, now that we’ve seen Mr Malone’s full collection of timepieces, we can definitely forgive his past indiscretion of rocking a…

Three things we’re *really* digging about the Zenith X Revolution El Primero A3818 Revival

Last week, Zenith and Revolution magazine, as well as sister publication The Rake, dropped this – the El Primero A3818 Revival “Cover Girl”. This watch is a dead ringer for the original El Primero “Cover Girl”, so-called because it was the watch featured on the cover of Manfred Rössler’s book Zenith: Swiss Watch Manufacture Since 1865. The Cover Girl is considered to be one of the rarest and most desirable iterations ever to carry the El Primero moniker, with less than 1000 thought to exist. Hot watch. Retro perfection. Ladder bracelet. These are the three things we’re digging about the Zenith…

RECOMMENDED WATCHING: An interview with Clive Cussler

Clive Cussler, famed novelist and maritime explorer, died on February 24, aged 88. The writer was a larger-than-life character, and his series of novels featuring the renegade adventurer, underwater explorer and treasure hunter Dirk Pitt, such as Raise the Titanic! and Sahara, captivated a generation of avid readers. Cussler’s novels also brought many people’s attention to DOXA watches, as both the prolific fictional protagonist and Cussler himself always wore an orange DOXA watch. Twenty-two years ago, CBS News interviewed the novelist, which tracked his history as an amateur writing enthusiast, right up to the time that his novels and movies were being…

Bi-Compax Beauties: 3 great looking chronographs for the discerning timekeeper

Any type of chronograph is going to be an exceedingly handy complication for a wristwatch to possess. However, while the function of the chronograph is broadly the same no matter what make or model of watch you go for, they aren’t all aesthetically equal — not by a long shot. No, the best-looking chronographs on the market generally all have one thing in common: Bi-Compax Dials. That’s right, the simple and elegant look of two sub-dials, traditionally located at three and nine o’clock, provides a great amount of symmetry and harmony that, in turn, lends itself to a more arresting overall…

These are the five most popular watch brands in India

According to many, many news stories over the last 12 months, India is expected to overtake China as the world’s most populous country within the next decade, with the current population of roughly 1.37 billion set to skyrocket. It’s a country on the up and up, and its people are developing quite the taste for timepieces as a result. With that in mind, we thought we’d take a look at the top five most popular watch brands in the world’s second-most inhabited country: No. 1 – Titan A joint collaboration between two of the largest companies in India, Tata Group…

HANDS-ON: The revelatory Franck Muller Color Dreams

One of the biggest perks about this job is discovering things that I previously wouldn’t have known about myself. Now, I know that sounds both simultaneously profound and clichéd, and I am talking about watches after all, not the meaning of life … but it’s true, this job has taught me a great deal about myself that I otherwise wouldn’t have known. That’s what this Franck Muller Color Dreams did when I went hands-on with it … it completely shook up my personal status quo. Allow me to explain. If you’d told me that I’d fall head over heels for…

What are these Swatch X 007 watches I’m seeing and can I still buy them?

Swatch just dropped their latest James Bond collaboration – the Swatch X 007 Tribute Collection – and the big question on everyone’s lips is … can you still buy these exclusive models? And the answer is: sort of. A quick peruse of Swatch Australia’s ecommerce page shows that some models are still available, while others have already been snapped up by keen enthusiasts of everybody’s favourite secret agent. So we thought we’d walk you through each of the limited edition timepieces and, more importantly, tell you which ones you can actually still purchase from Swatch right now. Swatch Dr. No…

We asked you if the Zenith Defy was underrated, and this is what you said

A few days ago, we uploaded a photo of the Zenith Defy Classic Ref.95.9000.670/51.R790 and asked our 120,000 followers this question: “Is the Zenith Classic underrated?” The response was resoundingly confirmative, with many people opining that not only the Defy Classic but the Defy range in general was, more often than not, overlooked and it shouldn’t be, because it’s a great collection of timepieces. For example, @styleinternity wrote: “Think most of their lineup is underrated to be honest.” @modernthrills commented: “Totally underrated.” @dwwright55 concurred, writing: “So underrated.” As did @k_temae, who added: “For sure underrated! Price is very ‘soft’ regarding quality…

Weekend watch spotting with JR – Ft. Oris, Omega & Rolex

When does the weekend technically start? Is it Friday arvo or does the clock have to strike 12am on Saturday morning? Reason I’m asking is because I spotted all my watches in this weekend’s instalment on Friday afternoon and, boy oh boy, were there some lookers … enjoy! John’s (@minutes_intime) Oris Big Crown Pointer Date with Red Dial You know that one watch friend you’ve got that’s always wearing something new on their wrist every time you catch up with them, without fail? For me, that’s John – the man’s collection is a revolving door of exciting timepieces, both new…

RECOMMENDED WATCHING: Tyson Fury can’t go without his Rolex Day-Date 40

Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury is an interesting man … to say the least. And, as of last night, the Brit is once again the boxing Heavyweight Champion of the World, dominating Deontay Wilder for seven rounds before finishing the American with a ruthless onslaught that left Wilder’s corner with no choice but to throw in the towel. It was a stunning performance by Fury and firmly solidifies his place as one of the greatest boxers of this generation. On the eve of the fight, GQ Sports released a video on their YouTube channel – “10 Things Tyson Fury Can’t…

Tech billionaire chic: the watches of the tech sector elite

Billionaires … they’re a rare breed. In fact, according to a report from CNBC in 2019, out of the earth’s total population of roughly 7.7 billion people, there are just 2604 that can claim to have 10 figures in their bank account. More interesting still is that this same report posited that America has more billionaires than China, Russia and Germany combined. That last statistic sounds vaguely absurd … until you start to think about the enterprises that occupy the tech industry – Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon – the list goes on. In fact, Silicon Valley alone, which is…

Top 5 watches worn by Tom Hardy on the big screen

Editor’s note: While he’s no longer the frontrunner to be the next James Bond, turns out Tom Hardy may not miss the opportunity to wear an inevitably limited edition Omega too much … as the Hollywood A-lister has already sported some serious timepieces on the silver screen. We’ve spotted these five beauties from his back catalogue … the man has fine taste.  We have a bit of a man crush in the Time+Tide office on English actor Tom Hardy. After a film debut in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down there has rarely been a misstep in his career — from Batman’s arch rival,…

Genesis, with a twist: The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Black Ceramic

Editor’s note: The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is, in the context of a fit-for-purpose dive watch, the original. Nothing like it had come before, and because of it, watches like Rolex’s ubiquitous Submariner exist  – the Fifty Fathoms was the catalyst for what is arguably the most popular sub-genre of timepieces ever created. But, while recognising past achievements and acknowledging history is important, an inability to adapt can ultimately be a monikers downfall. That’s why Blancpain continues to push its fabled namesake forwards into the 21-century with watches like this – Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Black Ceramic. It stays true to…

RECOMMENDED READING: An interview with Roni Madhvani

Stetz & Co recently published an interview with one of the foremost vintage watch aficionados on the planet, Mr Roni Madhvani. Madhvani — or as he goes by on Instagram, @roni_m_29 — has a truly unbelievable collection of some of the rarest and most eccentric timepieces from the likes of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Cartier. His Instagram page is the stuff of legend and, rather surprisingly, it’s one of the few watch ’gram pages that isn’t littered with steel sports watches. No, Madhvani’s assemblage of watches all have two things in common: precious metal and unique case shapes. Whether…

3 badass watches from Netflix’s Uncut Gems

Netflix’s latest blockbuster, Uncut Gems, follows the story of a deeply flawed and shady jewellery dealer, Howard Ratner, played by Hollywood funnyman Adam Sandler. It’s an … interesting film, that essentially involves Sandler yelling and screaming profanities A LOT in a pretty unconvincing manner. OK, I’m going to be brutally honest here, it’s actually a straight-up dumpster fire of a film. But there are some cool … and some not-so-cool watches featured in it, so enthusiasts may feel compelled to watch it. DON’T – it goes for two hours and it’s time that you’ll never get back. Good bloke that I…

Crime or Sublime: Double Wristing with a mechanical and Apple Watch – the results

A few weeks ago, Nicholas Kenyon and I got into a bit of a row over whether it was a crime or indeed sublime to double wrist a mechanical wristwatch and an Apple Watch. Kenyon was firmly in the sublime camp, whereas I was, well … you can read my thoughts on the matter right here. Anyway, we posited the question to you, the enthusiasts, on our Facebook page, and judging from the comments, I well and truly trounced Kenyon on this particular occasion. So, sit back, relax and enjoy some of the finest, Zuckerberg-approved commentary on the interwebs about…

Out of this world: These are 4 of the most attractive moon phases money can buy

While watches equipped with a moon phase complication aren’t without their detractors, for the astronomically inclined, they are wonderful devices. And, from an aesthetic standpoint, timepieces just tend to look better when they sport some form of moon on their dial. Don’t believe us? Well, take a look at these four watches … maybe they’ll change your mind. CHRISTOPHER WARD C1 MOONGLOW The Christopher Ward C1 Moonglow takes the whimsical moon phase complication and presents it in a fashion that belies its entry-level price bracket. With a galaxy of excellent moon-inspired watches released in July to celebrate the 50th anniversary…

Weekend watch (and race car) spotting with JR

It’s a good thing that wearing a watch is something that you can do regardless of the weather, because Australia is in the midst of an absolute doozy of a summer. Over the last few months devastating fires have ravaged the countryside, and now parts of the land are completely flooded. Regardless, I went out in search of timepieces at a very damp Sandown race track, about 25 kilometres south east of Melbourne, for the first round of the Australian GT Championship. Here’s what I found: And now to the watches: Riley’s (@roleyman) Longines Avigation BigEye Riley has been after…

What Sealed The Deal – James’s Baume & Mercier Capeland Chronograph

Well, this is a bit different to a normal What Sealed The Deal … seeing as this Baume & Mercier Capeland Chronograph is actually my watch. I purchased it late last year after a particularly dogged haggling match that started with a seemingly innocuous Gumtree.com ad. Anyway, I’ll spare you the deets of the torrid exchange of words … let’s get started: When did you first see/hear about it? This particular Baume & Mercier Capeland Chronograph, Ref. MV045216, had been on my radar for quite some time. In fact, I remember when it was first unveiled thinking it was a handsome-looking…

Alfred would approve: 5 of the best Batman bezel watches

Few other bezel designs in recent memory have conjured more furore and admiration in the horological community than the so-called Batman bezel. Yes, the black and blue aesthetic has had everyone in a tizzy for years now, likely since Rolex unveiled their GMT-Master II Ref. 116710BLNR in 2013. Since then, the two colours have featured on the bezels of numerous watches from other manufacturers, keen to celebrate the oh-so-vogue colours and, let’s be honest, punch their ticket on the hype train. However, while motivations for creating such timepieces might trigger the odd cynical reaction, there are now many watches out…

INTRODUCING: The Batavi Kosmopoliet GMT

Hailing from Amsterdam, Batavi watches are a microbrand keen on paying homage to the famous tool watches of yesteryear, with a modern and novel twist. Hot on the heels of their handsome, fit-for-purpose dive watch, the Noordzee, the Dutch outfit has now set their sights on creating a GMT-equipped timepiece that aims to celebrate the faded bezels and heritage of some of the most iconic jet-setting timepieces from the ’60s and ’70s. Called the Batavi Kosmopoliet GMT, this is a sports watch that, on paper at least, has all the ingredients to be a compelling timepiece for enthusiasts. The watch’s…

Californication: 4 of the best California dial watches

For an industry with such a rich tapestry of history, it’s surprising to realise just how many mysteries remain unanswered in the world of horology: Who really wore the Explorer up Everest? Who bought Paul Newman’s Daytona? And why is the California dial called the California dial? While Tenzing Norgay probably knows the answer to the first question, and Aurel Bacs definitely knows the answer to the second, nobody really knows the answer to that last question. Some theorise that the “California dial”, which splits half the numerals on a watch’s dial between Roman and Arabic, is so-called because that…

Four watches worn at the 2020 Oscars that point to a new dress watch direction

Hollywood’s night of nights, the Oscars, was just yesterday, and while most of the noise around this year’s event was Brad Pitt finally scoring his first ever gong for his supporting role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (and shedding a tear… oh, Brad!) for us watch tragics it was a great chance to see what the glitterati were wearing on their wrists. The Oscars is also about what – if any – kinds of trends the wrist choices might point to. And the early running there is, to not mince words, sports watches in precious metals and integrated bracelets.…

Weekend watch spotting with JR: The Japan edition

Australia and Seiko have always had a strong relationship … in fact, pretty much every major Japanese watchmaker, whether it be Seiko, Grand Seiko, Casio, Citizen … whomever it is, we folk Down Under love a Japanese timepiece. And, out on my watch spotting expedition at the weekend, this sentiment was shored up no end. Enjoy. Ty’s Seiko Prospex SRPD50K Ty’s gorgeous Seiko Prospex SRPD50K, aka the “Aussie only Turtle”, is a pretty stunning watch and perfectly sums up our country’s love affair with Seiko and, more acutely, Seiko dive watches. Resplendent with its combination of anthracite coating and yellow…

INTRODUCING: Is this the HydroConquest that Longines had to make?

Need to know Well, I bet nobody saw this coming … another day, another dive watch with a green dial. But is this new Longines HydroConquest a cynical marketing-based exercise aimed at cashing in on the peripheral hype caused by the Rolex Submariner Ref.116610LV? Or has Longines tried to create something truly unique in the space? Well, let’s examine the watches. For a start, there’s not one but two shades of green available. The first has been designated as “Khaki Green”, while the other is what Longines describes as “a brighter green hue” when comparing it to the khaki — think…

First look at the DOXA SUB 200 on summer-ready rubber straps

The GPHG-nominated DOXA SUB 200 has succeeded in capturing the watch world’s attention since its unveiling at Baselworld 2019, what with its vibrant dial options, 200 metres of water resistance, and fetching, vintage-inspired 42mm stainless steel case. There was just one niggling issue for some — the beads of rice bracelet was perhaps a tad cumbersome on the wrist, especially in the warmer months. What it really needed was a rubber strap. Black, yes, but also on vibrant colours to give it some pop. Check them all out in our marketplace, now.  The intrepid product development team at DOXA obviously…

INTRODUCING: The Timex M79 Automatic, the Batman of the people?

Timex have kicked off their 2020 novelty releases with an exciting – for those with no signs of Batman fatigue – but fairly unadventurous move. A Batman to wash down their wildly popular Pepsi model. But this time automatic for the people. And this time potentially attainable at the drop, rather than months later. Put your name down here to register your interest.  The thought that Timex was ever a pejorative term, or shorthand for a poor watch – and it certainly was in days of yore in Australia – is now amusing. In 2020 the brand is red hot.…

EXPLAINED: How waterproof is your watch?

“How waterproof is my watch?” is a very common question that we get asked here at Time+Tide. And the short answer is … it’s not. There isn’t a watch on earth that can withstand the absolute pressure of mother nature and her deepest of ocean trenches. No, watches are, regardless of marketing bollocks, water resistant, to varying degrees. And, rather importantly, the water resistant rating that’s printed or engraved in metres or feet on the dial or case back of a watch, isn’t literal — not by a long shot. So, with that in mind, we thought we’d share with you this…

Blue Wednesday: 3 Grand Seikos with gorgeous blue dials

Grand Seiko may have been around for 60 years, but the opulent Japanese watchmaker isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. 2019 perfectly exemplified their hard-charging ethos of churning out horological hit after hit, with myriad wristwatches being unveiled that got the enthusiast community in quite the tizzy. We’d like to mention all of them, but, to keep it simple, we’ve whittled down all their releases from last year and focused on three of the best blue dials that the marque unveiled in 2019: GRAND SEIKO SBGK005 The Grand Seiko Elegance Collection got a real boost when reference SBGK005 debuted…

RECOMMENDED WATCHING: Rolex Yacht-Master Vs. Omega Seamaster

Rolex vs. Omega is an age-old debate that has seemingly raged since time immemorial in the horological community. However, the watches in question have always been the Rolex Submariner vying against the Omega Seamaster, or the Rolex Daytona vs. the Omega Speedmaster. And while the arguments for and against these aforementioned watches could go on forever, the chaps over at Watchfinder & Co. have posited a new and exciting point of contention among the two legacy watchmakers: Yacht-Master vs. Seamaster. More specifically the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Ref. 226659 has been pitted against one of Omega’s most recent additions to its…

Hublot highlights from LVMH’s Dubai Watch Week

Though it may have been a few weeks ago, such was the extent of Hublot’s 2020 novelties unveiled at LVMH’s Dubai Watch Week that it’s still got the horological hemisphere talking. For a start, the big talking point was that the Swiss watchmaker’s iconic Big Bang was unveiled on an all-new integrated bracelet, and thus, the Hublot Big Bang Integral was born. Available from launch in three different materials — Titanium, Black Ceramic and King Gold — the handsome chronograph-equipped timepiece was a big surprise for the collective watch community, as it represents a significant shift from Hublot’s quintessential natural rubber…

‘Watch & Act!’ World Watch Auction results: Over $200K raised!

We’re very proud to announce that the ‘Watch & Act!’ World Watch Auction in aid of the Australian bushfire crisis has raised more than $200,000 Australian dollars, with 100 per cent of the funds going directly to the charities that need it most. This has been a monumental effort from everyone involved and we’re incredibly moved, humbled and thankful to have had the global watch community rally behind and support this incredibly important cause. In the end 24 watches were generously donated by some of the biggest players in the horological hemisphere, and all were bid on in earnest by…

Weekend watch spotting with JR: The Sunday Blues

Blue — that was certainly the colour of this weekend just past. Whether it was Rod Laver’s packed tennis court, the fleeting moments of sky that Melburnians witnessed on Sunday … for about 30 minutes, or indeed the watches that people were wearing — the vogue colour was definitely a recurring theme. Anyway, here are three of the nicest blue dial watches I spotted: James’ Rado Captain Cook Automatic: The irony of James owning a watch called “Captain Cook” isn’t lost on him, but unfortunate name aside, he simply couldn’t resist the glossy dark blue dial of this wristwatch, especially when paired…

INTRODUCING: The Seiko Astron Novak Djokovic 2020 Limited Edition

Seventeen-time Grand Slam Champion Novak Djokovic has once again teamed up with long-term sponsor Seiko to create this — the Seiko Astron Novak Djokovic 2020 Limited Edition. Based on the standard Astron SSH019J1, the limited-run watch has been designed to celebrate both the Serbian and Japanese flags. The new Djokovic Astron is a handsome-looking timepiece, thanks to a number of bespoke styling cues. The dial, for example, is finished in a gorgeous shade of blue that symbolises the blue in Serbia’s flag, and in Japanese culture is meant to represent the notion of being victorious. The other two major colour…

OPINION: Why thick watches are no good

I’m rather fortunate in my role here at Time+Tide — I get to wear a lot of different watches. In fact, in 2019 alone I tried on and wore more than 200 different timepieces. Getting to experience this many different watches is a privilege, and while each and every one had both positives and negatives, they all need to be praised just for existing because, after all, technically speaking, wristwatches aren’t exactly essential in 2020. That being said, however, if there was one overriding takeaway from all the timepieces I wore last year, it was this — I hate thick watches.…

RECOMMENDED READING: First impressions from an A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus owner

Most of you reading this will have already heard of Gary Getz, or, as he goes by on his Instagram nom de guerre, GaryG (@garyg_1). But if for some reason you haven’t stumbled across his ’gram page or heard of him at a horological gathering, believe me when I say, the man hath some nice watches. In fact, it’s probably easier to think of Getz’s collection of timepieces as an assortment of some of the most revered and sought-after grail watches on the planet. A judge at last year’s Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and a regular columnist for Quill…

The Rado HyperChrome Ashleigh Barty Limited Edition is a game changer

Editor’s note: Hot on the heels of her imperious victory at the Adelaide Open, 2020’s Young Australian of the Year, Ash Barty, is continuing to carve her name into the annals of tennis legend, trouncing all of her competitors so far at the Australian Open with a spellbinding blend of grace and dogged determination. Barty is nothing short of a national treasure and an exemplar for how all athletes should go about their business, especially her fellow Aussie tennis players. Swiss watchmaker Rado recognises Barty’s greatness, and has been a long-term supporter of the tennis ace. The marque even created…

Superstar DJ Carl Cox remixes Zenith; feat. Lume

If Zenith’s showing at LVMH’s Dubai Watch Week is anything to go by, 2020 could well be the year of the eccentric collaboration for the Swiss watchmaker. Not only were members of the press treated to the unveiling of the handsome, if slightly odd, Zenith DEFY El Primero 21 Land Rover Edition, but they were also shown this — Zenith DEFY El Primero 21 Carl Cox Edition. My oh my, is this an interesting “remix” of the regular DEFY 21 … I’m not even really sure where to begin. For a start, the 44mm case, as well as the bezel, crown,…

Game, Set, Watch: Tennis aces and their timepieces

The 2020 running of the Australian Open is well and truly into full … well, swing. And with the best tennis players in the world descending on Melbourne, we thought we’d take a look at watchmakers that have affiliations with the pro athletes because, after all, one of my favourite parts of the AO is seeing what the players have attached to their wrist. Roger Federer – Rolex Easily one of the most well-recognised partnerships between a sportsperson and a watchmaker, Roger Federer and Rolex are a match made in heaven. Federer is unquestionably the consummate professional of the tennis…

Weekend watch spotting with JR: the vintage edition

As is always the way on Australia Day weekends, I went to an endless succession of parties and barbecues. These shindigs are a great opportunity to go watch spotting and I was fortunate to stumble across a few exciting timepieces that had one thing in common — they were all vintage. So without further ado, here are my top three spots from the weekend: Ash’s Tudor Oyster Prince Ash only recently started getting into watches, but her appetite for vintage timepieces has grown rapidly in the last six months, and now you’ll find her on most weekends scouring markets, garage…

It’s hip to be square: the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver video review

Editor’s note: It’s certainly refreshing to witness a timepiece that breaks the archetypal aesthetic tendencies of a fit-for-purpose dive watch. Thing is though, new and innovative divers don’t come around too often … most watchmakers tend to play it pretty safe when it comes to making an amphibious timekeeping device. However, Bell & Ross certainly did buck the trend when they unveiled the BR 03-92 Diver a few years back. We were fortunate enough at the time to go HANDS-ON with the square divers watch, and you can watch the video review below. Enjoy.  Some people say that a leopard…

Why is this Longines Master Collection Annual Calendar so awesome?

Editor’s note: Oftentimes, it seems as though the annual calendar complication is all too easily overlooked in the horological hierarchy of complications. GMTs, Chronographs – these are the most popular sorts of watches at the moment. But the annual calendar shouldn’t be discounted … because it’s wonderful. A while ago, we went HANDS-ON with Longines’ Master Collection Annual Calendar, and these were our initial impressions:  There are few things I love more than a watch that surprises me. It’s something that doesn’t happen near enough for my liking, but it happened with this Longines. It was in the Longines booth at…

These were the most significant Zenith watches of 2019

Zenith really wowed the global watch community last year with some truly impressive new releases that encompassed beautiful heritage pieces, new case materials and horological innovations that had everyone talking. We’d like to mention all the models that dropped last year, but, to keep it short and sweet, here were the three most important Zenith watches of 2019. ZENITH DEFY INVENTOR Before you ask, Aeronith is not a knock-off cover band honouring Steve Tyler and co. It is a futuristic aluminium foam impregnated with a stabilising polymer. The result is a cratered, ultra-light material that is as visual stunning as…

Novac Djokovic loves the Seiko Astron

Editor’s note: With all the action of the Australian Open now well and truly underway, and following on from news that Seiko and tennis ace Novak Djokovic have just unveiled their latest limited edition timepiece, we thought we’d take another look at their 2019 collaborative special – the Seiko Astron Novak Djokovic Limited Edition SSE174J.  Tennis great Novak Djokovic and Japanese watch manufacturer Seiko began their (doubles) partnership at the beginning of 2014. Just a few months later, Djokovic regained his position as world number one – a ranking he then held for 28 months straight. Coincidence? Perhaps, but whether it’s causation…

Survival of the fittest: Bear Grylls and Luminox have created some tough timepieces

Maverick survivalist, TV host and ex-British special forces soldier Bear Grylls has teamed up with Californian-based watchmaker Luminox to create the ultimate range of tough and ready timepieces. Judiciously called the Bear Grylls Survival Collection, there will be six watches in total to … bear Bear’s name. In fact, each and every one of the timepiece’s case backs will feature Grylls’ name, logo, signature and his famed motto: “Never Give Up”. The rugged watches have been designed and purpose-built from the outset, with Grylls’ advice and expertise, to go anywhere and withstand the rigours of a life filled with adventure.…

HANDS-ON: Is this Grand Seiko Elegance SBGK007 a perfect dress watch?

Unquestionably one of Grand Seiko’s most surprising releases of 2019, the SBGK additions to the Elegance Collection had all the makings of a perfect dress watch. There was just one problem, however — if I’m being really finickity, the dial options that were made available upon release were perhaps slightly out of keeping with that of a quintessential dress watch. Someone in the Japanese watchmaker’s design team clearly had the same feeling, because less than six months after its initial unveiling, we have this — the Grand Seiko Elegance SBGK007. I was borderline ecstatic when this watch was unveiled, and waited…

INTRODUCING: Bape and Seiko have done it again with their latest collaboration

Continuing their creative collaborative partnership, luxury Japanese streetwear label Bape and Japanese watchmaker Seiko have just unveiled their latest limited edition creation … and we like it. Water resistant to 200 metres, this matt black marvel is, much like their first joint effort, sporting Bape’s quintessential “ABC” camouflage, which has been masterfully applied to the dial, as only to be expected of Seiko. Unlike the previous watch, however, this new timepiece has ditched the vibrant camo green in favour of a much more brooding and low-key black and grey colour palette. The dial also features Lumibrite hour indices and handset,…

Fight Club: We pit Conor McGregor’s watch collection against one another

As I’m sure most of you are aware, “The Notorious” Conor McGregor made a triumphant return to the UFC octagon last weekend, knocking out his opponent, seasoned veteran Donald Cerrone, within 40 seconds of the very first round. It was a resounding statement from the Irishman (those shoulder charges!) and it will no doubt again spark his rise to the very highest echelon of the mixed martial arts arena. While some were surprised by the sheer dominance and efficacy of the victory, anyone who follows McGregor on Instagram will know that the 31-year-old had been steadfast in his preparation for…

Weekend watch spotting with JR: #3

This weekend, I wore my DOXA SUB 200 130th Anniversary and went out in search of what other like-minded individuals had decided to attach to their wrist, and this is what I found out in the wild: Kosta’s Grand Seiko 9F quartz GMT SBGN005 Kosta’s passion for timepieces is still very much in its infancy (only two years, to be precise), but in that time, his tastes and preferences for watches have evolved just about how you’d expect. It started off small, with a rather nice Hamilton, then came a Seiko Presage, and then a TAG Heuer. But it wasn’t…

RECOMMENDED WATCHING: A beginner’s guide to Grand Seiko

Editor’s note: Ever wanted to know why Grand Seiko is so revered in the horological hemisphere? Well, this video perfectly sums up why the doyen of Japanese watchmaking is considered the crème de la crème on so many levels. So, if you’ve got the time, sit back and enjoy an explanation as to why Grand Seiko’s movements, cases and dials are some of the best on the market, regardless of price.  For years, Grand Seiko was a very underground, for-those-in-the-know type brand; its visibility outside of Japan was limited, and its passionate supporters revelled in the arcana of cryptic reference…

Tissot trifecta: The 3 most important Tissot watches of 2019

Tissot had a resolutely excellent end to the decade, releasing plenty of exciting new timepieces in 2019 that got the watch community talking. What’s more, the Swiss watchmaker made a conscious effort to cater to both people just getting into watches, as well as the dyed-in-the-wool veterans. We won’t cover every new timepiece Tissot unveiled in 2019, but these were the three most important: TISSOT CHRONO XL CLASSIC Extra-large is an apt description for this 45mm wide, 15mm thick stainless steel monster. The Tissot XL Classic emphasises size and presence rather than high-tech horology. Powered by a Swiss quartz chronograph…

Fun with fundamentals: A watch glossary for the budding enthusiast

Editor’s note: For anyone that isn’t already a watch enthusiast, understanding the multitude of watch-specific terminology can be a bit daunting. In fact, a friend of mine, who is the definition of the horologically uninitiated, recently read one of my articles and said it was akin to hieroglyphics. So, for their benefit, and for anyone else out there that needs to brush up on the basics of watches, we’ve created this easy to understand glossary. Enjoy.  Case The modular case of the TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01. The case is the exterior of the watch. It can be made from…

These were the 3 best Jaquet Droz watches of 2019

As is the case with every other year in recent times, 2019 was a very, very good one for the inimitable Swiss watchmaker Jaquet Droz. Not only did we see the marque, which has been around since 1738, create their first ever Grande Seconde Chronograph, we also saw a great new addition to their Grande Seconde Skelet-One timepiece in a innovative material. Anyway, without wanting to give it all away, here are the three best Jaquet Droz watches of 2019: JAQUET DROZ GRANDE SECONDE CHRONOGRAPH Known as the master of automatons, Jaquet Droz lends its name to an elegant series…

Cool as p**k: The dive watch that looks like a hockey puck

Editor’s note: Making a unique and interesting timepiece is always a hard task, especially if you’re a nascent watchmaker that doesn’t have anywhere near as many runs on the board as the stalwarts of the industry. What’s harder, still, is making an idiosyncratic timepiece that also needs to meet the demanding rigours of a fit-for-purpose dive watch. But that’s exactly what independent Canadian microbrand Halios did when they unveiled the Puck II way back in 2017. We were fortunate enough to go hands-on with the overtly round dive watch upon its unveiling, and these were our initial impressions: Over the…

Two time zones and twice the fun: 5 of our favourite GMT watches

Few complications you’ll find on a wristwatch can claim to have more real-world practicality than a wristwatch equipped with a GMT complication. The ability to track two different time zones simultaneously is invaluable for a great many people in a great many different professions. With all that in mind, we thought we’d share with you five of the best GMT watches you can buy right now: GRAND SEIKO SBGN009 Released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first quartz watch, the SBGN009’s luscious blue dial has the kind of repeating pattern in the background that very few brands can pull…

OPINION: Why playing sport with your watch on is a daft idea

OK, let’s get something out of the way first, before I posit my argument and before the keyboard warriors have a chance to pipe up — I am not suggesting that wearing a Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch or whatever other fitness accessory you choose to wear while playing sport is a bad idea. No, I’m talking about mechanical timepieces, actual watches that have movements that don’t require software updates every fortnight, battery charges or a Bluetooth connection. Now, with that little disclaimer out of the way, let’s start with a short story about what happened to my beloved Longines HydroConquest last…

James’ 2019 $20K fantasy watch collection

It is with a palpable sense of frustration that I must start my 2019 $20K fantasy watch collection with a pretty serious caveat — I had started writing this list before the now infamous Rolex price hike of 2020. As a result, I will be utilising the Big Crown’s 2019 prices so as to keep within the, albeit fictional, budgetary constraints. Of course there are watches from other makes in my fantasy list but, thankfully, the other watches haven’t had their RRPs jacked … yet. So, without further ado, here is my dream line-up of timepieces from the final year of…

Do you need a Dan Henry in your collection?

A lot of things have been said about Dan Henry timepieces – both good and bad. But to understand the watchmaker, we first need to understand the man behind the brand. Dan Henry may well be one of the most prolific vintage watch collectors on the planet, and his personal hoard of timepieces stretches well past a thousand (it’s actually closer to 1600). Among the cornucopia of watches in Henry’s collection, you’ll find everything from humble vintage Seikos to some of the rarest and most desirable vintage Rolex watches in existence. Henry credits his gargantuan assemblage of timepieces to two…

Marvellous mil-specs: 3 great military-spec watches

Outfits change when the clock strikes five on Friday afternoon — suits, shirts, ties, leather shoes … all of it makes way for weekend savoir-faire. And if you’re the type of person who likes to get out amongst it at the weekend, whether it be hiking, mountain biking, 4WD … you name it, what you want attached to your wrist is a timepiece that not only looks the part, but can handle the rugged and demanding conditions. These three great military-spec watches perfectly meet that remit, and they’re also some of our favourites in the genre: HAMILTON KHAKI PILOT PIONEER MECHANICAL…

OPINION: Diamonds are a man’s best friend

Up until a month ago, if you’d asked me whether or not it was appropriate for a man to have diamonds adorning his timepiece, my response would’ve gone something like, “Only if he’s a vapid member of the glitterati, or his vocation is spitting bars”. Bedazzled, iced-out, frosty … whatever you want to call a wristwatch covered in cut-up pieces of highly pressurised carbon, I just couldn’t get behind the the uber shiny aesthetic. You see, I like to think that watches represent utilitarian practicality — they’re a tool that should tell the time, not tell everyone else around you how…

Shaken and stirred: 3 Omegas that got everyone talking in 2019

It may surprise many reading this, but two out of the three Omega watches that really got the collective horological community talking in 2019 weren’t limited editions. In fact, the one limited edition watch that really struck a chord with enthusiasts, the Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary, was just a gorgeous looking timepiece, regardless of whether or not it had a finite number of pieces made. Perhaps this signifies the future of Omega — a move away from limited edition timepieces in favour of aesthetically pleasing, technically impressive wristwatches. If the Swiss marque’s latest two releases, the Seamaster Diver 300M 007…

HANDS-ON: The ladies Rado Golden Horse blue dial 35mm

These are strange times in the horological world … on the one hand, it honestly feels like a large portion of gents watches are regressing rather quickly into exceedingly vintage tendencies: aesthetically, dimensionally, mechanically — it just seems like there’s been a complete about-face from the pursuit of the avant-garde. On the other hand, ladies watches have seemingly dodged the vintage vogue all together, and are instead carving a contemporary path forward that includes bright colours, big cases and better mechanical movements. This is evidenced rather perfectly with Rado’s Golden Horse Ref.R33103203. It’s a watch that’s unequivocally made for the gentlewoman. However,…

Weekend watch spotting with JR: featuring the Rose and the Crown

This weekend, I wore my Swatch Sistem51 Hodinkee Generation 1986 and went out in search of what other like-minded individuals had decided to attach to their wrist, and this is what I found out in the wild: Danny’s Tudor Black Bay GMT Danny has lusted after Rolex’s GMT-Master II Ref.126710BLRO ever since it was first unveiled at Baselworld 2018. There was just one problem with his desire for a “Pepsi” though … and I think we all know what it was. So, once it became apparent that his sugary sweet grail watch wasn’t going to be an option, Danny went…

Was this Zenith Manga cartoon homage the sleeper hit of 2019?

Lupin the Third, ever heard of it? We hadn’t either … that is, until Zenith made this, the A384 Revival Lupin The Third Edition. Turns out, Lupin The Third, or Lupin III as it’s otherwise known, is a Japanese manga cartoon created in 1967 by the doyen of the traditional Japanese art form, Monkey Punch. The cartoon follows the escapades of Arsène Lupin III, a master thief and grandson of fictional phantom thief Arsène Lupin. The manga cartoon was quickly adapted into an anime television series, which first aired in 1971 and subsequently catapulted the popular comic onto the international…

These were 5 of the best new Seiko watches of 2019

Where to begin with Seiko in 2019? The Japanese watchmaker has been on a veritable roll for quite some time now, but for the last year of the decade, they really delivered. Whether it be the new Prospex LX Line Diver taking home the prestigious award for best Diver’s watch at GPHG 2019, a completely new Seiko 5 collection or the accomplished, refreshed Astron, Seiko really did introduce some amazing new timepieces, and here are five of the best: SEIKO SNR037 The Seiko SNR037 represents an exciting step for the brand, as it is the first time the Spring Drive…

This Longines Heritage 1945 oozes old school charm

Editor’s note: Hot off the heels of their latest release with the Heritage Classic Chronograph 1946, we thought we’d take a look at another smash hit from Longines’ Heritage collection – the Longines Heritage 1945. Few watches unveiled in the last couple of years have nailed the vintage aesthetic quite like the 1945, and for good reason. Whether it be the brushed copper convex dial, blued steel handset or mid-tan nubuck leather strap, this watch just oozes antiquated charm. A few years ago, we went hands-on with the mid-century stunner, and these were our initial impressions.  One of the highlights…

The Tudor 1926: a great daily timepiece for the classically inclined

Editor’s note: One of Tudor’s lesser-known model ranges, the 1926 is an admirable everyday watch with a number of great benefits. For a start, it’s powered by a tried and true ETA movement, not one of Tudor’s in-house calibres. Why is that a good thing? Well, for a start, it keeps costs down, as evidenced in the price of the watch. Another positive about ETA movements, as I’m sure you’ve probably heard countless times before, is that they are nigh on bulletproof and easy to service. The 1926 is also a handsome and classically styled watch, ensuring that it offers…

TAG Heuer’s triple threat of 2019

It’s safe to say that 2019 was a good year for TAG Heuer, with the Swiss watchmaker celebrating 50 years of their iconically square Monaco wristwatch with four striking limited editions. It wasn’t just about the Monaco, however, as TAG also brought out some great new additions to their storied Carrera line-up as well as some elegant new ladies watches. We’d like to mention all the excellent new timepieces that were unveiled last year, but that would take quite some time. So, instead, here are our three favourite TAG Heuers of 2019: TAG HEUER MONACO 1989-1999 The third Monaco released…

HANDS-ON: The Longines Master Collection Ref. L2.673.4.92.0

Every year there’s a couple of timepieces that, for one reason or another, slip under the collective radar of us watch enthusiasts. There were more than a few examples in 2019: think the Citizen Eco-Drive Caliber 0100, Rado Golden Horse, Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic … the list goes on. But the watch that tends to sound out louder than any other is this — the Longines Master Collection Ref. L2.673.4.92.0. Quite how people aren’t screaming about this timepiece from the rooftops is nothing short of baffling and, much to my shame, I too didn’t really give it a second thought either.…

3 Tudors that got everyone talking in 2019

2019 was an exciting year for Tudor, as the iconic Swiss watchmaker released several models that collectively surprised and even inspired the greater horological community. And while some of the novelties unveiled last year were contentious at the time, I think people’s attitudes have softened towards them and, more importantly, it’s just great to see a stalwart of the industry like Tudor push the boundaries of design and innovation. Here are the three Tudors that got everyone talking in 2019: TUDOR BLACK BAY P01 One of the most interesting and exciting timepieces released during 2019 was the Tudor P01. While…

These were the 3 most expensive watches sold on eBay in 2019

eBay, the largest online auction website in the world and, rather notably, the first site in the world to support peer-to-peer transactions, is of course a complete leviathan. In 2019 alone, there was nigh on 200 million active users across the globe and more than 1.2 billion listings. So, as you can probably imagine, to make the top 20 most expensive items sold on the platform in 2019 … they’ve got to be pretty special. The usual suspects were all present and accounted for – Lamborghinis, Porsches … a lunch with American billionaire Warren Buffet(?) – but, perhaps rather surprisingly,…

INTRODUCING: The Longines Heritage Classic Chronograph 1946

2020 has barely begun and Longines has already come out swinging with this — the Longines Heritage Classic Chronograph 1946. Representing the latest addition to the Swiss watchmaker’s ever-popular Heritage Collection, the Classic Chronograph 1946 is a faithful re-creation of a timepiece Longines produced back in the ’40s. The pared-back aesthetic of this homage piece is refreshing to say the least, with the simple opaline silver dial providing an arresting blank canvas, which Longines has adorned with two no-nonsense sub-dials, located at three and nine o’clock and displaying running seconds and a 30-minute counter, respectively. As is the way with…

Technicolour treats: The most colourful watches of 2019

Last year saw the release of a great many brilliant and colourful timepieces that aren’t shy of living on the brighter side of life. In particular, there were a fair few vibrant ladies watches that were unveiled, which are sure to liven up even the dullest of occasions. Here are some of the most colourful watches released in 2019: CASIO MT-G 20TH ANNIVERSARY B1000RB No list of the year’s most noteworthy watches would be complete without the cascade of colour that is the Casio MT-G B1000RB. A veritable rainbow explosion, the B1000RB hit Baselworld like a ton of bricks, bowling…

Solar flair: Which Seiko Astron is right for you?

Never has a watch encapsulated the phrase “one watch to do it all” more than the Seiko Astron series. Here is a timepiece with an accuracy rating of ±15 seconds per month and a power reserve of no less than 6 months, that can also do the following: Automatically adjust the handset position alignment Host a day display and a day-date display with daylight saving time Dual-time function An “in-flight” function that pauses the watch’s GPS signal reception An overcharge prevention function A perpetual calendar complication that is accurate to February 28, 2100 Power reserve complication A power-saving function A…

James’ 5 favourite stories of 2019

2019 was a full-on year here at Time+Tide — we launched Australia’s premier watch club, the second edition of our magazine, NOW Issue 2, became the official distributor for DOXA watches in Australia and New Zealand and launched our very own online store, the Time+Tide marketplace. We also, rather obviously, wrote a shedload of stories for what was a very important year in watchmaking. And now I’ve got to whittle down the 1000+ posts and give you my five favourites … so here they are: MY WEEK WITH: The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph, and how I got completely turned around to loving…

Weekend watch spotting with JR

Weekends in Melbourne can mean several things: overpriced brunches with mates after a boozy night out on the town, hikes up the Dandenong Ranges’ unendingly popular “1000 steps”, day trips to the Peninsula Hot Springs and, if you’re a watch enthusiast, donning that special timepiece in your collection that wouldn’t dare see the light of day between Monday and Friday. For this Saturday and Sunday, I wore my ’66 Rolex GMT-Master ref.1675 “Pepsi” and went out in search of what other like-minded individuals had decided to attach to their wrist, and this is what I found out in the wild:…

Best of both worlds: 3 excellent two-tone watches released in 2019

Nothing says versatility and breadth of ability like a two-tone watch, and while the steel and gold aesthetic has been considered more than a touch dull over the last decade, the blended material timepiece well and truly made a comeback in 2019, with myriad watchmakers embracing the semi-formal aesthetic. With that in mind, we thought we’d take a look at three of our favourite examples of two-tone timepieces released last year. Here they are (in no particular order): ROLEX SEA-DWELLER The Sea-Dweller is a serious dive tool, but it’s just as comfortable on the red carpet. The bi-colour version released…

Coming off third best: 4 great bronze watches from 2019

One of the most polarising materials to make a return to prominence in watchmaking over the last couple of years has been bronze. Why does this ancient material cause so much conjecture when it’s used as a timepiece’s case material? Well, for a start, it can’t come into direct contact with your skin for prolonged periods of time, because if it does, there’s every possibility your left wrist will end up looking like Bruce Banner’s when he gets angry. And, unlike steel, for example, a bronze watch will drastically change in appearance over the course of your ownership, as it…

Top of the podium: 5 of 2019’s best gold watches

Nothing says flex like a solid gold timepiece. Doesn’t matter what sort of gold it is either — yellow, white, pink … if it’s 18k, then chances are you’ve obtained a level of wrist-worn one-upmanship that few can ever hope to own. And 2019 was not shy at all about giving birth to some very, very hot examples of precious metal marvels from a number of different watchmakers. We’d love to mention all of them, but as the title of this story would suggest, the need for summation means that we must choose our five favourites … so here they are:…

Under the cuff: Our 5 favourite dress watches of 2019

Staples, all good watch collections need to have staple pieces. A versatile daily beater, a rugged weekend warrior, a lauded grail watch and, of course, a great dress watch. But what are the characteristics of a great dress watch? Well, for a start it needs to be slim so it will fit under a cuff easily — there’s no greater sin than wearing a monolithic timepiece that awkwardly sits atop the cuff of a shirt or suit jacket. Another requisite is a leather band, as very, very few dress watches can successfully pull off a matching metal bracelet. And finally,…

LIST: James Robinson’s favourite watch photos from 2019

It pains me so to admit this, but oftentimes a story is only as good as the photos that accompany it — especially when you’re writing about something as intricate and nuanced as watches. A good snap of a timepiece is not only the glorious icing on a particularly wordy cake, it actually assists us scribes in helping to articulate different facets of a given wristwatch. In short, a good photo is crucial in this game. Luckily for us here at Time+Tide, our photographer is a chap named Jason … and he’s a bloody wonderful photographer. And when Deputy-Editor Nick…

Fully charged: 4 of the best quartz watches of 2019

Yes, the technology almost single-handedly destroyed the Swiss watch industry, but whether you want to admit it or not, quartz watches are brilliantly impressive, and they have been the main proponents in democratising timepieces as we know them today. Ever since the ingenious battery-powered Seiko Astron first burst onto the scene on December 25, 1969, the Japanese watchmaker has been at the forefront of the uber-accurate mechanisms. But, crucially, many watchmakers now employ the use of quartz power, and we thought we’d take a look at four of the best quartz watches of 2019. GRAND SEIKO SBGN009 Released to celebrate…

3 of our favourite pilot’s watches that took flight in 2019

2019 has seen the rise of many, many trends in watchmaking — steel sports watches with integrated bracelets, bronze cases, limited editions … you get the drift. Another incredibly vogue tendency has been watch manufacturers introducing homage models or watches that aesthetically borrow heavily from vintage timepieces. And, unquestionably, the genre of watches that has most felt the effects of this yesteryear savoir faire is pilot’s watches. Don’t get us wrong, though, that’s not a bad thing … not at all. In fact, this year has given birth to some of the most arresting examples of pilot’s watches that we’ve seen…

James’ top 5 favourite wristwatches of 2019

Many people who I respect in this industry have opined that 2019 hasn’t been a particularly exciting or fruitful year for watch releases … and I couldn’t disagree more. This, the final year of the decade, has given birth to an absolute plethora of new and innovative timepieces that have captured the imagination of many a horological enthusiast. And while I could wax lyrical for hours about said cornucopia of new releases, I’ve had to whittle down all of them and pick my five favourites. Here they are (in no particular order): DOXA SUB 200 130th Anniversary One of the…

HANDS-ON: The stunning Seiko Presage Arita Porcelain Dial SPB093

Mastering the creation of a material that was first conceived more than 400 years ago while simultaneously bringing it into the 21st century is no mean feat. But that’s exactly what Seiko has done with its silky smooth Presage Arita Porcelain Dial SPB093. Widely regarded as some of the nicest and most ornate on the planet, Arita porcelain hails from the small town of — as the name would suggest — Arita, which is located in the Nishimatsuura District of the Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is a gorgeous material to behold, and its esteem is most certainly founded. However, it is quite…

Put a smile on your dial: 5 of this year’s best new dials

What’s the single most important component that dictates whether a new watch will be lauded or loathed by enthusiasts? Personally, I think a timepiece’s dial is the ultimate barometer of whether or not it’s a success. It’s what we look at most, and a beautiful dial has the ability to capture the imagination. There have been a bevy of wristwatches released in 2019 with gorgeous dials, and while we’d like to mention all of them, these five stood out as some of the best: ANORDAIN MODEL 2 TORR BLUE Scotland is not a location that immediately comes to mind when…

All wound up: 3 great manual winding watches released in 2019

There are several reasons why some motoring enthusiasts will always gravitate to an automobile with a manually operated transmission: more involvement, a greater sense of connection, more autonomy and control — the list goes on. And it’s the same story with manually winding watches. Sure, an automatic movement is easier and more convenient, but there’s a palpable old-school charm about a watch that needs to be wound by hand. In fact, for some it’s a ritual that is paramount to the enjoyment of owning a timepiece. With that in mind, we thought we’d share with you three of our favourite manually wound…

VIDEO: The beautifully brown Seiko Presage SRPD36J1 and SSA392J1

There are myriad impressive things about Seiko’s Presage collection. But if we had to single out one overriding thing that the Japanese watchmaker’s dress watches do better than almost anyone else, rather predictably, it would be their dials. Pound for pound, the Presage dress watches and their rapturous range of dials represent amazing value for money. It’s not just the design that marks these dials out as instant winners either, it’s the finishing, intricacy and attention to detail. These two new examples, SRPD36J1 and SSA392J1, are no exception. The lustrous chocolate brown dials these watches possess are sumptuous, and as…

XXXL: 3 of the biggest watches of 2019

One of the biggest trends for timepieces of the last decade has been oversized case dimensions that stretch well into the 45mm plus category. And while the inclination for producing gargantuan wristwatches is starting to cool as tastes in the horological community change, this year has still spawned some absolute doozies for those that like a wristwatch that can be seen from the next postcode. Here are our three favourite biggest watches of 2019: PANERAI SUBMERSIBLE MARINA MILITARE CARBOTECH While Panerai watches have been long-held favourites of the diving community for their no-nonsense approach to robustness and legibility, the enormous…

H2-Whoa: Our top 5 dive watches of 2019

This year has seen countless examples of new and exciting dive watches flood the already perpetually popular sub-genre. And while most new entrants into the amphibious watch market have been successes, some have done far better than others. With that in mind, we thought we’d share with you our favourite five dive watches of 2019. LONGINES HYDROCONQUEST FULL BLACK CERAMIC The HydroConquest range is a too-often overlooked corner of the Longines universe. But you sense that the collection has grander plans to expand with some hot additions in the last 12 months. Chief among them is the HydroConquest in black…

Cheap thrills: 3 top chronographs for under a grand

Chronographs are, to this day, one of the most useful complications you can find on a wrist watch. They’re just so practical —  whether you’re timing your next run, daily commute or next lap time around the Phillip Island Grand Prix track, a chronograph has got you covered. Thing is, though, because of its complexity, the exceedingly useful complication normally commands a higher price point than your standard three-hander. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and we’ve found three admirable chronograph-equipped wristwatches for under $1000 AUD: DAN HENRY ALARM CHRONO 1972 A specialist in “derivation mash-ups”, the Dan Henry…

HANDS-ON: This Rado Golden Horse 1957 is one of the best watches of 2019

2019 has spawned a literal plethora of new watches for all us timekeeping enthusiasts out there in the horological ether to enjoy. And while not all of them have been unmitigated successes *cough, cough*, the best watches of the year, in my opinion, have been the rather large assortment of reissue and homage pieces. Chief among these new reinterpretations of classic watches is Rado’s Golden Horse collection. First released in 1957, the Golden Horse represented a convincing interpretation of a go-anywhere, do-anything wristwatch that adhered to the fundamentals that make up a ubiquitous timepiece. Reintroduced in early 2019, the new…

Sublime Subdials: The Seiko Presage Urushi Byakudan-nuri Limited Edition SPB085

Editor’s note: Can you judge the success of a watch’s overall aesthetic based purely on its subdials? If you could, then this Seiko Presage Urushi Byakudan-nuri Limited Edition SPB085 would be an instant success. The calendar subdials of this watch, located at three and six o’clock, feature a gorgeous deep red tinge that is created through a process called the Byakudan-nuri technique. It makes for a very handsome look indeed, and it’s no wonder why this watch sold out so quickly when it went on sale late last year.  Over the last few years, Seiko has made a habit of releasing limited…

VIDEO: The timelessly elegant Grand Seiko SBGY002

Created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Grand Seiko’s prolific Spring Drive movement, SBGY002 is a limited edition dress watch for discerning fans of the Japanese watchmaker’s signature snowflake dial. Hewn from solid 18k yellow gold, the case of the rarified timepiece is signature SBGY and, as a result, measures in at just 38.5mm and 10.2mm, ensuring that it will more than comfortably fit under even the tightest of cuffs. The dial is nothing short of mesmerising, with the famed textured snowflake aesthetic doing what it does best — leaving the wearer in complete awe regarding the level of intricacy…

VIDEO: Size isn’t everything with the Rado Captain Cook Automatic

Ever since its shock unveiling at Baselworld 2017, Rado’s exciting range of Captain Cooks has represented a compelling proposition for anyone who’s in the market for a solid, fit-for-purpose dive watch on a budget. However, most of the collection is on the larger size, measuring in at a fashionable and contemporary 42mm. Fans fond of the original Captain Cook, which was first unveiled in 1962, shouldn’t fear however, because those who are after a smaller and more faithful reinterpretation of the Captain Cook need look no further than the limited edition ref. R32500315. Possessing the same exact dimensions as the…

HANDS-ON: The Grand Seiko SBGA407 Snowflake blue

USP – the acronym for “unique selling point”. A watchmaker’s USP is paramount to their success, and if you look at the general consensus of what’s considered the best brands out there, they’ve all got it — they each excel at something that puts them a cut above the rest. Whether it’s Rolex and their storied robustness, A. Lange & Söhne and their prolific levels of movement finishing, or Patek Philippe and their ability to make a steel sports watch so damned hard to purchase. What these USPs translate to, most importantly, is sales – if a brand is considered to…

Is the Avigation BigEye one of Longines’ nicest pilot’s watches?

Editor’s note: Almost all reissues of vintage timepieces have an exciting story to tell – that’s just the way it is, otherwise watchmakers wouldn’t bother remaking. Thing is, though, when a watch manufacturer does decide to create an homage timepiece, they usually have the original in their possession. That was not the case when Longines was first shown the original version of their now famed Avigation BigEye. Seriously, the brand had no idea the watch existed — they didn’t have a single example of it in their museum; they only found out because a keen Longines collector brought the watch…

HANDS-ON: Is the DOXA SUB 200 “One of the Best Value Watches” of recent years?

Creating a timepiece that needs to pay homage while simultaneously capturing the imagination of the horological community is no mean feat … in fact, it’s fraught with failure. Time and time again, we’ve seen new watches based on vintage timepieces be unveiled, only to have them fall flat on their crystal-domed faces. Unveiled at this year’s Baselworld, the DOXA SUB 200 aims to avoid the same fate as some of its counterparts. Based off the first-ever commercially available timepiece with a helium escape valve, which DOXA famously co-created with Rolex and released in 1967, the new SUB 200 has a…

Big and blue: the Grand Seiko Blue Ceramic Hi-Beat GMT “Special”

Editor’s note: If you’re after a sports watch with a GMT complication, the world is your oyster … err, well, you get what I mean. Almost every serious watchmaker on the planet makes a hardy, go-anywhere timepiece with a dual time zone function, and because of this, the subgenre has become somewhat homogenous – there just aren’t that many timepieces out there that look markedly different. One watch that does break the mould, however, is the limited edition Grand Seiko Blue Ceramic Hi-Beat GMT “Special”. Thanks to its inimitable dial, case construction and size – 46.4mm – this is a…

Germanic genius: the Nomos Tangente neomatik 41 Update

Editor’s note: It may surprise the uninitiated to read this, but creating a completely new calibre, in-house, from scratch, is a very, very costly exercise. And there’s a reason that most boutique and micro watchmakers stick to third-party movements from the likes of ETA and Sellita, because to make their own movements is financially unviable. That’s why this Nomos Tangente is so impressive, because the German marque has spent millions upon millions of euros to create their own calibre – DUW 6101. At the end of last year, we were lucky enough to go hands-on with this impressive timepiece and…

3 reasons why the TAG Heuer Monaco V4 Platinum is still amazing

Much as it pains me to admit it, these days, haute horology is usually reserved for the rarified and uber-expensive micro-brands of the Swiss watchmaking world. It’s not that the heavyweights of the industry have completely given up on the idea of innovation – far from it – but it does seem as though there’s been a shift, that priorities have changed. A timepiece’s movement was once the perennial final frontier for the majority of the watchmaking industry. In fact, throughout the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries there were countless new and innovative movements being spawned on a regular basis.…

We take a look at 5 seriously cool vintage TAG Heuer Autavias

One of the best things about TAG Heuer is the Swiss marque’s remarkable history with motorsport — few other watchmakers, if any, have such a rich back catalogue of timekeeping devices purpose-built for the ultimate expression of man vs machine. And while many will immediately associate the angular Monaco as the most iconic wristwatch associated with motor racing, in fact, the real “racebred” timepiece that TAG made was the Autavia. An elision of the words “automotive” and “aviation”, TAG produced Autavia timekeeping devices from as early as the 1930s, and since then, the namesake and the pursuits of myriad forms of…

HANDS-ON: The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic 10436 White Dial

2019 is the year of the blue dial. Doesn’t matter if it’s a steel sports watch, solid gold dress watch or a one-off pièce unique – if you want your wrist flex to be as en vogue as a pair of R.M. Williams and beige chinos, a timepiece with a blue dial is the only way to go. And, as we discovered not too long ago, Baume & Mercier’s attempt at this trend with the Clifton Baumatic is a particularly choice implementation of the popular aesthetic. But what happens if you’re a massive fan of the svelte, stainless steel dress…

HANDS-ON: TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre Heuer 02

Of the hundreds of thousands of wristwatches that have been created over the last century, how many are truly iconic? The answer: honestly, not many … not many at all. Candidly, there are probably fewer than 50 timepieces of the last 100 years that can claim to have had an impact on the zeitgeist of the horological industry. TAG Heuer’s Monaco is one of those watches – it captured a time and place in history so resolutely (think Steve McQueen and Le Mans) that it continues to be lauded to this day. However, this icon is in the midst of…

What Sealed The Deal – Joseph’s Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36

Everyone’s first Rolex purchase is important — it’s a milestone that, for most, carries with it a great amount of pride and sense of accomplishment. And for almost all of us out there lucky enough to have bought their inaugural timepiece from the legacy watchmaker, it isn’t something that was entered into lightly; we have known for ages before the purchase which exact model we were going to buy. However, Joseph’s first Rolex purchase was … somewhat anomalous, shall we say. Rolex, I guess, is a staple in every collector’s stable. As for me, for as long as I can remember,…

HANDS-ON: The Longines Heritage Classic

Few watches released in 2019 have had the ability to garner nothing but praise. There are, of course, certain timepieces that are highly revered — think the new Rolex GMT-Master II ref.126710BLNR, for example. But that watch brings with it a sizeable amount of polarity. No, for the entire horological community to get behind a new timepiece it’s got to be special … and the new Longines Heritage Classic L2.828.4.73.2 is exactly that: special. Allow me to explain. Part of this raconteur’s role is to scour the interwebs and plethora of social media networks, and, to my dismay, sometimes read the…

This Panerai Submersible BMG-Tech is a killer summer watch

Editor’s note: A summer watch can be many different things, however, there is one prerequisite – it needs to be water resistant. I’m not talking about a mere 3-ATM either … a timepiece to wear December through February has got to be able to hang poolside or 100 metres below the deep blue. Panerai’s Submersible BMG-Tech is more than capable of these requirements, and it also shows off the Italian marque’s innovative new material “BMG-Tech”. Late last year, we went hands-on with the avant-garde amphibious timepiece, and these were our initial impressions. At first glance, you could be forgiven for…

Why the Longines Heritage Collection is going from strength to strength

Owning a watch that has been given to you as a gift has a sentimental element that can get even more meaningful over time. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to have received a watch as a gift, a milestone or something to mark an achievement, will know what I’m on about – it’s an emotional thing, it becomes more than ‘just a watch’. …if you’re contemplating buying a watch for someone you care about, you should abide by one simple rule: keep it classic. But not all watch gifts are equal. What can make the experience slightly less nostalgic as…

Are Bremont the new kings of mil-spec watches?

Editor’s note: In a recent discussion with a respected watchmaker who knows a thing or two about Rolex, I posited the question, “So what’s your next timepiece going to be?” Without a moment’s hesitation, he replied: “Bremont, definitely a Bremont.” When I asked why, he said that increasingly, he was observing more similarities between Bremont and, if you can believe it, Rolex. He went on to explain that a huge part of Rolex’s history was providing military-spec watches for armed forces across the globe, and while the Swiss marque had ceased doing so, Bremont had more than carried the torch…

When classicism meets contemporary: The Baume & Mercier Classima

Here’s a question for you: how do you modernise something as traditional as a time-only dress watch? Do you utilise new-age materials? Or maybe blow-out the proportions of the timepiece? It’s a conundrum that Baume & Mercier faced with their understated range of Baume & Mercier Classima wristwatches. Their solution was to give owners the chance to physically see their mechanical watch in action, by skeletonising a portion of the dial and exposing the beating heart of its movement, the escapement. It’s a novel idea that gives the Classima a thoroughly modern aesthetic, and, perhaps more importantly, wearers a greater…

3 Longines for under $5K on their online store that represent value propositions

One of the greatest things about Longines is their history — the Swiss marque was established almost two centuries ago, way back in 1832. This heritage gives the brand an advantage, and it gives the Longines wearer an edge, too. The depth and versatility of Longines timepieces is utterly expansive – and the back catalogue is a constant source of rich pickings, at prices available to the not-just-rich. This history, which has been focused on large-scale production of superior timepieces, hints at why Longines watches are lauded for always representing a value proposition — 187 years at the pointy end of the…

INTRODUCING: The Stan Smith Signature Watch by Maurice de Mauriac

Much as it shames me to admit it, until writing about this watch, I rather naively thought that Stan Smith was a shoe designer … how very Gen Y of me. As it turns out, Smith is rather more than a proponent of Adidas’s enduringly vogue white sneaker – he was a legend of the tennis court in the 1970s, with 100 professional tournament wins credited to his name. To celebrate this illustrious career, watchmaker Maurice de Mauriac has teamed up with the superstar of the sport to release this – the Stan Smith Signature Watch. Limited to just 100…

HANDS-ON: The Hublot Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary Sapphire

Unlike Ferrari’s frankly dismal efforts in Formula 1 this year, 2019 has been a great 12 months for the Italian supercar manufacturer in terms of their commercial and creative partnership with watchmaking vanguards, Hublot. The curvaceous and inimitable Classic Fusion Ferrari GT was not only one of my personal favourites from the provocative Swiss marque, it was one of my favourite watches of 2019. Period. However, the other big standout wristwatch to bear the famed Prancing Horse badge this year – the Hublot Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary Sapphire – is by no means something forgettable. On the contrary,…

Are in-house movements actually important?

Editor’s note: As the watch buying and horological community becomes more astute by the day, thanks in no small part to social media, in-house movements seem almost paramount to a brand’s sales success. But, as Sandra Lane posited earlier this year, do they actually matter at all? And does the phrase “in-house” really mean manufactured in-house? Personally, having been fortunate enough to own quite a few timepieces over the years, I can say that, anecdotally, the most reliable watches I have worn possessed movements from the likes of ETA and Sellita. It’s a horological point of contention that I think…

Rolling in the deep with the Panerai Submersible BMG-TECH 47mm

It has been a big year for Panerai’s distinctive Submersible range, with the new and now standalone collection featuring heavily at the watchmaker’s 2019 SIHH showing. The amphibious timepieces, while varied, have been a great opportunity for Panerai to show off some of their newest innovative materials. Case in point is this Submersible, the BMG-TECH 47mm PAM00799. The monolithic timepiece is somewhat of a flag-bearer, not only for the Submersible collection but also two of the Italian marque’s latest and greatest resources – BMG-TECH and Carbotech. BMG-TECH is a complex amalgamation of things like copper, titanium, zirconium, nickel and aluminium,…

Santa’s little helpers: 3 Longines tool watches for the festive season

Believe it or not, somehow there are just 23 short days left until Christmas, and if you haven’t bought your presents yet … you’re in a bit of strife. Thankfully, however, if that special someone in your life is fond of a timepiece or two, then Longines has got you covered with a great many different tool watches for any occasion. With this in mind, we thought we’d take a close look at three distinct wristwatches that each serve a handy and unique purpose, and maybe one of them will be right for you. Longines Legend Diver L3.774.2.50.9 We’re very…

HANDS-ON: The Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic 10467

When you’re buying a new car, there’s usually some key criteria that dictate whether or not said automobile will make the cut. You know the sort of things we’re talking about – fuel economy, safety rating, 0-100km/h times … that sort of stuff. Oh, and of course, price. But is this same buying style employed when you want to take the plunge on your next watch? Or do you just go off aesthetics and which brand made the watch? If we did buy our watches like we buy our cars, then the Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic ref. 10467 would…

RECOMMENDED WATCHING: How NASA tested the Omega Speedmaster

There is a plethora of watches out there with an equally large amount of claims. First watch with a date complication. First watch with a GMT complication. First waterproof watch. However, of all the watches on sale today, the coolest claim surely has to be: “The first watch worn on the moon.” I’m sure that you will already know a fair chunk of Omega’s history with NASA and the fabled Speedmaster. But what you may not know is that the Speedmaster was actually one of four watches vying for NASA’s business. As former NASA engineer Jim Ragan describes in this…

Old dog, new tricks: The Girard-Perregaux Laureato in black ceramic

Editor’s note: You know what’s really refreshing to see? A watchmaker take a timepiece that was first released 40+ years ago, grab it by its … lugs (?) and bring it into the 21st century. That’s exactly what Girard-Perregaux did when they unveiled the Laureato in black ceramic. Here is a timepiece that, for the most part, retains almost all the styling cues of the original Laureato, but thanks to material innovation, is reborn in this resolutely contemporary design. And, to Girard-Perregaux’s credit, they nailed the execution. It isn’t always easy to master the process of modernising something antiquated, but…

Which Rado Captain Cook Automatic is right for you?

Rado’s Captain Cook Automatic dive watch collection is downright impressive for anyone in the market for a fit-for-purpose dive watch on a budget. What’s more, it’s got a great amount of heritage — Rado has actually used the Captain Cook moniker since 1962. But these modern iterations aren’t resting on the laurels of their forefathers, they’re packing an aesthetic and technical blow that is hard to beat in the price bracket. For example, all of the watches feature glossy, vibrant dials that do a wonderful job of catching the light, offering wearers a charismatic, almost multifaceted personality. And the inwardly concave…

INTRODUCING: The H. Moser & Cie. Heritage Centre Seconds Funky Blue

The watchmaking mavericks at H. Moser & Cie. must be working overtime at their headquarters in Schaffhausen, because they keep dropping hit after hit in 2019. Their most recent creation is this — the H. Moser & Cie. Heritage Centre Seconds Funky Blue. Taking inspiration from both the horological creations of Moser’s founder, Heinrich Moser, and converted pocket watches from the early 20th century, the new Heritage Centre Seconds offers a distinctly inimitable aesthetic that seeks to seamlessly blend old-world charm with contemporary watchmaking techniques and technologies. The highly polished 42mm stainless steel case, for example, is shaped like a…

Is this Tudor Black Bay “Smiley” the next big collector’s watch?

Editor’s note: A perennially common question in the horological hemisphere is, “What is the next BIG future collectible timepiece?” It’s a pretty loaded question, and usually one answered with, rather obviously, nothing more than conjecture and anecdotal hypothesis. But, if we’re being honest, the best indicator of the “next big thing” is when there is a constant murmur in the wristwatch community about the same watch, a constant simmering of whispers that keeps on throwing up one model. That model is this, the ETA-powered Tudor Black Bay “Smiley”. Whether it’s the simpler ETA 2824-2 movement, the slimmer case, “Rose of…

What Sealed The Deal – Andreas’ Omega Seamaster Professional 300M

Has any one watch had more of an immediate effect on its audience than the Omega Seamasters featured in James Bond films? Seriously … almost every single time we talk to anyone about their SMP, invariably 007 is hurled into the equation. It’s got to be one of the smartest pieces of marketing since, well, since Omega handed out their Speedmaster to Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. Anyway, at one point or another, quite a few of the people reading this will have owned an SMP – they are just that iconic. Fewer people, however, have offloaded their…

VIDEO: Is this Baume & Mercier the best dress watch you can buy for under $5K?

Anyone looking for a capable and exceedingly handsome dress watch on a relatively low budget needs to sit up and pay attention now, because this Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic is unquestionably one of the bargains of the moment. Here is a wristwatch that retails for a mere $4600 AUD, and yet it’s powered by a movement that offers a whopping five days of power reserve, is chronometer certified and made completely in-house by Baume & Mercier … for less than five grand. And if that weren’t enough, it’s all wrapped up in a handsome and elegant dress watch with…

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date – The thinking man’s steel sports watch

Editor’s note: Jaeger-LeCoultre is widely regarded as one of the best watchmakers on the planet … and for good reason. The Swiss outfit has been responsible for more advancements and complications in the mechanical watchmaking world than pretty much any other manufacturer. And what’s more, JLC has made movements for some of the top marques in the horological industry — name a Swiss watchmaker and chances are JLC has made a movement for them. There’s a reason they’re called “The watchmaker’s watchmaker”. Most of the Jaeger-LeCoultre collection is made up of svelte, sophisticated dress watches, so it’s pretty easy to…

RECOMMENDED READING: Steve McQueen and the watches he wore

Here’s a question for you: Who is the greatest male style icon of the 20th century? Is it Paul Newman? No. Is it Elvis Presley? Absolutely not. Is it James Dean? No, but getting closer. OK, as the title rather obviously suggests, the greatest male style icon of the 20th century was, by some margin, Steve McQueen. Here was a man who set the tone for what was considered cool in just about every facet of what men cared about, whether it be what cars to drive, what clothes to wear and, most importantly, what watches to have attached to…

HANDS-ON: Chopard’s svelte Alpine Eagle 41mm with Bernina Grey dial

This has unquestionably been the year of the contentious steel sports watch, with just about every watchmaker and their Bernese entering the fray in what has to be the most hotly contested genre of timepieces in the current watch market. Chief among these new steely provocateurs is Chopard’s Alpine Eagle. We’ve been fortunate enough to spend a fair amount of time with the spiritual birth child of the Chopard St. Moritz and Time+Tide founder, Andrew McUtchen, even got the opportunity to spend a week with the dazzling timepiece on his wrist. That weeklong experience was with the 41mm steel Aletsch…

#JayDay: Jay-Z just used a bunch of solid gold Rolex Daytonas as VIP invitations

We’ve all heard of a wrist flex, but what about an invitation flex … is that a thing? Well, if it wasn’t before, it is now, because hip hop heavyweight, music producer and entrepreneur Jay-Z has gone and sent out Rolex’s eponymous Daytona as VIP invitation gifts to his inaugural Shawn Carter Foundation Gala. In case you were wondering, the Rolex Daytona in question was the solid 18k Everose gold example with the black and pink dial, ref. 116505. Just to clarify … this pink gold Daytona has a recommended retail price in Australia of $49,750. What on earth! And…

Keeping it classic: 3 of the best Hublot Classic Fusions

It’s fair to say that Hublot is mostly known for their iconic range of Big Bang timepieces. And that’s completely understandable, as the Big Bang is the brainchild of the Swiss watchmaking doyen, Jean-Claude Biver. Furthermore, the timepiece itself is credited with saving Hublot from an uncertain future when it was first released in 2005. However, for those looking for something that is perhaps a little more left field from the disruptive Swiss marque, Hublot’s range of Classic Fusion timepieces represent a compelling blend of svelte sophistication and signature innovative design. Here are three of our favourites: Hublot Classic Fusion…

RECOMMENDED WATCHING: Antiques Roadshow and the Rolex “Tiffany” GMT-Master

Let’s be honest, Antiques Roadshow isn’t always the most enthralling of television shows – it’s not going to goad you into teetering on the edge of your seat, hanging off every last word of the inevitably gingham-clad, stodgy presenter. However, sporadically, there are some complete gems that come up on the show for peeps like you and me who adore all things watches. A classic example of this infrequent brilliance is the time that a chap from the States brought in his 1963 Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi”. It’s not just any old Pepsi either – this steel professional timepiece has got…

Taking another look at the Rado Tradition 1965

Editor’s note: Well, this is something that you’re probably not going to see every day, not least because, apart from the Rado Tradition 1965 presenting a very eccentric aesthetic, the rectangular wonder was limited to just 1965 examples, in both its medium and XL iterations. It’s got to be one of the more quirky releases of 2019, and what’s really ironic about this watch is that it shouldn’t work … but it does. On the wrist, there’s a funky je ne sais quoi persona, a devil-may-care attitude that just feels resolutely right. At the start of the year, we were…

Hublot has its sights firmly set on your feet

Horological disruptors Hublot are hosting an exhibition right now at the Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (MUDAC) in Lausanne, Switzerland … but it’s not for watches. No, the Swiss watchmaker is hosting what is said to be one of the best sneaker exhibitions ever assembled. And while this may sound slightly off-brand for a watchmaker, it’s not the first time that Hublot has dipped its toes in the vogue sneaker industry. Back in 2016, Hublot collaborated with luxury footwear maker Lavati to create the Lavati x Hublot ‘All Black’, a high top leather-clad sneaker with some serious clout.…

Rediscovering the Audemars Piguet Two-Tone Royal Oak 15400

Editor’s note: With so much attention and speculation surrounding the all-steel variants of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak 15400 and now 15500, it’s easy to forget that the Holy Trinity watchmaker also offers their most prized timepiece in two-tone steel and 18k Pink Gold. And while it’s easy to comprehend why the stainless steel variants are so highly revered, there’s something of an old-world charm about the way the two-tone iteration goes about its business — it’s antiquated … but in a good way. A couple of years ago, we were lucky enough to slide one of these mixed metal marvels onto…

3 Hublot Spirit of Big Bangs for 3 different occasions

Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang collection is unquestionably one of the most varied and nuanced in the Swiss watchmaker’s catalogue. The quintessentially tonneau-shaped timepiece, which has only been around since 2014, has spawned quite a few different iterations, in a number of different sizes and materials, since its inception. In fact, as of right now, there are more than 30 different examples of the inimitable timepiece on offer. So, to save you the hassle, we thought we’d pick through extensive offerings and choose three of our favourite models that can cater for different occasions: Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Moonphase…

Taking another look at the Rolex Sky-Dweller Rolesor

Editor’s note: The Rolex Sky-Dweller is an amazing timepiece. No doubt about it. It’s also the epitome of what Rolex does so well — take something exceedingly complicated, like an annual calendar, and then create a simple, novel and ingenious way of not only displaying said complication but how you interact with the watch. Seriously, who else would have thought of something like utilising the fluted 18k yellow gold bezel to adjust the various different complications of the wristwatch? Anyway, in this writer’s humble opinion, it’s a stroke of genius, and I totally understand why the Sky-Dweller is today in such…

RECOMMENDED WATCHING: Jean-Claude Biver’s unbelievable watch collection

There’s a pretty strong case to be made that Mr Jean-Claude Biver is one of, if not the most influential individual in the horological industry of the last half-a-century. Here is a man who cut his teeth at Audemars Piguet and witnessed first-hand the development of the now legendary Royal Oak. A man who would go on to work at Omega as their Product Manager, before leaving the Swiss watchmaking powerhouse to personally buy another legendary Swiss marque – Blancpain. Yes, Mr Biver’s career is one steeped in history and influence and the uppermost echelons of the Swiss watchmaking industry.…

5 fresh summer flavours for a DOXA summer

Summer is now thankfully just around the corner, which means we can ditch the black on black garb and finally bring some colour back into our lives and, more importantly, onto our wrists. And luckily, we’re now stocking DOXA’s entire collection of colourful timepieces, including the SUB 200, SUB 300T and SUB 1500T. These watches feature vivaciously coloured dials that are perfect for December through February, and will look on point whether you’re headed to the beach, rooftop bar or the bottom of the ocean floor. We’ve picked out five of the hottest examples, and you better break out the…

Going out with a bang: 3 of the best Hublot Big Bangs

Ever since its unveiling way back in 2005 at Baselworld, Hublot’s Big Bang has been not only an inimitable collection of timepieces but also a provocateur in the horological landscape that has challenged the notion of what a timepiece can and should be. As we’re sure many of you will already know, the Big Bang is the brainchild of a true doyen of the watchmaking world, Mr Jean-Claude Biver. Mr Biver, who came onboard with Hublot in 2004, was tasked with reinvigorating the brand and taking it to the next level. His answer was the Big Bang. Its distinctive portal-shaped…

Rediscovering the Rolex Milgauss Z-Blue

Editor’s note: The Rolex Milgauss is a distinctly underrated timepiece. In fact, it may be one of the most forgotten-about models in Rolex’s current Professional line-up. And many of us thought leading up to Baselworld this year that it may well be discontinued, due to Rolex parading the Milgauss all over their social platforms and featuring the watch heavily at events like this year’s Australian Open. I’m really glad the rumours weren’t true, though, and that the Milgauss lives on, because in a sea of Submariners and Sea-Dwellers, the Milgauss provides a refreshingly original aesthetic that’s unlike anything else that…

3 great steel sports watches for under $3K

As much as it pains me to say it, for most people out there, spending anything more than a few hundred dollars for a wristwatch is a faintly absurd idea. However – as I’m sure most people reading this will agree – once you get bitten by the particularly costly watch bug, all of a sudden the rationale around what a “reasonable” sum of money is for a new timepiece suddenly escalates … greatly. It’s a predicament that a good friend of mine finds himself in at the moment. Just a few short months ago he thought the notion of…

Taking another look at the TAG Heuer Monaco Bamford

Editor’s note: Whether we like to admit it or not, professional watch modifiers are here to stay. And we can almost understand why — if you want to be an individualist in a sea of ostensible regularity, imparting your own touch on an otherwise middle of the road item can be enjoyable. But what about when watchmakers collaborate with the vicarious modifiers? What then? Some would argue that it’s the best of both worlds, ergo, a modified and therefore unique piece, which retains important things like a factory warranty backing and better resale values. This TAG Heuer Monaco Bamford is…

3 TAG Heuer Calibre 16s that can do it all

TAG Heuer has been using its venerable chronograph-equipped Calibre 16 movement for more than two decades now. In fact, the storied movement has been utilised by the Swiss watchmaker in a great many of its models since 2005, when it was first released in the then new and completely overhauled Carrera. It’s pretty easy to understand why TAG has used the Calibre 16 so religiously across its model line-ups for so long – this is a workhorse of a movement that benefits from a great many features, including self-winding, chronograph complication, date complication, 12-hour counter, 30-minute counter, running seconds, 42…

Would you pay a retailer 100K per year to choose 12 watches for you?

Because that’s what Australian retailer Kennedy Luxury Watches are proposing with their ‘Kennedy Luxury Watch Service’. Just 12 subscriptions will be available for that 100k, and all watches will, apparently, be “suited to the lifestyle, interests and personality” of each subscriber. And it’s got us asking: where does this idea fall on an axis between madness and genius? The concept itself is not new. We pay mortgage brokers to find us the best mortgage rates, we pay stockbrokers to buy and sell our shares. Why not pay a retailer to help you build your watch collection? The logistics certainly are…

#TBT to that time we interviewed self-professed watch geek James Marsden

Editor’s note: Turns out that James Marsden is rather fond of a timepiece or two. Which is probably not much of a surprise to anyone, considering that if you are a Hollywood A-Lister and not into watches, there’s probably something wrong with you … but I digress. Anyway, a few years ago, Time+Tide founder Andrew McUtchen was fortunate enough to interview the Westworld star about his love affair with timepieces. It’s an interesting read, and if you’ve got the time, I highly recommend it.  One of the last people I saw before I left Australia for SIHH in January was…

Hype dodger: 3 steel Professional Rolex watches you can actually buy

$16,450 – that’s the Australian recommended retail price of the Oystersteel Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN. But, as I’m sure 99 per cent of people reading this are already patently aware, if you actually want to own one of these fabled watches, you can’t merely walk into an AD and pick one up. No, if you want a “Panda” Daytona, you’ve got to venture into the slightly murky and occasionally insalubrious world of the grey/secondhand market. And even then, the steel Daytona is almost an anomalous object, and if you do manage to find one, you’re paying at least $35K all…

INTRODUCING: The Longines Heritage Military 1938

Longines is on an absolute roll in 2019, and it seems like only yesterday that we were treated to one of their hottest watches of the year – the sector dial Longines Heritage Classic. Not wanting to rest on its blue-handed laurels, Longines has just dropped this bombshell of a vintage reissue, and they’re calling it the Longines Heritage Military 1938. Based on a Longines military watch that was made on the cusp of the Second World War in 1938, this homage piece is ticking all the right boxes of a great mil-spec wristwatch. The case is hewn from stainless…

That time Hublot pulled apart a tourbillon cage to show us how it worked

Editor’s note: Early last year, our fearless leader Andrew McUtchen was fortunate enough to breach the inner sanctum of Hublot’s High Complication Department and have a chat with the boss, Emmanuel Missillier. What’s more, Mr Missillier proceeded to pull apart one of Hublot’s intricate tourbillon movements, all for our viewing pleasure.  Hublot have made big strides in recent years to establish watchmaking credibility as a counterweight to its heavy-hitting celebrity power. Regular nominations in various GPHG categories – across women’s and men’s watches – have been a meaningful benchmark for progress, and new crowd-pleasers, such as the delightful movement architecture of…

TAG Heuer bids adieu to the Monaco Calibre 12 with a Final Edition

TAG Heuer has just unveiled the all-new Monaco 02, and it’s a big deal because it’s the first Monaco in the storied watch’s 50-year history to utilise a completely in-house movement. As a result, the Swiss watchmaker is kissing goodbye to the old Sellita SW300-based Calibre 12 movement, which has been a stalwart of the Monaco for quite some time. However, the Calibre 12 has been a true workhorse of a movement, and TAG is keen to give the automatic movement the send-off it deserves. Which brings us to this, the limited TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 12 Final Edition. Limited…

That time we made a fantasy basketball team out of celebs who wear the Bulgari Octo

Editor’s note: Question: What do David Gandy, Gerard Butler, Eric Bana, Bradley Cooper and Adrien Brody all have in common? Answer: They’ve all been spotted wearing a Bulgari Octo. And apart from being five exceedingly good-looking dudes, they’re all rather tall gents. So naturally, our fearless leader Andrew McUtchen pondered, “What would this beefcake collective be like if they were to join forces and start a basketball team?”. And spare a thought for the celebs who have been relegated to the bench, because let’s face it, 175cm ain’t gonna cut it on this team … Jeremy Renner!  Golden State Warriors,…

Tudor’s Black Bay Ceramic One sold for a ridiculous amount at Only Watch 2019

If history is anything to go by, we shouldn’t have been surprised at news coming out of Only Watch 2019 that Tudor’s entry into the charitable auction, the Black Bay Ceramic One, had sold for a staggering 350,000 CHF ($515,000 AUD). In fact, for Tudor’s third pièce unique entered into Only Watch to do anything other than command a crazily large bid would’ve been an abnormality. Why, you may ask? Well, the Swiss marque’s first “Only Watch”, the Tudor Black Bay One, was submitted for auction at the 2015 event, and while the estimate for the stainless steel diver was…

Seiko’s Prospex LX Line Diver emerges from GPHG as a winner

Seiko’s fit for purpose range of Prospex LX Line Diver’s watches has beaten some tough competition from the likes of Longines, Ressence and De Bethune to take home the award for best Diver’s watch at GPHG 2019. This is an important win for the Japanese manufacturer for two reasons: firstly, the winning Seiko is a Prospex, not a Grand Seiko, and secondly — and perhaps more significantly — the victory shows that the Seiko watches that sit below the aforementioned GS marque are being taken far more seriously, despite the hefty price tag that they now command. Mind you, even with the…

Remembering the TAG Heuer Autavia Jo Siffert Collector’s Edition

Editor’s note: When it comes to making timepieces with an affiliation to the full-throttle world of motorsport, few watchmakers have more success than TAG Heuer. Take this TAG Heuer Autavia Jo Siffert Collector’s Edition for instance. Here is a wristwatch that faithfully pays homage to the original Heuer Autavia 1163T or, as it’s more commonly known, the ‘Siffert’ Autavia. The Heuer Autavia 1163T earned its nickname because, perhaps rather obviously, it was worn by the late Swiss Formula 1 driver Joseph “Jo” Siffert. It was a brilliant timepiece, and this modern interpretation is just as good, and late last year…

Steeling the show … Jason Statham’s love affair with Rolex

What is it about leading actors and their affinity for Rolex’s range of stainless steel sports watches? It almost seems like it’s a rite of passage – become a famous thespian and then immediately adorn one’s wrist with a steel 6263. Whether it’s Steve McQueen, Paul Newman (obviously), Daniel Craig … the list just goes on and on. And then there’s Hollywood’s current “hard man”, Jason Statham. Statham loves a vintage steel Rolex, as evidenced by the countless paparazzi photos that have caught the British actor sporting quite a few different iterations of old-school professional models. Perhaps most notably, Statham…

INTRODUCING: The TAG Heuer Monaco 02

TAG Heuer’s fabled Monaco wristwatch, a timepiece immortalised in the annals of motorsport as a result of Steve McQueen sporting one in the 1971 film Le Mans, is for the first time in its history being produced with an in-house movement. That’s right, whether you were aware of it or not, the TAG Heuer Monaco has, since its inception in 1969, been produced with an externally sourced movement. Back in 1969 it was the Calibre 11, and throughout the course of the next 50 years of its production the Monaco would employ a number of different third-party movements, such as…

Rediscovering the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph

Editor’s note: If you’re in the market for a steel sports watch with a chronograph complication, you really are spoilt for choice. Rolex’s Daytona, Omega’s Speedmaster, Tudor’s Black Bay Chronograph … the list goes on. However, if you’re looking for a timepiece that meets all of the aforementioned criteria, while still possessing a real and genuine point of difference, then the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph is a great option. JLC, known colloquially as the “watchmaker’s watchmaker”, have made movements for just abut every watchmaker in the game at some time or another. And this technical innovation and knowhow is really showcased in…

Smart Money: 5 of the best buys from Only Watch 2019

Most of the hype around the results of Only Watch 2019 has been wholly and solely squared at the monumental, record-breaking price achieved by the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A, and it’s pretty easy to understand why … it sold for $31 million CHF (roughly $52 million AUD)! However, away from the white noise of the staggering price of the stainless steel Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A, there were actually a fair few bargains (relative term) to be had at this year’s Only Watch. In fact, some pièce unique examples actually sold for less than the regular variants of the…

Top 3 most expensive watches sold at Only Watch 2019, also featuring Audemars Piguet and F.P. Journe

Patek Philippe’s entry into Only Watch 2019, the one-of-a-kind stainless steel Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300A, has just smashed, in fact obliterated, the record for the most expensive watch ever sold at auction. But it wasn’t just the Patek that stretched into the seven-figure stratosphere at the charitable auction last night, as two other pièce unique watches garnered tremendous amounts of attention and, more importantly, bids. Keep in mind, if like us at times, you feel despair at the runaway nature of high-end auctions, that this is for the good of the world. They are going to be able…

Taking another look at the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean “Big Blue”

Editor’s note: Omega’s Seamaster collection is vast and varied, and the Swiss watchmaking powerhouse isn’t shy when it comes to creating new and innovative variants of its iconic diving watch. A classic example of this explorative ethos is this — the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean “Big Blue”. The gorgeous and amply proportioned 45.5mm case is hewn from solid ceramic, and finished in a gorgeous shade of blue, and contrasted by bright bursts of orange. It’s a compelling proposition for a great summer watch, especially when paired with its complementing navy blue and orange rubber strap with deployant clasp. What’s more, the…

RECOMMENDED WATCHING: Joe Rogan talks watches

Unless you’ve been in hibernation for the last five years, or you’ve had a complete moratorium on any type of connection to the Internet, chances are you’ve heard about Joe Rogan and his podcast. In fact, the comedian and former host of Fear Factor has such a large reach on the interwebs that his podcast has been listened to by hundreds of millions of people across the globe – it is unquestionably one of the most successful podcasts of all time. And Rogan will talk about literally anything, and host guests from all walks of life, whether they be other…

The 3 biggest upsets of GPHG 2019

Well, it’s been another successful year for what many in the horological world refer to as (much to the chagrin of Time+Tide’s Nicholas Kenyon) the “Oscars of the watchmaking industry”. And, much like Hollywood’s most revered awards ceremony, there’s been more than a few upsets at this year’s Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, across quite a few different categories. Now we understand that GPHG is an awards ceremony, so the ability to please everyone is nigh on impossible. However, these three watches represent the biggest shocks from the famed awards night: Tudor P01   Yeah, I don’t think anyone saw…

Breguet has nailed it for Only Watch 2019

Only Watch 2019 is now less than 24 hours away from kicking off, and Breguet has really knocked it out of the park with their entry in this year’s charitable auction. The Breguet Type XX Only Watch 2019 is, I think we can all agree, a handsome timepiece, and that’s largely because the pièce unique is a faithful re-creation that aims to pay homage to a very early variant of the original Type XX. As a result, the aesthetics offer a charismatically vintage ’50s appearance and, as is the case with any homage piece made today, you’re getting old world…

Taking flight with the Breguet Type XX, XXI and XXII

Initially created for the French Ministry of Defence for the French Air Force, the Breguet Type XX, XXI and XXII are timekeeping devices steeped in the history of aviation-specific wristwatches. First released in 1954, the Type XX was the first aviation watch ever created by the storied Swiss watchmaker, who specifically produced the timepiece at the behest of the aforementioned French Ministry of Defence, who had originally approached Breguet to commission 500 examples of a flight-ready wristwatch with a flyback chronograph complication. The rest, as the old adage goes, is history, and now Breguet makes a great many iterations of…

INTRODUCING: The H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Aventurine

It’s been a pretty busy year for boutique Swiss watchmaker H. Moser & Cie, from the introduction of several new models at this year’s SIHH, right through to the arresting Pioneer Dual Window Perpetual Calendar, which was unveiled just a few short months ago. The eccentric Swiss marque isn’t done with the 2019 new releases, however, as they’ve just dropped this – the stunning H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Aventurine. Based on the underpinnings of the original Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept, the new timepiece’s Aventurine dial is quite stunning and, according to Moser, is meant to pay…

HOW TO: Take the perfect Instagram wristshot

Editor’s note: I’m sure that at one point or another you’ve been wearing your favourite watch and thought, “This is definitely ‘gram’ worthy”. But taking the perfect wrist shot is by no means a simple task. In fact, it’s an art form that can be exceedingly complicated and multifaceted. Luckily for us, however, back in 2017, Ceri David treated us to an absolute masterclass in how to take the perfect “wristy” for Instagram. And whether you’re a bit light on the follower count, or you’re just looking at ways to up the photographic ante, this is definitely worth a read.…

High Rollers – 3 of the most expensive timepieces at Only Watch 2019

With Only Watch 2019 now just a few short days away, there’s a veritable smorgasbord of gorgeous piece-unique watches and timekeeping devices heading to the auction block. In fact, there are 50 watches in total taking part in this year’s charity auction, with all funds raised going to the research of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. And while all the timepieces are gorgeous and inimitable, the price from one watch to the next can vary greatly in terms of their estimated value. So, we thought it’d be interesting to take a look at the top 3 most expensive timepieces up for grabs…

Mastering the elements with 3 Omega Seamasters

Omega’s eponymous collection of Seamaster timepieces are as varied as they are capable, and no matter the occasion, chances are Omega makes a water-ready timepiece that’s right for you. Genuinely, the Swiss marque’s famed dive watches are available in so many different iterations that one could conceivably own several different variants from the same family of watches. With that in mind, we thought we’d take a look at three versions of the Omega Seamaster that will look great on your wrist, no matter the occasion. Omega Planet Ocean 600M Co‑Axial Master Chronometer 39.5mm For a daily timepiece, the Omega Seamaster…

INTRODUCING: The Farer Roché World Timer

Boutique British watchmaker Farer have just released what many in the horological community are calling their best watch to date – the Farer Roché World Timer. Hewn from 316L stainless steel, the svelte 39mm case of the Roché World Timer is a mere 11mm thick, ensuring that the timepiece offers a great amount of bandwidth when it comes to wearability, while simultaneously landing it firmly in what many consider to be the “Goldilocks zone” of watch sizes. Housed inside the polished steel case is ETA’s venerable 2893-1 “Top Grade” movement, a self-winding job that offers a great many features, including…

Rediscovering Audemars Piguet Millenary Quadriennium

Editor’s note: With the hype around AP’s perennially popular Royal Oak seemingly drowning out the noise from almost any other watch in the horological industry, it’s easy to forget that Audemars Piguet themselves make a fair few other excellent timepieces. And I’m not even talking about the doyens of the Le Brassus’s most recent timepiece, Code 11.59. No, Audemars Piguet’s Millenary collection is so often overlooked, and it shouldn’t be, because it’s a great watch that well and truly has earned its place in AP’s collection. A couple of years ago, Felix Scholz was fortunate enough to go hands-on with…

INTRODUCING: The Seiko 1969 Quartz Astron 50th Anniversary Limited Edition

It’s fair to say that Seiko has dropped quite a few limited edition anniversary timepieces in 2019, and you definitely could’ve been mistaken for thinking that surely the Japanese watchmaker had nothing left in their product arsenal … and then they released this – the Seiko 1969 Quartz Astron 50th Anniversary Limited Edition. As the name suggests, the new Seiko 1969 Quartz Astron has been made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Seiko Astron, which was first unveiled on Christmas Day 1969. Arguably one of the most important timepieces of the 20th century, the Seiko Astron was the…

Taking another look at the Breguet Classique 7147

Editor’s note: There’s a lot of hype around steel sports watches these days, with seemingly every watchmaker and their proverbial dog jumping on the bandwagon. And we get it: steel sports watches are not only great looking, they tend to be a fair bit more practical and versatile than most other types of timepieces. But there’s still something to be said for a great dress watch, and Breguet’s Classique 7147 is an exemplary example of the breed. Our man Felix Scholz was lucky enough to go hands-on with this classy timepiece a little while ago, and if you’ve got the…

INTRODUCING: The TAG Heuer Monaco 2009-2019 Limited Edition

TAG Heuer has unveiled the fifth and final iteration of its limited edition series of timepieces celebrating 50 years of the heroic Monaco wristwatch. Like the rest of the limited-run watches, which each celebrate a separate decade in the history of the Monaco since its inception in 1969, the 2009-2019 example will be limited to just 169 pieces. Taking styling cues from TAG Heuer’s design language of the last decade, the 2009-2019 Monaco looks rather handsome thanks to a dark slate grey dial with complementing black gold-plated indices and hands, while bursts of contrasting red can be found on the…

Top 5 Grand Seiko dials of 2019

It has been a stellar year for Grand Seiko, with the Japanese watchmaker releasing not only a bevy of new iterations of some of their most popular models, but also a completely new manual-wind dress watch, the SBGK series. And, as is always the case with Grand Seiko, the arresting dials adorning these new timepieces have been received with a fairly large amount of adoration within the horological community. So, with that in mind, we thought we’d whittle down all the new dial designs produced by Grand Seiko in 2019 and pick our five favourite examples: Grand Seiko SBGH269  …

RECOMMENDED READING: A history of the Rolex Daytona

Editor’s note: OK, I’m guessing that 99 per cent of people reading this are already well aware of Rolex’s eponymous Daytona … and, admittedly, it’s hard not to be. Here is a watch that is deeply desirable, seemingly unobtainable, and a cashed-up speculator’s veritable dream timepiece. And, of course, it’s not just the modern iterations of the Daytona that are so revered, with some models from years gone by now commanding price tags that would normally be associated with three-bedroom homes. Just a few weeks ago, for example, Ellen DeGeneres purchased an incredibly rare, solid 14k yellow gold Daytona ref.6241,…

Mission Accomplished! Nirmal “Nims” Purja smashes Bremont’s Project Possible

Bremont brand ambassador and former British Special Forces serviceman Nirmal “Nims” Purja has destroyed the world record for scaling Earth’s 14 tallest mountains, completing the amazing feat in just six months and six days, eclipsing the previous record, which stood for more than eight years. Project Possible kicked off in April this year, and Purja proceeded to scale, in order, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, K2, Broad Peak, Cho You, Manaslu and finally Shishapangma. All 14 of these mountainous peaks tower more than 8000 metres above sea level, which means that every single…

The only Barakuda you’ll ever need – the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda Only Watch

With Only Watch 2019 now just a mere 11 days away from kicking off, we thought we’d take a look at Blancpain’s Only entrant – the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda. The unique piece from the storied Swiss marque is, rather obviously, based on the standard Fifty Fathoms Barakuda. However, the Only Watch Barakuda sports very fetching hints of baby blue that can be observed on the edges of the hour indices, seconds hand tip and the numerals of the unidirectional rotating bezel. The blue signifies the reason why the Only Watch event exists – to support the research into Duchenne…

5 Longines heritage timepieces for every occasion

Longines offer a great many different styles of timepieces across five unique collections in their portfolio of wristwatches. And while each of the five collections provides a distinctive interpretation of what a timepiece should offer, in my opinion, the Swiss watchmaker’s Heritage collection resonates the most with horological enthusiasts. These are the timepieces that hark back to some of Longines’ most important watches of the last century and, more importantly, while the aesthetic presented is decidedly vintage, the innards of these Heritage watches are bang up to date, offering the latest and greatest engineering cred that the Longines has to…

Best of British –  4 celebs who rock Bremont watches

Whether watch enthusiasts want to admit it or not, there is definitely a curiosity when it comes to celebrity watch spotting. It’s a guilty pleasure for most of us, and I have no shame admitting that I will regularly spend hours going down the virtual rabbit hole on Instagram, scoping what iced-out timepiece Mark Wahlberg has been spotted wearing this month. But it’s not all frosted APs, Richard Milles and Patek Philippes. It seems that some of the Hollywood elite have broader taste.  For example, these four famous Britons from vastly different backgrounds appear to be rather fond of a certain independent British watchmaker;…

RECOMMENDED READING: An interview with Daryn Schnipper

A Collected Man recently interviewed Daryn Schnipper, and if you don’t know who she is … you really should. Schnipper has been working at Sotheby’s in New York since 1980, first as a watch expert, and now as Senior Vice President of the auction house and Chairman of the International Watch Division. What’s more, Schnipper has been responsible for selling some truly amazing timepieces over the years, not least the Henry Graves Supercomplication pocket watch, which she has sold not once, but twice, for $11 million and $24 million respectively. Schnipper also talks about how the horological landscape has changed…

Suit up with Omega De Ville Trésor

Omega’s recently updated line of De Ville Trésor presents as a compelling proposition for anyone looking for a beautifully made, elegant dress watch. And, for the first time in the De Ville Trésor family, there’s now the option of steel-cased models, which can be had in a few different iterations. For a start, there’s this gorgeous blue dial example, ref. 435.13.40.21.03.001, which looks positively replete with its almost linen-like textured aesthetic. And when paired with slender and sophisticated 18k white gold indices, as well as hour, minute and second hands, this is a watch that offers a great amount of…

IN-DEPTH: The DOXA SUB 1200T

The story in a second: The Doxa SUB 1200T offers a huge amount of legacy, technical capability and exclusivity. Let’s press rewind for a second: the year is 1969, and Doxa S.A., a storied watchmaker established 80 years previously, in 1889, unveils the first publicly available dive watch in the world with a helium escape valve – the Doxa SUB 300T Conquistador. Developed in conjunction with the doyen of deep sea diving, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the SUB 300T Conquistador became an instant must-have among the diving fraternity. And Cousteau believed in the product so resolutely that his company, U.S. Divers, became…

Taking another look at the Tudor Black Bay 41 Blue

Editor’s note: These days, it’s very easy for a watch to be too fussy, too over-designed. Whether it’s unnecessary complications, awkward aesthetics or misjudged attempts at innovation, sometimes a watch just needs to be a watch. A great example of this is Tudor’s Black Bay 41 Blue. This is a timepiece that first and foremost tells the time, honestly and clearly. There are no frills here, nothing too deliberate, just a clean and simple design, a handsome blue dial, solid build quality and a near bulletproof movement. It’s a great example of a time-only watch done right, and our fearless…

These 4 watches are a sure bet for this year’s Spring Racing Carnival

With Melbourne’s world famous Spring Racing Carnival now in full swing, there’s a fair bit of chatter about what sort of watch you should be wearing to accompany your (let’s face it) inevitably blue suit. Now, if you’re planning to rock a three-piece, firstly kudos to you, and secondly, definitely consider a pocket watch – Longines has just released a great example, which actually honours their long affiliation with the noble sport of horse racing. However, for the rest of us who are planning to keep time via a wrist-worn timepiece, there are a great many options for such an…

Is this Ellen’s best watch purchase yet?

To say Ellen DeGeneres likes a timepiece or two is probably one of the larger understatements of the year. In fact, you’d have to be living under a rock not to be aware that the comedian and talk show host’s watch collection is probably among the very best of the Hollywood glitterati. There have been countless spots of DeGeneres sporting wrist-worn icons like the solid yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116718 with green dial, and the Patek Philippe ref. 5271 replete with diamond bezel and lugs. However, these watches pale in comparison to her latest purchase – a solid…

Panerai sets sail for victory with 3 new Luna Rossa specials

Following on from the successful first collaboration between Panerai and the America’s Cup team Luna Rossa, which spawned the Submersible Luna Rossa, the Italian watchmaker has continued the relationship with the 36th America’s Cup challenger to create three completely new watches. Retaining the same fundamental aesthetic as the first iteration — most notably the dial, which utilises real pieces of sailcloth from the Luna Rossa — the three new watches are, however, distinctly unique from one another, and feature a host of different materials and complications. The Panerai Luminor Luna Rossa Regatta 47mm is the largest of the trio, and the substantial…

Just in time for the races: The Longines Equestrian Pocket Watch Jockey 1878

Paying homage to an affiliation that has spanned more than century, Longines has created a limited edition pocket watch honouring equestrian racing — the Longines Equestrian Pocket Watch Jockey 1878. Hewn from solid 18k rose gold, the equestrian-themed pocket watch is said to imbue the Swiss watchmaker’s passion for horse racing, and features an engraved motif of a horse and jockey on its case back. Limited to just 20 pieces in total, the Equestrian Pocket Watch Jockey 1878 is actually an exacting replica of the first pocket watch Longines ever produced with a chronograph complication. And, according to Longines, this…

Omega’s contemporary new museum offers a unique glimpse into its past

Omega has just opened their latest Museum in the heart of the “La Cité du Temps” in Biel, Switzerland. The museum, which has a decidedly modern aesthetic, was designed by the award-winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, who is famed for his groundbreaking work with paper and recycled cardboard. Housed inside the contemporary institution is a capsule of the Swiss watchmaker’s storied history, which dates back to 1848. The museum features several interactive showcases, as well as stimulating movies and exhibits aimed at celebrating and chronicling Omega’s amazing legacy in horology. One of the standout features is a 9-metre running track…

Going green with the Hublot Big Bang MP-11 SAXEM

Hublot has just dropped the Big Bang MP-11 SAXEM, once again demonstrating why they are the vanguards of the horological industry when it comes to innovating new materials for wristwatches. The stunningly green case of the new Big Bang MP-11 is hewn from a material that has never been used before in a timepiece’s case – SAXEM. An abbreviation of Sapphire Aluminium Oxide and rare Earth Mineral, the high-tech material receives its brilliant emerald green colour as a result of the Hublot Manufacture mixing materials such Aluminium oxide, which is the basic component of sapphire, with rare-earth elements such as…

5 for $500: Building a great watch collection for less than $2.5K

$2.5K can buy you quite a lot in this world – an economy plane ticket to just about anywhere on the planet, a car that’s probably (definitely) going to have questionable reliability or, if you’re so inclined, a really, really nice bottle of wine. And for us watch enthusiasts out there who already have a varied and sizeable collection, $2500 is enough to access a veritable cornucopia of brilliant timepieces from dozens of different manufacturers. But what if you’re a budding horological enthusiast and you don’t have any watches yet? Is it possible to create a great watch collection that…

INTRODUCING: The Linde Werdelin Oktopus Volcano

Linde Werdelin has once again teamed up with master engraver and artist Johnny “King Nerd” Dowell to create this – the Linde Werdelin Oktopus Volcano. Dowell, who was an engraver at the notable British gun makers James Purdey & Sons for 15 years, has previously worked with Linde Werdelin to create the Oktopus Reef and the Crazy Universe limited edition timepieces. Representing the third collaboration between Dowell and the boutique Swiss watchmaker, the Oktopus Volcano, as the name would suggest, depicts an active volcano. As such, the 44mm grade 2 titanium case, which is meant to portray a jagged rock…

Get to the boutique! The Seiko SNJ025 Solar ‘Arnie’

The argument could quite easily be made that most watch manufacturers in attendance at this year’s Baselworld watch fair tended to err on the side of caution when it came to releasing new timepieces. However, Seiko certainly bucked this trend, unveiling quite a few new and exciting timepieces, and surprising the collective horological community with this, the new Seiko SNJ025 Solar ‘Arnie’. A faithful re-creation of a cult classic, the Seiko H558-5000, the new SNJ025 Solar does a great job of paying homage to the original timepiece that earned its colloquialism as a result of being worn by the one…

IWC ranked as top Swiss watch brand by WWF for reducing environmental impact, celebrates on tiny floating house

In their latest joint venture, IWC Schaffhausen and surfboard designer and entrepreneur Hayden Cox have teamed up to create a unique concept – the world’s first floating surfboard design studio. This very Australian activation was also designed to highlight the brand’s recent efforts to reduce their environmental impact, by – for example – using 90 per cent less plastic in their current packaging. Members of the press were treated to a scenic flight around Rose Bay in NSW in a seaplane emblazoned with the IWC logo and watch motif, before landing on Palm Beach and disembarking onto the floating design…

RECOMMENDED READING: History of the Must de Cartier Tank

Editor’s note: I think most people reading this fully appreciate just how dire things were in the 1970s as a result of the notorious “quartz crisis”. Myriad Swiss watchmakers seemed to just disappear overnight, succumbing to a battery-powered onslaught led by Seiko, who inundated the wristwatch market with inexpensive, accurate timepieces. It was an interesting time in horology to say the least, and perhaps one of the most fascinating things about the quartz crisis, looking back at it now, is studying how the established Swiss marques dealt with the problem and tried to keep their proverbial heads above water. Cartier,…

Rolesor in the deep – the Rolex Sea-Dweller Reference 126603

To say there was quite a bit of controversy when Rolex unveiled the two-tone Sea-Dweller ref. 126603 at this year’s Baselworld is, at the very least, an understatement. In fact, there was nothing short of a litany of disparaging comments, which varied greatly in context, and ranged from questioning the two-tone Sea Dweller’s validity as a proper dive watch, to whether or not Rolex had completely taken leave of their senses. Keyboard warriors and vocal detractors aside though, and more than six months on from the notorious reveal, has the Rolex Sea-Dweller been an unmitigated failure, devoid of appreciation or…

Taking a closer look at the Omega Co‑Axial Master Chronometer Moonphase Chronograph – Blue Side Of The Moon

Editor’s note: OK, I’m not sure how many sides of the moon actually exist but, according to Omega and their collection of “… Side Of The Moon” special edition Speedmasters, it’s several. And while all the iterations of these Speedmasters are very fetching-looking timepieces, this example, the Omega Co‑Axial Master Chronometer Moonphase Chronograph — Blue Side Of The Moon, has got to be in the discussion as one of the best models so far. For a start, and unlike other models in the range, it’s equipped with Omega’s staggering Calibre 9904, which offers a great deal of features including METAS-approved Master…

Rediscovering the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Everose Rolesor

Editor’s note: It’s easy for the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Everose Rolesor to get lost in the perpetual noise caused by some of its more popular siblings within Rolex’s Professional range. But to simply overlook this wristwatch would be a categorical mistake, because the Yacht-Master 40 has a great many positives when compared not just to timepieces from other manufacturers, but even other watches within the aforementioned Professional collection. For a start, because the Yacht-Master 40 is only waterproof to 100 metres, its case is actually a fair bit slimmer than something like the Submariner. This means that it’s arguably more…

4 banging weekend watches for under $500

It’s all very well and good having a mainstay, go-to timepiece that you can rely on for daily duties Monday to Friday, but what happens if you want to change it up for the weekend? For most enthusiasts, the criteria for watches worn on Saturday and Sunday are very different to that of a weekday-warrior: they need to be casual, potentially novel and, if possible, relatively inexpensive. With all these conditions in mind, here are four weekend watches that are chock-full of character and won’t break the bank: Q Timex Reissue   Becoming an instant cult classic when it was…

3 of the best ladies watches at GPHG

With the watchmaking industry’s famed awards ceremony, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève — or as it’s more commonly known, GPHG — fast approaching, we thought we’d mention a few more nominated watches that you should be keeping an eye on. Now, we’ve already covered a host of brilliant timepieces from Bulgari and Zenith that have been nominated, and we’ve also been lucky enough to see the entire 84 nominated pieces in person. But we thought it would also be pertinent to mention three of the best ladies timepieces that have been given the nod from the award ceremony’s expert judges. Louis…

INTRODUCING: The Grand Seiko STGK011 & STGK013

Grand Seiko has expanded their offerings of ladies watches with two new additions to their Elegance Collection – the Grand Seiko STGK011 and STGK013. The bezel-less beauties have drawn inspiration from the Japanese watchmaker’s original sans-bezel timepiece, the Grand Seiko 62GS, which was first unveiled in 1967. And, to really dial up the glitz, the new timepieces’ unique tonneau-like cases are adorned with no fewer than 38 diamonds, measuring 0.41 carats in total, lining the flanks of the svelte 30.6mm steel cases. Available in two different dial designs: a shimmering silver dial reminiscent of freshly fallen snow (STGK011) and a…

Taking another look at the Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Power Reserve 5 Days Sapphire Rainbow

Editor’s note: OK, yes, it seems as though every time you scroll through Instagram these days, it’s highly probable that your feed will be inundated with myriad “rainbow” bejewelled-bezel timepieces.            And whether you’re for or against them, there’s no denying it – these bedazzled technicolour flex watches are firmly solidified in the zeitgeist of current watch culture. It’s not just the ubiquitous (if you can call it that) Rolex Daytona Ref. 116595 RBOW either, with several watchmakers jumping on the figurative “coloured ice drop” bandwagon. Hublot, in particular, has been a strong proponent for these types of timepieces, with the…

Top 3 watches that could save your life

To the uninitiated, it may come as a surprise to learn that watches can actually do a fair bit more than merely tell you what time it is. In fact, the myriad complications that can currently be housed inside a timepiece are actually a little bit staggering when you stop to think about it. Weekly calendar, annual calendar, perpetual calendar, minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph, moon phase … the list goes on and on. But here’s one thing that I bet even the most astute of watch enthusiasts may not have considered – some watches can save your life, and here…

INTRODUCING: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked

Audemars Piguet have once again stunned everyone with their latest full-ceramic piece of timekeeping wonderment – the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked. Showcasing the Swiss marque’s ceramic prowess, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar’s 41mm black ceramic case and conforming bracelet are finished to exquisite detail, and feature both brushed and polished elements. And when combined and contrasted with the gorgeously warm tones of the openworked dial’s pink gold accents, this makes for one of the most aesthetically appealing watches AP has released this year. Speaking of the openworked movement, it’s Audemars Piguet’s prodigious, in-house Caliber 5135, a self-winding…

HANDS-ON: The Seiko Automatic Chronograph 50th Anniversary — SRQ029J

Celebrating five decades since its first automatic chronograph was released, Seiko has just unveiled this, the new Seiko Automatic Chronograph SRQ029J 50th Anniversary. First revealed in 1969, the original Seiko Automatic Chronograph featured the Japanese watchmaker’s historic Calibre 6139 movement, which utilised an integrated vertical clutch and column wheel chronograph architecture. 1969 was a competitive and interesting time for watchmakers, as it wasn’t just Seiko that was trying to bring an automatic chronograph to market in the last year of the Swinging Sixties. In fact, not only was an automatic chronograph joint venture between Heuer and Breitling on the precipice of release, but…

Revisiting the Montblanc Orbis Terrarum UNICEF Limited Edition

Editor’s note: A recent discussion in the office has brought up the rather interesting question: “What is the best watch for international travel?” LOTS of different watches were bandied about as suggestions and, of course, names like the Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLRO and Patek Philippe 5930G were hotly debated as some of the best. And there’s no doubting that these aforementioned watches are absolutely brilliant at what they do, but — and it’s a big but — they’re also very expensive. Which got me thinking about the Montblanc Orbis Terrarum, because it’s a handsome looking watch, with a very useful world…

Hype beasts – 5 of this year’s most unobtainable watches

While there are some enthusiasts out there who feel as though the vast majority of new watches released at this year’s Baselworld and SIHH were a bit … safe, there were still some real stunners unveiled from legacy outfits like Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. And, because the collective products of these three aforementioned watchmakers are arguably the most desirable in the horological hemisphere right now, they’re particularly hard to actually get a hand on. So, chances are you’re not going to be able to walk into your local AD and pick up one of these wrist-worn rock stars,…

Looking back at the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph

Editor’s note: Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak is unquestionably one of the most important wristwatches of all time and it is steeped in history for so many reasons. For a start, the unique aesthetics of the now iconic watch and integrated bracelet were designed by the doyen of horological design, Gérald Genta, in less than 24 hours. Let that sink in: the timepiece that completely changed the game of luxury sports watches forever was conceived in less time than it would take us to fly to Geneva. What’s more, when it was released in 1972, the Royal Oak cost 3300 Swiss franc…

INTRODUCING: The Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI

Hublot has teamed up with the initiative Save Our Rhino Africa/India (SORAI) to create the fetching, limited edition Hublot Big Bang Unico SORAI. Stylised to mimic the tonal colours of Africa’s vast bush land, the new Big Bang Unico SORAI’s 45mm case is finished in microblasted beige ceramic, as is the watch’s bezel. Providing a stark contrast, the chronograph pushers and the crown of the limited edition watch are finished in a black composite resin. The dial of the Unico SORAI has been given the same aesthetic treatment, and the openwork-skeletonised movement is finished in matt beige, while the running…

The Rado True Thinline Les Couleurs Le Corbusier

Paying homage to a man widely regarded as the father of modernism, Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret), Rado’s stunning range of True Thinline Les Couleurs Le Corbusier could definitely be worth a look as your next summer watch. Le Corbusier, the visionary Swiss designer, architect and writer, created the concept of Architectural Polychromy – a palette that employs 63 different colours of architectural significance to assist with the portrayal of depth and space. These 63 colours are then grouped into nine different categories: vibrant, velvety, balanced, bold, powerful, expressive, luminous, impressive and pure. Rado’s new True Thinline collection wonderfully encapsulates these…

Rediscovering the Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi”

Editor’s note: Almost two years on from its release at 2018’s Baselworld, Rolex’s GMT-Master II 126710 BLRO or “Pepsi”, as it’s colloquially known across the globe, is still an incredibly desirable timepiece. And it’s pretty easy to understand why – 904L steel or “Oyster Steel” construction, Jubilee bracelet, bidirectional Cerachrom bezel, chronometer certification with an accuracy rating of +2/-2 seconds a day, waterproof to 100 metres, GMT complication – this watch has just got so much to offer. A first of its kind, Rolex’s Pepsi GMT is also steeped in an incredibly rich history, and dates back to the mid-1950s,…

Size is the prize: 3 seriously big watches