Christopher Ward launches a new Sealander, Tudor goes yellow for the Miami F1, and Sartory Billard completely loses its mind
Tom AustinOK, are we done now? Watches and Wonders is well and truly behind us for another year, and it’s been jam-packed full of new releases, some of which surprised us, and others, not so much. But, love it or hate it, it certainly keeps us all entertained, and definitely keeps us here at Time+Tide on our toes. We hope you enjoyed all of the content our team put together for you, but I can safely say that we’re not done yet. Yes, the new release season is technically over, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be bags of new watches coming to collectors’ wrists in the coming weeks. Since Watches and Wonders ended, we’ve already seen several big hitters drop, and as we head into May, we have even more in store for you, including more events with a big focus on British Watchmaking. But for now, let’s round up some of the biggest news of the week.
Christopher Ward’s refreshed Sealander line took the limelight
Everyone’s favourite, and arguably the busiest British watch brand, Christopher Ward took over Frameless in Marble Arch, London, on Wednesday evening, to launch a newly refreshed addition to the core line, the Sealander. There’s the understated, everyday Sealander Automatic and the GMT, both available in an array of sizes and dial colours, treated to a newly designed case and an ultra-high-tech new bracelet system that’s a game-changer.
Frameless is an immersive art installation in the heart of Central London that submerges you in whatever is on display, thanks to a huge gallery of enormous screens that fully surround guests. It allowed Russell to get up close and personal with the new Sealander collection like never before, gaining a new appreciation for the details, such as the new, colourful dials and new Sellita SW200-2 Power+ movement, all seen up close in immersive, full high-definition.
Christopher Ward CEO, Mike France was there to host the evening, alongside several of the who’s who in the London watch scene. But fear not, if you want to check out the new Sealander collection for yourself, you can head down to our Time+Tide Watch Discovery Studios in London, New York or Melbourne, because we have them on display for you to touch, try on and perhaps even pick up, if you’re tempted.
TAG Heuer appoints Australian actor Josh Heuston as “Friend of the House”
Reaching a younger audience in the watch world is a major concern for brands like TAG Heuer. While, yes, the likes of Formula 1 do a fantastic job of bringing new people in, motorsport is still fairly niche and has to be supported by other ambassadors and representatives who pull in a wider audience. There’s a new generation of young actors out there who are helping to shed light on the deeper levels of wristwatch enthusiasm, such as we saw a few weeks ago at the Oscars, with actors such as Timothée Chalamet, Jacob Elordi and Paul Mescal proving that special watches aren’t just for old duffers.
That’s why this week TAG Heuer introduced Australian actor Josh Heuston into their fold as a “Friend of the House” – think of it as the first rung of the ladder before a full-blown ambassador. The brand clearly sees something special in the DUNE: Prophecy and Dive Club star, and they’ve assigned him to collaborate with the brand across the iconic Carrera and Monaco collections going forward. The 29-year-old is no stranger to TAG Heuer, either, joining them last year at the Melbourne and Italian Formula 1 events, and sporting his own collection of awesome TAG Heuer pieces. So perhaps, this is TAG Heuer’s way of telling us to keep a close eye on this rising star. Let’s see, he stars in a new series airing on Prime Video soon called Off Campus, if you want to check Josh out.
Tudor announces a new Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26”, ready for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix
Well, there were rumours of Tudor dropping something after Watches and Wonders again this year, and it looks like they’ve outdone themselves. Hot off the press, Tudor just announced a new Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26”, wrapped in carbon fibre, just like the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team car, the VCARB 03, that Tudor sponsors in this year’s Formula 1 World Championship.
The team just unveiled a new summer-edition yellow-and-black livery for the Miami Grand Prix this weekend, so it seems fitting that this new piece features yellow detailing on the chapter ring and chronograph sub-dials. It’s another limited-edition Daring model with a numbered caseback, just like before, so getting one may not be so easy. We’ll have more coverage of this hot new piece very soon.
Sartory Billards cheesy joke becomes a reality
I reckon French watchmaker Sartory Billard has been hanging around with Studio Underd0g for too long, because these jokes are starting to grate on me… In case you missed it, on April 1st, Sartory Billard made the fatal mistake of putting out an April Fool’s joke release, called the SB10 Jumping Hour Cheese Grater, featuring a dial inspired by shaving cheese at the bench. Well, they’ve gone and actually done it. Sartory Billard is making just 12 of these cheese-inspired creations, and each one will even include an actual Sartory Billard cheese grater, and no, I’m not making this up… Access to purchase these limited edition pieces will open on May 1st, and they won’t last long, so if you miss it, it will be hard cheddar.
A week later, Drake’s ‘Take Care’ Rolex is sold
Just 7 days ago, we reported that Drake’s iconic, solid-gold, factory-gem-set GMT Master II, which he wore on the cover of his 2011 Grammy Award-winning album, Take Care, was up for sale at Wind Vintage. Well, lo and behold, just a week later, it’s sold. The buyer remains anonymous, but it was reported by his friend, @jzoclub, on Instagram. As yet, it’s unclear whether the asking price of $500,000 was reached, but I’m sure it came close, given how iconic the watch is.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Tom and the Time+Tide Team
Watch meme of the week: The BBQ-bitus
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I want the old Kanye back… I mean, Patek. One of the lesser-covered releases at Watches and Wonders 2026 was Patek Philippe’s new Cubitus Perpetual Calendar Skeleton 5840P, and I have to say, at this point, I feel like Patek is asking for it.
Wrist shot of the week: Everything is better on a mesh bracelet
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This shot from @watchstudies proves that anything looks better on a mesh bracelet. We’re seeing them everywhere these days, and I’m all here for it.
Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Norqain Freedom Chrono Enjoy Life “Sprinkles”
Every now and again, Norqain drops an absolute banger, and for this years new release season, they dropped the Freedom Chrono Enjoy Life “Sprinkles”, a Freedom Chrono with an awesomely delightful dial, sprinkled with hundreds and thousands, and a sapphire caseback with the ice cream illustration, featuring the uplifting “Enjoy Life” motto, making it the perfect companion for this much warmer, sunnier weather we’re having. Best of all, they’re now available at the Time+Tide Shop, or at the Watch Discovery Studios if you want to come and try one on. Price: from US$6,150/£4,690
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week
Another Norqain, but this one’s a heavy hitter that’s not so heavy at all
Norqain’s new concept, Wild One Skeleton X-lite, weighs just 45 grams and is made from the brand’s new proprietary carbon fibre composite, X-Lite. This, combined with aluminium, titanium, rubber and NORTEQ, results in a watch that weighs about as much as a golf ball. It’s not a record-breaker in terms of how light it is; however, its weight-to-robustness-to-price ratio is off the charts, with its unique shock-protection system ensuring this lightweight watch remains intact and accurate at all times.