FRIDAY WIND DOWN: 6th November, 2015

Andrew McUtchen

A certain mood has settled over the Time+Tide office and it’s all about BBB. Not the Black Bay Black, or the Black Bay One going under the hammer this weekend (!!!!). Our mood is between baller, bucolic and Bond; because this week we were all about high stakes horse-racing at Oaks Day, wilderness madness in Cradle Mountain National Park Tasmania (where we road-tested the very same watch on both occasions, stay tuned for the review) and heated arguments about the hammer prices of the 44 watches in the Only Watch Auction this weekend. It was also WISH week in The Australian, in which Felix plumbed the depths to find the best new dive watches on the market. Out today!

lexus tent oaks day 2015 — The Lexus Building was the place to be at Oaks Day 2015 – designed by the talented Joost Bakker.

What happened?

Bond, Bond, Bond. It hasn’t happened yet, but there’s mounting excitement because we’re off to Sydney on Monday to see Spectre. We look forward to noting his wristgame as well as his ladykilling – will he wear the Aqua Terra? In which scene? Will the Seamaster 300 get the most airtime? Will there be any watch related puns, like in Casino Royale?

Omega-Seamaster-James-Bond-Casino-Royale — Bye bye to the previous Seamaster, make way for a watch we like a lot more – the new Seamaster 300 with two-toned NATO strap.

And not to be left out of the race that stopped a nation (the Melbourne Cup), the first ever Time+Tide wrist race was run featuring Piaget, Hermès, Longines, Patek Philippe and Jaeger-LeCoultre. The winner was simply the watch with the most likes. Despite five out of five commenters picking the Reverso it was the Conquest Horse Racing that had the crowd vote – congratulations Longines!

Is your money on Longines this year? Bet by liking! Trainer: Longines / Form: The Conquest Horse Racing has racing in its blood (and name). Trainer Longines is one of the most respected names in the sport, and with solid performers like this, it’s easy to see why. / Time+Tide’s race-day tip: A sure thing – the trainer is also the official timekeeper of the meet, so the odds are well and truly in the Conquest’s favour. ️ — The Longines Conquest Horse Racing. Comely piece this.

Quote of the week

“Stop thinking about how the watch works and keep your eyes on the time.” – Benicio Del Toro in Sicario (sick movie, too)

The week in numbers

3: The number of Spectre trailers we’ve been (fairly obsessively) watching. Lots of snow, planes crashing and men jumping out of the way of things. Yassssss…..

510: The number of likes for the winner of the first ever Time+Tide Wrist Race.

55,000: The price in Swiss francs Felix is expecting the Black Bay One to go for at Only Watch 2015. If you are going to bid on the BBO, read this first, it’s our invaluable guide to why it MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A BRILLIANT IDEA. (Andrew: “Nah, more. I say 80k.”)

2,500,000: The price in Swiss francs Andrew is going to spend (LOL) on the Patek Philippe ref. 5016-010 at Only Watch 2015. Have another look at it here, go on. Dare. To. Dream. (Felix: “Nah, more. five mil.”)

Priceless: Melchior. How can you put a price on Melchior! This guy! He is our official team Spirit Animal.

MB&F Melchior Only Watch 2 — MB&F’s Melchior forever.