FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Winding down 2021
Zach BlassWith the year coming to a close, this will be the final Friday Wind Down of 2021. With the upcoming holidays and new year on the horizon, now is the time for reflection and thanks. I had such an exciting year with Time+Tide and the watch community, so here are just some of my highlights of 2021.
You might have seen the videos Mike and I filmed during Geneva Watch Days. If you still haven’t, you’ll be delighted to know that we’ve lined them all up in one convenient place – a whole playlist on our YouTube channel is ready for you. It’s called Zach Drops Mike, Season 1 because why not pretend we’re a Netflix sensation? BYO hot chocolate and animal-themed onesie. It was my first watch fair as a journalist and I will never forget my time there, from the majestic fireworks over Lake Geneva with Bulgari to learning more about METAS at the Tudor Manufacture.
After just over a year working together remotely via countless zoom and WhatsApp calls, I was able to finally meet Andrew in the metal. When the T+T founder arrived in the Big Apple, we could enjoy some quality FaceTime, that was, well… thankfully in person and not over the FaceTime app. It was a long time coming, and we certainly made the most of our inaugural week together, setting up our New York office at NeueHouse, attending NFT panels and hanging out with Quentin Tarantino (kind of). But the irrefutable highlight was a team and friends dinner with special guest Aldis Hodge – sharing laughs, beers and thoughts on all things watch-related.
I had an absolute blast with Hamilton in California, getting to meet many members of the company and industry colleagues in person for the first time. I attended my first red carpet and Hollywood awards show, making many of my friends and family jealous that I got so close to actors like Jake Gyllenhaal, Mahershala Ali, and Jamie Dornan. I even got to talk watches with the likes of Jason Isaacs and Reed Birney, two actors whose work I have enjoyed many times. And, I got to do so in style – with my signature Captain America Civil War shades and a Hamilton PSR with red digital display to match my lenses.
Just when I thought things could not get more glamorous and exciting then my time in California, I was off to Dubai for an unforgettable Dubai Watch Week. The fair is absolutely top-class, a perfect environment for brands and collectors to come together to enjoy and celebrate horology. There is no commercial aspect to Dubai Watch Week, albeit there are some sick limited editions presented by the Seddiqi family. As a celebrated watchmaker told me while we were there, Dubai Watch Week is like going on vacation without your parents for the first time. While I loved my time in Geneva, I really did get the sense that everyone felt a bit more relaxed, candid, and casual in Dubai. With no commercial pressure, it was truly about connecting with each other and the creations of the year. A week of fantastic people, panels, pints, and, of course, timepieces – I cannot wait for the next edition of the fair.
After the heat of California and Dubai, it was time to chill out – hitting the powdered mountains of Aspen, Colorado for my first-ever skiing adventure. Thankfully, Hublot organised a private lesson with Buttermilk instructor extraordinaire Gabor to ensure I would have all my limbs in tact by the time they launched their Classic Fusion Aerofusion Aspen Snowmass Limited Edition watch.
All in all it was a truly epic year. The only work-related bummer was that as a US-based member of the team, and Australia’s borders still being highly restricted, I was unable to make it to the Time+Tide Club Christmas Party. But I still haven’t given up hope of catching up with the Club members one day!
Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year,
Zach
Watch meme of the week: Merry Watchmas!
All I am going to say here is proceed with caution. If your significant other is wondering where the Ninja Foodi your in-laws gifted you went, odds are they will figure out it went back to the store to support your watch addiction. This is why we recommend you direct your friends and family to the Time+Tide shop for any last-minute stocking stuffers.
Wrist shot of the week: Ricardo is still on his honeymoon with the Grand Seiko SBGM247
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I’m digging the, perhaps, unintentional holiday vibe of Ricardo’s latest wrist shot of his SBGM247. The earthly toned textured sweater, the cuff kissing the Zaratsu-polished case and dynamic green dial – which in this lighting evokes the forest hue of a Christmas tree. To be frank, I am Jewish. But this sweet shot is making me want to reach for an ugly sweater and some egg nog right now!.
Our favorite Time+Tide coverage of the week:
The evolution of a collection: Tom Holland and his wonderful web of watches
Tom Holland has come a long way since his days playing the role of Billy Elliot in the West End of London, and so has his watch collection. Click here to learn more about the evolution of Spider-Man’s watch collection.
VIDEO: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph
Audemars Piguet has redesigned the Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph to speak to those who like larger watches (as well as those unsure about them) with their most wrist-approachable take on the collection. Head here to learn more about the most ergonomic Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph the holy trinity manufacture has ever produced.
WATCH ANALYTICS WEDNESDAY: How the Tiffany Blue Nautilus affected the Rolex OP Turquoise price
In a new series for Time+Tide, we have partnered with @watchanalytics to crunch the numbers and dig into the horological market trends and value fluctuations for the references that matter. To kick things off, we jumped into the Tiffany Blue Nautilus, and how its sale at auction has impacted the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Turquoise.