A week of celebrating photography: Time+Tide x Leica & Blancpain x Ocean Photographer of the Year
Time+TideYou’d think that with the December holiday season on the horizon, the watch world would be slowing down and getting ready for a break – but November/December always proves to be one of the busiest times of the year for us, especially where events are concerned. This week, there was a theme with the different events we ran and attended, too: photography. Watches are such visual products, and the Venn diagram of watch nuts and camera nuts (like cars, fashion and art, among other interests) overlaps significantly.
Borna, Blancpain, and the Ocean Photographer of the Year Award
We started in Sydney, where I attended the intimate (and dimly lit) exhibit celebrating the best underwater photographers of the past year, in collaboration with Blancpain. As far as watches go, Blancpain’s latest Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Ceramic models were the highlight, but the real treat were the photographs on show.
The 2024 winner was Rafael Fernández Caballero, with this epic shot of a Bryde’s whale in Mexico’s Baja California Sur. He reminisces of his experience: “I was lucky to witness this show off Baja California Sur at the end of 2023. Due to El Niño and warmer temperatures, different species joined the party and I witnessed huge numbers of beautifully coloured dorados and large groups of sea lions that were attracted by the bait balls. The highlight was this whale coming out of nowhere with its mouth wide open.”
The main course and cherry on top was getting to meet the Female Fifty Fathoms Award winner, Ipah Uid Lynn. I think it goes without saying that she’s a phenomenal photographer, with ten of her works on display, but it’s her infectious personality and can-do attitude that was most incredible. Recovering from a jetski accident that left her with a fear of water, the self-taught photographer threw herself right into the deep end, armed only with a small camera and a willingness to teach her six children how to conquer their fears. I leave you with my favourite image from her showcase – a Bajau man in the waters of Malaysia’s Selakan Island – and a single word to describe it – inspirational. – Borna
Jamie hosts a Leica x T+T event
As you’re reading this, we’ve just wrapped up our event with Leica, where we invited members of the Time+Tide and RedBar Melbourne communities to join in a night of watches and cameras at Leica’s glamorous new Melbourne flagship store in Little Collins St. Leica has long been the last word in the camera world – but now the German firm is making a name for itself as a serious watchmaker, too, taking all its expertise in precision manufacturing and design and applying it to horology.
I was host for the evening, alongside Leica’s Watch Content, Community and Training Manager (and bang-up photographer) Kristian Dowling, who discussed the genesis of Leica’s watchmaking, the history of the Leica brand and explained how these stylish and technically impressive watches fit into the grand scheme of all things Leica.
German watch brands tend to be either extremely traditional or extremely Teutonic in their execution, whether that’s adherence to minimalist Bauhaus or traditional Saxon design codes. Leica’s watches, however, find a happy medium: they’re distinctly German but they’re by no means austere. Aesthetically and functionally, they’re also not afraid to nod to their photographic heritage, but that hasn’t come at the expense of proper watchmaking – far from it.
Later, Kristian led our guests in a watch photography workshop, while a sneak peek at our video review of the Leica ZM11 played on screens throughout the Leica boutique – stay tuned for that dropping on YouTube shortly. – Jamie
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Jamie, Borna, and the Time+Tide Team
Watch meme of the week: hypocrites will be hypocrites
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I type this, wearing a vintage Enicar chronograph on my wrist that’s in need of service. But they’re so pretty! – Borna
Wrist shot of the week: as good as Calatravas get
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Calatrava ref. 2526. Pink gold. Enamel dial. ‘Nuff said. – Jamie
Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Doxa SUB 600T Sea Emerald
You may have heard the news earlier this year that Doxa’s first-ever green dial is now a standard option among its main dive watches. These ‘Sea Emerald’ dials are named extremely appropriately: they play with light beautifully and indeed evoke precious gems. Honestly, we could pick any of the new Doxas that boast these dials, but the SUB 600T looks particularly good in green – especially paired with a green NATO strap. There’s just something about its blocky 80s look combined with that verdant green – it’s a stunner.
Discover the Doxa SUB 600T Sea Emerald in the Time+Tide Shop, either online or in-store at our Melbourne Discovery Studio. Price: A$2,190 (NATO strap), A$2,390 (bracelet)
Accessory of the month: Artem HydroFlex – contrast colours
Australian strap maker Artem’s popular HydroFlex FKM rubber sailcloth watch strap range has expanded with two new colourful variants: a green/orange strap and a navy blue/white strap. These designs, with their contrasted stitching (and eye-popping under in the green/orange model’s case) are perfect for dive watches, or any watches where a hit of colour makes sense.
Artem HydroFlex straps retail for A$379 and are available in a range of lug widths, from 18mm up to 22mm. Find out more at Artem Straps’ online store here.
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week
Why some metals are better than others: a reactivity guide
If you’ve ever wondered pretty much anything at all related to metals and how they age and react, Buffy has the guide for you.
An engraved Patek Philippe Nautilus sells for CHF 6.7 million, setting a new world record
Any time a special Patek Philippe sells at auction, it’s big news. But when one of the most hyped watches in a thoroughly unique execution sells and sets a new record, all for charity? That’s one of the biggest news of the year. Read Jamie’s report on this unique engraved Nautilus here.
Where and how you sell your watch matters, and this is why
Thinking of selling your watch? Make sure to check out Zach’s article first – who better than to give you the best tips and tricks than the man who traded Rolexes, Langes and Breguets?