Russell Crowe gushes over Parmigiani, Czapek releases new documentary, TAG Heuer announces new INDYCAR brand partner
Zach BlassThings have simmered down a little bit, at least compared to the recent Royal Pop pandemonium. However, there were some deeper-cut headlines over the last week or so, with some strong weekend viewing to dive into.
Russell Crowe is smitten with his Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF
@igp366 #paris #rolandgarros #parmigianifleurier #farrenprice ♬ Éblouie par la nuit – Zaz
Our most viewed YouTube video of all time was with Russell Crowe, interviewing him about some of his watches he was parting with at auction. It’s a must-watch if you have yet to see it. I take pride in my watch presentation skills, but it is hard to beat Maximus himself narrating the ins and outs of timepieces of his about to hit the auction block. And while it has been some time since we did that video together, that does not mean you cannot hear Mr Crowe talk about watches regularly.
In one of the most unexpected horological twists in recent times, the famed actor has created a covert watch TikTok account that he posts quite regularly on. His latest, a ten-minute piece to camera with him recounting his debut of a #newwatchalert while attending the French Open: his Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF two-tone. Yup, he’s down bad with the sickness, and we love it.
Czapek released a 50+ minute documentary covering ten years of the brand
Czapek has just dropped something genuinely special — a feature-length documentary called An Unexpected Renaissance, now streaming free on YouTube. The film chronicles the brand’s first decade, but don’t expect a polished corporate highlight reel. This is ten years of real footage, shot by Paris-based filmmakers Leo Aknin and Maxine Torre, who embedded themselves with Czapek practically from day one — sleeping at CEO Xavier de Roquemaurel’s home back in 2015, camera rolling before the brand had even officially launched.
TAG Heuer partners with 4-time INDYCAR Series champion Álex Palou
TAG Heuer is synonymous with F1 racing, but its latest brand partner serves as a reminder that the brand’s motorsport reach is not just limited to the world’s fastest-growing sport. TAG Heuer also has a long history with INDYCAR racing, and the brand has just announced a partnership with four-time INDYCAR Series champion Álex Palou.
“TAG Heuer’s commitment to motorsport excellence is further exemplified by its enduring partnership with INDYCAR, a collaboration that spans over two decades,” the brand wrote in its press release. “This deep-rooted heritage sees TAG Heuer as the Official Timekeeper, providing precision timing that is critical to the sport. Beyond INDYCAR, TAG Heuer’s legacy in racing is vast, with historic ties to Formula 1 and legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna, solidifying its place as an iconic brand synonymous with speed, challenge, and ultimate victory on the track. TAG Heuer is ecstatic to welcome Álex Palou, a driver who perfectly embodies the brand’s core values of performance and daring, to its esteemed roster of local talent.”
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Zach and the Time+Tide Team
Zach’s Time+Tide take of the week: Yellow or rose gold hands on a steel just don’t look right
I am not going to stretch this take out with a verbose rant. I appreciate the visual dynamic contrast that it can bring, and brands wanting to switch things up, but I have never felt that a steel or white-metal cased watch looks better with hands that are not rhodium-plated or white gold. Would you agree?
Wrist shot of the week: Are you not entertained?!
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What can we say, we just love seeing in-the-know watch brands on wrists with a big platform. As champions of watch discovery, we want to see more and more of this for sure.
Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Formex Aria Manufacture Chronometer
The new Formex Aria Manufacture Chronometer, launched just hours ago, is an ultra-light and uncompromisingly refined high-precision Swiss Made watch. The name “Aria,” translating to “air” or “atmosphere,” reflects both the lightness of the watch and the sensation it creates on the wrist. With its organic lines and flowing curves inspired by forms shaped by nature over time, the 78g case and integrated bracelet crafted entirely from Grade 5 titanium were developed in-house.
At just 6.9mm thin, the Aria achieves an almost impossibly slim profile thanks to its Horage K2-based and customised manufacture micro-rotor automatic movement. Price: US$7,900 – we have a handful available for pre-order here, so you’d better act fast!
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week
Every update to the Breitling Chronomat you need to know
Updating a well-loved model is not an easy thing to do, yet Breitling saw fit to make a few tweaks to its Chronomat line to bring it closer in line with the rest of its current collection.
Seiko draws upon Japanese craftsmanship and its signature blue for new 145th anniversary Presage models
As Seiko celebrates its 145th anniversary in 2026, the brand recently launched several celebratory models, with two new Presage Classic pieces highlighting Japanese craftsmanship and celebrating the brand’s trademark colour, “Seiko Blue.”
Formex unviels the Aria, the brand’s most ambitious watch yet, featuring its first exclusive manufacture micro-rotor movement
The new Formex Aria Manufacture Chronometer introduces the brand’s first exclusive manufacture calibre, the FX01 micro-rotor movement made with its partner Horage. Housed in a 40mm Grade 5 titanium case just 6.9mm thick, the Aria weighs only 78 grams on the bracelet while still delivering a 72-hour power reserve and COSC-certified accuracy.