Finally, we have the last additions to the “Watch & Act!” Auction.
Lot 22: TAG Heuer – Unique Piece, Autavia Caliber 5 ‘Watch & Act!’ Edition
First released in 2019, this collection represented the first time the name Autavia had been given to a time-only watch, which is originally a portmanteau of automobile and aviation and used for chronograph tool watches. This TAG Heuer Autavia Caliber 5 is offered in a warmly toned bronze case that complements the graduated moss green dial and strap, and is framed by the ceramic bezel. This model was chosen by TAG Heuer to “symbolise the colours of Australia”.
The watch is a Unique Piece and features a caseback engraving of the “Watch & Act!” logo, as well as the text “UNIQUE PIECE AUSTRALIA”. On the dial, note the crossed axe insignia associated with firefighters all around the world — this will be a constant dial-side reminder of the ‘firies’, as Aussies call them, who your watch purchase will benefit. The watch has a bidirectional rotating bezel in brown ceramic and is water resistant to 100m. The sapphire crystal is anti-reflective and the dial is khaki fumé and rhodium plated. The indexes and hands are filled with Super-LumiNova. It has a khaki leather strap with bronze pin buckle. This watch has been generously donated by TAG Heuer Australia, with another extraordinary effort by TAG Heuer’s production and creative team who will turn this stunning one-of-one piece around in record time.
What we like about it
Based on a model that is a crowd favourite from TAG Heuer, this piece unique features the “Watch & Act!” axe insignia on the dial and a bespoke engraving on the caseback displaying this charitable auction’s koala motif and the “Watch & Act!” text. Seriously cool and an incredibly generous gesture by TAG Heuer and LVMH.
Features
Manufacturer: TAG Heuer Model Name: Autavia Caliber 5 Year: 2020 Reference: Unique Piece Material: Bronze Dimensions: 42mm diameter Calibre: Automatic Caliber 5 Bracelet/Strap: dark brown calfskin strap, steel pin buckle
Lot 23: Revolution – Oris Divers Sixty-Five “Honey” for The Rake and Revolution Limited Edition, #3 of 250
The Oris Divers Sixty-Five “Honey” for The Rake and Revolution is a tropical-dial dive watch that seems to have been elegantly aged by the sun. Taking its name from a particularly sweet tone of gold, the face of the limited edition takes on a radiating glow in deep honey with a dark Rembrandt ochre along the edges.
The Divers Sixty-Five offers a slim case and domed sapphire crystal, and simple round and rectangular indices. Against a brown gradated dial, the indices and hands are coated in Super-LumiNova and framed in rose gold for that faux vintage look. In the box, the watch comes dressed in a brown leather strap along with three additional NATO straps, perfect for beach-friendly terrain. This watch has been generously donated by the team at Revolution Singapore.
What we like about it
Generously donated by our friends at Revolution, this Oris Divers Sixty-Five “Honey” is deliciously styled, and offers a warm tone that can’t help but remind of the sun-soaked coasts of the Mediterranean. This is for those who prefer the warmer weather.
Features
Manufacturer: Oris Model Name: Divers Sixty-Five “Honey” for The Rake and Revolution Year: 2019 Reference: Honey Material: Steel with bronze rotating bezel Dimensions: 40mm diameter, 12.8mm thickness Calibre: Oris 733 Bracelet/Strap: Steel/bronze bracelet. With additional Oris black NATO strap, Nomad Watch Works nylon NATO strap in navy orange, and J. P. Menicucci NATO leather strap.
Lot 24: Lebois & Co – Venturist (Shipping Q2 2020)
The Venturist is Lebois & Co’s first tool watch that is officially certified as an ‘Observatoire Chronométrique+’ (OC+) Chronometer by TIMELAB in Geneva. In the OC+ protocol, each individual watch is tested on chronometry, ‘on-the-wrist’ performance, water resistance, anti-magnetism and power reserve. The Venturist is a sturdy, yet refined, tool watch designed with legibility in mind.
Ideal for everyday use or under rugged conditions, the Venturist’s case is made of high quality 316L stainless steel, measures 41mm in diameter — the sweet spot of case sizes for many — and sits only 10.5 mm high. The case has a polished case band and faceted lugs. Both the slim bezel and the top of the lugs have a satin brush finish to gain minimal attention. The legibility of the matt black dial, as seen through a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, is excellent in both day and night, with Super-LumiNova BGW9 pigment on all rhodium-plated hands and hand-applied hour markers. The lume emits a blue-green glow by night and the pigment appears white in daylight conditions. The Venturist comes with a genuine Shell Cordovan leather strap and a black ‘seatbelt’ NATO strap. Production has started, delivery is expected in the beginning of Q2 2020. Please note that the winner of this lot will receive the very first Venturist to be distributed, once production is completed and the OC+ certification has been done.
What we like about it
There’s a lot to love about the Venturist from Lebois & Co, specifically how clean their vision of a tool watch is. The temptation for a watch designer to add just one more thing has been restrained here, and the watch looks all the better for it. No nonsense, this could easily be an everyday piece.
Anyone who reads Time+Tide on a regular basis, or has picked up either of our Buying Guides, will be aware that when it comes to value propositions with a bold dash of colour, practically nothing beats Farer. The Eldridge Mechanical Chronograph is another utterly delectable example. And delectable is the word, because this is a caloric watch you eat with your eyes. Its rare silk chocolate dial colour has a subtle metallic steel depth, changing colour into an array of dark copper tones when caught in the light.
Framed by overprinted mint Super-LumiNova numerals outlined, upon close inspection, in dark blue. The central chronograph hand in sky blue sits over the highly polished steel hour/minute stripe hands, gently tapered with mint Super-LumiNova infill. Punched through the main dial design are equal inset oversized sub-dials with micro-fine spun detailing — allowing the information to be seen in crisp clarity. A matching date wheel at six o’clock balances the sub-dials without interfering with the layout of the overall dial. Second track markings in pure white with 5-second intervals in sky blue, framed by an outer angled flange with a white Telemeter scale for measuring distance. The Farer chronograph 316L stainless steel 39mm case is built around the Swiss Made ETA 2894-2 Elaboré modular movement, which allows for a thinner outer case profile of just 12.5mm. The domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment is held by the outer brushed bezel, highly polished case edges outline micro-blasted case side cut-ins and follow round to the dropped lugs. A four-screw caseback with flat sapphire exhibition glass displays the movement and bespoke Farer bronze ‘turbine’ design rotor. The Farer bronze crown has been retained, but now with a highly functional, straight machined texture and featuring the signature ‘A’ inset on its profile. Flanked by oblong steel pushers, top brushed and side polished for ease of use — balancing the visual appeal of the overall watch case design.
What we like about it
Nailing the classic proportions of a chronograph is not an easy task, but Farer have done very well with their Eldridge model. The rich brown dial contrasts nicely with the blue hands and accents on the dial, and the rest of the dial markings are comprehensive without being overwhelming. It’s a fantastic execution that could easily be dressed up or down.
