Teddy Baldassarre
Which Brands Make The Best High-Accuracy Quartz Watches?
These five watchmakers occupy the upper echelon of high-tech timekeeping efficiency.More
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3,519 articles · 42 videos found · page 12 of 119
Teddy Baldassarre
Time+Tide
The Chanel J12 Bleu Diamond Tourbillon merges a diver’s aesthetic with a high-end complication
Chanel's stylish J12 has gone on to get a tourbillon upgrade, and is now outfitted with a blue ceramic case and bracelet.The post The Chanel J12 Bleu Diamond Tourbillon merges a diver’s aesthetic with a high-end complication appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Zenith Introduces the Blue Ceramic Chronograph Trilogy
In celebration of birthday, Zenith presents a trio of chronographs entirely in blue ceramic, the 160th Anniversary Editions of the Chronometer Sport, Defy Skyline Chronograph, and Pilot Big Date Flyback. Each retains the specifications of its steel equivalent, with the only distinction being the case and bracelet material. Initial thoughts Best known for the El Primero high-beat automatic chronograph, Zenith arguably does best at chronographs, and that’s exactly what it’s doing for its anniversary. The reimagining of Zenith’s best-known models in blue ceramic is on trend – maybe a bit too trendy – with brands like Audemars Piguet having already done it. That said, the anniversary trilogy does offer a striking new alternative to anyone seeking an El Primero with a whole new aesthetic. The use of ceramic for both the case and bracelet, however, means each of the trilogy models is notably pricier than the equivalent model in steel. That’s acceptable for an anniversary limited edition, but not quite the same value proposition as the steel variants. Blue ceramic The Chronomaster Sport, Defy Skyline Chronograph, and Pilot Big Date Flyback each retain the same dimensions and movement as their respective steel models, except that the case and bracelet are now in blue ceramic modelled on Zenith’s signature hue. According to Zenith, blue ceramic was an undertaking that involved months of research and development. Blue ceramic is significantly more challenging to finish...
SJX Watches
Louis Vuitton’s Tambour Goes Upmarket with Ceramic and Gemstones
During the recent LVMH Watch Week, Louis Vuitton revealed new, luxe variants of its Tambour (alongside the unexpected Convergence). Originally launched in relatively conservative guises, the slim sports watch now gets more interesting – and pricey – with the use of ceramic and gemstones. A nod to the brand’s monogram canvas, the Tambour Ceramic is a mix of brushed brown ceramic and 18k pink gold. And the pair of “High End” models is made up of the Tambour Platinum Rainbow sporting sapphires and rubies (pictured above), and the Tambour Yellow Gold Onyx that’s set with orange sapphires. The Tambour Ceramic Initial thoughts I like the Tambour because it’s an appealing design that wears notably well. The thin case sits flat on the wrist and the feel is elegant. Though the styling is more subtle than earlier versions of the Tambour, most of which were large and chunky, the new Tambour is still a recognisable design that retains elements of the drum-like originals. The new versions are appealing for the same reason, but upgraded in terms of materials. There’s nothing to complain about, except the cost. The ceramic model is €75,000 while the platinum “rainbow” is €150,000 – fair relative to the market but still hefty. These are on par with equivalent watches from comparable brands, and the small number made help rationalise the numbers. The Tambour Yellow Gold Onyx is a limited edition of just 30 However, the new Tambour models share the same LFT023.01 f...
Time+Tide
Hublot’s Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Carbon is ultra-light thanks to cutting-edge tech
Hublot’s Art of Fusion is mostly famous for their scratch-resistant King Gold, brightly-coloured ceramics and statuesque sapphire cases. It’s through this material experimentation that they earn their name as boundary pushers in high watchmaking. While it’s not exactly an invention that Hublot can claim, their utilisation of carbon fibre and the innovative Texalium is definitely … ContinuedThe post Hublot’s Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Carbon is ultra-light thanks to cutting-edge tech appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Flying high: Zenith redesigns their Pilot Automatic and Pilot Big Date Flyback
Zenith’s new Pilot collection sees a complete redesign of the case aesthetic. Lineup includes a 40mm time and date version, and a big date flyback chrono. The new series is available in both steel and microblasted matte black ceramic, a first for the Pilot line. Zenith is flying into Watches & Wonders with a complete … ContinuedThe post Flying high: Zenith redesigns their Pilot Automatic and Pilot Big Date Flyback appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Hublot Introduces the Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Repeater Ceramic
Having unveiled a series of integrated-bracelet watches in candy-coloured ceramic at Watches & Wonders 2022, Hublot has followed up with a “high complication” in ceramic, the Big Bang Integral Cathedral Minute Repeater Ceramic. While complicated watches in end-to-end ceramic already exist, striking watches in ceramic are rare, with only Hublot and Audemars Piguet having made such watches. The Big Bang Integral is novel for combining both a tourbillon and repeater, one with longer-than-usual cathedral gongs in fact. And it manages to be water resistant in contrast to most striking watches that are merely moisture-proof, due to the challenge of sealing the slide while allowing maximum sound transmission. Initial thoughts The latest Big Bang Integral perfectly encapsulates Hublot as a brand, illustrating its strengths (and a few weaknesses). It’s powered by a complex, in-house movement contained matched with a case and bracelet that showcases the brand’s proficiency with unusual materials – all of which is possible thanks to the brand’s expansive yet agile manufacture. In typical Hublot fashion, the watch is loud – visually rather than acoustically – even in black. It looks like a Hublot, and the brand has essentially only one aesthetic. It has a technical, modern aesthetic that goes well with the open dial, a feature that’s uncommon in minute repeaters but useful since it reveals the entirety of the strikework. At almost US$300,000, the Tourbillon Repeat...
Time+Tide
RECOMMENDED READING: Why this tech CEO thinks his watch is more modern than his smartphone
How could a mechanical wristwatch be more modern than an smartwatch? As any high school debater will tell you, it depends how you define your terms, but that is exactly the question Jason Fried, the Founder & CEO at Basecamp, asked in a recent blog post. His argument? Well, it all boils down to how … ContinuedThe post RECOMMENDED READING: Why this tech CEO thinks his watch is more modern than his smartphone appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
HANDS-ON: 21st century tech meets Japanese swordsmithing tradition in the Casio MRG-G2000GA ‘Gassan’
At first glance, the pairing of a GPS-enabled, solar-powered watch, with a direct lineage to an 800-year-old family tradition in one of Japan’s most culturally important crafts might seem odd, but that’s precisely what we’re looking at with this high-end Casio MRG-G2000GA ‘Gassan’. Before we get to the sword side of things, let’s have a … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: 21st century tech meets Japanese swordsmithing tradition in the Casio MRG-G2000GA ‘Gassan’ appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Seiko’s Credor Goldfeather Tourbillon is Ultra-Thin and Engraved
Exhibiting at Watches & Wonders in Geneva for the first time, Seiko’s high-end marque Credor is rolling out the Credor Goldfeather Tourbillon Engraved (ref. GBCF997). While the latest Credor is only a cosmetic variation of an existing model, but the latest Goldfeather Tourbillon is nonetheless a top-of-the-line model in both technical and decorative terms: the ultra-slim movement features a tourbillon, while the dial and movement are hand engraved. The hand-engraved cal. 6850 Initial thoughts Though this year’s Goldfeather Tourbillon is identical to last year’s edition save for decor, it looks strikingly different, underlining the different decorative techniques employed. While last year’s model was ornate and figurative, the latest version is clean and almost monochromatic. The lack of colour belies the complexity of the dial decoration. The entire dial is engraved, right down to the radial graining. Instead of conventional brushing, the radial pattern is achieved with a manual engraving technique. The stylistic different continues onto the movement, which is equally finely decorated, and also impressively slim. While the strength of the artisanal execution and ultra-thin watchmaking are obvious, the Goldfeather Tourbillon is fundamentally a facelift to a movement that’s been around for a long time. To go as far as its sister brand Grand Seiko, Credor would have to do something more novel. Fine lines The Goldfeather Tourbillon Engraved is self descriptive: it i...
Hodinkee
Introducing: De Rijke & Co. Launches Three Special Edition Amalfi Designs In Ceramic (Live Pics)
In the Dutch brand's continued collaboration with artist Guy Allen, three new automotive-inspired dial designs in Champlevé enamel now get paired with ceramic cases.
Fratello
Formex Doubles Down On Ceramic With The Essence Ceramica Automatic COSC “Dark Matter” 41mm
What do you do when you have a good thing going? You double down, of course! Formex spent years developing a ceramic Essence with best-in-class finishing and a first-ever ceramic micro-adjustable clasp. The Swiss brand fitted it with a skeletonized dial for its debut earlier this year. And then, Formex doubled down indeed. This September, […] Visit Formex Doubles Down On Ceramic With The Essence Ceramica Automatic COSC “Dark Matter” 41mm to read the full article.
Fratello
Fratello’s Top 5 Ceramic Watches From The Last Two Years
Another Friday, another list! This week, we will look at some of our favorite ceramic watches. In a week with Omega dropping a series of new ceramic Dark Side of the Moon models, it is good to look at some recent ceramic highlights. We have seen a rapid increase in ceramic releases from major watch […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Ceramic Watches From The Last Two Years to read the full article.
Fratello
Introducing: The Limited-Edition IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Miramar In Light Blue Ceramic
You have already seen the beige Mojave Desert, white Lake Tahoe, green Woodland, dark blue Oceana, and Jet Black fly by. Now it’s time for another Top Gun-inspired color. The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Miramar is a limited edition of 1,000 watches, each in a light blue ceramic case. The matte dial […] Visit Introducing: The Limited-Edition IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Miramar In Light Blue Ceramic to read the full article.
Fratello
Talking About The Substance: Ceramic Is The New Gold
Did you know humans have been making ceramics for at least 26,000 years? They’ve done so by subjecting clay and silica to intense heat to fuse and form ceramic materials. Mind you, traditionally, these were not dishes, as you might expect. Rather, they were small, sculpted figures. Only in the 1970s did ceramic enter the […] Visit Talking About The Substance: Ceramic Is The New Gold to read the full article.
Fratello
Introducing: The Hublot Big Bang Unico Magic Ceramic - The First Production Watch Featuring Multicolored Ceramic
History repeats itself. You know of the debate about which automatic chronograph came first. Was Zenith’s El Primero, the Caliber 11 developed by Heuer, Breitling, Hamilton, and movement specialist Dubois Dépraz, or the Speedtimer by Seiko the first? Now we have a new case of “Who came first?” It involves two watches - the Hublot […] Visit Introducing: The Hublot Big Bang Unico Magic Ceramic - The First Production Watch Featuring Multicolored Ceramic to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
Holiday Gift Guide: Watches for the Tech Enthusiast in Your Life Featuring Citizen
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Citizen’s very first watch. Over the past several years, Citizen has expanded its reach into the enthusiast watch market with a series of releases that deliver exceptional value in materials, technology, and aesthetics-while retaining broad mass-market appeal. A forward-thinking approach to innovation has always been a cornerstone of Citizen’s identity, making their watches ideal gifts for tech enthusiasts. You know the type-those who always have the latest and greatest gadgets. With groundbreaking advancements like Eco-Drive light-powered functionality, custom materials like Super Titanium, and superior accuracy through Satellite Wave GPS and Atomic Timekeeping, Citizen offers something truly special for the gadget lover in your life. The post Holiday Gift Guide: Watches for the Tech Enthusiast in Your Life Featuring Citizen appeared first on Worn & Wound.
Fratello
Hands-On With The New Nivada F77 Black Ceramic
I first saw the new Nivada F77 Black Ceramic during this year’s Geneva Watch Days. It must have been one of the earliest prototypes, if not the first, and it took me a while to understand. Let me explain. A ceramic watch looks like a PVD/DLC-coated piece to the naked eye. That is until you […] Visit Hands-On With The New Nivada F77 Black Ceramic to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Blancpain rounds out the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe ceramic collection with new dials
Now you don't have to worry about which colour to choose when picking your ceramic Bathyscaphe.The post Blancpain rounds out the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe ceramic collection with new dials appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Blancpain Gets Deeper Into Ceramics With A New Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet And Bracelet
Blancpain introduces a new Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet in black ceramic and two dial colors as well as a brand-new bracelet in full ceramic. The Maison is doubling down on its zirconium dioxide offerings to great effect. The new bracelet will be available as an additional option to several existing ceramic Bathyscaphes, broadening your range of […] Visit Blancpain Gets Deeper Into Ceramics With A New Bathyscaphe Quantième Complet And Bracelet to read the full article.
Fratello
IWC Reveals Ceralume With The First Fully Luminous Ceramic Watch
Luminescent materials have been a part of watchmaking for generations. The use of radioactive materials in the last century was fundamental in the design of tool watches that could allow the owner an opportunity to tell the time in darkened conditions. Thankfully, we no longer have to rely on radioactive materials to achieve this outcome, […] Visit IWC Reveals Ceralume With The First Fully Luminous Ceramic Watch to read the full article.
Fratello
Hands-On With The Stylish Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Ceramic
Finding your favorites in a single model range can be challenging, especially with an extensive collection like the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M. The latest generation of Omega’s popular diver has been around since 2018. Ever since then, we have seen the brand add models to the lineup with different colors and especially different materials. One […] Visit Hands-On With The Stylish Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Ceramic to read the full article.
SJX Watches
IWC Explores New Materials with the Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63
IWC’s latest is an inspired by the legendary off-roader made by its longtime partner Mercedes-Benz, the G-Wagen. More specifically, the Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 is named after the luxury, high-performance G 63 made by the carmaker’s performance tuning subsidiary AMG. Available in two variants, the G 63 edition retains the traditional outline of the model, but brings along novel new materials, namely a hardened gold alloy known as Armor Gold and ceramic matrix composite (CMC), a carbon fibre composite containing silicon carbide ceramic for added hardness. The Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 in 18k Armor Gold Initial thoughts IWC rolls out a lot of Big Pilot limited editions, probably too many, but this is one of the more appealing recent editions. The basic features of the Big Pilot G 63 are appealing – novel materials, a functional design, and IWC’s seven-day movement. The textured dials and sub-seconds are both novel features for a Big Pilot. They set the new pair part from other models in the line, but don’t stray too far from the traditional Big Pilot look. More interesting are the case materials – hardened gold or silicon-infused carbon composite – which are both a first for IWC. Though brands like Hublot and Richard Mille have long made such materials a specialty, they are unusual for IWC. Notably, both versions have Super-Luminova matched with the case material, beige for the gold model and grey for CMC, which feels a bit forced. I would have preferred...
Time+Tide
IWC is stealthy in ceramic for the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun
Many manufacturers have delved into the recent trend of brightly coloured dials fitted to slightly dressier, but still everyday-friendly watches. It’s fairly rare, however, that this colourful element continued into the cases, and this is where IWC’s ceramic-cased Pilot’s Watch line-up comes in. It’s no secret that their Pantone-tinged Woodland Green, white Lake Tahoe, and … ContinuedThe post IWC is stealthy in ceramic for the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
HANDS-ON: IWC reveal two new Top Gun Chronographs in “Lake Tahoe White” & “Woodland Green” ceramic
Top Gun editions have been a staple of IWC’s catalogue since 2007. Over the years, the collection has become a space of exploration for the brand – utilising advanced materials such as ceramic to push the boundaries of what it means to be a top-notch pilot’s watch. Many of these designs leveraged the stealth appeal … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: IWC reveal two new Top Gun Chronographs in “Lake Tahoe White” & “Woodland Green” ceramic appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
HANDS-ON: Hublot launches three new scratch-resistant iterations of the Big Bang Sang Bleu II in ceramic and Magic Gold
Hublot have never had any issues with realising bold, eyeball-grabbing designs and exploring a range of colours and materials that other brands have yet to even attempt to tackle. But sometimes two minds are greater than one. Once again, Hublot has partnered with Swiss tattoo artist Maxine Plescia-Buchi to continue their saga of Sang Bleu … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: Hublot launches three new scratch-resistant iterations of the Big Bang Sang Bleu II in ceramic and Magic Gold appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
VIDEO: TAG Heuer doubles down on smartwatch tech with the 2021 TAG Heuer Connected collection
When people think back to the beginning of smartwatches, they invariably think of the first Apple Watch back in 2015, but what isn’t well known is that TAG Heuer released their first Connected watch in the very same year. Yep, TAG Heuer have had skin in the smartwatch game for almost as long as anyone, … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: TAG Heuer doubles down on smartwatch tech with the 2021 TAG Heuer Connected collection appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
INTRODUCING: The Rolex Submariner ref. 122610LV - the Ceramic “Kermit”
Green is known to be a special colour for Rolex. In recent eras, to buy a new Rolex sports watch that had any parts fabricated in this particular green you would have to secure a stainless steel Rolex Submariner “Hulk”, yellow gold Rolex GMT-Master II, or yellow gold Rolex Daytona. It is usually quite rare … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: The Rolex Submariner ref. 122610LV – the Ceramic “Kermit” appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
INTRODUCING: The Grand Seiko SBGE253, SBGE257 and SBGE255 - 3 GMTs with colour, curves and cutting-edge tech
Twenty-seven … that’s how many watches Grand Seiko have already unveiled this year. And that’s not really an accurate statement – 27 new watches have been released to the Australian market. If you include limited editions, boutique editions and models from other regions, the number is closer to 40. The wheels may well have fallen off … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: The Grand Seiko SBGE253, SBGE257 and SBGE255 – 3 GMTs with colour, curves and cutting-edge tech appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
Review: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic
Light in weight, heavy on featurues: We take a look at the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic.