Two Broke Watch Snobs
A Casio G-Shock Mudmaster Review (GG-1000-1A5): Over The Long Haul
Mountain biking, lost watches, beaten cases, and more - Baird sits down with a longtime G-Shock Mudmaster Owner in this in-depth watch review.
Results for Carbon Fiber Watch Cases
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Two Broke Watch Snobs
SJX Watches
Minase Introduces the Divido with Dégradé Dial
Having been established by Kyowa Co., Ltd, a precision toolmaker that also produces watch cases and bracelets, Minase is a brand that excels in, well, cases and bracelets. Its specialty is the high degree of surface finishing of the case and bracelet using the Zaratsu, or Sallaz, polishing technique that creates a remarkably flat, mirrored surface. Minase just gave its flagship Divido a new dégradé dial, which has a dark grey finish that darkens to black around the edges. Though similar looking dials are offered by Swiss watchmakers, and sometimes known as fumè or smoked dials, the new Divido dial is distinctly Japanese. Inspired by Japanese sumi-e paintings – that rely on different concentrations of black ink for shading and depth – the dégradé dial starts as a copper disc that is the hand-painted with several layers of black Japanese lacquer, each layer with a different concentration of black, creating the graduated finish and leaving each dial unique. The dégradé lacquer dial costs about 10% more than the standard model, which is reasonable. The rest of the watch is identical to the standard Divido, which is to say extremely sharply finished. All components of the case and bracelet are produced and finished in house. Every surface of the case is finished, with contrasting brushed and polished surfaces employed throughout. Even the folding clasp sports with a mix of surfaces finishes. The polished surfaces are finished with the Zaratsu technique – that...
SJX Watches
Swatch Inaugurates New Headquarters in Biel
A long snaking building that stretches some 240m, the new Swatch headquarters in Biel, or Bienne in French, is the culmination of five years of work. Selling about 9.5m watches a year for about 450m Swiss francs of revenue, according to Swiss bank Vontobel, Swatch was the foundational company of its parent, the aptly named Swatch Group, which also owns Omega and Longines. Like many of its parent company’s recent projects, the Swatch building was designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, the 2014 Pritzker Prize winner who is best known for his works of wood or paper, as well as his temporary structures for humanitarian aid. Its new home is covered in a honeycomb timber grid that incorporates windows, nine balconies and solar panels. Visible from the inside is the Swatch logo, derived from the Swiss cross, incorporated into some of the grid’s cells. And hidden within the structure is a network of wires and cables for telecommunications, electricity and the like. The Swatch headquarters, with the Omega building at the far left The Swatch building ends in La Cite du Temps, which sits in front of the Omega factory and headquarters Shigeru Ban, Nayla Hayek, and Nick Hayek Jr at the opening ceremony on October 3, 2019 The glass-walled Swatch store in front of the new headquarters With the new headquarters in the background Light, flexible and sustainable, the timber beams used for the outer structure number some 4,600, all precisely cut to fit with join with each other per...
SJX Watches
Corum Introduces the Golden Bridge Round 43 Art Deco
Invented by pioneering independent watchmaker Vincent Calabrese in 1980 – whose specialty remains intriguing shaped movements – the Golden Bridge has become a Corum signature – a tiny, baguette-shaped movement suspended in watch cases of varying shapes and sizes. Despite being almost 40 years old, the Golden Bridge remains an impressive feat of movement construction, and one that is not as highly regarded as it should be. The latest iteration of the watch is the Golden Bridge Round 43 Art Deco, which installs the Golden Bridge movement in a conventional, round case, but frames it on both sides with sets of brass wires, evoking the cables of suspension bridges. Two versions are available: one with gilded wires and a yellow gold movement, the other with rhodium-plated wires and a matching movement. Mechanically the CO 113 movement is identical to that found in earlier versions. Taking its name literally, the movement has its bridges and main plate in solid 18k gold. It was born out of Mr Calabrese’s original design – which was delicate and finicky – having been reengineered about a decade ago by Laurent Besse, an independent watchmaker who formerly worked for Corum after his own workshop went bust. The case is a large 43mm and made of titanium coated in diamond-like carbon (DLC), giving it a glossy black finish. Its size means it loses the delicate elegance of the originals, which were all contained in narrow, rectangular cases, but conversely the round cas...
Time+Tide
VIDEO: Grand Seiko’s “Snowflake blue” SBGA407
The Snowflake looms large in the minds (and on the wrists) of Grand Seiko fans - the 10-year-old titanium watch is an undisputed champion, and deservedly so. But now there’s a phalanx of other Snowflakes in the family – the dial comes with gold highlights and even in dressier cases. But one Snowflake that stands … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: Grand Seiko’s “Snowflake blue” SBGA407 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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Watch Brands Collectors Love - Watch Brands Watch Collectors Respect & Notice - 17 Brands Mentioned
Time+Tide
HANDS-ON: Louis Vuitton Tambour All Black Chronograph 46
One of the malaises sweeping the Swiss watch industry is, in my oh-so-humble opinion, that of homogeneity. From a distance, the world from the wrist down looks remarkably similar: round, black-dialled steel sports cases in a style that sits somewhere on a spectrum between vaguely retro to full-blown reissue. I’m well aware that this isn’t … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: Louis Vuitton Tambour All Black Chronograph 46 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Buying vintage Rolex – Utilitarian ideal without waiting list ordeal
For almost every watch enthusiast, the first sojourn into the world of the vintage watch market is two things: fun and inexpensive. The thrill of owning something that was created and worn several decades ago, the history, the gorgeous patina and, in most cases, the value for money – it just seems like there are … ContinuedThe post Buying vintage Rolex – Utilitarian ideal without waiting list ordeal appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
BUSINESS NEWS: Why the Swatch Group has millions of watches sitting in warehouses
The Swatch Group have published their 2019 Half-Year Report, revealing some interesting information. The group has reported an increase in their inventory levels, which include components, movements and watches, to a total of 7.1 billion Swiss francs (up 2.6 per cent from 2018). More broadly, the group, which owns brands such as Tissot, Longines and … ContinuedThe post BUSINESS NEWS: Why the Swatch Group has millions of watches sitting in warehouses appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Grand Seiko Introduces the Spring Drive GMT SBGE248
While Grand Seiko watches are classical and often formal, the Grand Seiko Sport collection is all about larger, more casual watches, The latest addition to the Sport line is the Spring Drive GMT SBGE248, the first Grand Seiko with a yellow gold bezel and crown. Yellow gold has been widely used for Grand Seiko watch cases, including for the commemorative Grand Seiko Heritage SBGW252, but the two-tone look is a first for the brand – an indication of its conservative approach to design. The contrast of yellow gold and blue is a tried and tested – and perhaps slightly overdone – approach for a luxe sports watch, evidenced by the popular Rolex Submariner ref. 116613. On the new SBGE248, yellow gold is applied generously and the colour stands out. The bezel is 18k yellow gold, as is the crown, while the hour markers, hands and markings on the dial are all gilded. Though the bezel itself is gold, the insert is scratch-resistant sapphire, just as it is on the standard Spring Drive GMT. Size-wise the watch is identical to the standard model, with a case diameter of 44mm. The case is stainless steel, as is the bracelet. It is powered by the self-winding Spring Drive cal. 9R66 that guarantees an accuracy of within 15 seconds a month – or half a second a day – and a power reserve of 72 hours. The incredible accuracy is thanks to the electronically-regulated, mechanical oscillator inside; the regulation in turn is governed by a quartz oscillator with an integra...
SJX Watches
Hands-On: Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver
Launched two years ago with a steel case, the BR 03-92 Diver took the signature aviation inspired design of Bell & Ross (B&R;) into the sea. It was a proper dive watch that combined the iconic square case with a 300m depth rating and a rotating bezel. At Baselworld this year, B&R; unveiled two new iterations of the BR 03-92 Diver, with cases in bronze and matte black ceramic respectively. Though fundamentally identical, each is drastically different from the other in look and feel. The road to the deep But first a quick recap of B&R;’s past dive watches. Though the brand is today best known for its military aviation watches, B&R; got its start making watches (which were essentially rebadged Sinn timepieces) for professionals in various spheres, from bomb disposal engineers to deep sea divers. One of its earliest dive watches was the Hydromax (also known as the Hydro Challenger) of 1997. It was a compact, round watch with a quartz movement boasting a ludicrous depth rating of 11,100m, thanks to a case filled with transparent fluorinated oil that was incompressible. A decade later, the brand was producing its own watches and unveiled the BR 02, a tonneau-shaped dive watch with a 1000m depth rating, internal rotating bezel and helium escape valve. Then came the BR 03-92 in 2017, the most logical expression of a dive watch for a brand driven largely by military-inspired design. Crucially, bona fide square watch cases are inherently more difficult to seal against ...
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Big Announcements! - A New Watch Collection Review Show YOU Can Be A Part Of + More
Time+Tide
Doubling down on the rainbow – the Franck Muller Double Mystery
Franck Muller’s tagline is “the master of complications”, and this watch delivers on that promise in dazzling style. This fully set Franck Muller Double Mystery from their Round collection (which goes to show that there’s more to the brand than Curvex cases) is a great example of working smart. The movement on show is the … ContinuedThe post Doubling down on the rainbow – the Franck Muller Double Mystery appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
HANDS-ON: The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Yellow Sapphire – the not so mellow yellow
Magic Gold, ceramic, sapphire. We all know that Hublot loves toying with case materials, and their latest comes as yet another clever spin on case materials - the first ever watch cased in yellow sapphire. Hublot wasn’t the first to get into the art of crafting sapphire watch cases, however they have been the first … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Yellow Sapphire – the not so mellow yellow appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Brew Watches Review: HP-1 Automatic
The Brew Watches HP-1 case has aesthetics that are so pleasing because the soft square is something that we are already familiar with. We are seeing a rise in square watch cases in response to the design language of smartwatches. The case dimensions of the HP-1 are 38x38mm, strikingly similar to an Apple Watch.
Revolution
Swatch Group-Audemars Piguet Collaboration Creates Non-Magnetic Balance Spring
The Swatch Group announced on 29 August the creation of a revolutionary balance spring with exceptional paramagnetic characteristics. This balance spring is made from a new non-magnetic compensating alloy called Nivachron™ which the Swatch Group developed in collaboration with Audemars Piguet.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Swatch Sistem51 Review: Should You Keep The Receipt?
The first time that I was introduced to a Swatch Sistem51 was in a marketing email from Hodinkee announcing their collaboration with Swatch. The Swatch Sistem51 cost $150, which piqued my interest immediately. It was only a fraction of the cost of anything else that Hodinkee offered (besides a magazine).
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I Visit Islander Watches with Marc from Long Island Watch
Time+Tide
INTRODUCING: The Bremont ALT1-C gets 2 new dials
A core model of the Bremont catalogue, the satin-brushed case ALT1-C, was in fact the very first watch designed by founding brothers, Nick and Giles English. It provided the base for a collection that now includes polished cases, as well as a mix of different dial colours. However, since its launch in 2007, the original … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: The Bremont ALT1-C gets 2 new dials appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
Press release: Swatch launches Spring-Summer 2018 collection
Swatch introduces its Spring-Summer 2018 collection, which dives into the Swiss watchmaker’s DNA. Spring and summer are all about the great outdoors, and Swatch takes the party from the garden to the street before heading to the beach.
Time+Tide
HANDS-ON: Light in the darkness – the Seiko Prospex SNE493P
Late last year, Seiko announced a series of limited edition Prospex divers, featuring blacked-out cases and the evocative name of ‘The Black Series’. The story behind the name and the black-and-orange concept is the murky, mysterious world of night diving. But honestly, for me this watch is less about the story behind it and more … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: Light in the darkness – the Seiko Prospex SNE493P appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
New Release: Richard Mille RM 53-01 Tourbillon Pablo Mac Donough
The RM 53-01 is the ‘smashing’ new result of the encounter between Richard Mille and Pablo Mac Donough, one of the world’s best players. Sporty and dynamic, this watch reveals a suspended tourbillon calibre, visible through the unprecedented laminated sapphire glass of its Carbon TPT® case.
Time+Tide
INTRODUCING: Evergreen design – the Rado Ceramica
Rado is synonymous with ceramic. The brand pioneered the use of the material, creating its very own niche along the way. With its combination of incredible scratch resistance and lightness, it’s easy to see why it’s such a good material for watch cases. Perhaps the most iconic of all ceramic watches is the aptly named … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: Evergreen design – the Rado Ceramica appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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IN-DEPTH: The Most Complicated Watch Ever, the Vacheron Constantin Berkley Grand Complication
Revolution
As Clear as Crystal
With the recent trend for see-through sapphire watch cases gaining momentum, Revolution takes a journey through the looking glass.
Deployant
Review: Urwerk UR-T8
URWERK celebrates its 20th birthday with a new watch. The UR-T8. Cased in Titanium, the watch is sized slightly larger than the previous cases, and with a n
Deployant
Jaeger LeCoultre Rendez-Vouz Ivy Minute Repeater: Watches and Wonders 2014
While watches can be considered as jewelry for some, it can also be viewed as an art or in some other cases, a technological marvel. The Rendez-Vouz Ivy Minute Repeater, in this case, managed to encompass all three aspects into a single watch. And yes, this is a highly complicated piece made for the femaleRead More
Revolution
BASELWORLD 2014 – Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Squelette
The Corum Admiral’s Cup was transformed from a cultivated, slightly eccentric, dress watch into a full-blown sports watch years ago. Boasting cases with a diameter of 45mm, they almost sail in a class of their own, with bold designs that nobody will every mistake for something else other than a Corum Admiral’s Cup. That by […]
Revolution
Just For Good Reasons; Piaget Polo FortyFive Chronograph
Piaget has always had, and still has, the company policy that they only craft watches out of gold or platinum. Presumptuous? No, Piaget simply knows its own strength. For decades they have delighted the world with some of the most refined precious metal watch cases, and bracelets, the industry has seen. It is therefore not […]
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