Two Broke Watch Snobs
Ep. #185: Unpopular Watch Opinions Pt. 1..?
The gang is back together, and they’ve had a tough week. The watch world is slowly turning into a parody of itself, and the guys are here to call out the BS.
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Two Broke Watch Snobs
The gang is back together, and they’ve had a tough week. The watch world is slowly turning into a parody of itself, and the guys are here to call out the BS.
A real look inside a watch movement involves skills most of us will never have, but you can go deeper than you ever thought with The Naked Watchmaker.
Time+Tide
Editor’s note: There’s the simple fact that Seiko are turning up the heat on the Swiss watch industry, and then there’s the way they’re doing it. Both are 100% worth taking note of. For example, let’s re-examine the Seiko Prospex LX SNR035J, a high-spec Spring Drive GMT at a shade under $8000AUD, that carries with it a murdered … ContinuedThe post The Seiko Prospex LX SNR035J looks like it’s been sent to put a hit on anyone that questions its (high) price point appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Audemars Piguet has just taken the covers off the seventh and latest country-specific Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, after the editions for Hong Kong, Thailand, Switzerland, Indonesia, Japan, and Latin America – this time, it’s for the Chinese market. Launched just three months after the debut of the gorgeous skeleton version in black ceramic, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar China Limited Edition is a first for Audemars Piguet, being the only Royal Oak perpetual calendar to date in titanium. Though the material is novel, the size and finishing are identical to that of the standard model, which means 41 mm and gorgeously contrasting brushed and polished surfaces from end to end. The dial is dark grey, and engine-turned with the signature chequerboard tapisserie guilloche of the Royal Oak. It has the week-of-the-year indicator in red, traditionally an auspicious colour in Chinese culture and one that’s synonymous with the Lunar New Year. Similarly, the presentation box for the watch is finished in red, instead of the usual dark green. Another reference to Chinese culture is the limited edition size of 88 – “8” is phonetically similar to “prosper” in many Chinese dialects, making it a most desirable number. Unusually, the China edition was developed with the input of horological influencer Austen Chu, better known as Horoloupe on Instagram, who “contributed towards the overall aesthetics” according to Audemars Piguet. Michael Friedman, Head of Complication...
SJX Watches
An educator by profession, Josh Shapiro had a longtime interest in watchmaking, which sharpened into a pursuit of traditional engine turning in 2013. After several years of practice – and a roomful of guilloche machines – the self-taught guillocheur and watchmaker produced a handful of dials for American watchmaker David Walter in 2016. And last year Josh launched his own brand, J.N. Shapiro, which he now pursues full-time, while remaining a part-time vice principal at a high school in Los Angeles. His debut watch was the Infinity Series, named after the Infinity Weave, a proprietary guilloche pattern he invented. The first J.N. Shapiro Infinity Series delivered, the watch pictured here, was finished earlier this year – and is numbered “N.01”. Though Josh offers a variety of options for the case and dial colours, this watch hews closely to the prototype, with a rose gold case, silver dial, and blue hands. It’s important to note this is actually the first watch Josh sold, and consequently shows some of the inevitable inconsistencies of a watchmaker’s early work. There are a couple of stray marks and burrs on the dial, and a bit of lint, but the early work of independent watchmakers is usually inconsistent, which is part of the hand-finished charm, and also proof of how artisans evolve. Josh’s subsequent dials have improved tremendously. Josh Shapiro with one of his straight-line machines. Photo – J.N. Shapiro The Infinity Series has a simple but effect...
SJX Watches
The third important vintage Rolex – in my opinion – at Phillips’ upcoming Geneva auction, after the ref. 4113 split-seconds chronograph and mint ref. 8171 “Padellone”, is the ref. 6062 “Stelline” triple calendar that once belonged to Gordon Bethune, the executive best known for turning around Continental Airlines during his decade-long tenure starting in 1994. The watch a sterling example of the ref. 6062 – and will sell for well over a million dollars – but it is also notable for what it says about the development of the vintage watch market. Now 78 and retired, though he pops up regularly on CNBC to comment on the airline industry, Mr Bethune accumulated his watch collection over two decades. He sold the bulk of it in 2012, but remains probably the only famous business executive known to have collected watches in a serious fashion (another is perhaps former Hollywood talent agent Michael Ovitz, though he more widely regarded as an important collector of contemporary art). Mr Bethune’s collection was inclined towards great, even some of the best, examples of important, uncommon and desirable watches, rather than extraordinarily or unique models. So he owned one of the best-preserved, all-original examples of the ref. 6062s “Stelline”, rather than say a well-worn ref. 6062 with a black, diamond-marker dial. It was a cold day in December… The Gordon Bethune Collection of Fifty Exceptional Vintage Wristwatches took place in December 2012 at Christi...
SJX Watches
Singapore retailer The Hour Glass kicked off its 40th anniversary limited editions with the all-platinum Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph, now followed by a pair of watches from leading independent watchmakers, De Bethune and Urwerk. The Singapore retailer is getting a three-piece limited edition based on the current UR-105, but one that’s also a throwback to the brand’s early creations. In aged bronze and titanium, The UR-105 “The Hour Glass” similar to the UR-105 CT Bronze unveiled earlier this year, but streamlined and sans the sprung lid over the front – a simplification of the design that’s also an improvement. Appropriate enough for a retailer that’s been selling Urwerk for 15 years, the commemorative edition features elements borrowed from Urwerk models over the years, creating a watch that’s a nostalgic reminder of the brand’s foundational watches from the early 2000s. UR-103 reborn The UR-105 was launched in 2014 as the successor to the UR-103, first launched in 2003. The bestselling Urwerk to date and arguably the brand’s signature watch, the UR-103 was the watch that made Urwerk a champion of avant-garde mechanical watchmaking. A nod to that milestone watch, the commemorative UR-105 features a U-shaped sapphire crystal, just as it was on the UR-103.03. While the very first version of the watch, the UR-103.01, featuring a narrow, curved window for the time, the UR-103.03 of 2005 expanded the view with a far larger cry...
Time+Tide
Michael Woods loves travelling, playing basketball and is a proud dad. He’s also a third generation watchmaker who previously managed After-Sales for Rolex Melbourne. Hi Michael, what’s your daily watch? It depends on my mood, what inspires me, or what I’m doing for that day or week. It’s not uncommon for me to wear a … ContinuedThe post WHO TO FOLLOW: @WoodsWatchmaking, a third generation Australian watchmaker appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
The Luminox Jungle Survival Course is a programme that helps participants to overcome physical constraints and mental pressure. It is aimed to impart the Navy SEAL mantra of ‘The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday’ to participants and help them understand how each day’s challenges can make one stronger. Held at The Canopi, Bintan Indonesia, it was a gathering of 26 participants from Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.
Deployant
The Naked Watchmaker is an up-and-coming watch platform that we are excited about. A knowledge base for the horology nerd, it uncovers and presents deconstr
Time+Tide
Last week, with Sydney turning on weather that thawed the cold, cold hearts of all Melbourne people present, Montblanc hosted a lunch at Quay Restaurant to launch the new ‘re-tooled’ TimeWalker. The intimate event combined fine dining, fun storytelling, and a wide range of watches – from accessible new TimeWalker models to the extremely limited Rally … ContinuedThe post EVENT: The ‘re-tooled’ Montblanc TimeWalker gets the most Australian launch imaginable appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
It's amazing how much watchmaking history Tiffany & Co. possesses and how close they came to actually owning Patek Philippe. There is real provenance here.
Revolution
Since its acquisition by luxury super-group LVMH and the 2012 launch of the Octo, Bulgari seems to have exercised the Midas touch with every new product turning to horological gold. But no matter how forward thinking, the maison knows that the rest is history.
Revolution
When you submerge yourself into the wonderful world of watchmaking it is normal to think that you are holding something special when it is a limited edition. Turning over a watch and reading that you are holding No.5 of 25 pieces ever made, does have its appeal, especially when the watch in question differs significantly […]
Teddy Baldassarre
Leica watches are gaining ground in the competitive luxury watch market, here we take a look at the legendary camera maker's horological leap.
Revolution
Revolution
Revolution
Hodinkee
The world-renowned Japanese architect asks if you're summer, fall, winter or spring.
Revolution
Hodinkee
Over 30 miles from shore with no life jacket, the 61-year-old used his watch to signal a passing boat.
Revolution
Hodinkee
Take it from us, when attending auction previews it's easy to develop expensive taste.
Hodinkee
This week is all about the hype.
Hodinkee
Cockpit-ready pilot's watches – or the perfect Top Gun movie night accessory.
Revolution
Hodinkee
Happy birthday, Bovet.
Hodinkee
Hypothetically.
Hodinkee
It's a double-signed Calatrava ref. 570
Hodinkee
“Nothing is important…so everything is important.” – Keith Haring
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