Monochrome
If you ever had doubts about it, the Olympic Games are getting closer and closer… And, as so many times in the past, Omega will be the official timekeeper of Paris 2024. But today’s topic, even though related to one of the sports that will be represented in the French capital city, isn’t about the […]
Time+Tide
Buffy figures out whether the Bovet Récital 27 is the ultimate high-end travel watch.The post Is the Bovet Dimier Récital 27 a world timer, GMT, or better than both? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
As Mike Stockton recently announced on Fratello, TAG Heuer has updated its large Aquaracer. The 43mm model got a 1mm downsize, new caliber, and new dial, among other changes. Mike did a great job describing all the changes but did not have the chance to try the new watches on. Since then, I have, so […] Visit Hands-On With The New TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date And GMT to read the full article.
Teddy Baldassarre
From the beginning of 1953 to the end of 1954, Rolex had perhaps the most productive and impactful period that any watchmaker had ever managed in a two-year stretch. The Explorer, the gold standard of adventure-oriented luxury watches, debuted in the summer of 1953 and the first Submariner, the quintessential diver’s watch, was manufactured that same year. The Submariner’s public debut wasn’t until 1954 at the Basel Watch Fair, but it wasn’t the only trendsetting Rolex watch the Crown released that year: the other was the original GMT-Master, the dual-time travel watch against which all others are measured. Photo: Matthew Bain We all are familiar with the three iconic Oyster Perpetual timepieces above, but few may be aware that Rolex released another tool watch in 1953, whose production not only preceded that of the Submariner and GMT-Master but whose signature design feature influenced the look of both. That watch is the Rolex Turn-o-Graph, the first serially produced Rolex tool watch equipped with a rotating bezel that could be used for timing intervals. (To be thorough, it should be noted that it was not the very first Rolex watch with such a feature: the Zerographe Ref. 3346, made way back in 1937, takes that honor, along with the distinction of being the first Rolex watch with a movement made in-house - with a flyback chronograph, no less. The rarest of unicorns, the Zerographe (below) is nearly forgotten today, rarely mentioned in official Rolex literatur...
Fratello
Seiko serves three new cocktail-inspired watches, and I am slightly concerned that going hands-on with all of them at once will lead to delirium. The new Seiko Presage Cocktail GMT watches come in outspoken “flavors.” There’s the SSK037 Skydiving in refreshing light blue, the whiskey-inspired SSK039 Rusty Nail, and the fruity SSK041 Acacia. What’s your […] Visit Taking A Sip Of Three Alluring New Seiko Presage Cocktail GMT Watches to read the full article.
Monochrome
When relaunched in 2019, the accessible Seiko 5 Sports collection was focused on bringing back the flair of the beloved SKX series, with a diving-oriented look. Since then, the collection has massively expanded, with field models, more compact watches and even GMT versions. We’ve also witnessed the return of historic designs, including that of the […]
Hodinkee
The collaborative release might be the best budget GMT I've ever handled, and I don't make that claim lightly.
Worn & Wound
The latest release from Farer once again shows us that small brands are doing some of the most interesting things in the watch industry this year. Their new Monopusher GMT collection is no different, combining a popular travel complication with an old-school monopusher chronograph. With the rerelease of both the classic Cobb and Segrave monopushers, we’re seeing a new direction for the British brand that ups the proverbial ante on their line-up. Generally speaking, it’s fairly rare to see a watch that has both a chronograph and a GMT complication – and especially so for one to also have enough real estate to not look too jumbled. But that’s exactly what Farer was able to accomplish with these two new references. Using the classic Heuer Autavia GMT Ref. 1163 as its inspiration, Farer was able to take elements from this classic reference without veering into just reinventing the wheel. The distinct colorways of both Monopusher GMT models is what makes them so uniquely Farer. The color choices of both watches play into the brand’s identity and suit a wide range of customers’ preferences. The Seagrave, with its textured black dial, is on the more conservative side. The Cobb, by contrast, is a little more bold with a sky blue dial and yellow accents. The Segrave may be a bit more subdued, but it’s the small touches and tonal variations which show the amount of thought that has gone into the design. The black gravel dial is offset by blue minute markers and a pair ...
Fratello
I am one of those collectors who would eventually like to have a one-of-each collection. Rather than focusing on one brand, style, or complication, this feels like a great way to embrace watchmaking. The challenge lies in keeping to a sane budget as the complications increase. But with the Farer Monopusher Chronograph GMT Cobb and […] Visit Introducing: The Return Of The Farer Monopusher Chronograph Cobb And Segrave - Now With A GMT Function! to read the full article.
Time+Tide
The British brand packs as many features into this '70s-inspired, block-coloured nugget.The post The Farer Monopusher GMT colourfully expands on easy utility appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
When we talk about Rolex, we talk about huge numbers. According to Bloomberg, last year, Rolex produced 1.24 million timepieces with sales of CHF 10.1 billion. That wasn’t enough to get people their desired “Pepsi” GMT-Master IIs, though. The future Rolex manufacture, about which the brand issued its first official press release, might change that. […] Visit Will The Future Rolex Manufacture Solve Your “Pepsi” Problems? to read the full article.
SJX Watches
Louis Vuitton is steadily rebuilding its watch collecting, reorienting the offerings towards more designs with thoughtful details and decoration. Having already redesigned the Tambour, the brand now debuts the Escale Time-Only Automatic. Returning to a case design that’s been in the Louis Vuitton catalogue for well over the decade, the new Escale is a no-frills three-hander with discreet references to the brand’s trunks incorporated into the aesthetic. Initial thoughts I’ve long been a fan of the Escale case – we covered the Escale Worldtime over a decade ago – because it is simple, distinctive, and wears well. The signature Escale models in the past, however, were world time models with extravagantly multicoloured dials. The aesthetic was typical, over-the-top Louis Vuitton. I liked them, a lot in fact, but they were not for everyone, and certainly not easily legible. The new Escale, on the other hand, is a practical watch that is legible but thoughtfully designed with discreet details that evoke Louis Vuitton’s trunks. It retains the same case but with a discreet, three-hand dial. Extravagant it is not, but it has wider appeal. Inside is the same LFT023 found in the Tambour, so movement-wise it has the same strengths and weaknesses. The movement is thin and attractively styled, but could do with more refined details, like the regulator index for instance. Though not perfect (or entirely in-house), the LFT023 compares well against the ETA 2892 found in the ori...
Worn & Wound
As summer gets underway (and it certainly feels like it in many places), it’s helpful to have a shortlist of travel essentials wherever you may find yourself. Fear not: the Windup Watch Shop offers an incredible variety of watches, clocks, accessories, and gear that will faithfully accompany you on your journeys and get the job done. Here are our travel essentials picks from the shop – you’ll find GMT watches, leather cases, and tools that you won’t want to leave home without. As always, the Windup Watch Team is at your disposal to answer any questions you have. Just schedule a consultation, and we’ll get you on your way. As summer gets underway (and it certainly feels like it in many places), it’s helpful to have a shortlist of travel essentials wherever you may find yourself. Fear not: the Windup Watch Shop offers an incredible variety of watches, clocks, accessories, and gear that will faithfully accompany you on your journeys and get the job done. Here are our travel essentials picks from the shop – you’ll find GMT watches, leather cases, and tools that you won’t want to leave home without. As always, the Windup Watch Team is at your disposal to answer any questions you have. Just schedule a consultation, and we’ll get you on your way. The post Five Travel Essentials for the Summer appeared first on Worn & Wound.
Monochrome
One of the main topics of Seiko in recent years, besides renewing its classics and applying a downsizing strategy, has been to bring the GMT complication to its most affordable collections. It all started with the Seiko 5 Sports GMT, which made quite a solid impression on the team. The same concept has then been […]
SJX Watches
Seiko just unveiled the Astron GPS Solar 2024 Limited Editions SSH157J1 and SSJ027J1. Both feature a transparent, patterned dial inspired by the starry night sky and a multi-faceted angular titanium case with contrasting satin and mirror-polished surfaces. Though styled like conventional watches, they are high-tech and run on Seiko’s proprietary GPS solar movement, which is accurate to +/- 15 seconds per month and has six months of power reserve. Initial thoughts Well liked for its value-minded offerings, Seiko does well with watches like the new Astron GPS. They are practical, high-quality watches that have some of the stylistic glamour of pricier timepieces thanks to the facetted case and integrated bracelet. Seiko Astron GPS Solar 2024 Limited Editions SSJ027J1. Featuring a reasonable prices of US$2,200 and US$2,500 respectively, the new Astron pair offers are amongst the more expensive electronic watches but executed as well as mechanical offerings in the same price segment. The titanium are finished well and the moulded sky-blue dials with applied indices are unusual elaborate for electric watches. Putting the high-tech movement aside, the quality of the dial and case are good for the price range. Bang for your buck The Astron GPS Solar models offer a chronograph function and run on a GPS solar movement with a power reserve of about 6 months. They are each equipped with different movements, with the SSH157J1 offering additional functionalities like the world time a...
SJX Watches
For Tudor, 2024 was a year of safe bets, with the only completely new model family, the Black Bay 58 GMT, being an almost guaranteed success from the get-go. Overtly referencing sought-after vintage GMT Master models from sister brand Rolex, the BB58 GMT further solidifies Tudor’s dominant position in its category. While the big story last year was Tudor’s move out of its parents’ basement and into its own manufacture in Le Locle, this year was comparatively tame, focused on expanding the line-up of METAS-certified Black Bay models. Initial thoughts Tudor is one of the Swiss watch industry’s great success stories of the last decade. In a market in which high-end products have enjoyed the lion’s share of growth, Tudor has achieved an enviable market position by consistently improving design and quality while maintaining affordable pricing. The brand is also listening to the community, and introducing products that are likely to have built-in demand; the BB58 GMT is emblematic of this formula. Beyond its signature gilt accents and black and burgundy “Coke” bezel, the big story is of course the packaging of a true “flyer” GMT functionality in the smaller Black Bay 58 case format. The original Black Bay GMT, introduced in 2018, was beefier, at 41 mm in diameter and nearly 15 mm thick (14.6 mm to be specific). The Black Bay Pro shrunk the diameter to 39 mm, but the thickness stayed the same, resulting in a watch that felt overly thick. The New BB58 GMT address...
Monochrome
Speake Marin’s One & Two Dual Time Openworked model was released in 2019, a sophisticated GMT with retrograde date combined with the brand’s eccentric layouts and distinctive Piccadilly case. For summer 2024, Speake Marin turns up the volume with the vibrant terracotta-orange tones of the Openworked Dual Time Terracotta. Following the first Openworked Dual Time […]
Monochrome
TAG Heuer is renowned for its automotive heritage and racing chronographs, but the brand also boasts a strong nautical and water-sport legacy, particularly with its Aquaracer dive watch collection. Introduced in 2004/2005 as the direct successor to the 2000 series, the Aquaracer line has become a cornerstone in TAG Heuer’s portfolio. The collection was fully […]
Fratello
TAG Heuer released the last generation of Aquaracer Professional 300 divers in 2021. That’s not long ago, but the brand must be listening to the market. Updated versions are here today with new dials, smaller cases, and significant mechanical changes. The outgoing models were already compelling, which makes these new versions even more intriguing. TAG […] Visit Introducing: The New TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date And GMT to read the full article.
Time+Tide
A range refresh brings new Date & GMT models with Goldilocks 42mm cases and more impressive, COSC-certified movements.The post The new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date & GMT give watch fans what they want appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Among the microbrand scene, Echo/Neutra is a bit of a cult favorite. By that, I mean it may not be a brand that everyone is familiar with, but if you know, you know. The young brand from Italy started just before COVID and has gone from strength to strength since. Today, I am looking at […] Visit Hands-On With Echo/Neutra’s New Cortina 1956 Chrono GMT to read the full article.
SJX Watches
The newest member of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s line of sports watches, the Polaris Geographic is a dual time zone in a modern “ocean grey” with orange accents with a practical dial layout showing a second time zone, day-night indicator, cities disc for the world time, and the power reserve. Initial thoughts Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC) first introduced this complication over three decades ago as the Géographique, a full-featured travel watch that stood out from most of the simpler travel watches of the time. But it had a fairly cluttered dial, so the new Geographic is simplified, with the key change being the removal of the date. This streamlines the aesthetic though some might find the date more practical than the power reserve indicator. The movement inside is an upgraded version of the calibre in the 1990s Géographique and now has a three-day power reserve, but is still relatively complex to set. A more useful update would have been a more intuitive time zone-setting function. The Polaris Geographic retails for US$16,100, which feels steep, particularly since JLC has historically been affordable more affordable watchmaking of good, industrial-artisanal quality. A diving dual time zone The new Geographic adopts the style of the Polaris line, which is a modern-ish dive watch look with an inner rotation bezel. The layout remains the familiar one found on past generations of the model, with the second time zone in a sub-dial at six and the day-night indicator to its left. A...
Time+Tide
With the Cortina 1956 Chrono GMT, the striking visuals of the lineup have been retained with the addition of chronograph and GMT functions.The post Travel in style with the jetsetting echo/neutra Cortina 1956 Chrono GMT appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Grab a cup of coffee, and get ready for a new Sunday Morning Showdown. For this week’s battle, we have selected two new Tudor introductions. During Watches and Wonders this year, many watch fans agreed that Tudor’s releases were more exciting than Rolex’s. So what if we put two popular Tudor watches up against each […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT Vs. Black Bay Master Chronometer In Black to read the full article.
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