We bring up the serious topic of why there is so much Hublot love and hate. John brings back the robot turd and we talk about Romain Jerome, MCT, and Richard Mille as well.Listen to the HourTime Show watch podcast episode 153 here. [...]
The newest Nicolas Rieussec watch by Montblanc for 2014 is actually a limited edition, versus a permanent part of the larger Nicolas Rieussec collection. Montblanc originally released the avant garde-looking Nicolas Rieussec collection of watches several years ago not only as a celebration of the chronograph (time writer an appropriate theme for a brand that once only produced writing instruments), but also because at the time, Nicolas Rieussec was thought to be the inventor of the chronograph. [...]
In anticipation of the new James Bond 007 movie, Spectre, out later this year, Omega, the official watch of James Bond, has debuted a new James Bond-themed timepiece with the limited edition Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 15,007 Gauss. Here we have a pleasantly subtle 007 watch based on the wildly popular? Omega Aqua Terra 15,000 that we reviewed here last year. The most distinctive elements of the new limited edition 15,007 Gauss watch is the special colors as well as the use of the James Bond f [...]
IWCs recent strategy has been to focus on refreshing a single collection each year. For 2017, that was the Da Vinci, but that is not to say that IWC has totally neglected its other collections. In fact, IWC has recently and quietly bolstered its Portofino collection with the new Portofino Hand-Wound Tourbillon Retrograde watch. The Portofino collection is mostly made up of simple time-only watches, so the addition of a more complicated piece is much welcome.For now, the IWC Portofino Hand-Wound [...]
Bulgari Announces Withdrawal From Baselworld Show for 2020The past several months have seen a host of major watchmakers abandoning the industry standby Baselworld trade show for 2020. While the decision for most of these brands has come down to scheduling, Bulgari became the latest marque to announce its departure from the embattled show this week with an explanation that cites current concerns around international travel. While the mounting global Coronavirus epidemic is not directly mentioned [...]
Chronoswiss has a definite aesthetic. This is not a brand afraid of trying new things to catch your attention. Bright colors, interesting dial layouts, and extensive skeletonization draw the eye. A somewhat bombastic character is certainly on display in the Chronoswiss Flying Grand Regulator Skeleton watch, which recently debuted.For the last few years, I have found it difficult to give Chronoswiss the respect it perhaps deserves. The aesthetics are bold, and the willingness to flash the movemen [...]
Jaeger-LeCoultres answer to the thin watch in 2011 was with their Reverso. Many of the Richemont brands were releasing their own slim watches, and I think the Grande Reverso Ultra-Thin is one of the sleeker models. As of now it will come in at least four versions. Some unlimited models including one with a more typical Reverso face guilloche engraved silvered dial with Arabic numerals, and a tribute dial that hearkens back to some of the original Reverso models. The limited edition models have s [...]
Whenever one of the oldest and most esteemed watch brands puts on an exhibit, its worth paying attention. Breguet has been producing high-quality timepieces since 1775. Aside from conceiving the tourbillon, Abraham Louis Breguet-the companys founder-inspired generations of watchmakers. The son of John Arnold, one of the most celebrated English horologists whose name still decorates the dials of Arnold Son watches, was Breguets apprentice; the late great English master George Daniels was a Bregu [...]
The recent designers of this Porsche Design P6930 watch are quite lucky. Lucky in that they more or less didnt have to do to much to make this timepiece look good. Being quite complex, this design was probably a pain to come up with properly when it was designed. The watch is based on the hard work of Porsche Design when they worked on the P6910 Indicator Chronograph. This amazing piece that came out a few years ago was an extremely expensive digital chronograph watch (that stole my heart). I di [...]
For the first time, Hublot releases a GMT watch in the Big Bang collection with an in-house movement, and I have to say, it is pretty slick. The 2017 Hublot Big Bang UNICO GMT was developed with utility and practicality in mind, and as a logical extension of where Hublot Big Bang watches with in-house movements are going. Ill get into the technical details in a moment, as Hublot didnt just include existing GMT functionality into their in-house-made UNICO movement, but refined the concept a bit i [...]
IWC Schaffhausen, the watch engineered for men as their motto puts it, has been involved in a number of partnerships with teams and events related to what I guess we could call manly sports. One of these partnerships is between the Eastern-Switzerland-based brand and the Formula One team Mercedes AMG Petronas, who have so far dominated the season, by the way. The primary collection dedicated to this co-operation is the Ingenieur, the more rugged and sports-inspired among all IWC collections.I ha [...]
Alpina Debuts Startimer Pilot Heritage Limited EditionWith an aviation history spanning back decades and covering everything from air force issued timepieces to partnerships with air racing, Alpina is no stranger to the pilot watch field. Its latest release, the limited edition Alpina Startimer Pilot Heritage, helps to celebrate that long legacy with a vintage inspired reimagining of a classic early 20th century pilot watch design. The 44mm stainless steel case is a throwback to the early days o [...]
With the Hublot Classic Fusion Power Reserve Titanium watch, Hublot has created a thin, lightweight watch with the edge of its siblings and a new in-house manual-wind movement that lets you put the watch away to find it still running a week and a day later. Its sleek and thin, but this Classic Fusion maintains that aggressive Hublot look. Ive written about the Classic Fusion line in our Cost of Entry series before, but?at over $16,000 it might give a lot of people some sticker shock and definite [...]
The trend today is for watches to grow ever bigger. In an age of miniaturization, this may not make sense, but remember it is style, not technology that we are talking about. Because watches are meant to be seen, more and more new watches are showing up in larger dimensions. Standard sized watches of the past (say 38mm) for a mens watch is now considered almost petite. And finding a 36mm or smaller mens watch is almost unseen. Invicta now takes watches in the more than 50mm dimensions. Definitel [...]
Image courtesy of Roger DubuisRecently, received news that longtime Roger Dubuis CEO,?Jean-Marc Pontroue, would be leaving his post in order to take on the role of CEO at Panerai starting in April of 2018. Before becoming CEO at Roger Dubuis,?Jean-Marc Pontroue excelled in numerous positions at luxury brands like Givenchy and Montblanc, where he worked as?Vice President of Products Strategy. Also evident is the fact that Richemont is still in the process of restructuring after announcing a maj [...]
In most engineering fields and resulting products, complexity is a nasty evil that pops up at inopportune times and usually needs to be curbed and eliminated. In the world of fine timepiece craftsmanship, complexity, the right kind, is highly valued and cherished. Complicated watches from top brands that include calendars, astronomical charts, power reserve indicators, and so on, are prized collectors items. Of course, a side effect of complicated watches is that they may require more frequent [...]
In the run-up to BaselWorld, Bulgari has released some information on their newest watch, the Octo Chrono. No, this one isnt emblazoned with any eight-legged sea creatures. Instead, youve got an octagon, a representative combination of a square and circle (and, if you follow their hyperbolic press release, it symbolizes the combination of Italian design and Swiss precision). While the design is sure to garner attention, thats not the main thing that makes this watch interesting to us.For that, y [...]
As predicted previously during my discussion of the Seiko Coutura watch commercial, it was predicted that more watch commercials would appear in this new wave of watch advertising. There is nothing inherently interesting about a product being advertised on television, but in the case of watches, it is a form of advertising rare of unheard of in the United States. It is a sign that watches are becoming marketed more, meaning higher availability, and more selection for watch lovers.The newest comm [...]
The Cartier Calibre is not only Cartiers new flagship mens watch, but also their new flagship case to to use for high-complication mens watches. The Cartier Calibre model debuted last year, and came only on a strap. The Calibre was further not just a new piece for men, but a decently priced high-end timepiece with an in-house made Cartier automatic movement (the 1904-PS). Mid 2010 I asked Cartier if they offered a metal bracelet, as it seemed logical that they would. The answer at the time was n [...]
Just hitting retailers and boutiques now is the updated Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, the sportier and often bulkier cousin to the Genta-designed classic. This new ref. 26480TI.OO.A027CA.01 is done in a 42mm titanium case with a new dial featuring the Mega Tapisserie pattern done in blue and a case thats almost 2mm thinner than existing 42mm Royal Oak Offshore chronograph models.It looks like Audemars Piguet is aiming to capture the Royal Oak buyers who cant quite get their hands on one, a [...]