The Oris Williams Valtteri Bottas Limited Edition is currently at the top of the ladder when it comes to Swiss Oris motorsport watch collection. When checking it out at Baselworld 2016, it struck me that the racing-themed Oris timepieces might not get as much attention as they deserve when compared to their diving or pilot watches. In all three of the major sport watch categories (diving, flying, driving) there are tons of options for consumers to choose from, and few brands are considered for g [...]
As Old Ben Kenobi said while bequeathing to Luke his new lightsaber, An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age.? Had he been handing over his old mans wristwatch instead of a futures-past laser sword, a single word need only have been changed to properly describe it.? That is, of course, if the timepiece he was handing down was the incredible A. Lange Sohne Saxonia Annual Calender with Moonphase in Platinum.Alas, young Luke got a lightsaber and not a wristwatch-but I did.? Thanks to our frien [...]
One of the greatest strengths of the Casio G-Shock line is its sheer breadth. The Japanese giant offers a G-Shock for nearly every taste and budget, ranging from sub-$100 digital throwbacks to ornately hand-carved masterworks reaching well into the mid four figure range. The Casio G-Shock G-Steel line sits firmly in the middle of this range, bringing a more premium feel and advanced features to a more affordable price bracket. While the G-Steel line has not been at the center of attention in rec [...]
Montblanc was one of the first luxury brands to enter the smartwatch fray, starting with an e-strap accessory in 2015 and then introducing the Summit smartwatch in 2017. Last years upgrade, the Summit 2+, enabled direct cellular connectivity, which means you can stay connected even when separated from your smartphone. The follow-up this year is the Summit Lite, an eco-friendly aluminum-cased version with a fresh, casual design, at a great price point - better than the Summit 2+, in fact, which i [...]
This was a big year for IWC. Celebrating their 150th anniversary, IWC launched an ambitious and impressive social media campaign to promote a slew of new watch offerings for the 150th Jubilee Collection honoring a milestone the brand is rightfully proud of. Among the models were three new additions to the Pilot Collection. The first was an affordable pilots watch, the second featured an annual calendar complication, and the third is the IWC Big Pilots Watch Big Date Edition 150 Years (we are go [...]
Last year, Rado introduced four new ceramic colors to its True Thinline collection. This year, it is bolstering that collection with a new model that features a dazzling green dial. Meet the new Rado True Thinline Quartz Nature watch.The Rado True Thinline Quartz Nature watch is almost entirely made of glossy green ceramic. The monobloc case is ceramic and so is the bracelet. Only the caseback and clasp are made out of titanium. Ceramic also has the benefit of being extremely resistant to scratc [...]
Easily the Graham brands most emblematic look is that of the Chronofighter watches which almost resemble wrist-grenades thanks to their distinctive chronograph triggers. This year, the design is 15 years old, and that birthday brings us this Graham Chronofighter Vintage watch that we saw hands-on at Baselworld 2016. Over the last 15 years, Chronofighters got pretty big and crazy at times, but the relatively subdued Graham Chronofighter Vintage gets in on the popularity of the vintage and reissue [...]
Oliver Smith Jeweler is a well-known name in the Southwest. As a Scottsdale, AZ institution, the jeweler established its reputation over four decades, thanks to an expertly curated selection of goods, its own jewelry line, and an experienced watch repair team. Such a standing in the Arizona community underpins the reason Oliver Smith Jeweler is the only place in the state that one can find Panerai, Buccellati, Hermes, A. Lange Sohne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Bremont, and Blancpain. An expansion into C [...]
Its been right around 18 months now that I have owned my?Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronograph SBGC001-in my mind long enough to make me want to write what I had already planned when I got the watch: a long-term review. I have written an ode of a review to the watch here and I have also written what I believe to be the most exhaustive article online on the history and functioning of the Seiko Spring Drive movement here. Those two together add up to over 7,000 words and because I have worked so mu [...]
Last week during LVMH Watch Week 2022, Hublot released a trio of new Big Bang Sang Bleu II watches that I got to hands-on with. In gold or ceramic, these are limited-edition pieces done in collaboration with Sang Bleu. Highly geometrically stylized (and wonderfully divisive), the Big Bang Sang Bleu II defies much of mainstream categorization and is the rare collaboration to successfully stand on its own.For those unaware of the collaboration, Hublot first partnered with iconic tattoo artist Maxi [...]
Here it is, the first Richard Mille watch in quartz. No, not a quartz crystal-based movement, but rather, a quartz case material. This is the Richard Mille RM27-02 (RM 27-02) Tourbillon Rafael Nadal in a case that combines carbon and quartz material as once again produced for the high-end watch maker Richard Mille by North Thin Ply Technology. Why produce an extremely high-luxury watch in a complicated quartz filament laminate material? If you have to ask, clearly you havent been paying attentio [...]
Breitling appended the message real men wear black to end of their new for 2014 Chronospace Military watch promotional video. In the video, we have a typical Breilting-style scene, where military aviation dudes are getting ready for flight in the locker room and strapping on their Breitling Chronospace Military watches. It is typical Breitling campy fun because the video takes itself a bit more seriously than it expects the viewer to. The focus on black seems to relate to the PVD black-coated st [...]
Since its introduction in 1994, the Omega De Ville Prestige line has been a mainstay of the brands lineup, offering a classically styled, dressy option to buyers at a slightly more affordable price point than its more contemporary Constellation stablemates. Omega has revisited this line for 2020, bringing a new dial concept to the existing 39.5mm models in the series. The result is a cleaner, more cohesive, and slightly more vintage look that keeps the conservative refinement of the De Ville Pre [...]
Well, this was fast. A few minutes after the exclusive launch on the Omega website and social media channels we rushed to share the news of this hot new?Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday 2 Ultraman on our @ Instagram channel But just a couple minutes more, and all 2,012 limited edition numbered pieces have been reserved on the brands micro-site. It all went down in no more than 35 minutes. Scrambling over, here we are with the key details of this latest LE run of the Speedmaster so that youll kno [...]
When it comes to the realm of ridiculous, ultralight sports watches, there are usually some pretty clear-cut concessions being made around actual real-world utility, as well as the ever-important, but subjective, concept of individual taste, particularly in a category where more flamboyant design tends to reign supreme. What makes the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Ultra Light so compelling, though, is that in addition to housing some pretty impressive case and movement innovations that yield a stri [...]
What drives my passion for watches is not only the representation of time and the complications and the intricate dials but the faces of those who feel the same. Especially when you get them talking. No matter what they do for a living, or who they are day-to-day, their interest in watches shapes them and their professions in so many intrinsic, unifying ways.Im always intrigued to speak to someone new about their fascination with watches and what makes their love unique. Heres a profile o [...]
Im no fashionista, but it seems to me that the camouflage aesthetic is all the rage in the world of high street fashion. Fashion houses like Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga have all taken the traditional camouflage motif and put their own spin on it. And now, so has Casio. The brand has taken its popular GMW-B5000 and MTG-B1000 watches and have given them highly fashionable camouflage colorways.Lets begin with the GMW-B5000TCM-1, which is based on the highly popular GMW-B5000 watches. For the unini [...]
Less than two weeks ago, we brought you a?sneak peak at IWCs handsome new Aquatimer dive watch collection for 2014. We recommend checking that post for a bit of extra information, as well as for context on how IWC has been releasing new models and for some history behind their well-regarded Aquatimer dive watch. Even though the SIHH 2014 trade show isnt for another couple of weeks, we have new, interesting information that will help you make sense of the entire range of IWC Aquatimer models for [...]
Given the practical, classic look of the A. Lange Sohne?1815 Annual Calendar, I would hope that owners give this type of timepiece a great volume of wrist time. This beautiful wearable is meant to be worn on a regular basis, so go with one that offers the most utility to peace-of-mind ratio. Is it proper to be so focused on practicality when it comes to a luxury product? The thought process might seem ironic at best. I would disagree. Watches are meant to be worn and admired, as well as cared f [...]
One of the most beautiful racing-themed watches for 2014 is a limited edition chronograph from Oris, created to celebrate their partnership with Audi Sport racing (the race team arm of Audi). Known as the Oris Audi Sport Limited Edition ref.?01 774 7661 7481, the watch is very much part of the larger Oris Artix racing chronograph collection, but with a very appealing mixture of finishes and materials. It is also one of the very few watches I know of that has a very legible silver-toned dial-whic [...]