Last year, in 2016, Rado updated their minimalistic rectangular Ceramica watch with a totally redesigned collection by industrial designer Konstantin Grcic. A number of versions were included in the release, all very stylish-looking and powered by quartz movements-which perhaps left mechanical watch snobs who otherwise liked the design feeling as though they were strangely attracted to a fashion watch. For 2017, the newly designed Rado Ceramica, as all versions are apparently named, got some mec [...]
Surprise or not, the Astronomia watch collection has been a big hit for Jacob Co., whose prime ambitions as a watch maker are to wow and tantalize luxury consumers who think they have seen it all. There are currently six versions of the spacey Astronomia watch on the Jacob Co. website, with a few versions that are unlisted, as well as some new ones coming up soon at Baselworld 2017. For now, Id like to return to Baselworld 2016 when I got to play with these two Astronomia watches which are the [...]
For 2018, Hermes joined the expanding roster of SIHH brands for the first time and reintroduced their Carre H watch with a new dial design, size, and updated movement for the occasion. With a square but rounded case, the Hermes Carre H for 2018 aims for a distinctive presence that will appeal to fans of Hermes fashion, but also some horological cred for picky watch snobs. This has been Hermes general approach to watches for years now. You will have to be the final judge of their success, but her [...]
We are very excited to announce three events in November featuring watch companies from the town of Glashutte, the watchmaking capital of Germany! Read on to learn more about the events. Wed love to see you there at our store in Burlingame, California in the the San Francisco Bay Area.Saturday November 11th 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM Nomos GlashutteWe are always happy to share the latest from Nomos Glashutte. This time, the latest has extra meaning for us, as we will have the Topper Limited Edition Bur [...]
Ninety years old. Yknow what else turns the ripe old age of 90 in the year of our lord two thousand and twenty-one? Willie Mays. The Empire State Building. The Star-Spangled Banner (as the official anthem of the United States, that is). Also 90 is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso - an irrefutable classic in the lexicon of important watches from the last century. So much so, its been said by many a well-traveled watch fan that every collection needs a Reverso, right there in the box flanked by a Spee [...]
Have you ever laid your eyes upon a beautiful women that a feeling much like loves sets in right away only to be quickly followed by dismay knowing she is so out of your league you might as well be a different species? This feeling of frustrated lust is akin to what I felt when handling the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Extreme Lab 2 watch at SIHH 2010 last January. The piece is quite possibly a bona-fide member of the league of extraordinary watches (an group of action hero timepieces [...]
Marin Countys shelter-in-place mandate was formalized at midnight on Thursday, March 19th, 2020. By then, the news cycle around the Covid-19 pandemic had already become a dangerous cocktail of science-based fact and rationale mixed with what we now know to be hysteria-driven clickbait and misinformation. Hiding from the cacophony meant a break from the source of discomfort, but this also meant fully sequestering oneself from even digital contact with the outside world and any steady stream of re [...]
Rumor had it that 2020 was going to be the year of the Luminor for Panerai, and this new Luminor Marina Carbotech ref. PAM1661 could be an early indicator confirming that notion. Most of what we saw from Panerai in 2019 seemed to center around the re-shuffling of the brands portfolio, particularly with a focus on tidying up existing lines while introducing new Due dress and Submersible tool/sport models. It seems only natural that Panerai turn to its signature breadwinner for the same treatment [...]
Black ceramic, titanium, pink gold, and rubber come together to encapsulate the new-for-2020 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph. A boutique-only range of three watches, Audemars Piguet doesnt appear to have provided any further term, nickname, or other differentiation to these three models joining the ranks of over 30 Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph variations on sale today.As far as case components go, a closer look reveals that Audemars Piguet really is flexi [...]
One hundred and forty-one. Thats how many new models Omega introduced this year at Baselworld. However, three of them in particular, for very good reason, have been enjoying the lions share of buzz at the show: the Omega 1957 Trilogy Limited Edition Speedmaster, Railmaster, and Seamaster-each, a pitch-perfect re-issue of its own CK29XX variant also released as a trio 60 years ago. Since they can be bought separately, or together in a singularly epic boxed set, we thought it best they be examined [...]
In anticipation of Baselworld 2016, we see the?re-release of the?Hamilton?Khaki Navy Frogman, a purpose-built diver that was the choice of the U.S. Navy in the first half of the 20th century for its tactical dive teams. It was also an important model in the history of Hamilton on the silver screen, being the first watch from the brand to appear in a motion picture. The movie was, fittingly enough, The Frogman, a 1951 release about the U.S. Navys Underwater Demolition Team.The flagship version of [...]
Watch companies do this a lot. Make an interesting watch that is closely connected with someone well known at least well known to some people. I would say that 95% of the time I have never even heard of the person they are making the watch in honor of. While it is true that I am not a big sports enthusiast, I should have at least heard of the people right? Popular choices for these watches are race car drivers, golfers, soccer players, etc In the US these people are mostly unknown at least in [...]
I am in Germany maybe 10 minutes and the signs of watch insanity are in my face. On my 4 hour layover in Munich to Dresden I am surprised to see that Munichs domestic terminal is basically one big watch store. There is a huge open watch store in the middle with tons of rare brands, and those that you dont even see in America at all, such as Certina and Union Glashutte. There is certainly an air of haute horology already. The first picture is of a magazine and gift store display. They actually hi [...]
Ive admired from afar the skeletonized tourbillon watches that Roger Dubuis has been producing for years now. Delicate, interesting, visually assertive, and a bit controversial in their design, Roger Dubuis is a brand that when at its best is able to combine a true appreciation for the horological arts with a totally non-traditional expression of modern luxury. And of course, their most impressive models are totally unaffordable-no surprises there. So whats changed for 2015? Well, I wish I could [...]
One of the reader comments on my story about the top ten ladies watches of BaselWorld 2018 was critical of the bling factor in some of my choices (in my defense, these were the showpieces of the event, and I couldnt leave them out), remarking that the women watch aficionados with whom he is acquainted would rather have a great mens watch. Well, this post is for him. Or more to the point, the Breitling Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 is for him, or his female friends. It is a scaled-down, slightly redes [...]
For the last few years Blancpain has been one of the more curious high-end Swiss watch brands from one of the major groups. It was Mr. Jean-Claude Biver who built the brand up to what it is, and since selling it to the Swatch Group it has moved around a bit in terms of who is running it. Today Blancpain is headed by Marc Hayek, the younger son of the late Nicolas Hayek senior. Marc currently oversees a few brands including Jaquet Droz and Breguet as well as Blancpain. Where he has taken the bran [...]
Brace yourselves because this is The First Time Ever that Porsche customers can have the optional matching chronograph from Porsche Design configured in the same specifications as their new 911! I mean, this really does make sense, I am just surprised it took this long. Enter the?new Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series?C said to be the most powerful 911 Turbo S ever-and the Porsche Design Chronograph 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series, a fittingly sporty racing-style chronograph in Porsche Designs sl [...]
When it comes to dramatic and outlandish special edition models, few brands do it better than Omega. The Seamaster line in particular has seen a variety of spectacular special models in the last few years, especially those based on its long association with the James Bond films. The limited edition Seamaster 300M 007 James Bond On Her Majestys Secret Service, introduced in September of 2019, has been particularly prolific in this distinctive slice of the Omega lineup. Its distinctive rifled-barr [...]
John Gant get a break and we talk about my hands-on time with the Devon Tread 2 Steampunk watch. We also discuss Roger Dubuis new strange adverting campaign and giveaway, as well as the winners from the 2012 annual Grand Prix DHorlogerie de Geneve watch awards.Listen to the HourTime Show Watch Podcast Episode 123 here. Download the MP3 here. [...]
Six years after the MBF Legacy Machine No.2 exploded onto the watchmaking scene, tumbling, so perfectly formed, from the minds of award-winning watchmakers Jean-Fran?ois Mojon and Kari Voutilainen, its journey has come full circle. The release of the MBF LM2 Red Gold Blue watch will be the last ever to be made from the 18k red gold that encased the first.And this will be a very limited release, with only 12 pieces planned. But each of those 12 will have a remarkably rich character thanks to the [...]