While its often overlooked or under discussed when people talk about the most beautiful vintage chronographs, the Breitling Chronomat 808 warrants consideration.It would be easy to cast this watch aside as a less-equipped version of the far more popular Navitimer, but as well see, thats a patently unfair categorization. In terms of both intent and history, the Chronomat is truly a significant watch.Ive waited a long time to write a dedicated article on the Breitling Chronomat 808. Weve featured the model as part of the Breitling Experts Interview article from a couple years back, but theres been little said since. The reason is pretty simple; the culmination of my procrastination and the dia...
Watches with an extra time zone indicator, like a GMT or world timer always had my interest. I am a frequent traveler, but mainly within the same time zone. Unlike a few years ago, when I traveled for the investment bank and auditing firm I worked for. I used to have a GMT-Master II at that time, which was my loyal travel companion. Easy to set and I didn t need to be very cautious with it.Now that I am more or less in the time zone (and traded the GMT-Master II a while ago), the need for such a watch isn t really there. At least not from a functional point of view, but as a watch aficionado I am still drawn to this complication. That s also why I always had (and still have) this soft spot ...
As we are approaching the end of the year, I looked back at the watches I ve bought and sold and I realized that I bought more than I had planned. Actually, when the year started I didn t plan to buy much anyway, except for an extra Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday.? But in the end, I bought a couple of Speedmasters this year. Unplanned.Let me tell you first that I not only buy Speedmasters, some times it might seem so. I have my share of other watches, also from other brands. But I find myself explaining to people that with those, I buy what I like and what I will wear. With Speedmasters, it is a bit different, as I collect them. However, I am a bit of a ‘soft collector, as I just buy what...
Yesterday Oris presented their Movember Edition of the popular original 40mm Sixty-Five Diver in The Hague Netherlands. As Official Watch Partner of the Movember Foundation, Oris herewith continues the companys ‘Change for the Better campaign. And I was invited.Contents of the Oris Movember Edition setOris Movember EditionThe Movember Foundation was founded in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia by Adam Garone, Travis Garone, Luke Slattery, and Justin Coghlan. Meanwhile, it s a multinational charity organization that aims to raise awareness for men s health in general. The foundation is active in 21 countries and has a global workforce of 130 people. It has funded more than 800 programs focu...
From one time zone to another, at the push of a buttonThe Hublot Unico manufacture movement is equipped with a new patented proprietary module which enables the second time zone to be updated instantly by a push-button, allowing the local time to be read easily via the conventional main hand of the watch. The time at home is indicated using a second arrow-shaped hour hand, which integrates a day/night indicator and is set us ing the crown. Today, we board an aircraft like we were getting in a car, traveling constantly back and forth between time zones. GMT has proven to be one of the most useful and frequently used complications, hence the need to simplify its operation and make it easier to...
Its not everyday that you get to travel to China for an event.?But when it comes to really special occasions it asks for a matching location. And this is exactly what Longines did for their 185th birthday and the official launch of their new Record Collection. With Asia being the most important market for Longines. It wasnt a surprise to see them celebrate the Longines 185th anniversary in the heart of Beijing. So last week we travelled? across the globe for an exclusive celebration in one of the most exotic locations in the world. Longines 185th anniversary in BeijingJust outside of the forbidden city, Longines set up a party location in the courtyard of Taimiao which is the Imperial Ancest...
As we introduced you to our Catawiki Favorites (Editor s Choice) a? few weeks ago already, this time we show you three different watches of our choice: Zenith El Primero Chronomaster, a Bell & Ross (by Sinn) chronograph and a Cartier Tortue in gold.This article is a partnership with Catawiki, but our selection consists of watches that we picked and there s no interference from Catawiki regarding the editorial work. If you are not registered on Catawiki yet, we urge you to do so. It is free or charge and will make bidding and marking watches as ‘interesting a lot easier, click here to do so.As always, let me start by saying that before you bid on a watch, you should have done your ...
After Revolo had a very successful campaign with their first watches, they decided it was time to add a complication (other than a date) to the game. The Revolo Chronograph! In this article we explained the concept of configuring your personal Revolo, so I don t go into that today.What you see here is the new Revolo Chronograph with self-winding movement. Revolo will also offer one with a? quartz chronograph movement, but my guess is that your primarily focus are mechanical watches. For those who don t mind a quartz movement, you can be an early bird for $279 via this link.Be An early BirdNow, the only condition for this Revolo Chronograph to happen is that their Kickstarter project will mee...
Happy Thanksgiving to all our American readers!? At Fratello Watches, weve followed the activities of the Divers Watches Facebook Group with real anticipation. The groups 35,000+ members plus their insatiable appetites for all things diver, from inexpensive to dear and vintage to new, its a good place to scroll through and blow through a few minutes each day. Plus, the group has enough clout to help create Limited Edition divers from known brands; theyve worked with Aquadive and Doxa, as well as newcomer microbrands. Whats similar about all the watches? Theyve all sold well. Weve discussed several of the pieces and tested pieces as well. First, we went hands-on with the Gruppo Gamma Divers W...
We were invited to come to the Dubai Watch Week and after a short discussion, Balazs and I decided to go and see what it is all about. Dubai Watch Week has been going on for a couple of years, and this year for the first time in a completely different setting (according to them).The Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons retailer in Dubai organizes Dubai Watch Week. A family owned business that is well-known in the region, and who carry an amazing number of brands. From big & affordable names to the likes of MB&F, F.P. Journe, Patek Philippe and other independent haute horlogerie names. Although you would think so, the stated aim of Dubai Watch Week is not to sell these watches or explicitly do mo...
Some times we get contributions from readers about their Speedmaster stories. Stories about their collection, their family heirloom (like last week) or simply about that one Speedmaster they love. This week, Speedmaster fan and reader James will tell you about his 1995 model and why he purchased specifically this one.Without further ado.Why I Purchased an Omega Speedmaster ProfessionalI am sometimes asked why I purchased an Omega Speedmaster Professional, a hand-wound and rather plain chronograph wristwatch. Usually those who ask are neither watch collectors nor interested in horology; rather they are only casually interested in watches as jewelry or just consider them an appliance to tell t...
Recently I came across an article on the second collaboration between Seiko and Tokyo based clothing company Nano Universe. This made me realize that I bought the first Seiko Spirit Smart x Nano Universe watch of this collaboration about two years ago, and never wore it. Time to do so.Seiko Spirit Smart x Nano Universe – 52Mondayz week #47Except with Nano Universe, Seiko introduced more collaboration watches in their Spirit Smart series. I remember a Giugiaro Design and a re-edition of the Steve Jobs Seiko Chariot. Unfortunately for most of us, these watches are so-called JDM models. (Officially) sold only to the Japan Domestic Market.Fortunately, there s the Internet and a few sellers...
I have to admit I am not a fan of doing pre-SIHH or pre-BaselWorld releases. However, I also understand that during some of the other shows, like SalonQP, or in this case the Dubai Watch Week, you need to have something to tease the customers with. Some pre-SIHH or pre-BaselWorld novelties are shown in a smaller group, mainly press only, I assume also to monitor their responses. While that is a good thing, it does take away a bit of the ooh and aah effect during the official launch dates.Whatever the reason is for a brand to come up with a pre-SIHH/BaselWorld release, Vacheron Constantin decided now is the time to show us this new Overseas Dual Time.Let s have a closer look.Vacheron Constant...
Watch brands collaborating with jewelers isn t something new and often it is not really worth giving it much coverage. Not wanting to sound negative here, but in a lot of cases, it is just ‘limited to the name of the retailer on the dial or in the case back of an existing watch model. For Steltman jewelers, one of the most prestigious retailers in The Netherlands for watches and jewelry, I am happy to make an exception because of their collaboration watch with Jaeger-LeCoultre.MondriaanThis year marks the 100th anniversary of both Steltman as well as the art movement ‘De Stijl (the style). One of the members of this art movement, was Piet Mondriaan (1872 – 1944). His Comp...
Last week, while over in the USA, I picked up a copy of Matt Hraneks A Man and His Watch, a wonderful ode to the wristwatch and its hold on the wearer. It was an appropriate acquisition because, while there, I found myself asking my father to pull out one of my favorite watches that he owns and defined a certain era of his life (or at least his activities), a 1680 Submariner. And while my Dad didnt write any prose or wax on about the watchs importance to him, this diver affected me when I was younger. Yes, todays #TBT will take a look at this well known Sub, but it also provides the opportunity to do a little story telling while using some of my Dads LEroica-era bicycles, his true passion, ...
During BaselWorld, Bert Buijsrogge and I had the opportunity to have some ‘alone time with the platinum Grand Seiko?SGBD201 which I called the high-end watch that impressed me most in Basel. Simply a stunning 43mm watch made of platinum with this amazing sparkling dial. The inner works were just as impressive, with Grand Seiko s Caliber 9R01 movement. An 8-days movement with a power reserve indicator on the back.When I was visiting Japan in September, with some of our readers, I stumbled upon the rose gold version of this exact Grand Seiko master piece. I couldn t recall that I d seen it before, so I asked Seiko Netherlands to assist me with this and they dug up the initial press info...
On November 2nd, we joined the inauguration of the new Omega production facility in Bienne. The ceremony was performed by Nick Hayek (Swatch Group CEO), Raynald Aeschlimann (Omega CEO),?Johann Schneider-Ammann (Head of Switzerlands Federal Department of Economic Affairs) and the architect of the beautiful building, Shigeru Ban. Besides that, the Omega employees that work in the new manufacture also had a big role during the ceremony. A nice visual effect was created by operating the shutters and all employees waved us (press) a warm welcome.During the ceremony, most of the talking was in French and German, but our colleagues of WatchTime published the transcript here?in case you re intereste...
Two years after Tudor introduced their Heritage Black Bay model in 2012, they came with a variation. The Black Bay Blue. This watch I ll wear for this 52Mondayz week #46 article.While the first model in 2012 had a burgundy rotating bezel, gilt hands, and gilt script, the Black Bay Blue got a dark blue bezel, white hands, and white writing on the dial. The latter being my favorite over the first model.Tudor Heritage Black Bay Blue, reference 79220BI can hardly believe that it s already 5 years ago that Tudor became the talk of Baselworld with the introduction their Heritage Black Bay. The Black Bay meanwhile gained such a position in watch land that it seems if it has been there for always.Th...
Introducing the most affordable high-end watch in the worldThe young and independent Swiss watch manufacturer, Formex Swiss Watches, is originally known for their patented case suspension system. They design, develop and build watches in-house and since last year, exclusively sell them online and directly to the final customer. With their newest model, the ELEMENT Ceramic Bezel Black, Formex introduces a bold Swiss timepiece made of high-tech materials and manufactured with cutting-edge technologies. Though high-end in quality, materials and features, the price tag is affordable and results in unprecedented value for money in this segment.Scratch-proof high-tech ceramic bezelThe deep black c...
We have partnered with Catawiki to bring you a selection of interesting watches they ve auctioned. Different from the other auctioneers in the market, Catawiki started originally in 2008 as a website where collectors could manage and keep track of their collections (comics for example). Then, because of growing popularity of the website, Catawiki started to host weekly auctions for collectible objects, including comics, art, antiques, classic cars, books and… watches.As we introduced you to our Catawiki Favorites (Editor s Choice) a? few weeks ago already, this time we show you three different watches of our choice. A tough one, as we could choose from a nice variety of watches (and br...
