“It’s a slick, heavily marketed brand!” echos the common refrain from the novice collector looking to impress his veteran betters. Perhaps for a time, it might even have been considered true; But if there was any doubt whether Hublot was a serious watchmaker, the question was definitively answered in 2010. And the answer was, “Yes.” The […]
July 27, 2015
I think it was during a return flight from Melbourne when a thumbnail flickering on the in-flight entertainment console caught my eye- it was a stark, black and white shot with a platinum blonde, the world’s most kissable lips, a recognisably well-positioned iconic mole and that siren title, “My week with Marilyn”. I came for the […]
May 29, 2015
As a metaphor, chronographs are a delightful mechanism which allow you to start and stop time in order to record its passing. As a matter of technical expertise, your actuation of that function doesn’t literally stop time’s relentless march, the small seconds counter continues to monitor time’s passage in real time. As a subject of […]
April 7, 2014
There’s a very short list when it comes to famous chronographs: Universal’s Compax, Zenith’s El Primero, Rolex’s Daytona (also powered, previously, by El Primero) and Cosmograph, Heuer’s Carrera (before TAG acquisition) and Breitling’s Navitimer BUT head above them all, resting before on the moon itself is one chronograph- the Omega Speedmaster Professional. After exhaustive tests […]
April 19, 2013
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 2 years since independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen created a manufacture movement that revolutionised watching by using two escape wheels to engage the balance thereby reducing wear and energy consumption versus the usual lever escapement. Thus it came to pass in 2011 that the calibre 28 movement would find a […]
May 30, 2012
Whether you’re a first time shopper or veteran watch collector, shopping for automatic dress watches is never easy (well, it IS easy if you have an unlimited budget). Buying a watch is really a cost benefit style analysis and often a true watch aficionado will compare the value of the movements to the price tag […]
May 17, 2012
A while back, when I was writing for a certain men’s magazine, I was called and instructed by Rolex to pull a story; as an independent media owner writer now, I have no such restrictions and this is a story I find important enough to talk about: Customised Rolex Watches. For the last few issues I’ve […]
March 15, 2012
Many have often written off Bell & Ross as an overpriced 46mm square “aviation-inspired” watch brand with stock ETA movements. Others (like myself) have waited in quiet reverence for the day to finally arrive- The Vintage WW1 Heure Sautante from Bell & Ross. A grand complication with the simplest of dials, B&R’s latest collection stands proudly, […]
February 28, 2012
In case any of you were wondering, no I was not watching the Oscars in support of any film or celebrity and lest I expose my dishonesty by rambling on about The Artist and its titular lead actor, I must admit that prior to catching up on entertainment news my only interest in the Oscars lay […]
February 21, 2012
I’m not being snobbish when I tell you that I’ve never considered Cartier as a watch manufacture. In fact, I believe that you would be hard pressed to find watch enthusiasts who would classify Cartier timepieces as haute horlogerie; and while aficionados will be spitballing premiere marquee names like Patek Philippe (the inventor of the […]
January 5, 2016
0