Best Super NEWS Watches
Introducing: The Breitling Navitimer Super 8
This year is a big year for Breitling. After the Georges Kern takeover last year, the watch industry has been waiting with bated breath for this year's Basel releases. A few were announced last month but just today have we learned about several new releases including the Navitimer Super 8. Inspired by the reference 637 (a 1930s/1940s stopwatch used during WWII and worn around the thigh, NOT the wrist), the Super 8 is a rather sizable homage to the pilot's watch. To be clear, this isn't a stopwatch, but rather, a very eye-catching homage to the original ref. 637 stopwatch (although the timing bezel means you can use it for elapsed time purposes). The Super 8 case ...
Oh what a difference a dial (and case material) can make. The 5270, a perpetual calendar chronograph from no less than Patek Philippe, was introduced in 2011 in white gold, updated in 2013 with some new dials, those dials were tweaked (nixed that "chin"), we saw it released in rose gold a bit later, and we even saw a 5271P C that's a platinum watch covered in diamonds. The 5270 is a benchmark product for Patek Philippe, and in our detailed Week On The Wrist review by Paul Boutros, we declared it just about as fine a watch as is made in Switzerland from a technical and finishing point of view. But a quality watch does not a strong seller make, and the 5270, despite its watch nerd merits, simp...
Introducing: The Breitling Navitimer 1 Automatic 38
We have several new releases from Breitling to announce today, and one of them just happens to be the first ladies' watch of the the Georges Kern era. It's a 38 mm three-hand automatic interpretation of what is arguably Breitling's best-known design, the Navitimer. What this watch is not is a chronograph C a complication long associated with the Navitimer C though it does retain the familiar slide rule bezel. The Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 comes in steel as well as steel and gold. The available dial colors include blue, silver and black. It joins 43mm and 41mm Navitimers that also launch this year in Basel. Initial Thoughts While this watch...
Introducing: The Breitling Superocean Heritage II B01 Chronograph 44
In 2017, Breitling introduced a very well received Superocean collection, which was based on a design originally released in 1957. The big news for the collection, other than the attractive redesign, was the movement found in the time-and-date model: caliber B20, a version of the Tudor caliber MT5612 which was provided to Breitling in exchange for Breitling's B01 chronograph movement (in the version used by Tudor, caliber MT5813). The Superocean Heritage II Chronograph from last year was powered by an ETA/Valjoux 7750. This year, however, the Superocean Heritage II comes with a major upgrade: the caliber Breitling 01. Initial Thoughts If ...
Introducing: The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater Carbon (Live Pics & Pricing)
The Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater saw the light of day for the first time in 2016, and it was then, and remains today, the thinnest minute repeater in the world. Thin is great, but it didn't hurt that the titanium-cased, 6.85mm-thick repeater sounded good too, thanks in part to the good sound transmission properties of titanium and the use of aids to sound transmission, such as the cut-outs in the dial. Two years on, Bulgari continues to refine the design with the use of a carbon reinforced epoxy resin, which makes for an acoustically extremely interesting take on the ultra-thin repeater genre. Initial Thoughts ...
Introducing: The Patek Philippe Ref. 5740 Nautilus Perpetual Calendar
For the very first time, Patek Philippe has released a Nautilus perpetual calendar. The reference 5740G is a solid white gold Nautilus measuring 40mm across with a recognizable QP layout on the dial that shows the month, day, date, leap year, moonphase, and 24-hour cycle (a la watches like the 3940 et al). While the complication is new, this watch is a Nautilus through and through C we've got the classic blue dial with the horizontal ribbing, luminous applied markers and hands, and the mix of brushed and polished finishes that give the watch so much dynamism.? Initial Thoughts I mean...it's kind of hard n...
Introducing: The Laurent Ferrier Galet Minute Repeater School Piece
Today we have an early look at Laurent Ferrier's first minute repeater.?Laurent Ferrier is a brand whose technical capabilities, world-class finishing, and spot-on design have been well documented here and elsewhere. The brand's namesake founder was technical director of Patek Philippe for 37 years, and he has dabbled in complications high and low, making a GMT, a tourbillon, and an annual calendar, to name just three watches created under his own name. Now we see the brand's first ever-minute repeater, and it comes in a beautiful stainless steel Galet case paired with a warm salmon-colored dial. What a great combination white metal cases and a salmon dials make! Am I right? With a watch lik...
Introducing: The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph Reference 5968A
Patek continues to push forward in making watches for younger buyers, and now we have an Aquanaut with not only travel time and time/date, but also one with a self-winding chronograph. It's complete with orange accents and an orange rubber strap, making it one of the most casual Pateks to be seen in some time.?The caliber is the same as used in the 5980 Nautilus, so you have a central seconds with 60 minute counter at six o'clock. Pricing is set at just under CHF 40,000 for this steel watch. Initial Thoughts Patek has seen absolutely enormous growth in demand for the Aquanaut since the Nautilus has become certified unobtanium, and this ne...
Introducing: The Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738R
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this design, which was conceived with a the timeless golden ratio in mind, Patek is presenting a new rose gold "Jumbo" version with a 34.5mm x 39.5mm case and an ebony black sunburst dial. This new version of the larger format Reference 5738 joins the already existing platinum version that was launched 10 years ago for the watch's 40th anniversary. Inside is the ultra-thin caliber 240 with micro-rotor. The movement measures just 2.53mm from top to bottom, allowing the watch itself to come in with a total height of just under 6mm.? Initial Thoughts Like a lot of young...
Introducing: The NOMOS Glashtte Tangente Neomatik 41 Update (Live Pics & Pricing)
NOMOS Glashtte is one of those brands that manages to make small, but meaningful changes to existing models feel just as exciting as getting whole new watches each year. For 2018, the German watchmaker is adding a new caliber to its lineup, the Caliber 6101. This is an evolution of the Neomatik movement, remaining ultra slim (3.6mm) but adding a special date mechanism that can be set both forward and backward with ease (while also switching over faster at midnight). The most non-traditional implementation of this caliber is in the Tangente Neomatik 41 Update, which frames the date around the edge of the dial with a pair of red dots that appear in alternating windows. ...
Introducing: The TAG Heuer Carrera 'Tte de Vipre' Chronograph Tourbillon Chronometer
The Carrera turns 55 this year, and TAG Heuer is commemorating this major product line with a tourbillon chronograph chronometer certified by the Besan?on Observatory, just over the border from Switzerland in neighboring France. The certification, whose name means "Viper's Head," is exceedingly rare. According to TAG Heuer, it's been applied to only 500 watches in all to date. Here, you can see the stamp on the watch's bridge. The new watch comes in a 45mm blue ceramic case. It features the Heuer-02T movement, a caliber that preceded the Heuer 02 chronograph movement that has seen widespread use at TAG Heuer of late, most notably in the company's Autavia range.? ...
Introducing: The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight
Created as a further nod to their legacy dive watches, the newly announced Black Bay Fifty-Eight is Tudor's latest entry to the ever-expanding Black Bay line (alongside a new GMT model too). Powered by Tudor's MT5402 movement, the new big story with the Black Bay Fifty-Eight is its 39mm sizing. Where the Black Bay has been offered in several sizes, the core dive watches (including the chronograph and the new GMT) are 41mm wide.?A new profile is definitely something worth paying attention to. Initial Thoughts Meant to replicate the charm and appeal of Tudor's vintage reference 7924, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight is not only a bit smaller than ...
Introducing: The Tudor Black Bay GMT
For the very first time, Tudor is releasing an old-school GMT sports watch. That's something to be excited about for sure. The watch sits within the Black Bay family and is the same 41mm size of the now-classic Black Bay divers that we've seen over the last few years. The "Pepsi" bezel is going to make enthusiasts super happy, as will all the little details that call back to the past. Also, like Tudor's other sport watches, you've got a choice of bracelet and straps, with prices ranging from CHF 3,400 for a model on a strap to CHF 3,700 for the version with a rivet-style bracelet. That's some serious value right there. Initial Thoughts We...
First Take: The Patek Philippe Ref. 5740 Nautilus Perpetual Calendar (VIDEO)
Patek Philippe debuted lots of great watches today at Baselworld. But, of the highlights, the one that stands out the most is the first ever Nautilus to feature a perpetual calendar. Actually, its the first Nautilus to feature any of Patek's "Grande Complications" C think tourbillon, minute repeater, and perpetual calendar.In spite of the fact that it is packing the Caliber 240 Q perpetual calendar movement inside, this new Nautilus still manages to be one of the thinnest out there. In fact, at 8.42 mm thick, its just a hair taller than the time-and-date ref. 5711, which measures 8.3mm top to bottom and is the watch most people tend to think of when they hear the name "Nautilus." Whats mo...
First Take: The Tudor Black Bay GMT (VIDEO)
For 2018, Tudor is venturing into (sort of) uncharted territory by releasing a true old-school GMT. The Black Bay GMT is based on the Black Bays that we've seen over the last number of years, keeping the 41mm stainless steel case and Snowflake hands, but its adds a blue and red "Pepsi" bezel, a bright red 24-hour hand, and a new movement. It's an outstanding watch that presents great value for money and fills a hole in the market. This on its own would be interesting, sure, but considering this watch alongside the new Rolex GMT-Master II only adds to the intrigue. Here we look at why this is a watch that has everyone at Baselworld talking....
First Take: The TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph (VIDEO)
With 2018 marking the 55th anniversary of the Carrera, TAG Heuer has announced the new Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph, a nicely sized sports chronograph that follows the history of motorsports inspiration common to the Carrera line up. Offered in a 41mm steel case with either a blue or a black dial, the Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph has silver contrasting sub-dials, bold red accents, and faux tanned lume on the hands and markers. With a genre-appropriate tachymeter scale and a simple date display at three, the Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph is an eminently wearable nod to TAG Heuers legacy of automotive-themed watch design. Here we take a closer look at the latest iteration of this classic ...
Hands-On: The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight (Live Pics & Thoughts)
If this is the year of the GMT from the now-all-of-a-sudden-one-cohesive-unit Rolex/Tudor family, then it'd be easy to miss what could be the coolest introduction of the show, at least for a vintage watch lover. Sure, both GMTs (see CB talk Rolex here and SJPeezy talk Tudor here) are great watches, and now the group can say "hey, we own the GMT category from $3k to $35k," and even further, you get the infamous "Pepsi" bezel on both, but they both have modern proportions. And that's cool, because we live in modern times, but some of us would prefer if we didn't. Enter the Black Bay Fifty-Eight. ? Let's be clear. The original Black...
Hands-On: The Longines Military Watch
I found a pleasant surprise waiting for me when I visited Longines earlier today at Baselworld. Simply put, it is what might just be the best-looking vintage reissue of 2018. When we posted it earlier today on Instagram, a reader reached out for clarification as to whether the watch was in fact new or if I'd made a mistake. He was pretty certain it had to be a vintage piece. And looking at these pictures here, can you really blame him? The simply-named Longines Military Watch was inspired by an early 1940s pilot's piece that was supplied to the Royal Air Force during World War II, Longines says. Its the latest in what has become...
First Take: The Breitling Superocean Heritage II B01 Chronograph 44 (VIDEO)
Following the recent launch of the new Navitimer 8 line, Breitling has begun the process of refining and rethinking their core line up, focusing on the concepts of air, sea, and land. Dipping a burley toe into the open seas, the newly resized Superocean II B01 Chronograph 44 puts Breitling's in-house B01 movement in a smaller and more balanced case to further bolster the roster of Breitling's best-selling line of watches. Available in versions with black, blue, or silver dials, the Superocean II B01 Chronograph 44 carries the design legacy from Breitling's earliest dive watches, though translated for a modern (and larger) wrist with 200m water resistance and your choice of a rubber strap or ...
First Take: The Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds (VIDEO)
Omega has an incredibly rich past when it comes to both design and technical innovation, and while everybody loves a Speedmaster, this is perhaps most true of the Seamaster family of watches. This year, the Seamaster is 70 years old, and Omegas looking back to the designs of the very first year of the family for inspiration. The Seamaster 1948 Limited Editions are a vintage-enthusiast-friendly 38mm in diameter, but under the hood is some of the most up-to-date movement technology around. Lets take a look at where these designs came from, and what the technology inside says about how Omegas building for the future....