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Best Super NEWS Watches
First Take: The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic (VIDEO)
Earlier this week, Bulgari dropped the new Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic, an ultra-thin tourbillon that fits into the existing Octo collection. But this isnt any old tourbillon, nay, its the worlds thinnest tourbillon. Period. Not only that, but its also become the worlds thinnest automatic watch and thinnest automatic tourbillon in the process. So thats three world records broken in one watch release. I was finally able to see this watch in the metal earlier today and it didnt disappoint. Here are some of my thoughts....
Hands-On: The Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Apollo 8
It's easy to get jaded and to assume that when a watch brand starts adding model after model to a collection that they're just trying to milk a few more sales out of an old idea. However, that's not always the case and it's important to pay attention to the brands who are doing it right C they provide valuable lessons in how to reinvent on the fly and how to take the kernel of a good idea and make it even better over time. And as far as those lessons go, Omega's latest addition to the Dark Side of the Moon collection C the Apollo 8 C is a perfect case in point. The original Dark Side of the Moon from 2013. Before we get into t...
Introducing: The Mathey-Tissot 1886 Limited Edition
When you see that acclaimed watch designer Eric Giroud has lent his talents to a new watch, it's usually worth taking a closer look. Over a lengthy career, Giroud has worked with many of the major brands in Swiss watchmaking, from independents to major brands. Most often, Giroud's work has focused on high-end models with limited production runs, with an emphasis on smaller marques open to exploring avant garde watch designs. His latest project is an affordably priced, retro-influenced wristwatch that references common watchmaking design cues from the 1970s such as integrated lugs, rounded, sloping contours, bold stick markers, and, most prominently, fum dials. ...
Hands-On: The Breitling Navitimer 8 B35 Automatic Unitime 43
When Breitling previewed the new Navitimer 8 line in New York this past February, the model I was most interested in seeing was not yet ready for its official release. Now on site at Baselworld 2018, I finally got a chance to go hands-on with the new Navitimer 8 B35 Automatic Unitime 43. Something of an outlier in the Navitimer 8 family, the Unitime 43 combines the 8's simple and legible pilot's watch design with the functionality of a true worldtimer. One of my favorite complications, it is a fitting choice for a modern pilot's watch and offers functionality that is undeniably handy for anything from visiting family to making sure youre on track for your next international conference call....
Hands-On: The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Collection
With a wide range of new models, including updates to their Diver Sixty-Five line, a new Carl Brashear LE, the new in-house Calibre 114, and several new Aquis models, you'd be excused if you missed the launch of the rather low-key Oris Big Crown Pointer Date collection. Available in new 40mm and 36mm versions, these casual but nicely detailed watches make use of an uncommon date function and an eye-catching application of color.? The black dial has a warm almost greyish hue in some light. There are times when you can accurately judge the general appeal of a watch from images, and there are times when you really need to put it ...
Hands-On: The Longines Legend Diver 36mm
Longines has unveiled a new addition to the Heritage family C the Longines Legend Diver 36mm. This watch is specifically geared toward the ladies (hey now!), but after a brief chat with my H Bros, we all agree this watch is perfectly suitable for men too (its a gender neutral world and Im just living in it). Truth be told, the only dive watch I've ever really considered wearing is a Rolex Submariner, but after seeing the Longines Legend Diver 36mm, there's a new tool watch apple of my eye. The Legend Diver 36mm. The Legend Diver 36mm is made of stainless steel and measures, you guessed it, 36mm across. It is powered by the c...
Hands-On: The De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius
As part of a refresh of their well-known DB25 lineup, De Bethune's new DB25 Starry Varius sports a new case size, new lug shape, and a dial that can be customized to show a personally-selected view of the night sky.?It's quintessential De Bethune through and through.? Initial Thoughts With a longstanding aesthetic connection with space, classic science fiction, and the universal imagery of a sparkling night sky, De Bethune offers a unique, romantic, and rather compelling spin on watchmaking. Following these inspirations, the newly-updated DB25 Starry Varius is a subtle update on one of the brand's most longstanding models. ...
Introducing: The Tissot Heritage Petite Seconde
The Heritage Petite Seconde is Tissot's latest addition to its vintage-inspired collection. It is a tribute to a piece first released in 1943, though in a more contemporary 42mm stainless steel case. The silvery dial is domed and has a vertically brushed finish that adds a lot of depth and pairs nicely with the leaf shaped hands and clean Arabic numerals. Inside is the ETA 6498-1 movement (what most people think of as the standard Unitas), which is a pretty traditional hand-wound caliber. On the wrist, the watch wears comfortably and both feels and looks a little smaller than its dimensions would suggest. The Heritage Petite Seconde is a 42mm version of...
Interview: Jean-Claude Biver On The Future Of The Connected Watch (VIDEO)
Under the leadership of CEO Jean-Claude Biver, TAG Heuer is one of the few Swiss watch firms to embrace connected-watch technology. Now Hublot, TAG Heuers sister brand in the LVMH watch division (which Biver heads) will get connected. At Baselworld, Hublot announced that it will produce a special smartwatch for the World Cup. How is the market for smartwatches priced above $1,000 developing? Can Swiss brands compete with lower priced smartwatches from Apple and others? To find out, Hodinkee talked smartwatches with Biver at Baselworld....
First Take: The Urwerk AMC, An Atomic Clock-Controlled Take On The Breguet Sympathique (VIDEO)
Urwerk has a long history of experimenting with high accuracy timekeeping. Their most recent experiment in this arena is the Urwerk AMC. AMC stands for Atomic Master Clock and the basic idea behind the AMC is a very old one: you have a portable watch, which may keep time reasonably accurately but you would like to have it be corrected by a more accurate time standard from time to time.The first watchmaker to experiment with this idea was Abraham Louis Breguet. His Sympathique clocks and watches consisted of a pocket watch that could be docked to a high precision pendulum clock, which would automatically set the watch and wind it. The Urwerk AMC takes this idea and brings it into the 21st c...
Hands-On: The Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 7234R
Here we have the?Patek Philippe reference 7234R, one of the new ladies watches from Baselworld 2018. Its the first automatic travel watch Patek has made targeted at ladies, but before I lose your attention, this watch is a great choice for guys too. Its the same exact watch as the reference 5524 (released in white gold in 2015 and in rose alongside this model here) but measures 37.5mm instead of 42mm. It's a welcome change for those looking for something a bit smaller. The 7234 comes in 4N rose gold with a brown sunburst dial that complements the gold's tone perfectly (as a side note, the men's version comes in 5N rose gold). ...
First Take: The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 SBGH267 (VIDEO)
This year Grand Seiko celebrated the 20th anniversary of its 9S automatic movement, the backbone of its mechanical range, with handful of new limited editions.?I just had a chance to go hands-on with with the stainless steel Hi-Beat 36000 SBGH267 For The 20th Anniversary Of Caliber 9S, a 1,500-piece limited edition that honors Grand Seikos return to mechanical watchmaking back in 1998. In addition to the stainless steel watch you see here, there is also a platinum VFA ?and a gold Special version, each made in honor of the 9S. All come with a swirled sunray pattern dial denoting their status as limited editions.This is a big year of anniversaries for Grand Seiko. Its been 50 years since the...
First Take: The Hublot Big Bang Unico Red Magic (VIDEO)
A few weeks ago, Hublot announced a watch made almost entirely of red ceramic and it definitely got my attention. I mean, I'm not exactly a bright red chronograph kind of guy (my favorite color is a shade somewhere between "taupe" and "clay"), but after seeing the Big Bang Unico Red Magic in the metal, err, ceramic, I have to say I'm impressed. Hublot has created a watch that you simply can't look away from, despite it being build using a familiar architecture and a long-used in-house movement. Whether or not this is "your thing," the Red Magic is a great example of a few ways in which Hublot influences the entire watch industry. Here are a few reasons why it's a watch that you should defini...
Buying a Snoopy Swatch x Omega Moonswatch at the Geneva Airport
The day after Watches & Wonders is always a rough one. The night before, we had a fantastic party at Lucid Studios in Geneva, where the community came out in full force, and the drinks flowed. Afterward, the Hodinkee crew ordered some pizza to the hotel and stayed up late bonding before we all went our separate ways the next day. My flight was early and then delayed, not long enough to get any extra sleep but just long enough to be a tease. And then airport security (as always in Geneva) searched both my carry-ons because they were flummoxed by camera equipment. Then I see it. Something to make me happy. The Swatch store in the Geneva airport.? Id resisted t...
Your Weekly Shop Brief Last week, NOMOS announced a limited edition collection of its staple Tangente 38 Date in thirty-one color combinations. Oris unveiled its newest update to its quintessential Aquis diver, and Bremont released a reboot of its Supermarine series and launched the new land-adventure-oriented Terra Nova collection. On the pre-owned side of the shop, we've just received this limited edition Omega Seamaster 300 released for the premiere of 2015's James Bond 'Spectre.' For fans of Vacheron Constantin's Overseas collection who prefer watches on the smaller side, you'll want to check out this white dial 35mm model. ...
Review Of the New Patek Philippe 5396G
This year at Watches & Wonders, Patek Philippe introduced the white gold 5396G Annual Calendar, which adds a gradient blue dial and diamond baguette indices to the existing collection.?The 5396G is still a 5396, with a white gold case measuring 38.5 by 11.2mm and water resistant to 30 meters. Patek's caliber 26?330 S QA LU 24H is visible through a sapphire caseback and powers the annual calendar, moonphase, and a center sweep seconds hand. The day and month sit in-line below 12 o'clock, while the date is cut out of the subdial at 6 o'clock. The sunburst blue dial has a gradient that transitions to black by the minute track. T...
F.P. Journe's lgante "Gino's Dream" Review
If there's one thing I should know by now, it's that when it comes to F.P. Journe, I should expect the unexpected. When I asked several Journe collectors what they expected from the mind of Fran?ois-Paul for this year's release, answers varied from a new chronograph to a watch based on the Only Watch 2023 Furtif Bleu with tantalum case and tantalum bracelet. I doubt hardly anyone C myself included C expected a watch that I found to be the most fun (and surprising) release of the fair week. No, F.P. Journe was not at Watches & Wonders. Just like the brand has long chosen to eschew the GPHG Awards after a long, unbeaten run of ...
Hands-On: The Laurent Ferrier Classic Moon
Laurent Ferrier has been on many people's minds at Hodinkee lately. But the relationship between Hodinkee and Laurent Ferrier goes back a lot further. The brand is one of Hodinkee's earliest collaborators. The Sport Auto release that I reviewed last year put Laurent Ferrier back on my radar as an alternative to the mainstream integrated bracelet sport choices that have been so popular the last few years. But the brand's release at Watches & Wonders this year also scratches my far-more-classic itch. This is the Classic Moon, an annual calendar moonphase watch in the brand's "Classic" case shape from 2010. For a few years, I've...
Tissot Made A WNBA-Themed Seastar. Could Caitlin Clark Wear It At The 2024 Draft?
After record-breaking viewership of the Women's NCAA Tournament, it's time to turn our attention to the WNBA Draft, which takes place tonight. Iowa phenom, household name, and superstar Caitlin Clark is projected to be the #1 pick in the draft, which is currently held by the Indiana Fever. She had a historic season this year that took her and the women's game into the stratosphere. Just this past weekend, she made an appearance on Saturday Night Live, and last month, she received an offer from Ice Cube to play for his Big Three league. Let's just say interest in the women's game is at a fever pitch, and it's led predominantly by Clark. ...
The Chronograph Watch Of The 2024 Paris Olympics From Omega
We are 100 days out from the 2024 Paris Olympics. How do I know that? Because Omega just gave a two-prong reminder releasing a duo of Speedmaster Chronoscope models in advance of this year's Summer Games. You might recall the brand unveiled the two-tone Seamaster Dive 300m with its white dial and gold bezel last year, and now we have our second set of commemorative pieces. The brand knows how to mark an occasion, ask James Bond or C um, okay C the Olympics. So it was in that spirit that the Omega unveiled two, well technically four, new iterations of the Chronoscope with a decidedly Olympic bent. The first is a full Moonshine gol...