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Best Super NEWS Watches
Introducing The DURR, A Vibrating "Watch" That Tells Subjective Time
First off, the DURR isn't really a watch. Its creators call it a "shivering electronic bracelet," but the DURR is a brightly colored disc mounted on a leather strap that vibrates every five minutes. It doesn't get much more straightforward than that. The idea here is to remind the wearer about how we subjectively experience time, with the same interval feeling completely different depending on the circumstances. It takes the basic form of a wristwatch and uses it to tell time in a totally different way. Co-created Lars Marcus Vedeler told us this play was intentional: "The shape of it is somewhat ironic regarding its function...
Introducing The Urwerk UR-210Y Black Hawk, Featuring A Winding Efficiency Indicator
Urwerk takes a very different approach to watch design, opting for dial and case configurations that speak directly to the companys high-tech approach to materials and movements. Last year, we showed you the UR-210 Maltese Falcon,?containing a winding efficiency indicator to show you just how well your own movements are generating power for the self-winding mechanism. For 2014,? Urwerk introduces the UR-210Y Black Hawk C a stealthy update featuring a black scratch-resistant titanium and steel case paired with a black fabric strap. Besides the modern case, youll notice two main things about the Black Hawk: the bold retrogr...
Hands-On: With The Three Best Watches I Saw From Zenith In Geneva
Zenith doesn't exhibit at the SIHH, but we still found time while in Geneva to check out some new introductions and updates from the brand. While the major product releases will come in Basel, there was a small handful of watches that caught my eye and here I'll show you the three most worth your attention right now. These are three very different watches, but all offer seriously incredible value for in-house watchmaking. The El Primero Triple Calendar Chronograph Caliber 410 We showed you this watch a few months back, but I thought you'd like to take a look at some in-the-metal shots. This 42mm tripl...
Introducing The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde SW, Updated With C?tes de Genve Dial
Jaquet Droz is very well known for its mesmerizing automata like this methodically detailed minute repeater with a nest of birds and?this slightly creepy automaton?(made over 200 years ago)?with better handwriting than my own. But for the new Jaquet Droz?Grande Seconde SW C?tes de Genve, the focus isnt on exotic automatons. Compared to other Droz timepieces, the mechanics are pared down and stripped back, putting the spotlight on the passage of seconds, and the dial is decorated in one of the most traditional ways possible. True to the model name, the Grande Seconde features a large seconds dial at what would normally be 6 ...
Found: Tropical Universal Genve "Nina Rindt" Compax Chronograph
When a friend contacted us last week to tell us he'd found this watch, we knew immediately that we had to share it with all of you. After stumbling upon this rare Universal Genve chronograph online, it took a series of phone calls to Japan, multiple translators, and a few weeks to get the watch to New York. Called the "Nina Rindt" by collectors, this panda dial Compax chronograph combines the best traits of 1960s chronographs with some of the slightly quirky details that make UGs so interesting. That it's going tropical only makes this more appealing. This is a classic story of how putting in a little work can result in amaz...
Although Rado can trace its roots back to 1917 at the Schlup & Co. clockwork factory in Switzerland, it is best known today for creating almost futuristic ceramic watches. It was only 1986 when Rado launched its first models using ceramic, something cutting edge at the time. With the launch of the HyperChrome Automatic Small Second, Rado continues its exploration of advanced materials, but this time with a nod to classic watchmaking as well.The HyperChrome Small Seconds comes in two case materials across four models. Each case features monobloc construction C whether black "High-Tech Ceramic" or "Plasma High-Tech Ceramic." Both materials retain the scratch-resistance, hardness, and chemi...
A Week On The Wrist: The Christopher Ward C900 Worldtimer
UK-based Christopher Ward has spent the last few years building up a solid reputation for making attractive, solid mechanical timepieces, and then selling them at an accessible price-point. One of the most interesting collections is the "JJ Calibres" C watches made in collaboration with watchmaker Johannes Janke. These are characterized by the interesting and unusual implementation of complications. The first in this series was a pretty excellent jump hour, followed up by a stylish monopusher chronograph. The most recent introduction is the watch Ive been wearing for the last few weeks, the C900 Worldtimer. Introduction ...
Introducing The Blancpain Villeret 8 Day With Grand Feu Enamel Dial
With SIHH behind us, the pre-Baselworld releases are starting to appear. The first release from Blancpain is an addition to the classic Villeret collection, the Villeret 8 Day with Grand Feu enamel dial. The styling is restrained and traditional like the rest of the Villeret collection and inside is an in-house Blancpain movement with a full eight days (192 hours) of power reserve. One of the highlights of the new Villeret 8 Day is the Grand Feu enamel dial. Grand Feu is a special type of enamel that involves layering pigments and firing repeatedly at extremely high temperatures. So instead of the numerals being painted onto...
The Thrill Of The Chase: Finding An Elusive South African MilSub
With watches, as with many things in life, the thrill is often in the chase. This seems particularly true when it comes to the pursuit of issued watches. By issued, I'm referring to tool watches that were assigned to professional divers for commercial or military use. ?I have a number of friends who have spent hours, days, months and years tracking down rare military issued Submariners and SeaDwellers worn by Comex divers. Here we have the story of my hunt for the less well know but very rare South African Tudor MN Submariner. I'm no neophyte when it comes to the world of vintage Tudor, but before actually finding my own So...
The Limited Edition Bremont Codebreaker Now Available On MrPorter.com
In June 2013, UK watchmaker Bremont introduced the Codebreaker C a flyback chronograph with GMT function made in collaboration with the historic Bletchley Park Trust. We showed you the watch moments after launch, highlighting Bletchley Parks important role as the center of code breaking operations for the British Army during WWII. The Codebreaker incorporates a number of real historical artifacts into the design, including parts of the punchcards used for code breaking. Though the watch was made in very limited numbers, online retailer MrPorter.com has secured a number of Codebreakers to offer online starting today.? Only 24...
John Mayer On Watches: That Time I Bought A Chanel Ladies' Watch, By John Mayer
In November of 2013, while in Geneva, I came across a watch that really struck me. It didn't have any complications, nor was it by a brand that Id owned anything from before. It wasnt even a mans watch. The watchmaker was Chanel, and the piece was the ladies Mademoiselle Priv with an embroidered fabric "Camlia brod" dial. Chanel, while admittedly not known for their achievement on a strictly horological level, has created a line of timepieces that transcend "jewelry" in my book. When this piece took home the award in the Artistic Crafts Watch category at the 2013 Grand Prix dHorlogerie, I knew I wasn't the only one w...
One watch, two brains is how Jaeger-LeCoultre describes its Dual-Wing concept, first introduced in 2007. Two distinct mechanisms are used within the movement: one ensures timekeeping accuracy (to Chronometer levels, no less) while the other powers a range of additional functions, like the moon phase complication in the Duometre Quantieme Lunair. While dual timezones have been used before in the Duomtre Sphrotourbillon, the new Duomtre Unique Travel Time in pink gold features a dial layout structured entirely around this function.The two timezone dials sit side by side here. The home dial at 2 oclock features hours and minutes hands on a classic dial configuration with four Arabic numer...
Watch Spotting: At The 2014 Miami Beach Antique Shows
Vintage Watches At The Miami Beach Antique Show Last week Ben and Stephen took a break from reviewing the latest releases from SIHH to visit the Miami Beach Antique Show, one of the world's largest showings of art, antiques, and all other things old and charming. Amongst the oil paintings and art deco furniture there is an abundance of great vintage watches, ranging from beat up no-name watches that you might find at a garage sale to some of the rarest pieces around. We spent two full days browsing the nearly 1,000 stalls and here's the very best of what we found. Most of the usual suspects had booths set up, and those who didn't were still around buying and sellin...
Introducing The Hamilton Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition, Complete With Drift Angle Calculator
It was a Hamilton watch used on the first US postal service flight between Washington and New York, so aviation is nothing new to the brand. The new Hamilton Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition includes two main features that can be especially helpful in flight: a chronograph function, of course, and something a bit more esoteric: a drift angle calculator. Sure, it's not a complication you're going to need on a daily basis (unless you're a pilot, of course), but it's certainly an interesting addition nonetheless.?The Khaki X-Wind is part of Hamilton's larger collection of pilot's watches. At first glance, the watch has a particularly industrial look due to the multi-level dial with two-tone brushed...
Stainless Steel Patek Phlippe Ref. 1463 Patek Philippe ref. 1463 chronographs are always fun watches to stumble upon, but this is a particularly exciting example. Not only is the case stainless steel, but the dial is also two-tone and features applied Breguet numerals for the hours. It really doesn't get much better than this. To keep your horological daydreams occupied this weekend, here's an in-depth look at this amazing steel 1463. Stainless Steel 1463 On The Wrist The 1463 was Patek's first waterproof chronograph, fitted with a screwback case instead of the more common snapback. The reference deb...
Hands-On: With The Calibre De Cartier Diver, Now In Black ADLC
At the 2014 SIHH, Cartier shocked most of us watch geeks by showing a piece that no one would've expected C?a dive watch. And not just any dive watch, but a really strong diver, which?was even ISO certified. This year, Cartier showed a modest update to the Calibre de Cartier Diver that gives it a whole new look?C?it's now available in black. The Calibre de Cartier Diver is a really well balanced watch, and with black rotating bezel off-setting the dial that mimics the Chronograph. What is so nice about this watch is the overall thinness and great wearability on the wrist C?it is surprisingly thin and refined. ...
Interview: Giulio Papi, Director Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi
Back in 1986, dissatisfied with the prospect of having to work for twenty years before having the opportunity to touch complicated watches, Giulio Papi and Dominic Renaud founded their own manufacture, Renaud & Papi. Audemars Piguet quickly took interest and for more than two decades Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi has been making some of the most interesting and innovative creations in all of watchmaking. A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Papi to talk about the evolution of traditional watchmaking, how some of his more famous creations came to be, and what the future of watchmaking might look like.HODINKEE: How did you first become interested in watches?Giuli...
If you happen to find yourself in Paris before February 16th, we recommend checking out Cartier: Style and History at the Grand Palais, a comprehensive exhibition of Cartier's greatest creations of the twentieth century. Highlights include the collection's curator discussing the historic Mystery Clocks and our own Benjamin Clymer's appearance, in which he explains the tradition of pure design found in each Tank and Santos watch. To learn more about Cartier: Style and History, click here....
Hands-On: With the De Bethune DB28 Digitale (Live Pics, Pricing, Specs)
Ask your average millionaire independent watch collector who is making some of the most interesting and badass watches around, and there is a good chance they'll mention De Bethune. We stopped in to see the guys our first day in Geneva and already showed you their art piece, the Dream Watch 5. ?Now, we're back to their bread and butter C the DB28, this time with a jump hour called the "Digitale." The DB28 Digitale features three distinct types of time display:?digital for the jumping hours, analogue for the minutes and spherical for the moon phase. ?While 3d moonphase is certainly De Bethune's calling card, one can not overlo...
Photo Report: Inside The New Omega Boutique In London
Situated on Oxford Street, arguably one of the most busy and well known shopping streets in Europe, Omega's new London boutique offers the full range of the brand's watches and accessories. The 244 square meter, two-story boutique opened less than two months ago. Here you will find some of the true Omega icons alongside more contemporary pieces, as well as some interesting and rarer limited editions. The boutique has a clean and bright design, with a curved staircase and cabinets that make a great backdrop for the products. ...