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Best Super NEWS Watches
The Hublot Big Bang Chrono Perpetual Calendar
Hublot grabs attention at every Baselworld and Baselworld 2015 is no exception. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of its Big Bang C the loudest and most recognizable model in its lineup C Hublot combined complications to create a grande complication of sorts. Designed and decorated in the standard Hublot flair that we're used to seeing, the Hublot Big Bang Chrono Perpetual Calendar is sure to reverberate loudly with fans.Like its predecessors and, actually, every other member of its family, the Big Bang sports the brands version of the porthole design (a round bezel with handlebar sides and six hexagonally-positioned screws.) The entire piece is satin-finished in a vertical orientation. Th...
Introducing: The Omega Globemaster
What is the Omega Globemaster? That's a good question, because it's not a name one might be familiar with like the releases from Omega in years past. It does, technically, belong to the Omega Constellation family, though little is being done to tie the two together beyond the historical nod in the form of a pie-pan dial. But what the Globemaster does have is what Omega is claims to be its most advanced mechanical movement, ever.? That's a bold statement, but Omega has prepared a lot to back that up. They have submitted the Globemaster to an entirely new kind of certification that they believe goes well beyond that of COSC. ...
The Blancpain L-evolution Tourbillon Carrousel
Blancpain has introduced a new caliber to their L-evolution collection this week in Basel, and it unites both the tourbillon and carrousel complications into a single movement. The new watch is called the Tourbillon Carrousel, and its a modern take on the dual regulator with an openwork movement. Both the tourbillon and the carrousel are individually powered by their own barrels, and each are visible within the asymmetrical dial. Everything works together thanks to a trick differential and winding mechanism. Lets take a closer look. The tourbillon and the carrousel are both regulating devices that rotate in order to cancel a...
TAG Heuer, Google, And Intel Partner To Launch New Smartwatch
Last year, after introducing a new in-house movement and investing CHF 40 million in a factory to support the production of that movement, TAG Heuer had a change of heart. Or, more specifically, TAG Heuer CEO (and LVMH Watch Division President) Jean-Claude Biver had a change of heart.The company shifted directions, presumably to cater to a broader market for lower-priced watches. It seems that mass-produced, in-house column-wheel chronograph movements were not part of that business strategy and so the release of the new movement was nixed, along with the Carrera CH80 and the manufacturing facility in Chevenez, Switzerland. Partnerships with quasi-celebrities like Cara Delevingne followed, an...
The Longines Pulsometer Chronograph, With White Lacquer Dial
Building upon its existing range of vintage-inspired chronographs within its Heritage collection, Longines introduces a handsome new watch with pulsometer scale and monopusher chronograph function. The model is inspired by a 1920's Longines watch and brings a number of old-world design elements C Breguet-style numerals and hands included C to a model that you don't have to wait to pick up at auction. The simple, highly-polished, 40 mm stainless-steel case features a sapphire crystal case back, through which you can see the ETA A08.L11 caliber beating inside. This self-winding movement offers 54 hours of power reserve and feat...
The Georg Jensen Koppel Grande Date Annual Calendar, With White Enamel Dial
Perhaps Georg Jensen isn't a brand you would expect to be featured on HODINKEE. However, their release of a contemporary and minimal annual calendar with an enamel dial in solid 18k gold is worth a look. The new watch is part of three additions to the Koppel collection, a range of timepieces inspired by a 1978 Jensen watch designed by a fellow Dane, Henning Koppel.Before describing the technical aspects of the movement, it's worth discussing the more defining feature of this watch: the minimal, reductionist dial. The designers at Jensen have come up with an unusual way to display both the timekeeping and date indications provided by the movement inside.Beneath the Georg Jensen insignia at 12...
Hands-On: With The Zeitwinkel 273 Saphir Fum
An admirable fact about Zeitwinkel is that its a team of 12 people, and every watch is built by five of those twelve. Their production numbers are low, meaning that what youre getting for the price is very unique. This is especially true of their new model, the 273 Saphir Fum C a piece that we were anxious to study in the metal. In our initial coverage of Zeitwinkels 273 Saphir Fum, the photos that we received were somewhat baffling. While we admired the design, we feared that the watch lacked legibility at certain angles. But that fear was short-lived.The brand name Zeitwinkel literally translates to time-angle. Thats an amusing fact when you consider that this models ability to re...
Bring a Loupe: From An Apollo Astronaut's Omega Speedmaster To Some eBay Finds
This week's What's Selling Where includes everything from a gold Speedmaster reportedly owned by a famed American astronaut to some great eBay finds. This is a mega-roundup in honor of the new site and it also includes a lot of Bidder Beware fake watches. We hope you enjoy it. Omega Speedmaster Reference BA 345.0802 This Omega Speedmaster was reportedly owned at one time by General Tom Stafford C an astronaut we previously discussed for his involvement in the Apollo-Soyuz mission. Ben and I have both had the chance to meet him on separate occasions and last year Ben took some photos of his gold 1980s ...
The Best Baselworld 2015 Swag So Far: A Hip Flask Full Of Booze, From NOMOS
It has become common at BaselWorld (and all trade shows for that matter) for brands to gift small items to journalists and retailers after meeting with them. We aren't talking much here C I would say the industry standard is a box of Swiss chocolates. Sometimes we might receive a pen, notepad, or other essentially perishable items that will be lost likely before we even hit the airport to return home. Occasionally, you get something great. This year, NOMOS hit the spot. Yup, that's a flask. And not only is it a flask, but it is a full flask. Loaded up with some top-tier Jamaican rum, NOMOS is skipping over the standard fare a...
Hands-On: With Three New Ressence Type 1 Configurations
The Ressence Type 1 has gained three new configurations for its sophomore year, and we went hands-on with each today in Basel. The Type 1 was introduced just last year, after a long gestation period as the Type 1001 (which we first showed you here). This year, it takes another step into maturity not only with new color ways, but also with new quality control standards in place as well. The new configurations join the existing five finishes already in the collection, and weve got live looks at each. Ressence Type 1S Ressence Type 1S Let's start with a refresher on the Type 1. Ressence CEO and designer ...
The IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Worldtimer
This worldtimer is the latest addition to IWC's line of Yacht Club watches, a collection within the brand's trademark Portugieser (ne Portuguese) line. The limited-edition model will be offered in two case metals C red gold or stainless steel C and features a glass disc printed with global timezones set into the case back.The 18k red-gold model seen above features a silver-plated dial, while the stainless-steel model below has a slate-colored dial. Both cases have a diameter of 45.4 mm and measure 14 mm in thickness. Inside, you'll find caliber 35750, a self-winding movement with 42 hours of power reserve. In addition to a date function, the movement also includes a corrector for the hour h...
Warning: Serious name-dropping ahead. Don't judge.Baselworld is one of those places where stuff just happens. I was passing by the TAG Heuer booth when I was summoned into the back by Mr. Jean-Claude Biver, for an impromptu chat about TAG's recently-announced partnership with Google and Intel to make a smartwatch. We didn't have the chance to get too in-depth before Mr. F.P. Journe popped his head into the room to say hello, accompanied by mega-collector Claude Sfeir. Oh, and then half of the band KISS showed up and our conversation quickly derailed. Essentially it was like every great HODINKEE video* merging into one whacky 30-minute pow-wow. So while our chat was brief, it was somewhat ill...
Hands-On: The Louis Vuitton Escale Worldtime Minute Repeater
Way back in 2011, Louis Vuitton took the lid off of their in-house minute repeater movement, the first fruit from their acquisition of La Fabrique du Temps. It was an unexpected turn towards high-end watchmaking, the likes of which we rarely see from a fashion brand. The movement was put to use inside a Tambour case and we havent heard much of it since. This year, however, LV put the movement inside their colorful Escale World Time watch, and coupled the repeating function to the time-zone function. The Escale Worldtime was introduced last year, and drew our attention thanks to its hand-painted dial elements, and its unique ...
Hands-On: With The New Nomos Minimatic, With Ultra-Thin Self-Winding Caliber
NOMOS is making 36 mm watches in 2015. That's the blunt statement that this hands-on needs to start with. NOMOS is also fitting these watches with new calibers. So this is a two-for-one review of both the new NOMOS Minimatic and the new DUW 3001 within. Suffice it to say, this cool little German manufacture isn't done making waves. In fact, if anything, it's just getting started.We'll revisit aesthetics in a moment, but before we do, let's cover something important: the DUW 3001. In case you've missed it, NOMOS' new official name is NOMOS Glashtte Deutsche Uhrenwerke, hence the DUW. Proudly made in-house in Germany. It was just last year that NOMOS announced its in-house escapement, and rat...
Adding to its already robust line up of El Primero chronographs, Zenith has announced a new addition to the range C the El Primero Sport. This new chronograph, set in a stainless-steel case, offers another option to clients in the market for a simpler, larger watch without additional complications. Monochromatic chronograph registers, various strap choices, and two dial options complete the latest offering from this 150-year-old manufacture.At 45 mm in diameter (by 14 mm in thickness), the new Zenith El Primero Sport joins the likes of the Stratos Spindrift in being one of the larger offerings in the El Primero range. The case is similarly styled to other El Primero watches, with beefy slope...
Lets just call it like it is: the 5370 is the best watch Patek Philippe has produced in years. Maybe the best watch since the 5970, or even before. The expression I kept hearing from people I know and respect at Baselworld was Pure Patek, and I really agree. This is the watch that reminds us that they do care about their past, and about what people want, not just about making sales. The case, the dial, the crown, the caliber C everything on the new 5370 is just plain right. Let's have a look at what it's like in the metal. At a macro level, the 5370P is so special because it brings together the best of Patek today C an absolut...
Hands-On: With The The Georg Jensen Koppel Collection
Georg Jensen is perhaps best known for their Art Nouveau silversmith work, which has been in continuous production since the early 20th century. Their silver work is crafted in Copenhagen, and has an unbroken lineage that dates back to 1904. Watches first entered the picture in 1969, with the launch of the Vivianna Bangle, a hand-wind with Chopard movement. Eight years later, they introduced their first mens watch, designed by Danish artist Henning Koppel. It is here that Georg Jensen has taken inspiration for the new line of Koppel watches. We first introduced you to the Grande Date Annual Calendar here, and last week we went hands-on with the entire collection in Basel. ...
The Longines Heritage Diver 1967 (Live Pics & Pricing)
Over the past few years, Longines has done a particularly fine job reviving its rather interesting past. As one can clearly see when watching the likes of a mega-collector Alfredo Paramico wax poetically about the brand, it is clear there is much to work with. This year at Basel, we saw some nice, reasonably priced and well designed classics brought back to life. Here is the Heritage Diver 1967. This bordeaux-bezeled beauty takes inspiration from a watch initially produced and sold back in 1967, originally powered by the excellent caliber 30CH. Now, the diving chronograph is revived in 42 mm featuring the Calibre L688.2, a co...
Hands-On: With The Laurent Ferrier Galet Square
Laurent Ferrier is offering a new take on their classic Galet line this year, introducing a new case design for the first time since the watchs introduction in 2010. The watch is the Square Galet, and when we first caught wind of it earlier this month, it quickly became one of the most anticipated watches of Basel thanks to its steel case and minimal dial. Last week we had the chance to go hands-on with the Square Galet, and it did not disappoint. The French term Galet translates to pebble, and represents the soft but purposeful lines defining the cases of the collection. Its a watch that was first introduced five years a...
Introducing: The Zenith El Primero Chronograph Classic
When Zenith wants to, it can really make a compelling watch. Just shown last week at Baselworld 2015, you are looking at the El Primero Chronograph Classic. There isn't much to it, but it's downright perfect. The 42 mm watch features a brand new case that Zenith has never before used in any watch. It is thin, and features beautiful extended lugs that hug the wrist in a really elegant way. The entire watch is just over 11 mm thick, and uses a version of Zenith's excellent El Primero movement, here with just two registers and no date. The dial here is a bright s...