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Best Super NEWS Watches
Hands-On: The Omega Speedmaster X-33 Solar Impulse
The Speedmaster Professional has since its introduction in 1957 come in a truly bewildering variety of shapes, sizes, designations and limited editions, but one of the most polarizing models, when it appeared, was the X-33. The X-33 was introduced, in the first version, in 1998; it was the result of an Omega development program designed to (finally) produce a multifunction quartz watch that would be a completely modern successor to the mechanical Speedmaster Professional, and that would meet up to date NASA and ESA requirements for a flight-qualified timepiece. It was an ambitious project, which took place over the course of five years, and prototypes were flight-tested by both American and ...
Found: An Example Of The Legendary Albino Rolex GMT-Master Reference 6542 (Live Pics, Thoughts)
After doing this job for over seven years now, attending every major auction, every major trade show and meeting many of the major collectors around the world, I think it's fair to say that it takes a lot to get me going these days. For example, in total honesty, there was one watch C one C that got me genuinely excited at Baselworld this year. None at SIHH. That's not to say there weren't many great introductions at both C there certainly were (and you can see them here and here), but I'm talking about watches that I found truly thrilling, on a personal level. Today, thanks to a visit from a friend from Japan, I can show you one that absolutely is, and while it has, in its day, raised a few...
Spoiler Alert: This is not a post about a watch; it is about another finely-engineered, finely-crafted machine that we thought some of you might enjoy reading about and looking at C a car, a really fast car. Let me preface everything I'm about to say with this: I live in Manhattan and don't own a car; my daily driver is a CitiBike; my first car was a 1986 Ford Tempo (LX though!); and I spend way too much time in a Toyota Corolla or similar. I think you can tell where I'm going with this C there was basically no way I wasn't going to really, really enjoy driving (and photographing) the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. This was a special weekend. ...
Hands-On: With The New 2015 Versions Of The Glashtte Original PanoMaticLunar
This year at BaselWorld, Glashtte Original announced two new versions of the PanoMaticLunar, equipped with two new dial colors, and C after giving you a first look when they were announced pre-Basel C we just had our first chance to go hands on and close up with both watches. The two new versions are a steel PanoMaticLunar with a blue dial, and a rose gold model with a black dial.The PanoMaticLunars is currently filed under Art & Technik family on the Glashtte Original website and they are keeping some pretty august company, including the Grande Cosmopolite Tourbillon, the Senator Tourbillon, and the Senator Perpetual Calendar, along with the other Pano models. The first Pano models ...
This week's Bring a Loupe will mix tool watches and elegant pieces, introducing you to some of the shining stars in each category. You will learn about one of the rarest military watches, the Tornek-Rayville, and discover the Cosmic from Omega as well as another triple date moonphase calendar from Universal Geneve. As usual, you should expect a fair number of beautiful chronographs, including the inonic Lange Datograph. And I will also mention some auction picks, from a very sexy Patek to a disturbingly fraudulent Omega. This is your Bring a Loupe for July 31, 2015. An Exemplary Early Heuer Autavia L...
Introducing: Frank Roda Joins HODINKEE As Director Of Business Development
HODINKEE Executive Editor Benjamin Clymer and CEO Kevin Rose are delighted to announce that Mr. Frank Roda has joined the HODINKEE team as our new Director of Business Development. In his new role, Frank will oversee advertising and strategic partnerships.Frank brings to HODINKEE a wealth of experience in advertising, business development, sales and marketing from a career that has spanned over a decade. Most recently, Frank spent three years as Senior Director, Business Development and Marketing, at AtlanticLIVE C the events division of The Atlantic. In this role, Frank oversaw the marketing organization, managed critical strategic accounts, and was part of the senior leadership team. He le...
The Mondaine Helvetica 1 Smart, first introduced last March, will now be released in a limited run of 1957 pieces to commemorate the birth of the Helvetica font. The Mondaine Helvetica Smart 1957 will be available for pre-order starting July 29, 2015, only through Mondaine and the MoMA Store. Pre-ordering will end September 6, 2015, with permanent pieces entering the collection in the fall. The Mondaine Helvetica 1 Smart runs with the same technology as the Alpina and Frederique Constant smartwatches. MMT's MotionX-365 Horological Smartwatch Platform enables these "horological smartwatches" to have a battery life of over two...
Introducing: Zenith Launches 3 New References In Its Iconic Type 20 Collection
If youre anything like me, you mainly know Zenith for their El Primero Chronographs C and, most notably, for their El Primero Classic Chronograph that they released at Baselworld this year. What most people dont know is that the 150-year-old manufacture released another batch of watches at Baselworld 2015; these pieces received less camera-time than others, but theyre all doing pretty interesting things C so it may be unfair that Zeniths new Type 20 Pilot collection has been flying under the radar for this long. The first of these watches, and, the most accessible, is the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special, a watch similar to the past iterations of Zeniths pilot...
The Value Proposition: The Longines Heritage Diver Chronograph
If you're looking for a very respectable amount of bang for the buck, you could do quite a bit worse than Longines, who have in recent years developed a very large collection of timepieces that are based on watches from their very long history (which, in one form or another, goes back to the early 1830s when Auguste Agassiz set up shop in St. Imier, and founded the company that would eventually become Longines.) The entire Heritage Collection, in fact, is a pretty rich trove of timepieces that offer pretty great value in one form or another, from the great looking Conquest Heritage to this fantastically old-school monopusher chronograph with trench-watch style lugs, and many others. We're no...
Hands-On: The Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumire
Movement architecture is the first thing I look at in any watch, and its why I appreciate the Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumire so much. I look for new approaches to old problems, shortcuts not taken, and innovative techniques. This watch is a retrofuturistic museum display case on your wrist, showcasing a beautiful one-minute flying tourbillon. The tourbillon is on full display, nothing is hidden, and (almost) everything is done right. The tourbillon was invented to compensate for the effects of gravity on a watch. Rotating the balance wheel as it oscillates averages out the negative effects of Earths gravity on the hairsprin...
Hands-On: The Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphres Vasco da Gama
The Montblanc Collection Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphres Vasco da Gama was originally announced in January, at the SIHH, and it was pretty much the center of attention at Montblancs exhibition C with good reason. Its a major showcase for everything that represents how Montblanc sees itself as an haute horlogerie watchmaker C a complicated, very high-touch, painstakingly well-made exercise in concept-car horology, but one that reaches far back into the history of watchmaking in order to keep itself grounded in tradition. It also reaches far back into history, period C its part of a group of watches in the Heritage Chronomtrie Collection that are named for the Portuguese explore...
Hands-On: The Cl De Cartier In Rose Gold And Steel
Last January at the 2015 edition of the SIHH, Cartier launched a major new family of wristwatches called the Cl De Cartier C named for the key-like, oblong winding and setting crown set into the flank of the case. We went hands on with the original launch models and we were very impressed by not only the visual, but also the tactile aspects of the design C the watch felt great in the hand and on the wrist, and the crown was just different enough to give a tingle of pleasure, but not so unusual as to become an obstacle to convenience. The Cl De Cartier family was also the launch platform for a new movement: the Cartier caliber 1847, which is the newest in-house general purpose Cartier movem...
Breaking News: SIHH Welcomes Nine New Independent Watch Makers In 2016
SIHH has announced that they will be welcoming nine new independent watch brands to next year's exhibition. There have been rumors of some changes happening at the 2016 SIHH, including layout and design, but now it has been confirmed that the exhibition will be expanding its roster of haute horlogerie firms to include nine more independent brands. These brands are: Christophe Claret, De Bethune, H.Moser & Cie, Hautlence, HYT, Kari Voutilainen, Laurent Ferrier, MB&F, and Urwerk. Additionally, Ralph Lauren will not be showing this year C the company has stated that they wish to focus more on their U.S. market. In an interview with the Swiss publication, Bilan, SIHH states that they hav...
Finalists For The 2015 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genve Announced
The finalists for the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Genve (GPHG) have been announced. Every year HODINKEE covers the awards and this year is no exception. The GPHG was started in 2001 to recognize achievement in fine watchmaking (think the Oscars of watches). This years categories include: mens, womens, sport watches, womens high mechanical watches, chronographs, sonnerie watches, calendar watches, jewelry watches, tourbillon watches, mechanical exception, petite aiguille, and metiers darts.This years finalists (all of which are listed below) include brands such as Audemars Piguet, Piaget, Herms, Blancpain, MB&F, Montblanc, A. Lange & Sohne, Jaquet Droz, and a number of other no...
Hands-On: Bernard Favres Hypnotizing Planet Watch Winder
Have you ever seen a human gyroscope ride at an amusement park? They are a lot of fun to ride and to watch in action. Bernard Favre has used a similar concept for his Planet watch winders, and the visual effect is absolutely stunning. The Bernard Favre Planet watch winding system winds an automatic watch by rotating it in three dimensions, using three interconnected rings mounted on a motorized base. The movement is similar to a multi-axis tourbillon, and would look amazing displayed on a desk or bookshelf. A glass dome and leather carrying case is included as well. The Planet winder can be char...
Introducing: The Extremely Customizable Ascent And Marquis Watches From Martenero
Martenero is introducing two new models, and new sizing for their lineup of watches designed and assembled in New York City. The customization options are incredible, with nearly 1,000 possible combinations between four models. To top if off, all are ready to order right now. Martenero Ascent The Ascent builds on the success of the Ace & Founder, in a very streamlined way. The sweeping lug style looks great, and pairs well with the super modern dial. Look closely and you'll see hidden hexagons, adding a geometric touch. Martenero Marquis ...
Hands-On: The Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Paillonne
The very first time I can remember seeing a Jaquet Droz paillonne enamel dialed watch in person was sometime around 2003 or 2004, at an event the company had organized at the Museum of Arts and Design here in New York on Columbus Circle. The company at the time was extremely small C I assume that it is still not an enormous industrial undertaking; but in 2004, the company was headquartered at No. 5, Rue Jaquet Droz in La-Chaux-de-Fonds and Peter Conrad, a moderator for PuristsPro.com, reported that it consisted of a grand total of 20 people, about half of whom were involved in actual watchmaking. Production numbers at the time were extremely low as well, and quite a few of us had discovered...
Technical Perspective: A Look Under The (Incredible) Dial Of A Ressence Watch
Mechanical watches have a certain relatable aspect that make them appeal to humans in a way that quartz watches cannot. If a screw is loose, we can understand how to tighten it. If debris is jamming a gear, we can imagine how to free it. That being said, most mechanical watches are designed following the movement's lead. What happens when you design a watch in the opposite direction, thinking about human interaction first? You get a Ressence watch, with no crown at all and an unbelievable, oil-immersed dial. Ressence Type 3.1 dial before immersion in oil Ressence Orbital Convex System v.3.1 ...
Introducing: 'The Mythique' From Watchmaking Legend Peter Roberts
It has been announced that well-known British watchmaker Peter Roberts has released a new skeletonized chronograph, the Mythique. Roberts, formerly of IWC, Rolex, and Bremont, wanted to create an artistic skeletonized chronograph after his debut chronograph, the Concentrique. Roberts is something of a legendary figure in the watchmaking community, and by that we don't mean watch enthusiasts, we mean actual watchmakers. His resume is impressive to say the least: he was the first British student to attend the Swiss WOSTEP course (the Watches Of Switzerland Training and Education Program, which was founded in 1966 and is considered the basis for modern education in horology for professional wat...
The Science, History, And Romance Behind The Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch
Possibly one of the most unusual and unlikely timepieces in Longines' very extensive heritage collection is this one: the Lindbergh Hour Angle, which is an almost exact replica of an historical timepiece made by Longines and distributed in the USA by Longines-Wittnauer, in 1930-31. Lindbergh designed the watch C whose features we'll get into in depth in a minute C in order to ease a pretty challenging task. That task is figuring out where you are, which nowadays we take for granted; finding out your location, thanks to a global Internet and satellite network, has become a trivial thing. You probably have some general notion that navigation wasn't exactly a walk in the park before GPS, and if...