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Best Super NEWS Watches
The Two Watch Collection: The Seiko 5 And The Casio G-Shock 'Tough Solar'
Not too terribly long ago, we did a story on a watch you can grab on any given day for, probably, under a hundred bucks, that over-delivers so spectacularly it's become as iconic, in its own way, as any Royal Oak, Submariner, or Speedmaster. That watch is the Seiko 5, which has been around in one form or another since 1963. The Seiko 5's characteristics have made it the benchmark for an affordable, durable wristwatch that sure, could be considered entry level, but could also easily be the only watch you'd ever need. Today we're inaugurating a new column: The Two Watch Collection, and we can't think of a better way to start than pairing the Seiko 5 with another truly iconic and historically...
It seems sci-fi movie directors want you to believe that our future only has enough space for one watch brand: Hamilton. Interstellar, The Martian, and most recently Independence Day: Resurgence, all feature watches from the Swiss company on the wrist of their protagonists. While I find that storyline a little hard to believe, it is however, the most plausible part of the Independence Day: Resurgence script. The film has no fewer than four Hamilton watches featured: the Pilot Auto Chrono (on James Ritter, as Lt. Whitmore) the Jazzmaster GMT (on Jeff Goldblum, returning from the first film as David Levinson, Director of Earth Space Defense) a Thin-O-Matic (on Bill Pullman, returning as now-fo...
If you're a Heuer fan or a serious chronograph collector, this weekend marked much more than just the second round of Wimbledon, Euro Cup quarterfinals, the NBA free-agency shuffle (Durant to the Warriors? Seriously? Someone described that this weekend to me as if "Rolex had signed the 2499 C it's just overkill"), the resignation of Chris Evans, and the Fourth of July C it was also the Watches of Knightsbridge summer sale! Right, now that's not such a big deal in and of itself, but one watch the boys in London had for sale sure garnered a lot of attention C a truly lovely first generation Heuer Autavia. You know, the one with the oversized registers and luminous dauphine hands. These bad boy...
In-Depth: Twelve Mistakes New Watch Guys Make, And How To Avoid Them (From Someone Who's Been There)
This is a story I've had in the back of my mind for a long time now C a quick reference guide on a few things I often see young or new watch guys get wrong. I am writing this because I was there once (not all that long ago), and I wish something like this had been there when I was just getting going. Now this isn't a complete list of mistakes commonly made by new watch guys, and not everyone falls prey to every one of these, but I think many of you might pick up a thing or two that you may not have fully understood before. Here are 12 mistakes that new watch guys often make, and how to avoid them, from someone who has made many of them himself. 1. Believing That ...
The guys over on the Purists put up a really fascinating post just this weekend about a dinner with Mr. Petros Protopaps, friend of HODINKEE and director of the Omega museum. Petros is, undoubtedly, the most interesting man to dine with if you're interested in the history of the Speedmaster and it seems like this meal, shared with a group of collectors invited by Omega Japan, was really something special. Petros revealed, among many other things, just which brands officially submitted watches to NASA for review (Yes, Rolex was among them but no, they did not submit a Daytona!), confirmed proof that the Ultraman Speedmaster (with orange hand) is a real thing, and much more. Have a read for th...
Something that surely did not go unnoticed by all you Patek lovers out there is that 2016 is the 40th anniversary of Gerald Genta's other masterpiece C the Nautilus. Now Patek did not give us anything at Basel, saying they'd be coming back in the fall with a special launch for the Nautilus C not dissimilar to what they did in 2014 for the launch of the 175th anniversary collection. And to ride that wave, Christie's has just announced a thematic anniversary sale of the Patek Philippe Nautilus. But with a twist. This 40 lot sale (a welcome, reasonable number) will be broken up across four different auctions, taking place in fou...
Harrods Unveils 23 Exclusives, All At Once, And We Got A Sneak Peek Of The Collection
Until very recently, I must admit I had only ever stepped foot in Harrods during the month of December. You see, I grew up in London, back when you could spend weeks in London without bumping into another Frenchman, and part of living there as an expat meant that, every year, my family would plan an all-important trip to Harrods in order to buy something quintessentially British C well, mostly tea really C to take to the other side of la Manche/the English Channel?during the Christmas holidays. Since my move back to the capital (now the sixth largest French city in the world, according to the BBC), Ive been going back much more frequently, but never to buy tea. Thats because The Fine Watch...
The Value Proposition: The Lange Saxonia Thin 37mm
There is one, basic, fundamental fact about watchmaking C I should add, about real watchmaking. Here it is: you get what you pay for. If you want a watch that represents a high level of taste, along with execution that represents a high level of mastery of traditional craftsmanship C hand finishing, adjusting to positions, construction, and so on C it's going to cost you. ? Now, nobody is surprised (or nobody should be) that a good watch is expensive, although what a lot of folks are surprised by (especially when they first start looking at watches that really do represent fine watchmaking) is just how expensive watches by the br...
This week, we start with a rare and obscure time-only watch C a truly fantastic piece that is undeservedly flying under collectors' radars. We then look at four chronographs C each offering something really special. And the mix is pretty great: from a yellow-gold original Zenith El Primero to a beautiful black dial Heuer Carrera, we've got almost all the classics covered. If you are into chronographs, you are going to enjoy. This is your Bring A Loupe for July 8, 2016. An L. Leroy With Chronometer Certified Movement When it comes to rare vintage watches, the big names usually jump to mind C Rolex, Pat...
Watch Spotting: Kate Middleton, David Beckham, And Bradley Cooper At Wimbledon 2016
Wimbledon is the place to be for celebrities who want to be seen this week. And we have the All England Clubs strict dress code to thank for the impeccable style on display, including David Beckhams dapper three-piece suit and what looks like a vintage yellow-gold Rolex Datejust. Bradley Cooper also made an impression with an easily identifiable IWC Big Pilot.? Photo: AP Images Photo: AP Images But in the world of celebrity watch spotting, no wrist receives more scrutiny than a royal wrist. And this weeks focus was very much on Kate Middleton when she visited the Lawn Tennis Championship...
Hands-On: The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Dual Time
The signature design from Jaquet Droz is the Grande Seconde, which in its original form is over 200 years old. In the hands of the modern company, it's proven an extremely versatile design, and an effective way to maintain a distinct visual language across a range of different styles, designs, and complications. The Dual Time complication is the to some extent a modern phenomenon C the first time zone systems evolved in response to the parallel evolution of national rail networks, for which standard time, and then time zones, were a critical development for safe operation. The complication, however, despite its relative modernity, is a natural fit in the Grande Seconde. ...
Six Watch Industry Insiders To Follow On Instagram
About two years ago, we told you about 10 watch auction industry insiders that you should follow on Instagram. You guys loved it, and one of those peeps is now a full-fledged HODINKEE team member (hey Cara!). Today, as more watch industry titans are using IG than ever, we thought it'd be fun for you to follow a few of our friends that you may not know are on Instagram, but should. 1. Max Bsser C Founder & Chief Creative Officer At MB&F Ah, Mr. Bsser. Max Bsser has held several roles within the watch industry C first heading production for Jaeger-LeCoultre, then as head of watches for Harry ...
We took notice of Wimbledons good taste in watches off the court on Friday, but players have also been sporting some impressive gear on it. For the past two weeks, Serena Williams has been wearing the rose-gold version of the new white Royal Oak Offshore Quartz (which does not clash with the all-white dress protocol players must observe at the All England Club). A good luck charm it seems, since she has just won her first Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2015, beating Angelique Kerber in straight sets in the final. The world number one has been wearing Audemars Piguet watches on court since the beginning of the 2014 season and became an official ambassador of the brand later that year.?In 2015, W...
Five Of Our Favorite Stories That Aren't About A Watch
The world of watchmaking intersects with a lot of other worlds, and every once in a while we find something watch related that's so interesting, that despite it not being about watches per se, we just have to run it up the flagpole for our readers. Here are five such stories C Lego bricks, insect anatomy, a really-life Martian, and more. 1. The Digesting Duck Watches and clocks have gears, obviously, but so do a lot of other things, and not all machines are terribly interesting to watch enthusiasts (I might be wrong but I can't help but think that a story on the evolution of, say, mechanical can ope...
Hands-On: The Laurent Ferrier Galet Square Vintage 1 Limited Edition (Live Pics & Official Pricing)
I'd been dying to see this one in the metal ever since it was announced early last month C the limited-to-10-pieces Galet Square Vintage 1, from Laurent Ferrier. Why? Because I don't know that I've seen a more appealing dial from a modern watch company in years. Now let's be clear, there have been equally interesting, and indeed some even more complex dials made C I am just talking about a dial that appeals to me and me alone. Why? Well, it's a two-tone sector dial C combing two of the most desirable traits found in pre-War watches. But this isn't a pre-War watch. It's made today C and by one of the finest watchmakers in the...
Chronometers by two of Englands most important watchmakers, John Arnold and Thomas Earnshaw, set new auction records at Sothebys London last week. Both pocket watches, made at the end of the 18th century, were auction highlights because they feature early uses of patents submitted by their makers. They were therefore expected to fetch large sums before the auction even started. However, they did much better than that, surpassing all predictions to become the most expensive John Arnold and Thomas Earnshaw timepieces ever sold at auction.Not only were both men rivals in making technical advances, there was a lot of money at stake too. After Harrison's proof-of-concept H4, it was clear that a...
Introducing: The Montblanc M Pen By Marc Newson Set, For HODINKEE (Available Now)
Today, were proud to announce a pretty major collaboration with a pretty major brand, with the help of a pretty major designer, and we couldn't be more excited about it. Weve teamed up with star designer Marc Newson and legendary luxury brand Montblanc to offer the Newson-designed M Pen exclusively with a Montblanc crafted pouch, sold only in the HODINKEE Shop. Each pen is accompanied by a hand-crafted leather pouch made exclusively for HODINKEE by Montblanc. Youre surely familiar with Montblanc as a watch brand C they're a favorite here at HODINKEE C but today we wanted to focus on the roots of Montblanc C as that of a top...
A Week On The Wrist: The Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter
The summit of Deer Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, tops out at 10,013 feet, reached after a moderately challenging hike up a boulder-strewn switchback trail. The vistas are the reward for your efforts, with the view west to the Diamond face of Longs Peak and the Mummy Range to the north. I took a well-deserved break here to eat the nuts and fruit I hauled in my pack, watching the midday storm clouds boil over the top of the far peaks and tumble down the valley, a reminder not to linger here for fear of lightning. Before turning to start my descent, I checked both of my wrists. On one, a Suunto Vector, a multifunction ABC watch (Altimeter/Barometer/Compass), a venerabl...
There are probably as many different ideas about what constitutes a collection as there are collectors. ?In our inaugural installment of The Two Watch Collection, we looked at two watches that have incredibly rich, long histories, as well as offering functionality and versatility that allow one or the other to work in just about any situation imaginable (well, maybe not black tie). ?Those two watches are the Seiko 5 and the Casio G-Shock Tough Solar. ?Today we're going in almost a completely opposite direction. ?The Grand Seiko SBGW033 and the Saxonia Thin 37 mm are both demonstrations of a certain kind of obsessive, narrow focus, with a lot of similarities, as well as differences, that show...
Introducing: The Piaget Polo S, An Updated Classic, For The First Time In Steel, And Under $10,000
If you know anything about Piaget, you know they are a serious and true manufacture with some notable achievements. From the ultra-thin 9P movement developed in 1957, to being one of the first major Swiss houses to use the Beta-21 movement, to their more recent ultra-slim introductions, they have a small but dedicated following among serious watch lovers. What you may not know about is the Polo, a solid gold watch released in 1979 with truly the epitome of jet-set chic in the late 70s. This heavy metal timepiece weighed 130 grams and was powered by the then-prestigious 7P quartz movement (gone are the days where quartz was considered prestigious). The Polo was the watch to own and wear in th...