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Best Super NEWS Watches
Recommended Reading: The Life, Death, And Afterlife Of Oakley Watches
Oakley is one of those brands that, when you close your eyes, the entire brand identity sort of envelopes you. From large, frameless, colorful, wraparound-sunglasses to over-engineered backpacks, you know Oakley when you see it. Heck, even Scott Summers aka Cyclops, of X-Men fame (played by HODINKEE alum James Marsden), wore specially made Oakleys to shield his eyes from creating laser-induced mayhem.? James Marsden, as Cyclops, sporting the famous Oakley sunglasses. Credit: 20th Century Studios/The Walt Disney Company As a brand, it really had its heyday in the 1990s C?Oakley was it. I still remember walking into a store and ...
Sunday Rewind: The First Battery-Powered Watch
Some of the most fascinating watches come from times of transition and, in the era following the Second World War, Hamilton created the Electric 500 C the first watch ever to use a battery-powered movement. Marking a waypoint on the road to the eventual quartz crisis, this Hamilton also marks a passing moment in time, when an American watchmaker was operating at the bleeding edge of current technology.? Written by Jack more than four years ago, this is an electrifying story (if you'll allow the pun) that covers the creation of a very specialized watch movement that looks much more like a traditional mechanical movement than it do...
We believe every vintage watch has a story to tell. That's what HODINKEE was founded on, and since 2016, we've used our knowledge to bring you a curated selection of vintage watches in the HODINKEE Shop that you won't find elsewhere, all delivered with an emphasis on education, transparency, and storytelling. And now, we're kicking things up a notch.?? You'll still find us here every Wednesday morning, and we'll still be highlighting what we love and what you should know about every vintage watch that appears in the HODINKEE Shop. You'll also see every angle, of every watch, because we shoot all the vintage watches listed in the HODINKEE Shop ourselves C?an...
Subscribe to the show: (Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn). Already heard it once or twice? Please leave a short review, and tell us which guests we should have on! As far as I can tell, Cindy Crawford was the very first modern watch brand ambassador. Sure, Rolex featured famous athletes and explorers in their advertisements, and occasionally a brand would land a product placement deal with a major Hollywood blockbuster. But when Crawford signed on with Omega in 1995, not only did she start a now-25-year relationship that would see her design watches, travel the globe speaking about them, and partner with Omega on philanthropic...
Introducing: The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Bamford Limited Edition
Last week, TAG Heuer introduced a Limited Edition Carrera made in celebration of Jack Heuer's 88th birthday C a release I figured would be the last LE of the season for TAG. Well, it turns out the brand isn't done yet (and who knows if there is still more to come). Yesterday, it announced a watch in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department, the well-known watch customization outfit based in London.? The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Bamford Limited Edition is the second collaboration between the two companies released this year. The first was the BWD X Badgerworks TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 with Tropical Coffee Dial. Now, this new Bamford LE doesn't have a coffee fille...
Culture Of Time: R.I.P. Diego Maradona, Soccer Giant And Flamboyant Watch God
Soccer legend Diego Maradona, a monumental figure in Latin America and one of the worlds most famous athletes in any sport, died Wednesday at age 60 in his home country of Argentina. He was an operatic character both on and off the field a fantastically talented athlete whose crowning glory came in 1986, when he led his national team to a World Cup and was carried off the field holding the golden trophy. His flamboyance knew no end. He scored his most iconic goal, the "Hand of God," not with his foot but with his fist. He puffed cigars, snorted cocaine, fired a rifle at reporters, and tattooed Che Guevara onto his shoulder. He wore earrings in both ears and wa...
The Final Ten Dufour Simplicity 20th Anniversary Allotments To Be Decided By Lottery
If you're one of the 10,000+ people to have registered interest in hopes of scoring a Philippe Dufour Simplicity 20th Anniversary model, it's safe to say that the odds aren't in your favor. But with this latest development, you can't say that Mr. Dufour doesn't want to at least give you a fair chance. After the first ten were spoken for (not to mention the prototype #00 of 20 which sold via Phillips on November 8 for a whopping CHF 1,361,000), Dufour and his recently-named commercial partner Claude Sfeir have committed the final ten allotments to an upcoming lottery.? True to form C waitlists and VIP status be damned C Dufour wil...
Happenings: William J. H. Andrewes To Lecture At The Horological Society Of New York
With the phenomenal advances in technology that have transformed the wristwatch over the last few decades, it is easy to overlook the seminal contributions made 250 years ago by the pioneers of precision timekeeping.?Chief among these was John Harrison, who, against all odds, made the first timekeeper that solved the problem of finding longitude at sea and thereby ushered in the age of high precision, portable timekeeping. At the December 2020 meeting of the Horological Society of New York, William Andrewes will discuss Harrison's history. Replica of Harrison's fourth marine timekeeper (H4), made by Derek Pratt and Charles Frodsham & Co. London. Cou...
And Now, Here's Your Favorite Watch Nickname Of All-Time
Two weeks ago, the HODINKEE editors got together to debate and create the definitive list of the world's best watch nicknames. In true WFH fashion, we duked it out over Zoom (in an entertaining call that we wish we had recorded, but sadly did not). We compiled a list of all the nicknames we knew, then whittled it down to a robust dozen C though not without some difficult cuts along the way. When we published our choices, we also opened voting up to you C the HODINKEE Community C to name The People's Champion. This gave you the coveted opportunity to call us fools for omitting "Batman," but did not allow you to vote for "Moonwatch" (in reference to the Omega Speed...
Introducing: The Ralph Lauren Automotive Chronograph Watch
While much of Ralph Lauren's recent watch news has had an undeniable ursine tone, those looking for something a bit more traditional need not bear it any longer. Announced today as an expansion of its automotive collection, this is the new Ralph Lauren Automotive Chronograph. Available in either bare stainless steel or with a black finish, this 42mm chronograph?is powered by an automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre movement and continues the line's formation around the spirit and aesthetic of many of the designer's favorite cars.? Initial Thoughts I'm something of an automotive enthusiast myself (although in no way ...
Welcome to another installment of "My Watch Story," a video series starring HODINKEE readers and their most prized watches. The submissions continue to stream in, and we couldn't be happier to share them with the watch community. Today, we have five new stories submitted by Giannos Santamouris, Lucy Kapetanovic, Hamad Alhijji, Robert Day, and Dre Bucci.Feeling inspired, or just discovering this project? Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to learn how to submit your own video. But first, we hope you enjoy this installment of My Watch Story. Giannos Santamouris And His Omega Seamaster 30 Giannos i...
Business News: We've Hired A Great New CEO. Here's Why C And What's Next
Hey all. As we've promised over the past few months, we really want everyone to know what HODINKEE is up to in every way, and this is no different. I am so pleased to announce that, as of today, Mr. Toby Bateman, a longtime friend of mine (and even longer friend of HODINKEE's) will be taking over as Chief Executive Officer. For those who don't know him, he's one of the most thoughtful, tasteful men around C formerly leading Mr. Porter as its Managing Director C and someone for whom watches are a lifelong passion. Beyond that, he's just one of the best people in the business.?Now some of you might be asking, "wait, does that mean Ben is retiring to some tropical island somewhere?" Negative, a...
The Grey NATO: Episode 132:?Holiday Gift Guide 2020
Subscribe to the show: (Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Google Play and Spotify). Already heard it once or twice? Please leave a short review here, and tell us what topics you'd like us to chat about (or email [email protected]). thegreynato The Grey NATO - 132 - Holiday Gift Guide 2020 It's that time of year yet again, and with the gift-giving season less than a month away, the TGN boys are back with their annual holiday gift guide. Perfect for those who have someone for whom they aren't sure what to buy, this list mostly covers items under $100, but both Jason and James get one pick with which to break the bank C by spending more t...
We believe every vintage watch has a story to tell. That's what HODINKEE was founded on, and since 2016, we've used our knowledge to bring you a curated selection of vintage watches in the HODINKEE Shop that you won't find elsewhere, all delivered with an emphasis on education, transparency, and storytelling. And now, we're kicking things up a notch.??You'll still find us here every Wednesday morning, and we'll still be highlighting what we love and what you should know about every vintage watch that appears in the HODINKEE Shop. You'll also see every angle, of every watch, because we shoot all the vintage watches listed in the HODINKEE Shop ourselves C?and we always will.??What's new, howev...
Auctions: You Can Now Wear The Louvre On Your Wrist
It takes a lot to surprise the HODINKEE editorial team, with well over 100 years of watch reporting experience among us. Crazy ideas? We've seen a few. But we couldn't believe our inboxes when we saw that Vacheron Constantin is teaming up with The Louvre and Christie's to auction off a custom, one-of-a-kind watch with an enamel dial painted to look like the winning bidder's favorite work of art from the famed Paris museum, with proceeds benefiting community programming at the Louvre. We'll give you a second here to digest all of that.? Vacheron's distinctive Les Cabinotiers program leverages the manufacture's multiple in-house artisti...
How They Made It: A Smoky Dial Cloaked In Mystery
An unblinking burgundy eye. A purple smoke storm trapped under glass. The enamel dial you see above conjures all kinds of fantastical images. A silver ring set with an imposing ruby. A velvet seat cushion at Versailles. It's a dial with a capacity to mesmerize, and it comes from Anordain C an affordable Glasgow upstart that, through a fortunate accident, figured out how to make fum enamel watch dials. How is an Anordain fum enamel dial made? Let's have a look. Step One: Ditch The Copper The blank as it arrives at the Anordain studio. Lewis HeatH, Founder of Anordain"...
Found: Carroll Shelby's Prize Patek Philippe From The 1959 24 Hours Of Le Mans
In this day and age, it's rare to find a truly fresh-to-market watch of epic stature, mint condition, and true historic importance. Rare, but not impossible.? Here, we share for the first time the story of famed race car driver Carroll Shelby (1923C2012) and the Patek Philippe pink gold chronograph ref. 1463 he was awarded in 1959 C a trophy for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with co-driver Roy Salvadori, in an Aston Martin DBR1. Winning this race was the highlight of Shelby's racing career. And the fact that a Patek chronograph, not a Rolex, was given as a prize for the ultimate car race? This rewrites watch history.? ...
In-Depth: How The 'CasiOak' Came To Be
Editor's note: This article features a watch currently available in the HODINKEE Shop. Iconic designs abound in the world of luxury watches, and the octagonal motif C as made famous by the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and your neighborhood stop sign C has driven a number of recent hits. The smash G-Shock GA-2100, which costs about a hundred bucks, has earned the nickname "CasiOak" after its octagonal shape. The nickname originated with Steven Davila on the Scottish Watches Facebook Group. Was the resemblance intentional? Let's find out. First, a quick refresher on the watch. The GA-2100 series was introd...
Introducing: Did A. Lange & Sohne Just Drop The Ultimate Tuxedo Watch?
The Saxonia Thin is the most basic watch A. Lange & Sohne makes, but this is certainly not the most basic version of that watch. This new limited edition takes the two-hand dress watch and elevates it to another level. The 40mm white-gold case houses a dial made of solid silver coated with something called "black gold flux," which is a type of glass filled with specks of copper to make it sparkle. The technique dates back about four centuries, and we first saw it used by Lange back in 2018 in this similar Saxonia Thin, albeit in a deep blue shade.Importantly, the watch is still powered by the caliber L093.1, the in-house time-only movement that's been the Thin's foundation for years. Thi...
HODINKEE Radio: Chef Thomas Keller Explains Why Cooking Is A Lot Like Watchmaking
Subscribe to the show: (Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn). Already heard it once or twice? Please leave a short review, and tell us which guests we should have on! Chef Thomas Keller isn't one of those well-known watch collectors who's out there flaunting his collection all the time. In fact, despite knowing for probably eight or nine years now that he's an enthusiast, I don't think I could have named more than one or two of his watches until last week. They're definitely a passion of his, but a mostly personal one. I wanted to learn more.So, when I saw that Keller had just dropped a new cookbook, his first in 10 years, I figu...