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Best Super NEWS Watches
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 Barry Sereb, Seunghyun Han, Abdelrahman Ghanem, Jack Oultram, and Eric Wolak.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. Barry Sereb And His Longines Spirit Barry, a native of Toro...
Introducing: Patek Philippe Drops A Trio Of Twenty-4s
It's not easy being Patek Philippe. While many watchmakers would gladly trade places with the family-owned brand at the top of the horological pyramid, a place at the top comes with persistent scrutiny.? Under Thierry Stern, Patek tends to give the people what they want: Classical designs, complications, and stainless steel sport watches like the Nautilus and the Aquanaut (perhaps just not enough of them). On the occasions when Patek steps out and does something unexpected, the moves feel all the more seismic C and the reactions can be apoplectic. Remember how the internet savaged the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time 5524G when it dropped in 2015? ...
The Grey NATO: Episode 137: If We Were Watch Brand CEOs
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 - 137 - If We Were Watch Brand CEOs Episode 137 of The Grey NATO asks the question: "what if we were in charge?" With a classic CEO-for-a-day dream scenario, Jason and James breakdown their co-CEO plans for some of TGN's favorite brands. The Pelagos gets a GMT, IWC goes deep on the Aquatimer, Rolex needs to think older, and Sinn just needs to keep up the good work. While we are not ...
What some may consider a "Hallmark holiday" is a holiday nonetheless, meaning that special someone should still be shown some love. Many of the vintage watches this week would fit the bill, such as an extremely special gold Rolex from the 1950s or even a Girard Perregaux "Moon Watch." We're not here to tell you which models in the drop are "women's (vintage) watches" and which are not. Ask Cara Barrett, and she'll explain that all watches should be unisex, and this selection is a perfect testament to that point. 1969 Omega Speedmaster Professional Ref. 145.022-69 With Tropical Dial ...
Introducing: The Oris Aquis Whale Shark Limited Edition
Following a successful string of past ocean conservation-themed limited editions (including last year's Carysfort Reef Limited Edition), Oris has just announced its latest: The Aquis Whale Shark Edition. Based around a 43.5mm Aquis GMT, the Whale Shark Edition sports a gorgeous gradient shark-skin-effect dial matched by a two-color ceramic 24-hour GMT bezel. Limited to some 2016 pieces, the Whale Shark Edition is made in direct support of specific whale shark conservation efforts.? Initial Thoughts The Whale Shark Edition was created to mark the relationship between Oris and Gerardo del Villar, a photogra...
Four Eminent Experts Weigh In On What's Next For The Nautilus
It's a sign of the times that one of the most talked-about watches of 2021 (so far) is not a new release, but rather, a cancelation.?The Patek Philippe Nautilus, ref. 5711, in stainless steel, with blue dial,?had long before its demise become much more than a watch. Depending on who you asked, it was any number of things: an icon of modern luxury watch design; a dare-to-be-different steel sports watch from a company better known for what used to be called dress watches; a fad; a really annoying fad; an example of the grotesque excesses of late capitalism interwoven with the chronic toxicity of social media.? Former president, and now Honorary President,...
Steal Vs. Splurge: Yellow-Gold Bracelet Watches
Yellow-gold bracelet watches are iconic: A cornerstone of watch loving and, yes, watch hating. They've gone from being understated chic in the mid-century to cheesy and glammy in the Miami Vice '80s, and now (thanks to steel tool-watch fatigue), they're back to chic again. Gold ain't cheap. But then again, you can get the look for a lot less. Here's what you get at both ends of the spectrum. Steal The watch: Seiko SGF206 Gold Tone Steel Dress Watch ($315) Why it's cool: This right here is about as close to the classic Rolex Day-Date as you can get for under $500. Is it gold? W...
One To Watch: The Canadian Comeback Kid
Three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the young watch company Birchall & Taylor had a problem. They'd just moved into a larger workshop on account of the success of their Reference 1, but the uncertainty stemming from the outbreak had caused half their orders to cancel. Circumstances would not allow the operation to continue. They had no choice but to close shop. Bradley Taylor, one half of Birchall & Taylor, needed a fresh start. "I've never been through a divorce," he says, "but I imagine this is what it's like. I even wanted to sell my watchmaking tools, the loves of my life. I hunt down and collect rare ones. Friends told me to relax: 'You'll be ba...
Just Because: 8 Kitschy Watch Commercials That Epitomize The '80s
In a life before HODINKEE, I worked as a copywriter for the world's largest advertising company. My team and I rolled out multimedia campaigns across the ASEAN region for clients that produced everything from pickup trucks to yogurt. So I know a little about the time-tested techniques for selling a product. You can lean into nostalgia, taking consumers to a simpler time (good for iced-tea ads), or tout what's new and improved, creating excitement around the future (like you might for a thrilling new detergent). Having said all that, watch ads in the 1980s seemed to do none of the above. Today, the aesthetic, mood, and tone in these advertisements are as instantly...
G-Shock And Swatch: The Two Most '80s Watches Of The '80s Came Out The Very Same Year
The 1970s, nobody needs to be told, were not a great time for mechanical horology in general, and Swiss watchmaking in particular. HODINKEE's former Executive Editor, Joe Thompson, was there and has ably chronicled the trials and tribulations of the Quartz Revolution. The Swiss watch industry seemed almost entirely unprepared for the rapidity with which electronic watches C first quartz analog, and then LED and LCD watches C became not only the last word in wristwatch technology, but also dramatically less expensive than their mechanical counterparts, plus an order of magnitude more accurate. It seemed, for a few years, at least, that the entire Swiss watch industry ought to be sold off for ...
HODINKEE Radio: How '80s Hip-Hop Took Watch Culture To A Whole New Level
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! It's '80s Week here on HODINKEE, which means we'll be bringing you tons of awesome stories, videos, and, yes, podcasts, about all things horological from the 1980s. Representing the zenith of the Quartz Crisis, this is one of the most overlooked decades in watches, but that doesn't mean it wasn't rich with incredible innovations, important cultural moments, and fascinating personal stories.First up, our own Logan Baker joins us to talk about the incredibly quirky Ti...
Introducing: The Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Origins Limited Edition 100
Based on a reference design from the 1930s, Montblanc has just announced the 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Origins Limited Edition 100, a 46mm bronze chronograph boasting a seriously pretty hand-wound monopusher movement from Minerva. They are calling it "Origins," as the original design (which can be seen below) formed the basis for the creation of Montblanc's heritage-themed 1858 lineup. Offered in bronze with a black dial and an old-world "new vintage" look further supported by faux aged lume, the Origins LE is 46mm wide, 14.5mm thick, and has an officer-style hinged caseback (made of bronze-coated titanium) that better connects...
Sunday Rewind: The Seiko With An Everlasting Legacy
This past week, Seiko dropped a boatload of new models, and some of them may emerge as classics in a number of years. The announcement of new models serves as an opportunity to take a look at the old models, and one still sticks out as a favorite, even years later. The SKX007 is now out of production, but as Jack points out, it "remains today, a rebuke to over-priced, over-decorated 'luxury' dive watches everywhere C and a perennially fantastic Value Proposition." Read about why the the SKX007 will only get better with age below. Click here to read: The Value Proposition: The Seiko SKX007 Diver's Watc...
The 1980s have been a punchline sincewell, the 1990s. And it's easy to see why: From music and fashion to, yes, watches, the cultural artifacts that emerged in those years have a highly specific and instantly recognizable style that dated itself upon arrival. But the further we get from the '80s, the better the watches look C and the more important the decade becomes to horological history, as we grasp the full measure of its influence. This is, after all, the era that gave us Swatch. G-Shock. Hublot. A calculator watch that, however corny, anticipated functionality decades ahead of its time. In the 1980s, Jean-Claude Biver resurrect...
Second Opinions: Two-Tone Isn't Ugly
On the long list of persnickety watch enthusiast turn-offs, two-tone metal has gotta be right up there with 4:30 date windows and copious dial text. But brands wouldn't have made two-tone watches (and wouldn't continue making them) if a lot of people didn't like them very much. And I am one of those someones. I got married in a two-tone watch C a Rolex Datejust with a jubilee bracelet. It was the perfect accompaniment to my yellow-gold wedding ring, a watch left to me by my grandfather (more on that story here), and one I continue to wear to this day. Say what you will about two-tone. Say it's indecisive. Say it's dated. But don't call it ugly. ...
Editors' Picks: Our 10 Favorite Watches Of The 1980s
Conventional wisdom says that 1980s style was C and remains C hopelessly tacky. But the problem with conventional wisdom is that it's so...conventional. We happen to love the idiosyncrasies that came out of 1980s watchmaking. We love the personality and sense of play. The daring innovation. One way to look at these watches is to say they're dated. Another way is to say that they have a singular point of view that could only have emerged in this specific time and place. That's how we prefer to look at them. The list below ranks our 10 favorites, with a bias toward the ones that best reflect the decade's aesthetic. They're not just cool watches. They're representat...
Watch Spotting: George Michael Wearing A Bulgari BVLGARI (1987)
The year 1987 was a big one for George Michael. Following his success with his band Wham! (a personal favorite, $10 if you can recall the name of his other half), Michael went out on his own and launched his debut solo album Faith. With hits such as "I Want Your Sex" and "Kissing a Fool" C not to mention the title track (a karaoke classic!) C Michael was a pop star with the wrist candy to prove it. Here you can see him wearing a Bulgari BVLGARI wristwatch plus his signature cross earring. Image courtesy: Getty Images. The iconic watch is one of Bulgari's most recognizable pieces from that time. Ori...
Watch Spotting: Princess Diana Wearing Two Pateks At Once (1983)
This picture here is my personal favorite. The former and late Princess Diana still has a soft spot in my heart. When I lived in London as a child, I used to see her scoot around town C and she left an impression on me, as she did with so many others. Image courtesy: Getty Images. Here we see her in 1983 wearing not one but two watches. The larger belongs to Prince Charles, a Patek Philippe Ref. 3445 (Disco Volante). The smaller is a Patek Philippe Ref. 3618. The story goes that Di would wear Charles' watch while he played in his polo matches, so it isn't unusual to find photos of her wearing both....
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom came out in 1984. Harrison Ford, playing the swashbuckling lead, had already appeared in American Graffiti (1973), Apocalypse Now (1979), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Blade Runner (1982), and the first three Star Wars movies C so, yeah, a pretty good run. Image courtesy: Getty Images. Here, he's wearing what looks to me like a rare Breitling Navitimer Pluton 2100 PVD Military Assigned French Aviation. I have many questions about this watch, the most important being: Where in the world did Ford get such an unusual timepiece, and one made for the French military nonetheless? If you know th...
Watch Spotting: Madonna Wearing A Kronoform Robot Watch (1984)
The year is 1984. Apple has released its first computer. Tetris is invented. The Karate Kid is the movie to see. I am not even born yet. And Madonna is still a girl in New Yawk whose hit single, "Like a Virgin," is at the top of the charts. Life is weird, but man, it's good (so I'm told). Image Courtesy: Ken Regan/Camera 5 via Contour by Getty Images Here we have pre-Madge Madonna in 1984 wearing not much but a bra and a watch. And what watch is that? Why, it's a Takara Kronoform Robot Time Machine. A bit of a random choice for the decade's most important female pop star, but a super deep cut if you are into Transformers. ...