Hands-On Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164R
1997, 21 years after the introduction of the Patek Philippe Nautilus stainless steel sports watch, Patek Philippe introduced a new watch aimed at a younger clientele: the Aquanaut. Now, in 2016, almost 20 years later, they?introduce a new variation on the Patek Philippe?Aquanaut?Travel Time, a watch that was introduced in 2011: It is the reference 5164R, where the R stands for rose gold.I’ve always been a fan of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1A and 5711/1A and prefer them as clean as possible (no complications), as it was meant to be in my opinion. That is a bit different with the Aquanaut. Perhaps I am a bit too much of a purist when it comes to watches, but the Aquanaut always was...
Time4APint The Story Behind the London Gatherings and Podcast
Roughly a year ago, we reviewed the watch-themed podcast, The Grey NATO. It continues to serve as a bi-weekly listen for me, but it does have one limitation at least one for me. Namely, it's every two weeks and I drive daily. So, today, we're happy to talk about a watch-related group along with a podcast that takes a different spin on the horological theme. We met Chris Mann at our #SpeedyTuesday get together in Bienne, Switzerland late last year and then saw him again only a couple weeks later at our Get Together in London for Salon QP. He's passionate about watches and a nice guy to boot, so let's see what he's created. Live from London, let's take a look at Time4APint.FW: Chris, tell our ...
Christiaan Van Der Klaauw Baselworld 2018 Novelties
This year’s highlights of Christiaan van der Klaauw are concentrated around two things: aventurine glass dial and the collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels.The production of aventurine glass is highly secret and every piece is carefully picked for a CVDK watch. They want the Aventurine glass as lively and dramatic as possible. For this year, Christiaan van der Klaauw presented the first black aventurine glass ever made. A true premiere and it expands the other aventurine dial options. In terms of looks it is a bit more subtle than the blue variant. A true pitch black starry night.Lady Arpels PlanetariumFor this piece Christiaan van der Klaauw collaborates with the prestigious Van C...
Wild Horologists & Team LCF888/01 52Mondayz, Week #17-2020
I’ve had the Wild Horologists & Team LCF888/01 on my wrist for a while, and I must say, I’m not bored of it yet…These days, in the age of crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter, new brands are ten a penny. And although many of the old guard - those who position themselves as protecting the old ways of watchmaking, emphasizing inimitable heritage and traditional artisanal skill - balk at this sudden rash of newcomers, threatening to overturn the industry, their existence is, in my opinion at least, a very good thing. While very few (if any) of said upstarts succeed in making good on their threats, what they have achieved in their droves is engagement with a young and hun...
Casio G-Shock for starters. A summary into the basics of the G-Shock.
Beginning of the 1980s, Mr. Kikuo Ibe designed the first Casio watch according to the Tripple-10 concept. Waterproof to 10 bar, drop-proof to 10 meters, and a battery life of 10 years. This watch, the G-Shock DW-5000C, became an icon in its own right. And for many high-end watch aficionados, it became a guilty pleasure to love them.An original G-Shock DW-5000C from 1983Casio G-Shock SquareNow, almost 40 years later, for this matter, we’re happy that we have many G-Shock Squares to choose from. Possibly too many! Determining what to look for following the original G-Shock is tough. We get many requests from our readers to help them decide which G-Shock they should buy. We will shed some...
MILUS Snow Star Watch
Are you a fan of vintage-inspired watches? Then the MILUS Snow Star could be the perfect watch for you…MILUS is an independent, 101-years old, family-owned Swiss watch brand located in the heart of the Swiss watch industry, Bienne. The brand was recently revived by Luc Tissot, a direct descendant of the famous Tissot watchmaking family. Tissot and his team certainly have an extensive background in the watchmaking field. Accompanying the rebirth of the company is the reissue of the well-regarded Snow Star. A classic from the archives, the Snow Star belongs to the world of tool and military watches popular with many watch enthusiasts.A watch at the heart of historyThe MILUS Snow Star off...
Buying A Pre-Owned Omega Speedmaster: How About Its Accuracy?
It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when buying a pre-owned or vintage Speedmaster, but what kind of accuracy should you expect from a pre-loved timepiece? Most of the buyers and collectors are more concerned about the watch’s aesthetics than the technical condition of the watch, it seems. Let’s have a closer look at the accuracy of the Speedmaster and what falls within acceptable parameters.In my opinion, patina has become a bit of a buzzword. Sometimes, it is as if it is the only thing that matters when it comes to buying a pre-owned or vintage Speedmaster. Sure, it is important how a watch looks, but there’s more to it than the yellow or green color of hou...
Fratello On Air: Balazs, Jorg, And Mike Talk Watches and Wonders 2021
Three of us recently got together from three different countries to talk about our favorite pieces from Watches and Wonders 2021. As you’ll see, the choices are eclectic!Balazs, Jorg, and Mike came together to talk about their favorite novelties from Watches and Wonder 2021. The picks were surprising! Just like the recent episode on Watches and Wonder from Robert-Jan and Rob, a did not make the cut. That didn’t stop the team from discussing the newest wares from the untouchable brand, though.Pick six - Watches and Wonders 2021...
What Do I Need All These Watches For? A Collector's Conundrum
When my grandfather took a bath or even washed his hands, he would take off his Omega Constellation. It had some water resistance, but he just didn't risk it. He bought that watch around his 50th birthday and took great care of it. I imagine he would smile with bemusement at the size of my collection, but also with the oddly idiosyncratic way in which I interact with it and, in no small way in my mind, justify the presence of each and every watch therein…How times have changed! When I take a bath or wash my hands, I do take off my Moonwatch, I admit. But only because I am exchanging it for the Ploprof 1200M, or some other hulking diver that seems up to the occasion. It seems that for e...
Buying A Pre-Owned Omega Speedmaster: How About Its Accuracy?
It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when buying a pre-owned or vintage Speedmaster, but what kind of accuracy should you expect from a pre-loved timepiece? Most of the buyers and collectors are more concerned about the watch’s aesthetics than the technical condition of the watch, it seems. Let’s have a closer look at the accuracy of the Speedmaster and what falls within acceptable parameters.In my opinion, patina has become a bit of a buzzword. Sometimes, it is as if it is the only thing that matters when it comes to buying a pre-owned or vintage Speedmaster. Sure, it is important how a watch looks, but there’s more to it than the yellow or green color of hou...
Falling For Grand Seiko's Evolution 9 GMT SBGE285 Mist Flake
You can't control your heart. And a watch lover’s heart, especially, tends to skip a beat when it encounters something that strikes a chord. And boy, did my heart skip a beat when I sat down during Grand Seiko's touch-and-feel session during Watches And Wonders. It has been a few weeks since the event in Geneva, and I’ve been trying to calm my heart ever since. But there is just no denying it. Even after a cool-down period of a few weeks, I've fallen for the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT SBGE285 Mist Flake. What is it that makes my heart go boom?I can tell you right away why “my heart goes boom” when I look, feel, touch, and wear the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT SBGE285 ...
Starting A Watch Collection With $10,000: Mike's Top Picks
Ten large, one stack of high society, or whatever you call it - this, $10,000, is what I've been given to start a watch collection. Some would call it an insane amount of money to spend on an archaic wrist device. Others, perhaps, would say that it barely covers the price of admission. So, what will I do with this chunk of change? Let's seeIn reality, $10,000 is a lot of money to set aside for the sole purpose of starting a watch collection. It's the kind of money that pays for a seriously nice vacation or two. It helps pay off a car or some sort of desperately needed home renovation project. In the watch world, though, it all depends on your aims. Be reasonable, and you can expect some grea...
Panerai Luminor Goldtech Calendario Perpetuo: One For The Fans!
What do you imagine when you think of a trip to Florence, Italy? I imagine a scene of the city during the golden hour, with a rose-gold hue bathing its gorgeous architecture. I’m sipping away on my bright orange Aperol-Spritz while enjoying a fat brown cigar on one of the city’s beautiful piazzas. And now, you may wonder, what watch I’m wearing? Well, the Panerai Luminor Goldtech Calendario Perpetuo, of course!I wouldn’t actually consider a Panerai for my personal collection any time soon. The times I’ve tried them on, I’ve found them too big and flashy for my 17cm wrist. And if I? had to choose one, it would be one of the Radiomir models with nearly non-e...
Oris Releases Its 2022 Sustainability Report
Oris recently released its Sustainability Report for 2022. It’s almost 50 pages of accounts of progress and promises for the future. Like some corporations that compile information for their shareholders in a sleek, savvy package, the Oris Sustainability Report is a seductive package for the environmentally-minded. It succinctly covers where Oris has come from and where the brand is going. I have to say, I’m impressed, as I have been following Oris for a while now. But my question is, is it enough?Look, I’m a bit of a sustainability kook. In another life, I’m a professional arborist, climbing and taking care of trees in an urban forest on the West Coast of the United ...
Hesili New York The Original Series One Hands-On
A few weeks ago, just before the tidal wave that was Watches And Wonders hit and submerged our entire team, I received a neat little watch from New York-based start-up Hesili. With only a couple of days’ wrist time before the fair and a couple more since then, I focused hard on the watch before me and its overall presentation to provide you with some initial takeaways from what I’m sure we all hope turns out to be a successful venture.The model in question is the Original Series One. It’s an easily digestible 40mm stainless steel timepiece, clearly drawing on timeless designs littered throughout watchmaking’s history. A 48.5mm lug-to-lug and 10.7mm thickness make this...
Introducing: The Unique Monochrome Habring2 Doppel 38
Our colleagues at Monochrome and Habring2 are no strangers to each other. When the online watch magazine celebrated its 15th birthday in 2021, Habring2 collaborated with them on a celebratory watch. Now, they pair up once more, and this time, it’s for charity. This unique piece will be auctioned at the Geneva Watch Auction XVII in Geneva, May 23-24, 2023.What we have here is a Habring2?split-seconds chronograph with a salmon sector dial in a 38.5mm case. That sounds rather sweet, doesn't it? Let's have a closer look.Habring2 and MonochromeAs mentioned above, these two companies have collaborated before. They introduced the Montre de Souscription 1 for Monochrome's 15th anniversary in 2...
The Mystery Of The Round-Typeface Heuer Autavia 2446M
Was the round typeface in the sub-dials of the “2nd Execution” Heuer Autavia 2446M the result of a thoughtful process, a one-off creative anomaly, or a pad-printing-device operator’s neglect? Who knows?What we know for sure is that we are not looking at some Frankenwatch assembled later from various parts. “Exactly what it should be!” says Jeff Stein, OnTheDash founder and one of the foremost experts on vintage Heuer chronographs, when he inspected the serial number of my Autavia with round numerals. “Serial numbers on the cases are in the 85xxx-to-89xxx range, with only one sample falling outside this range,” he adds.Three examples from a decadeR...
Hands-On: The New TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox
In 1962, Jack Heuer became the fourth-generation director of the Swiss horological manufacturer founded by his great-grandfather. After a strong debut with the Autavia, Jack set his sights on a strong follow-up. Inspired by tales of the Carrera Panamericana - a daring (and deadly) 3,500km Dakar-like race across Mexico - the Heuer Carrera (which borrows the Spanish word for “race” for its name) was born. The race ran for only a few years, with a combination of dangerous road conditions, poor organization, and speed resulting in a significant death toll. The chronograph, however, is still around 60 years later. It has been quite the journey for the Carrera over the past six decades...
Tissot And Me At The 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend
Those of you who follow me on Instagram might have seen that mid-February was a special time for me. Thanks to Tissot, I was able to scratch one thing off my bucket list and attend the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. As someone who grew up as a fan of basketball and the NBA, words can’t explain how extremely unique these few days were for me. Funnily, though, I felt right at home, partly thanks to the fantastic organization of the NBA but also thanks to the Tissot US team (you know who you are).This article will be a bit of everything - a report on a press trip, a photo essay, some watch spotting, and a bit of basketball talk. From the feedback that Mike and I get on...
The Best Microbrand GMT Watches Part Two
Welcome back, Fratelli! Today, I’m back with the second half of my guide to independent and microbrand GMT watches. As I said in Part One, it wasn’t possible to include every option out there in this list. Instead, I’ve chosen to highlight some of the best that I’ve had a chance to experience in person. The amount of options available on the market today is overwhelming, so I hope this guide will help you navigate the sea of GMTs.If you missed Part One, I highly recommend that you read it here. In it, I covered eight watches that utilized either the Seiko NH34 or Soprod C125 movement. This article will feature eight more watches powered by the exciting new Miyota 9075...