Red Bull Racing Headquarter visit with TAG Heuer
Recently we received an invitation to head to Milton Keynes in the United Kingdom to visit one of the top performing F1 racing teams. Being a returning fan of the F1 this was like being a kid in a candy store. Too bad there was a strict no photography policy at Red Bull Racing but we quickly learned why this was fully understandable.Starting off in the workshop we get a rough presentation of Red Bull Racing, its history and their way of doing things. Although we learn that there are roughly 800 people working there, it feels like a small family. Not just a job but ‘a way of life’ as they call it themselves. Crazy to realize it takes that many people to race two cars around a circ...
Hot Take: Omega Seamaster 300M Sedna Gold
With Time to Move complete, we’re now free to shed details on all the new releases such as the new Omega Seamaster 300M Sedna Gold.Since the release of the new 42mm?Seamaster 300M at Baselworld 2018, we’ve been smitten by this diver.? With its reintroduction of the wave dial made popular by Pierce Brosnan as “007”, but with far higher quality looks, what’s not to like?? Whether in full stainless, bi-color (probably the watch we love most), 44mm titanium, or the limited edition tantalum titanium, it’s a real looker.? And with a Co-Axial Master Chronometer inside and a starting price of only 4,500 Euros for steel on rubber, it’s a seriously competitive...
Steel Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary This Is It!
Omega celebrates one of man's proudest achievements with the release of the Steel Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary.In what must qualify as the most hotly anticipated new watch release of 2019, we have the Steel Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary limited edition from Omega.? Whether you're an Omega fan, a space geek, or a history buff in general, 2019 was bound to be a big year.? Amongst Speedmaster lovers, the chatter about what could be considered as one of Omega's most important commemoratives began well over a year ago.? And now that day is finally here with the new ref. 310.20.42.50.01.001.? We're excited to show you some live pics that we were fortunate enough to take during t...
Six Summer Holiday Watches (2021): Omega, Breitling, And More
Depending on where you are in the world, it might be starting to look a bit like summer. In my neck of the woods (Dresden, Germany) we’re alternating our modes of transport between cross-country skis, rollerblades, and catamarans on a near-weekly basis. Back home in Britain, I’ve heard that Manchester is careening from 25 degrees one week to a cozy 4 the next. Anyway, knowing my kinfolk that’s still warm enough to reach for the board shorts and lager, so let’s say it’s time for a list of my top six summer stunners chosen for every situation.Summer is a fabulous time of year. All the doom and gloom of winter (especially a Covid winter) will soon be behind us and ...
Independent Insights: Czapek, Louis Erard, Marloe & Ulysse Nardin!
What up, indie fans! Long time no see! It’s been a while since my last Independent Insights column, but I have a small collection of cool things I’d like to share with you. This week I have some more prominent brands in the melting pot as well as one microbrand. Before I get started, I’d love to hear more from you regarding these articles. Do you like hearing about the bigger independent brands too, or do you prefer the small brands? What do you want to see in this column? I’d love to hear more from you! OK, let’s do this.Czapek Antarctique Emerald IcebergLet’s start with a good one. Let me preface this by apologizing: Czapek has already sold out of this w...
Seiko Presage Style60's Open heart Watches (2021) Reviewed
If it wasn't for a constant stream of new Astron GPS Solar models leaving the manufacture, I may have been led to believe Seiko only had eyes for the past. Retro rules in Japan. And although that's the same as in the rest of the watch world, Seiko is particularly active in reviving the past with re-editions and/or re-interpretations. Seiko helps watch lovers on different budgets relive the past with all kinds of models in different product families. One of the brand’s more affordable releases is a revealing trio of open-heart Seiko Presage Style60's watches.Re-interpreting a memorable designTell me honestly, what was the first thought that popped up in your head when you first saw a Pr...
MeisterSinger Bell Hora (2021) Tells The Time Through Sound
MeisterSinger became famous for its first single-handed watch in the early two-thousands. Ever since then, I’ve been a fan. To me, the N01, the original MeisterSinger single-hand watch, looks just as fresh today as it did 20 years ago. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the new Bell Hora and see if it lives up to MeisterSinger’s charm of simplicity.I was happy to find the newly introduced Bell Hora made available to us by Meistersinger. Having a hands-on experience with this kind of watch really helps. Being able to see the dial in natural light or to listen to its charming chime is essential. The Bell Hora is, like the N01, a watch with just a single hand and no furthe...
Introducing The Unimatic Automobili Amos Models
If you ask me to name a random rally car, chances are pretty big that I will immediately mention the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. This iconic rally car from the late ’80s and early ’90s is still one of the coolest silhouettes the world of motorsports has ever seen. So when I saw a Lancia Delta pop up in the promo materials for the latest Unimatic collaboration, I was immediately intrigued. For the latest collaboration, the Milanese brand teamed up with Italian car company Automobili Amos to create new and unique Unimatic Modello Quattro models. Time to find out more.The guys at Unimatic have released some stunning collaboration timepieces over the last couple of years. The wide var...
Up Close With The Omega Speedmaster Mk40 3820.53
The Omega Speedmaster Mk40 3820.53 is a bit of an oddball in the collection. Besides the Professional, Omega has always had a number of Speedmaster variations in the catalog since 1969. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Speedmaster Reduced was an alternative to the Moonwatch for those who wanted a smaller watch, one with an automatic movement, or simply a slightly more affordable choice.Besides the Speedmaster Reduced, Omega also had the Speedmaster Racing series (with Schumacher and Andretti as ambassadors) and this Speedmaster Day-Date model. It’s a 39mm Speedmaster watch with the well-known lyre lugs and black tachymeter bezel. A self-winding movement (caliber 1151) provides the time, chr...
Introducing The New Ulysse Nardin The Ocean Race Diver
Ulysse Nardin’s ties to the ocean and its exploration run as deep as its inky blue depths. Since 1846, the Swiss brand has consistently produced marine chronometers for those who navigate the vast bodies of water that cover 70.8% of our planet. Today, Ulysse Nardin takes steps in a new environmentally conscious direction. The brand introduces The Ocean Race Diver, a watch made largely of recycled fishing nets. Over the course of the 175 years that Ulysse Nardin has been around, our oceans have suffered greatly. According to the UK, 640,000 metric tonnes of used fishing nets are discarded or lost every year. Ulysse Nardin embarked on a mission in 2020 to turn the problem into a solution...
Fratello On Air: Balazs And Mike Talk Travel, News, And More
Get ready for a winding episode for this week’s Fratello On Air! Balazs and Mike return after a one-week hiatus with news from the road. Enjoy this open discussion!...
The Best Blue Divers From Grand Seiko, Blancpain, And JLC
I love blue dials, so I'm not even attempting to be objective. The most difficult thing for me here is to not mention my Seiko Marinemaster 300. But I've already mentioned it in a few stories already, so I'm remaining schtum. Besides, my love of blue goes beyond mere wristwear. So here, you’ll find some of the best blue diver's watches from Grand Seiko, Blancpain, and JLC, as well as versatile #DEEPBLUE gear to match up with them. But I don’t mean diving gear…Yes, I love divers, and I have some diving gear. But so far, the vest, valves, and hoses have been great photo props and nothing more. Am I ashamed? Nope. This is not 1976 when a tool was a tool. These days, diver's wa...
Hands-On With The Depancel Legend 60s Chronograph
I don’t think I’ve ever met a watch enthusiast who doesn’t like chronographs with a panda dial. The contrast between the main dial and the sub-dials just makes for a very elegant and easy-to-read look. It’s not easy to get the proportions right, though. The size of the case, the dial, the sub-dials, the numerals, and the hands all have to play together in perfect harmony. That’s certainly not the case on all of these (vintage-inspired) chronographs. But - spoiler alert - I think the dimensions on this all-new Depancel Legend 60s chronograph are nearly perfect.I’ve often toyed with the idea of adding a chronograph with a panda or reverse-panda dial to my co...
Introducing: Three New NOMOS Orion Neomatik Watches
What better way to mark 175 years of watchmaking in NOMOS’s hometown of Glashutte than with a new limited-edition watch? I think upping the number to three watches certainly does the trick. Today, NOMOS introduces a trio of new Orion Neomatik models. This limited run celebrates watchmaking in Glashutte, the German seat of the craft.In stark contrast to the latest NOMOS release - a quartet of Tetras that we covered a few weeks ago - the new Orion Neomatik models opt for a more traditional approach. But there’s a good reason behind that choice. This trio of Orions is meant to pay homage to the watchmaking tradition, and it does so through traditional aesthetics. At the same time, t...
Introducing: The Lebond Siza A Strong Architectural Debut
A watch as a design object is a tricky concept. As timepieces are highly functional instruments for practical purposes, they should predominantly be comfortable and usable. Having said that, we have seen plenty of brands explore the boundaries of what watches can look like and do. But what if you try to incorporate another art form into this endeavor? The new brand Lebond, based out of Barcelona, operates at the crossroads of watch design and architecture. Lebond’s first release is the remarkable Siza. It is named after the legendary 89-year-old Portuguese architect lvaro Siza, who conceptualized this watch by taking inspiration from a pool that he designed in the 1960s. The result is...
Hands-On: Underwater with the Synchron Military Poseidon
The calming rhythm of the Pacific Ocean gently lapping at rocks is broken by the harsh cry of seagulls. A young boy is eating ice cream, his father watching in amazement as two freedivers emerge from the swell, carrying extra-long flippers and wearing massive snorkels. The pair look rather like sea monsters until they pull off the snorkels. The young boy immediately loses interest. I glance down at my wrist and see the seconds hand of the Synchron Military Poseidon sweeping around the dial.As this scene unfolds, I am preparing my underwater 35mm film camera. I review my internal checklist - look over the camera for sand and grit that might compromise waterproofness, check the seals and gaske...
Hands-On: The Awake Mission To Earth Collection
Last year, French brand Awake released two NASA-approved timepieces that are part of the Mission To Earth collection. They were called Chapter I and Chapter II. Two months ago, the brand followed up with two new models. The new pieces were introduced as the Time Travelers additions to the Mission To Earth collection, and they stand out thanks to their meteorite dials. I had a chance to go hands-on with all four Mission To Earth models to find the commonalities and differences between the two series and the four different watches - and to find my favorite, of course.The Awake Mission To Earth Chapter I is a watch that I had seen online quite a bit before I actually got to experience the timep...
H. Moser Streamliner Centre Seconds Matrix Green & Purple Haze
Four years ago, H. Moser & Cie. gave the watch world the Streamliner Centre Seconds Matrix Green. The watch became a fan favorite and earned the nickname Green Dragon. Since 2024 is the Year of the Dragon in Chinese astrology, the return of the Green Dragon is hardly a surprise. The fact that the illustrious watch is re-released together with a purple-dial version is. And the violet version comes with an official name that makes a nickname instantly redundant - Purple Haze.The first-ever three-hand Streamliner was the 2020 Streamliner Centre Seconds Matrix Green. Later H. Moser & Cie. from Schaffhausen also released a Smoked Salmon version. And despite the latter looking a tad brown ...
Windup Watch Fair San Francisco 2024 Recap
It is Windup Watch Fair season once again! For my third consecutive year, I’ve had the pleasure of attending the San Francisco event, this year from May 3rd to the 5th. Housed now in a new, larger location, even more vendors and enthusiasts came out this year to see and shop watches and share in the passion. Overall, I’d call it a resounding success, and it bodes well for the upcoming Chicago and New York fairs.Look, I get the allure of Watches and Wonders ? the best of the industry all revealing their newest novelties at the Palexpo in Geneva. It’s a wonder that more people don’t go into hypoglycemic shock with all that wrist candy everywhere. But the Windup Watch F...
Hands-On: Cartier Santos-Dumont Rewind
Have you heard of people wearing watches without winding and/or setting them correctly? I have. And to a point, I get why they can't be bothered to make sure the mechanical watches on their wrists display the time correctly more than twice a day. The correct time is everywhere - on your phone, in your car, on your laptop, and so on. There's no practical necessity to have a watch keeping track of time these days. But a watch can still be a great accessory, a style statement, and an expression of personal taste. So, was the Cartier Santos-Dumont Rewind made for people who don't care about having the correct time on their wrists?Well, I wouldn’t assume that all buyers fit that description...