I’m sure readers of this site will agree that one of the interesting, albeit more scarcely discussed elements of watch collecting is how desirable vintage watches – sometimes even important ones – are still being discovered now and then. These things don’t happen all the time, obviously, but recently, an important discovery was made. A never seen before vintage Heuer Chronomatic was uncovered. And what’s impressive about it is that it is believed to be one of Heuer’s very first automatic chronographs and could very well be the oldest automatic Heuer chronograph watch in existence now. And this month, we retrace the story of how it was found.
We also check out one of my favorite watches from SIHH 2015, the new Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum, and compare it to other worldtime watches that are on the market right now. Then, we take a closer look at one of my dream watches, the very rare and awesome Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication – only one of three in the world. Finally, we revisit the age old debate of column wheel vs cam-actuated chronographs. Is one truly better than the other?
1. Is This What Luxury Smartwatches Will Be Like? Pioneer Jorg Hysek Presents Designs, Interview
Jorg Hysek is a watch designer with over 30 years of experience and has worked for top brands like Breguet, Tag Heuer, Seiko, and more. Some of his best known work includes the Tag Heuer Kirium and the Seiko Arctura Kinetic. He also started his own watch brand called Hysek (which has since been sold off) and later HD3. We caught up with him recently to talk about how smart watches would affect the Swiss luxury watch industry, and check out some of his latest concept smart watch designs.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. Seven Ways To Survive As A Watch Lover On A Budget
Watch collecting is an expensive hobby, and unless you are a hot shot Wall Street banker or a Middle Eastern Sheik flush with oil money, chances are you have to work with a budget. Obviously, it can sometimes be very difficult to do so. It takes discipline and some out-of-the-box thinking. Here are some tips from us on how you can maximize your enjoyment of watches with whatever budget you have on hand.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. Devon Works Tread 2 Shining Watch Review
If you are a fan of quirky timepieces, the name Devon is probably no stranger to you. If not, the company is most famous for its Tread 1 electro-mechanical watch. Even though the Tread 1 has been around for about five years now, it is still one of the most visually interesting and exciting watches around. However, it is also very big and pricey. The Tread 2 addresses those problems by being much more wearable and affordable, and thus is much more attractive proposition to watch enthusiasts. Here’s our in-depth review of Devon’s new Tread 2 Shining watch.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. Prometheus Sailfish Watch Review
It’s been quite some time since we reviewed a watch from a micro-brand, but here is one from Prometheus, a brand that I’m quite fond of myself. If you spend any amount of time looking up affordable watches on watch forums, the name Prometheus should be familiar to you. Established in 2008, Prometheus has earned a reputation for delivering affordable watches of very high value. The Sailfish is one of their latest and features a hefty case that offers 300m of water resistance and a domed sapphire bezel. It’s also highly legible and is powered by a tried-and-tested Seiko movement. If you are looking for an inexpensive diver and want something that is not a Seiko, this is worth checking out.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication Watch Hands-On
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication is the stuff of dreams. It combines the very modern and aggressive Royal Oak Offshore design with a very classic set of complications, and is a fitting showcase of Audemars Piguet’s unique skills and spirit. Most impressive of all is the fact that it adheres strictly the classic definition of what makes a watch worthy of the Grande Complication name. The Caliber 2885 within is comprised of over 600 parts and features a minute repeater with two gongs, perpetual calendar with moonphase, and a chronograph with split-seconds function.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
6. Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Automatic PAM328 On Bracelet Watch Review
I want to bring your attention to a pretty special Panerai watch. No, it’s not a special edition piece, but it is still unique, at least in the world of Panerai, because it comes with a metal bracelet. I’m referring to the PAM328, which is essentially the PAM 312 but with a metal bracelet. If you have been hankering for a Panerai, but simply cannot stand leather or rubber straps, this is the Panerai for you.
Source: aBlogtoWatch