1. The Superb Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Day Now In Rose Gold & Sparkling Black Dial (Ref. SBGD202)
At Baselworld 2016, Seiko launched a special Spring Drive 8-day watch called the Ref. SBGD201. Made out of platinum, it has an exquisite dial with diamond dust finishing and an outstanding 8-day Spring Drive movement. Now, Seiko has come up with a new version that I think is even more attractive. It is called the Ref. SBGD202 and it has the same awesome 8-day Spring Drive movement as the SBGD201 but it comes in an 18k rose gold case and features the most captivating black dial with diamond dust finishing. From certain angles, the dial looks like a night sky filled with many stars. Simplicity at its best!
Source: Monochrome
2. Seiko Museum – Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan, is a pretty great place to go watch shopping. Every major brand is represented in the city and there are loads of dealers that specialize in second-hand watches. If you ever find yourself in Tokyo, the Seiko Museum is really worth a visit. It is only about a 10-minute taxi ride or 20-minute train ride from Tokyo Sky Tree and watch lovers can easily spend hours lost among its various exhibits. While Seiko watches are the highlight of this museum, there are also traditional Japanese clocks, old European pocket watches, and visitors can also purchase the latest Seiko watches at the gift store. Having been there myself, I can say that it is well worth a visit if you are ever in Tokyo!
Source: Plus9Time
3. Independent Watchmaking: Why Atelier Visits Are So Valuable
The thing I love most about independent watchmaking is how a watch is painstakingly put together, mostly by hand, by a small group of people. This, for me, is the epitome of watchmaking: owning a watch that is handmade by experts and specialists that have spent years, decades even, honing their craft. It is therefore very fascinating for more to see what goes on behind the scenes in the workshops of these independent watchmakers. And here, we are offered a peek into the workplaces of revered watchmakers like Romain Gauthier, Denis Flageollet (De Bethune), Kari Voutilainen, Vianney Halter, and Philippe Dufour.
Source: PuristSPro
4. Halios Seaforth Review
Earlier in this round-up, I featured the Moana Pacific Professional Dive watch from Magrette, a micro-brand that I quite like. Another micro-brand that I admire is Halios from Vancouver, Canada. In terms of originality and refinement, few micro-brands get it as right as Halios does and their latest watch, the Seaforth is no different. The Seaforth is a simple watch. You can get it with a rotating diver’s bezel or 12-hour bezel, or you can have it with a fixed bezel. It comes with a variety of different dials and that’s about it. There’s nothing over the top about it. It is simplicity done right and I think it is a very handsome watch. This is proof that an affordable mechanical watch need not be a derivative design of something more expensive or an homage to some other piece.
Source: Worn & Wound
5. Does It Matter Who Designed Your Watch?
Consumer purchasing patterns have changed and there is now an increasing emphasis, especially in the realm of luxury products, on artisanal values and the way of the craftsman. Buyers want to know who designed and worked on the things that they are buying. This probably explains why there are many high-end watch lovers gravitating towards independent watchmakers. This also probably explains why watch brands are increasingly looking for ways to put a face behind the watch. For Montblanc, the man they want their fans to know is Davide Cerrato. At Jaeger-LeCoultre, that man used to be Jérôme Lambert.
Source: GQ