This month’s roundup is all about new watches, and we have got all sorts lined up for you. We begin with the colorful, complicated, and limited HYT H1 Colorblock. Next, we have Bell & Ross’ very unusual and interesting new BR 01-CM Instrument De Marine watch. Is this a sign that Bell & Ross is going to make more maritime-inspired timepieces? Who knows. And rounding things off, we have a double-whammy featuring the very classic and elegant Patek Philippe 5396 Annual Calendar watch, and a rare very and shiny Rolex that you might never know existed.
Moving on, we pay tribute to a very important man who has helped shaped the watch industry. That man is Günter Blümlein, and he has been largely credited with reviving the fortunes of IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre, and also played a very big role in the resurrection of one of my favorite brands, A. Lange & Söhne. And finally, we end things off by learning more about the “Ghost” dial Rolex Paul Newman Daytona.
1. HYT H1 Colorblock Limited Edition Watches In Red, Yellow, Or Blue Hands-On
For anyone who is considering a piece from one of the independent watch brands, I think HYT should be on your list if you’re willing to pay for it. If you want something classical, HYT isn’t it; but if you want something that is refreshing, new, and technically interesting, then HYT is all of those things. The brand is most famous for using liquids in their watches and movements, and the H1 was their very first watch when they launched the brand in 2012. Here, the H1 has been updated in three very bright and bold colors, and they will only be available in very limited numbers. Have a closer look at them by hitting the link below.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. Bell & Ross BR 01-CM Instrument De Marine Limited Edition Watch In Bronze, Wood, & Titanium Hands-On
Bell & Ross’ guiding light has always come from the skies, but their new Instrument De Marine collection unabashedly draws its inspiration from the open waters and deep seas. Featured here is the BR 01-CM Instrument De Marine, the simplest model from Bell & Ross’ new and limited-edition-only Marine Instrument collection. Though this watch features the brand’s distinctive BR 01 case, the case itself is made using materials associated with the sea – bronze, titanium, and a dash of wood. The dial also pays homage to marine chronometers of old. It’s a refreshing take on marine-inspired watches and a real treat for fans of the brand.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. Azimuth SP-1 Crazy Rider ‘Bike Chain’ Watch Hands-On
Azimuth is a brand that specializes in offering interesting & unique watch designs at affordable price points. To keep prices down, Azimuth uses regular ETA movements and then modifies the hell out of them. And one of the watches that best encapsulates this philosophy is the new SP-1 Crazy Rider ‘Bike Chain’ watch. As the name suggests, the SP-1 Crazy Rider watch has a design that is heavily influenced by motorbikes, featuring hands that are linked by chains. It’s a fascinating design, and looks in concept like something a more high-end and expensive brand like MB&F would make.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. Patek Philippe 5396 Annual Calendar Moonphase Watch Hands-On
The annual calendar complication is so called because it only requires one adjustment every year, and that’s at the end of February. It’s less complicated than a perpetual calendar, but it’s actually a rather recent invention, debuting only in 1996 on a wristwatch by arguably the biggest brand in the business – Patek Philippe. As a result, annual calendar watches by Patek Philippe are a little special, and for 2016 they have released two new variants of their revered reference 5396. The new variants are available in white and rose gold, and are easily distinguishable by the use of Breguet-style numerals for their hour indexes.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Grand Seiko SBGX093 Quartz Watch Review
Seiko’s Grand Seiko line encompasses all three major types of movements that Seiko makes. We have purely mechanical watches, and then we have the hybrid electro-mechanical Spring Drive, and finally there are the pure quartz watches. This is apt because it was Seiko who produced the world’s first quartz watch. Today, Seiko’s continues to produce quartz watches and movements. It even has its own facility where they grow their own quartz crystals! Unsurprisingly, the Grand Seiko SBGX093, which is powered by Seiko’s 9F family of quartz movement, is one heck of a quartz watch. This watch takes accuracy and precision to a whole new level as it is rated to be accurate to -/+ 10 seconds a year!
Source: aBlogtoWatch
6. Super Rare €430,000 Rolex Day-Date 40 Green Emerald Platinum Watch Hands-On
I love browsing watch catalogs to see all of the collections and models that a brand offers. Rolex’s catalogs are one of the more interesting ones to browse, because littered within are also explanations and descriptions of the its technologies and capabilities. However, not all of the watches that Rolex makes are in the catalog. And one of those watches is the ultra rare solid-platinum Rolex Day-Date 40 Green Emerald Reference 228396TEM. I’m usually not a fan of blinged-out watches, but in this case, I think it’s fair to say that even the most conservative of watch lovers can appreciate the amount of craftsmanship that goes into producing this extremely rare piece.
Source: aBlogtoWatch