We are beginning September’s mega round-up with what could very well be one of the top new watches of this year. It was also one of the most read articles on aBlogtoWatch in September. I’m referring, of course, to the new Zenith Defy Lab. It is significant because it uses a new type of oscillator called the Zenith Oscillator that allows it to beat at an incredible rate of 15Hz. On top of that, Zenith claims the watch is accurate to 0.3 seconds a day.
Other popular articles on aBlogtoWatch in September include the announcement of Casio’s special edition 35th anniversary G-Shock watches, Tag Heuer’s Heritage Autavia Calibre Heuer 02, Tudor’s Heritage Black Bay Steel, and Patek Philippe’s Calatrava ref. 6006G. Readers of aBlogtoWatch certainly have varied tastes.
Elsewhere, readers were also interested in issues such as the troubled Swiss watch industry. Exports of Swiss watches have been down for the past two or so years and a question that seems to be on the back of a lot of people’s minds is, “What will the late Nicolas Hayek Sr. do if he were still alive today?” Finally, we wrap things up by taking a walk down memory lane and looking back at 100 years of the Cartier Tank. Yup, the Tank turns 100 this year, which makes it one of the world’s oldest watch models.
1. Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is ‘World’s Most Accurate’
The honor of most important new watch release in September definitely has to be the Zenith Defy Lab. Unless you are well-versed in watch movements, it is not apparent at all what is powering the watch. There’s no conventional balance, balance spring, or lever. Instead, what the Defy Lab has is a new type of oscillator called the Zenith Oscillator, which is made entirely out of silicon using a Deep Reactive Ion Etching process. This unique oscillator has two immediately appreciable qualities. It looks fantastic in operation, but perhaps just as important, it allows the movement to beat at a very fast rate of 15Hz. This improves timekeeping and makes it more resistant to shock. In fact, Zenith goes as far as to call it the most accurate movement in the world, with a deviation of only about 0.3 seconds a day. Find out more about this remarkable watch in the link below.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. What Advice Can The Late Nicolas Hayek Tell Us About How To Fix Today’s Watch Industry Problems?
The late Nicolas Hayek Sr. is often credited as the man who saved the Swiss watch industry. 30 or so years ago, the advent of quartz technology severely threatened Swiss watch companies. However, it was the foresight of Nicolas Hayek Sr. and his boldness that saved the industry. Today, the Swiss watch industry faces an entirely different problem – one that can perhaps be said to be mostly self-inflicted. Inefficient distribution, haphazard marketing, unrealistic retail prices, are all but some of the problems that plague today’s Swiss watch companies. What would Nicolas Hayek Sr. do or say if he were still alive today?
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. Casio G-Shock 35th Anniversary Collection Watches
In 1983, Japanese engineer Kikuo Ibe finally achieved his goal of designing a watch that could withstand a drop from 10 meters, be water resistant to 100 meters, and have a battery life of 10 years. That watch was called the G-Shock, and it would go on to be an horological and cultural icon. 2017 marks the 35th anniversary of the G-Shock and coincidentally, Casio also announced that it has just sold its 100 millionth G-Shock. But perhaps what’s more important for G-Shock fans is that Casio also announced a collection of special edition 35th anniversary G-Shock watches. Here they are for your viewing pleasure.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. TAG Heuer Heritage Autavia Calibre Heuer 02 Watch Review
The Heritage Autavia Calibre Heuer 02 is an unusual and important watch for Tag Heuer. It’s unusual because the design was voted for by Heuer fans through an online voting campaign called the Autavia Cup. It is also important because it’s one of Tag Heuer’s most important initiatives in recent years. The way I see it is that the watch is really more of a project to reignite the passion for the brand and to prove to fans that Tag Heuer really cares and listens to its fans. But most crucially, the end result is a really sweet watch that is a nice modern take on a vintage Heuer watch.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel Watch Hands-On
The Heritage Black Bay series has got to be one of Tudor’s most popular collections. At Baselworld this year, they added a new model called the Heritage Black Bay Steel. It isn’t that much different from the earlier Heritage Black Bay models, but it does give watch lovers more options. As its name suggests, the Heritage Black Bay Steel comes in all steel. While the earlier models had colored bezels, the Heritage Black Bay Steel has a raw stainless steel bezel. It also differentiates itself by having a date display at 3 o’clock. Overall, it can be argued that this model looks more modern and that the addition of the date display makes it more practical and functional.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
6. Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 6006G Watch Hands-On
Mention the words “Patek Philippe Calatrava” and you will very likely think of a small-ish 38mm or so three-handed dress watch with a date display. The ref. 6006G happens to be a Calatrava, but it is easily the most distinctive and one might even say oddball of them all. To begin, the dial is super busy. From the center, you have a minute track, and then a larger hour track, and finally a pointer-style date display. That’s not all. There is even a subsidiary seconds dial at 5 o’clock. Find out more about this unusual Calatrava watch in the link below.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
7. The Psychology Of Wanting To Show Off Your Luxury Watch
Why do we really wear luxury watches? Let’s be really honest with ourselves. Sure, a big part of it is because we can understand and appreciate the amount of work that goes into it. Each F.P. Journe watch, for example, was conceived from the ground up and manufactured by the brand itself. A Philippe Dufour Simplicity is the result of countless hours of hand work by the great master Dufour himself. Sure, these are certainly reasons why we love, buy, and wear luxury watches. But really, isn’t a small, or maybe huge part, of why we wear luxury watches because we want to show them off too?
Source: aBlogtoWatch
8. Rolex Daytona 116520 In Steel With Black Dial Watch Review
Though the Rolex Daytona 116520 has been replaced by the ref. 116500, it remains to be a grail watch for many. It is also a historically important watch for Rolex. In production for over 16 years, it was introduced at the turn of the millennium, and it is significant because it introduced the Rolex caliber 4130, which is the brand’s first in-house chronograph movement. Prior to the ref. 116520, Rolex used modified Zenith El Primero movements in their Daytona watches. Now that the new Daytona 116500 has been around for a year, how does the older Daytona 116520 hold up?
Source: aBlogtoWatch
9. Bamford Abandons Rolex, Instead Focuses On LVMH Watch Division Brands
Mention Bamford and you will likely think of blacked out Rolex watches. For most of its history, Bamford was known for customizing Rolex watches. It even has some pretty sweet customized Rolex pieces such as the Bamford Heritage Bicolor Paul Newman Daytona watch. That said, Bamford recently announced that it has been given blessings by Zenith to go nuts with their watches. In other words, Bamford is now the official customizer of Zenith watches. Now, the relationship with Zenith will run deeper as Bamford has just shared that it will soon stop customizing Rolex watches and focus entirely on brands in the LVMH watch division.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
10. Orient Nami Watch Review
Most readers think only of Seiko when it comes to affordable dive watches, but that would be missing out on all the equally wonderful watches that Orient makes. Orient, which is actually a subsidiary of Seiko, makes some nice divers such as the Mako, King Diver, and the Ray. Now, it has a new model called the Nami, and I think it is the best-looking one yet. I like that it has a clean dial with larger block indexes and that the case has sharply curved lugs that give it a strong distinct look. The best thing about it is that you can get it for well under $500.
Source: aBlogtoWatch