Results for Wandering Hours

Hands-On: De Bethune DB28 Steel Wheels Blue “The Hour Glass”

De Bethune is the latest amongst a number of watchmakers to take the covers off a commemorative edition to mark the 40th anniversary of Singapore watch retail powerhouse The Hour Glass. For the occasion, De Bethune has put together a variant of its signature DB28 with sprung lugs that’s entirely clad in brilliant, blued titanium. First unveiled in polished titanium in 2018, the Steel Wheels is essentially a DB28 wearing a little less. A partially open-worked dial – which is actually the delta-shaped barrel bridge – reveals its pair of skeletonised barrels and gears. While the original Steel Wheels captures the essence of De Bethune, combining its trademark design with the brand’s fundamental technical innovations, it was lacking a generous dose of blued titanium, a gorgeous, heat-treated alloy that is synonymous with the brand. Colour consistency That has now been rectified with the DB28 Steel Wheels Blue, arguably the purest – and bluest – distillation of the brand’s core values and technical achievements. It features an intense, mirror-polished, blued titanium case and dial that form a striking contrast against the exposed inner mechanics. Though blued titanium is also used by other brands today, De Bethune was amongst the first to mirror-polish its titanium cases and more crucially, started using heat treatment to blue titanium way back in 2006. An example of an early De Bethune using blued titanium, a DB25L from 2010 with a blued dial...

Up Close: Akrivia AK-02 Tourbillon Hour Minute

Last year’s Akrivia Chronomètre Contemporain made its young creator, Rexhep Rexhepi, a star, but the brand’s foundational watch is actually the “AK” series. Chunky and slightly sporty, the AK watches are a world away from the classical styling of the Chronomètre Contemporain, but boast the same level of movement finishing, along with a bonus of elaborately hand-hammered dials. The second model in the AK series was the AK-02 Tourbillon Heure Minute, or “Hour Minute” – a time-only watch with a tourbillon regulator. The AK-02 is probably the finest finished tourbillon wristwatch in its price segment, and in the price segments above it as well. The AK case It’s a fairly large watch, with the case measuring 43.0mm with and 12.9mm high. But the lugs are short so it feels fairly compact on the wrist. And because the AK-02 is typically found in a steel case, as is pictured here, or occasionally titanium, it is usually lightweight. Gold cases are available for a modest premium, though rarely requested. The case feels like it’s trying too hard, and consequently feels overly built, with thick lugs and a high case band. It’s too chunky for my taste, and doesn’t quite suit the refined movement inside. That being said, the AK-style case has it fans for several reason. The design is distinctive, more distinctive than the old school Chronomètre Contemporain case. And it is also finished to a high degree, with contrasting polished and brushed surfaces; the...

INTRODUCING: An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph to celebrate The Hour Glass’ 40th anniversary

It’s a truism to say that the watch industry loves an anniversary, and while mostly it’s the watch brands doing the celebrating, this time it is a retailer celebrating the big 4-0. Boy, are they celebrating in style.  The Hour Glass is one of the major retail figures in the Asia-Pacific region, with more than … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph to celebrate The Hour Glass’ 40th anniversary appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Introducing the AP Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph, The Hour Glass Commemorative Edition

In celebration of The Hour Glass’ 40th anniversary AP announces the Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph, The Hour Glass Commemorative Edition in platinum

Uncensored: The Hour Glass Interviews Wei Koh

One of our oldest partners from the industry, The Hour Glass interviews Wei Koh on the occasion of the revered watch retailer’s 40th anniversary.

Pre-SIHH 2019: F. P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance with analog 24 hour display

For the 20th Anniversary of the Chronomètre à Résonance, F.P.Journe introduces a version that will be produced only during the year 2019.

Introducing the Tangente ‘Red Dot’ 2018 by Nomos Glashütte x The Hour Glass

Nomos Glashütte collaborates with The Hour Glass for a second time to produce the Tangente ‘Red Dot’ 2018 in two versions, limited to 100 pieces each.

Breguet Stars in Darkest Hour

Breguet reproduced Churchill’s Breguet No 765 pocket watch at the request of the filmmakers, and it can be seen prominently throughout the “Darkest Hour”.

Introducing the Nomos Red Dot - Exclusively for The Hour Glass & Watches Of Switzerland

Nomos creates the Nomos Red Dot (a special version of their Zürich Weltzeit) exclusively for The Hour Glass & Watches Of Switzerland in celebration of their two years of partnership.

Invite: The Rolex Submariner Exhibition by The Hour Glass Singapore

For the first time in Singapore, join The Hour Glass Singapore for the Rolex Submariner exhibition held at ION Orchard Level 1, from 11 to 20 Aug 2017.

EVENT: Epic watches and why the Australian market matters - the Sydney Hour Glass GTG with Michael Tay

The concept of GTGs, or G2Gs, or get togethers in plain english, is a staple of the Instagram handled, Facebook-inhabiting individuals known collectively as ‘the watch fam’. For all that the growth of watch collecting and connoisseurship has been driven by digital platforms, there’s nothing quite like meeting like-minded people in person, calling them by … ContinuedThe post EVENT: Epic watches and why the Australian market matters - the Sydney Hour Glass GTG with Michael Tay appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Review: The Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch 90th Anniversary

Our hands-on review of the Lindbergh Hour Angle Watch – 90th Anniversary, with improvements made to the reissue. With full specs and price.

Golden Hour

Review: AkriviA Tourbillon Hour Minute

Review of AkriviA Tourbillon Hour Minute with hands-on analysis, live high resolution photographs, and price.

The Hour Glass Special: Double Happiness: Gifts for Chinese New Year x Valentine’s Day

The Hour Glass Double Happiness suggestions for gifts for Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day

Sartorial musings: A gentleman’s essentials from Malmaison by The Hour Glass

Our picks from the wonderful gentleman's emporium at Malmaison by The Hour Glass. Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Skeleton, Corthay shoes and socks, Rubinacci ties, Roland Iten cufflinks, Ethan K wallets.

SINN U1-D for The Hour Glass: Hands on Review

SINN U1-D Mission Dune Limited Edition 350 pieces The Hour Glass

Chopard LUC Strike One; Mark The Hour

The tones of Big Ben, the sinister sound of a clock sounding midnight in a scary movie and of course the recent tolling of bells worldwide to mark the new year; timepieces that sound to mark the full hour are memorable and all around us, yet are very rarely incorporated in a wristwatch. Repeaters can […]

Ulysse Nardin and The Hour Glass presents the Freak Limited Edition.

This limited edition timepiece was conceptualized and created for The Hour Glass Singapore to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Freak which won an Innovation Prize award in 2001. The Freak was a brainchild of the late CEO Rolf Schnyder and Dr. Ludwig Oechslin. If I am not mistaken, this is one of the first […]

Happy Hour: Follow The Leader

Take A Cue From The French Emperor’s Foremost Selection To be a leader, in whatever field and whether born or bred, one requires just as much fortitude as he does the respective skill and acumen. It’s not just about possessing the intellect to make the right choices for yourself and, more importantly, those following you; […]

Malmaison by The Hour Glass at Knightsbridge: most beautiful store in the world?

Malmaison by The Hour Glass in Knightsbridge stands as one of the most beautiful stores purveying luxury in the world. A brainchild of Michael Tay, this store is a treasure house to showcase luxury. Not satisfied with just offering the world’s best watches, Malmaison now also offers a beautiful line of menswear, luxury perfumes andRead More

Store Visit: Malmaison by The Hour Glass

Store Visit: Malmaison by The Hour Glass: Emporium Extronaire The Malmaison by The Hour Glass is not quite new…in fact, it opened its doors just after SIH 2011…almost a year ago. But the store continues to amaze me. This is a veritable temple of luxury, conceived and created by Hour Glass’s intrepid Executive Director MichaelRead More

The Gübelin Ellipse: The Often Forgotten Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet Retailer’s Own Timepieces

It took a few years of being a watch enthusiast before I came across my first double-signed watch dial. I remember it was a Universal Geneve White Shadow with the word “Türler” written near the six o’clock position. Having never seen one before, I typed in a quick Google search to see what this had meant and, hours of research later, I came out a new watch collector––one with an eye and appreciation for double-signed watches. Up there with the likes of Cartier, Türler, Tiffany and Co., Mesiter, Trucchi, and other renowned jewelry retailers, Gübelin is a name any collector will frequently stumble upon when shopping for watches of this variety. When I came across this example of a solely Gübelin-branded timepiece, I knew I had to pick it up (especially for the >$100 price tag). This sent me down a rabbit hole of research similar to what the double-signed watches did. I wanted to understand the Gübelin brand and what it did for the world of horology, and I find it only necessary to share what I was able to find with all of you. Brief History of Gübelin Taking roots in 1854, Gübelin started in Lucerne as an independently run watch shop specializing in repairs and sales. The owner and lead watchmaker, Mauritz Breitschmid, would later agree to a partnership deal with young apprentice (and later son-in-law) Eduard Jakob Gübelin, sparking what would become decades of successful international business. As time went on, Gübelin became a powerhouse of the jewelry m...

First Look – The New Reservoir Mark II Series, a Stronger Identity with Integrated Design

Reservoir was launched in 2017 and quickly became known as a watchmaking brand inspired by automotive gauges, aeronautical counters and industrial manometers. Reservoir built its identity around a simple yet visually interesting concept: displaying time through jumping hours and retrograde minutes, often with a power reserve indication. Until now, that instrument’s aesthetic influence has been […]

Watches & Wonders: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reintroduces the Master Control Collection and their “HPG” Designation

In addition to a barrage of ultra high end novelties, Jaeger-LeCoultre this week has introduced the new Master Control Chronometre collection, with a focus on chronometric elegance with watches featuring a sleek new integrated bracelet sports watch design. Jaeger-LeCoultre has a long history, of course, of not just pure movement making and horology, but in providing certainty behind their movements through the Master Control collection, which was a testing certification conducted in-house over 1,000 hours. The Master Control Chronometre collection continues that tradition while also filling a gap in the brand’s catalog: a (relatively) accessible everyday watch that is not a Reverso.  Before getting into the watches themselves, we’ll start with an overview of what “Master Control” really means in 2026. This collection reintroduces the brand’s “High Precision Guarantee” designation, which is an update of an old standard first used on JLC’s Calibre 916, their renowned 4 Hz caliber introduced in 1970. The new HPG designation evaluates performance across four metrics: altitude (certifying that the watch can withstand pressure up to 1004 meters above sea level, the altitude of the JLC manufacture), multi-directional shocks, testing in multiple positions, and variances across temperature. Jaeger-LeCoultre has developed new machinery to test for these conditions, which the brand says can simulate real world use over a long duration in just three days of actual tes...