Results for Meteorite Dial

Want crazy value and creativity? Your next watch should be a microbrand – here are 5 brands to start you off

Five years ago, Thor Svaboe got in touch with a Singaporean brand called Zelos to enquire about buying a bronze-cased Hammerhead diver with a meteorite dial. Being a piece of asteroid that exploded millions of years old and subsequently plummeted to earth, a meteorite is, of course, an extremely rare material. But this cosmic exclusivity … ContinuedThe post Want crazy value and creativity? Your next watch should be a microbrand – here are 5 brands to start you off appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Rolex Introduces the Cosmograph Daytona Meteorite

Rolex has released new references of the Cosmograph Daytona with meteorite dials, in each colour of gold as well as the option of a bracelet or silicon Oysterflex strap. The versions on Oysterflex are matched with a black ceramic bezel, while the bracelet models featured gold bezels. Initial Thoughts Meteorite dials on Rolex watches are not new – the meteorite dial with Roman numerals made its debut on the Daytona almost two decades ago –  and the current lineup includes features both the Day-Date and GMT-Master II with meteorite dials. The meteorite dials will be available in all three colours of gold (from left): Everose, white, and yellow gold The new arrivals are essentially a modest facelift – they share the same case, bezel, and mechanics as current gold Daytona – albeit one that is very well done. They are certainly eye-catching, especially combined with high-contrast black registers (the first-generation meteorite dials had matching meteorite registers). The new look is fairly priced. Depending on the case metal and choice of bracelet, expect to pay a premium of 10-15% over a standard gold Daytona model. Exotic dials Made of a slice of iron meteorite, the dial is first etched with acid to highlight the Widmanstätten pattern, the streaky motif created by the crystalline structure of the material, and then polished. But it still retains a slightly textured surface, unlike the perfectly smooth lacquered finished of most Daytona dials. As is conventional for...

J.N. Shapiro Introduces the Infinity Series P.01 Guilloche Meteorite

An educator turned guilloche specialist, Joshua Shapiro launched his namesake brand, J.N. Shapiro, in 2018 with the Infinity Series. a classically-styled wristwatch with a hand-made guilloche dial featuring a nested engine-turned pattern of his own invention. His latest creation is the Infinity Series P.01, a collaboration with Collective, an American watch-collector club. Though it looks similar to the standard Infinity Series at first glance, the P.01 most definitely isn’t. While it does have a guilloche dial, the dial material is not the usual silver and gold, but meteorite – a first in watchmaking. Initial thoughts Two things stand set the P.01 apart from Mr Shapiro’s work so far. The first is tangibly impressive – an engine-turned meteorite dial, a significant accomplishment in terms of craft and skill. The result is a striking surface that overlays the natural and random Widmanstätten pattern of the meteorite with Mr Shapiro’s sharply-executed engine turning, which sounds confusing but appears to be a pleasing mix of order and chaos. But perhaps more important for J.N. Shapiro as a brand is the brand-new serif typeface for the Arabic hour numerals. Designed with the help of an artist, the numerals give the watch a style that’s distinct – and more 20th century contemporary – compared to the typical J.N. Shapiro watch that features Roman numerals and a Breguet-inspired aesthetic. And the P.01 starts at US$21,500 in steel, which is not that much mor...

Hands-On: Hermès Arceau L’Heure De La Lune

Hermès, as a brand, usually has an elegant, light and sometimes whimsical house style that makes it unique amongst luxury houses. The Arceau L’Heure De La Lune unveiled at SIHH at the start of the year exemplifies the house style, although the case is thicker than ideal. Functionally, the Arceau L’Heure De La Lune is a straightforward watch – it shows the time, date and phases of the Moon in both the Southern and Northern hemispheres. But the execution of the time and date is striking and clever. Orbital moon phases The two are essentially orbital displays, as each is on a sub-dial mounted on a rotating, central carousel. The carousel take 59 days to make one complete revolution around the dial. But each sub-dial also rotates on itself as the carousel turns. As a result, each sub-dial is always the right way up regardless of its position. Both sub-dials also double up as the moon phase indicator, with position of each sub-dial indicating the age of the Moon in each hemisphere. And in a bit of whimsy, the hemispheres have been inverted, with the Southern on top and Northern below. The Arceau L’Heure De La Lune with a meteorite dial The inventive display was built by Chronode, the complications specialist founded by Jean-Francois Mojon, which has a diverse body of work that includes Urban Jurgensen’s P4 movement, the MB&F; LM2, and the constant force tourbillon of IWC. The display module by Chronode. Photo – Hermes Chronode conceived and builds the ...

Up Close: Rolex GMT-Master II Meteorite Ref. 126719BLRO-0002

In the Rolex sports watch hall of fame, the GMT-Master II is arguably the most practical. It is a relatively affordable, dual time zone watch; and there are, after all, more people who travel than those who dive or race or sail. At the same time, the GMT-Master has always been available in precious metal, in 18k Everose for instance, and also lavishly bejewelled like the popular sapphire and ruby “SARU”. The new meteorite dial GMT-Master II, on the other hand, is bling meets functionality without the gemstones, making it an unusual and compelling watch. And it’s also the first time Rolex has used meteorite in a watch other than the Daytona or Day-Date. In fact, the meteorite GMT-Master probably the most practical ultra-luxe travel watch out there. And it costs only about US$1600 over the standard white gold GMT-Master with a blue dial, making it a worthwhile upgrade. Maybe “Pan Am” Rolex has not revealed what inspired the meteorite GMT-Master, but the GMT-Master “Pan Am” or “Albino” is obvious. Reputedly made in small numbers for executives at Pan American Airways – the company credited for the creation of the GMT-Master – the GMT-Masters fitted with white dials are either the refs. 6542 or 1675. A handful are known and have sold for well into six figures, but the white dial examples are controversial and often accompanied by unending questions as to whether they are legit. A jewel of a watch In contrast, the modern day equivalent of...

Prestige HMS Stainless Steel: Romain Gauthier Launches its First Steel Series Watch

Romain Gauthier’s first series watch in stainless steel brims with distinctive detail, not least a unique crown configuration and rare meteorite dial.

Introducing: The De Bethune DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon Meteorite

De Bethune shows off the coolest watch since their DB28 Kind of Blue, now with a blued meteorite dial.

Breitling Launch Meteorite-Dial Chronomat In Collaboration With Erling Haaland

RECOMMENDED READING: Rare rocks? The truth about Rolex meteorite dials

Where do Rolex meteorite dials come from?The post RECOMMENDED READING: Rare rocks? The truth about Rolex meteorite dials appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Introducing New Rolex Daytona Meteorite Dials for 2021

Introducing – The Vulcain Skindiver Nautique Meteorite, a New Dial for a Compact Diver

Since its debut in 2023, Vulcain’s Skindiver Nautique has quickly moved from a niche revival piece to a regular part of the brand’s present-day catalogue. These watches draw inspiration from Vulcain’s 1960s skin-diving models. Back then, diving as a hobby was gaining popularity, and compact, practical dive watches like the Nautique felt at home both in and […]

Hands-On With The New Norqain Wild One Meteorite 42mm

Today, we go hands-on with the latest Norqain release. The Wild One Meteorite 42mm Special Edition is the first watch from the brand to use this exciting material as a dial medium. Plus, as is normally true of the watches in the Wild One line, it debuts a new case color in the company’s proprietary […] Visit Hands-On With The New Norqain Wild One Meteorite 42mm to read the full article.

New: Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite

Omega releases two new models of the Speedmaster Moonphase with Meteorite dials. One with a blue accented dial and the other in a black one.

Behind The Lens: Rolex GMT-Master II Meteorite: Global Travel Meets Outer Space

GaryG had the opportunity to borrow a Rolex GMT-Master II BLRO Meteorite from a long-time friend to photograph and wear. This watch's main event is the dial, a thin slice of metallic meteorite whose crystalline structure reflects the slow cooling process that took place as the meteor hurtled through space. Here he tries a variety of photographic techniques to learn which works best on the dial's unique structures. Which are your favorites?

Behind The Lens: Rolex GMT-Master II Meteorite, Where Global Travel Meets Outer Space – Reprise

GaryG had the opportunity to borrow a Rolex GMT-Master II BLRO Meteorite from a long-time friend to photograph and wear. This watch's main event is the dial, a thin slice of metallic meteorite whose crystalline structure reflects the slow cooling process that took place as the meteor hurtled through space. Here he tries a variety of photographic techniques to learn which works best on the dial's unique structures. Which are your favorites?

EDITOR’S PICK: JLC’s Master Calendar Meteorite is out of this world

Editor’s Note: Meteorite dials are nothing new – but we rarely see this exotic dial material on otherwise conservative pieces. The juxtaposition creates a truly special watch with a one-of-a-kind dial that we’d never get tired of staring at.  One of the watches we were most looking forward to seeing in the metal at SIHH 2015 … ContinuedThe post EDITOR’S PICK: JLC’s Master Calendar Meteorite is out of this world appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Hands-On With The Santos De Cartier Brown Dial

We spend a week with the Santos De Cartier Large brown dial to see how this timeless piece wears in the hustle and bustle of daily life. What We Love The timeless design of the Santos Ingenious quick-change bracelet and quick-link system The slim profile on the wrist What We Don’t Lack of fine adjustment on the bracelet The brown dial may not be to everyone’s tastes A see-through caseback would be a great addition Overall Score: 8.75/10 Value for money: 9/10 Wearability: 8/10 Design: 9/10 Build quality: 9/10 This article was originally published as Reviewing The New Santos De Cartier Brown Dial As far as watch releases go, few brands garner global attention on the first day at Watches & Wonders. One of these is Cartier. The second biggest watch brand by sales in the world and a brand synonymous with luxury, Cartier always manages to surprise with both their “everyday” pieces, as well as their Cartier Privé and High Jewellery collection from their Maison Mètiers d’Arts. WATCH EDUCATION: A Look Into How Cartier Creates Its Iconic Pieces Back in 2024, I was excited to see first-hand what the Maison would bring out, and hopefully, get my hands on these, as at the time, I had not reviewed a piece from Cartier before. One of these pieces was the Santos De Cartier Large with a 70’s vibe brown gradient dial, and being something very different to what I’m used to wearing, I was keen to put it on the wrist Initial Thoughts I always write down my initial thoughts when...

Is Baltic’s new stone dial Heures du Monde the best, most affordable worldtimer ever?

The new Baltic Heures du Monde further diversifies an already sizeable catalogue, and with its worldtimer complication adds further gravitas.The post Is Baltic’s new stone dial Heures du Monde the best, most affordable worldtimer ever? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Hands On: Christiaan van der Klaauw Planetarium Meteorite

When it comes to planetarium wristwatches, Christiaan van der Klaauw (CvdK) has little competition, since it owns much of the intellectual property behind the complication. But that hasn’t stopped the brand from competing with itself, and the result the Grand Planetarium Eccentric Meteorite, the most complete model of the solar system ever put in a wristwatch. It’s a maximalist approach to the planetarium concept that’s almost overwhelming in look and feel, thanks to the rich texture of its solid 44 mm meteorite case and busy dial. Building on the Grand Planetarium Eccentric from 2024, the Eccentric Meteorite manages to squeeze in the astroid belt, which is itself embellished with chunks of meteorite that originated on Mars. Intended to be a limited edition of three pieces, it’s possible that just two will be made given the limited quantity of meteorite on hand. The sun at the center of the dial functions as a running indicator, rotating once per minute. Initial thoughts The planetarium is among the most romantic of all complications due to its inherent uselessness; unlike a minute repeater or perpetual calendar, there’s not much action that can be taken with the information provided. But mankind has sought to understand its place in the universe for millennia, and the planetarium offers an intuitive way to visualise our real-time location relative to the sun and the other planets in our solar system. There’s also a strange appeal to the glacially slow speed of...

Exploring New Territory With The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Meteorite

If one model in the Zenith collection shows the great diversity of the brand’s creative explorations, it’s the Chronomaster Sport. Introduced in 2021, the popular chronograph has quickly become one of the brand’s great successes. Additionally, the design team has used the Chronomaster Sport as a thankful canvas for exploring a wide variety of creative […] Visit Exploring New Territory With The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Meteorite to read the full article.

This Zenith Chronomaster Sport Meteorite in steel is now available worldwide

Once a Japanese market exclusive, this stainless steel Zenith Chronomaster Sport Meteorite is now available worldwide.The post This Zenith Chronomaster Sport Meteorite in steel is now available worldwide appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

New Rolex Oyster Perpetual Dial Colors You May Have Missed

Though it’s quite easy to forget this when looking at the watch world, sometimes less is more, and simpler is better. Simpler, however, is often much harder to get right. Poor design is easily covered in layers of otherwise unnecessary embellishments. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual presents simplicity at its very finest. Rolex added two new […] Visit New Rolex Oyster Perpetual Dial Colors You May Have Missed to read the full article.

Audemars Piguet’s first dial colour is cemented in ceramic with a trio of Royal Oak ‘Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50’ models

Audemars Piguet has finally perfected its 'Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50' colour in ceramic, which is based on the first Royal Oak dial from 1972.The post Audemars Piguet’s first dial colour is cemented in ceramic with a trio of Royal Oak ‘Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50’ models appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

The Brew Metric Retro Dial says it’s bean time

The Brew Metric Retro Dial chronograph is an industrial designer's and coffee enjoyer's idea of a watch that teaches you how to pull your shots.The post The Brew Metric Retro Dial says it’s bean time appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

New: Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Aventurine dial

Federique Constant releases a limited edition Classic Tourbillon Manufacture with aventurine dial during the recent Geneva Watch Days.