Results for Plasma High-Tech Ceramic

Up Close: Breguet Marine 5517 in Titanium

Breguet today is highly regarded for its watches that classically designed but often powered by innovative, high-tech movements, like the Classique Chronométrie 7727 with magnetic balance pivots, or the recent, elaborately finished skeleton tourbillon 5395. The brand is not, however, known for its luxury-sports watches (its line of Type XX aviator’s chronographs are entry-level and not quite sports watches). But last year Breguet unveiled the latest – and best – version of its luxury-sports watch, the Marine 5517. An under-appreciated contender in the category, the new Marine more conservative in style than its competition, but built to an admirably high standard. The Marine 5517 in titanium with a matching bracelet Horloger de la Marine Unlike its competitors, Breguet was relatively late to the luxury-sports watch segment (though not as late as A. Lange & Söhne, which launched the Odysseus last year); the original Marine only made its debut in 1990. The model name was inspired by Breguet’s appointment in 1815 as Horloger de la Marine – clockmaker to the French navy, an appointment it held for over 150 years. Designed by Jorg Hysek, perhaps the most famous watch designers of the 1990s, the first-generation Marine was distinguished by its fluted, domed crown, but otherwise looked pretty much like any other Breguet. That was replaced in 2005 by the second generation, a major redesign that gave it a more distinctive style. The practical robustness of the Marine...

Richard Mille RM 27-02 For Rafael Nadal: The Quintessential Sports Tourbillon - Reprise

The quintessential sports tourbillon, the Richard Mille RM 027 RN, officially debuted at the 2010 French Open on the wrist of that year’s champion, Rafael Nadal. It was specifically created to stand up to the punishment of the tennis court. Then Richard Mille introduced the RM 27-02, which is even more high-tech, mechanically resistant, and expensive than the first edition. Read on to discover why.

Hands-On: Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Tourbillon Openworked “Only Watch”

At Only Watch 2017, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in black ceramic – but with a one-off blue dial – sold for a whopping 800,000 Swiss francs, with two phone bidders driving it to nearly seven times the high estimate. It was the third most expensive watch in the sale. This year’s contribution is no Royal Oak – far from it – but it’s surprisingly worthy of a second look. In fact, it’s probably the best-looking watch to emerge from the brand’s often criticised Code 11.59 line. Amidst the flak heaped upon it, the Code 11.59 range had a couple of standouts, including the Tourbillon Openworked. And that’s where AP started for Only Watch 2019. The Tourbillon Openworked Only Watch retains the slim, beautifully finished skeleton movement, eschewing the contentious Code 11.59 dial altogether. And the movement has a two-tone finish that smartly highlights the most important mechanical components. To match the movement, the Only Watch edition features a two-tone case that does justice to the Code 11.59 construction in a way the uniform colour of the standard models simply couldn’t. Superbly constructed In terms of size, the case is identical to the standard model – 41mm by 10.7mm. Beyond immediate impressions, the case is wonderfully constructed with a subtle and intriguing mix of shapes and finishing made obvious by the two-tone materials. The octagonal case middle is pink gold, while the rest of the case, including the lugs, are white gold,...

VIDEO: Rado’s HyperChrome Ultra Light lives up to the name

For me, the HyperChrome Ultra Light is one of the coolest, cleanest watches in Rado’s collection. Yes, Rado’s heritage collection is earning some serious cred, and their design-y limited editions really showcase their high-tech capabilities. But for me it’s all about the HyperChrome Ultra Light. It’s a regular, round, daily wear watch (and a well-sized … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: Rado’s HyperChrome Ultra Light lives up to the name appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

HANDS-ON: Skeleton thin - the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton Titanium Blue

If you’ve been following us, or Bulgari for that matter, you’ll already know that this year is the year of the Octo. From solid gold automatic thinness, to ultra high-tech insides, the record-breaking collection has gone from strength to strength. And one of this year’s barely-there hits sees the Octo Finissimo Skeleton – which we … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: Skeleton thin – the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton Titanium Blue appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Review: Montblanc TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph

We review the Montblanc TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph - a pre-SIHH 2018 chronograph featuring an iconic, classic design and high-tech materials.

Leather Face

A thin disc of the finest hide and a high-tech watch – Berluti and Hublot take “fusion” full pelt.

WORLD PREMIERE: HYT Skull Vida - Awakened From the Ice Age

Merging high tech and metier d’arts, the latest version of the HYT Skull brings a new material to the dial with Mammoth Ivory with the HYT Skull Vida.

VIDEO: 4 winning Rados to look out for in 2017

When you walk into the Rado booth at Basel you can be pretty confident that you’ll see ceramic – and lots of it. This year the brand did not disappoint, offering up their trademark hi-tech watches in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. There’s the new Ceramica – Rado’s distinctive rectangular design – which has … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: 4 winning Rados to look out for in 2017 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Techno Club

Once the domain of Silicon Valley, high tech has now invaded the everyday lives of every man, with the latest designs stretching from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Review: Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech™ 3 Days PAM00700

Detailed hands-on Review of the Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech™ 3 DaysPAM00700. 50 pieces, 50 year warranty, € 50,000. Publicity or high tech?

Kickstarter Watch of the Week: Hamtun H1 Grade 5 Titanium Automatic Dive Watch

there are many minimalist Kickstarter watches right now but few use high-grade titanium with matte ceramic bezel at 20ATM depth rating like the Hamtun H1

Review: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe

We review a stunning piece from Blancpain: the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, with a stunning blue dial and a cool plasma gray ceramic case.

Tag Heuer Carrera CMC Concept Chronograph

The distinctive asymmetrical “bullhead” case design is back! But in a futuristic new interpretation using a high tech carbon composite pioneered in Formula One. The Carrera CMC Concept Chronograph is TAG Heuer’s latest achievement in avant-garde timekeeping. Powered by TAG Heuer’s own in-house chronograph movement, the iconic motor-sports inspired Carrera takes the Carrera Mikrogirder and encases the […]

Hands On: The Rolex Daytona Enamel Dial Ref. 126502 is More Than Meets the Eye

Rolex surprised in a big way with the Cosmograph Daytona Rolesium Enamel Dial ref. 126502. Despite being an “off-catalogue” model, the new Daytona was launched publicly, perhaps to emphasise its unusual nature. To start with, it features a grand feu enamel dial – yes, fired vitreous enamel – inside a bi-metal case of mostly steel, with a touch of platinum, plus a new ceramic (or cermet) bezel. It also has a display back and a steep price tag rivalling that of an all-gold Daytona. While last year’s Land-Dweller and its cal. 7135 was chock-full of patents that Rolex explicitly explained, the Daytona ref. 126502 is more typical Rolex in possessing incremental technical innovation that is left unspecified; it probably incorporates multiple patents that Rolex will not elaborate on. The traditional nature of the dial, the materials and production techniques, and even the display back, hint at future developments at the leading champion of industrial quality perfection. The dial is a four-part affair in white grand feu enamel, while the bezel insert in cermet Initial thoughts Let’s start with the obvious: do I like the new Daytona? Yes. Do I think the dial is actually and technically enamel? Yes. Do I think it’s too expensive? No. While it seems pricey on its face, Rolex pricing is practically always reasonable. I believe the seemingly high price here is justified by something in the watch that Rolex hasn’t explicitly divulged. Price aside, it takes a bit of exami...

Rado takes over the New York Time+Tide Discovery Studio, celebrating 40 years of the Integral and its relationship with ceramics

Rado celebrated 40 years of the Integral, alongside its relationship with ceramics, at the Time+Tide Discovery Studio in New York CityThe post Rado takes over the New York Time+Tide Discovery Studio, celebrating 40 years of the Integral and its relationship with ceramics appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

New releases from Credor, Krayon, Nomos and more

With Watches and Wonders happening next month, participating (big box) brands have to wait before being able to release any novelties. However, the past seven days have been extremely busy for the independents and Swatch Group brands! We have Credor debuting a new ceramic dial time-only watch, Krayon playing on the Pac Man anniversary, and … ContinuedThe post New releases from Credor, Krayon, Nomos and more appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

The ABCs of Time - How Watch Dials Are Illuminated?

Technology has overshadowed some of the advancements of watch dial lume that have progressed for over a century. For example, the digits on Hamilton’s Pulsar P1 LED watch from the early 1970s were bright by the nature of the tech – light-emitting diodes. Timex introduced INDIGLO back in the early 1990s, which provides a bright, uniform […]

Introducing - Elegance Meets Diving Credentials with the New Mido Ocean Star 200C Gold PVD

Mido has quietly established a strong reputation with its Ocean Star 200C collection, dive-ready timepieces known for their solid construction, stylish design, and remarkable value. Earlier variants, like the blue-dial 200C in steel with a ceramic bezel and the lightweight titanium edition, have earned well-deserved praise from enthusiasts for their design and execution. A carbon […]

A New Independent Watchmaker In Town: In Conversation With Annelinde Dunselman Of Dunselman Watchmaking

I turned my car into Annelinde Dunselman’s yard somewhat apprehensively. Was I in the right place? Nothing suggested I was about to walk into the atelier of a high-end independent watchmaker. Bathing in the spring sun, the building looked more like a sentient member of a lively family in the eastern Dutch city of Zwolle. […] Visit A New Independent Watchmaker In Town: In Conversation With Annelinde Dunselman Of Dunselman Watchmaking to read the full article.

Rolex Explorer II 16570: The Best Value Rolex GMT

My first Rolex was an Explorer II 216570 with black dial and I absolutely loved that watch. It was rarer than the GMT-Master II or Submariner, and didn’t have the ceramic bezel, which I found to be a little too glossy and “luxe” for what I was looking for in a watch at the time. I kept and wore the heck out of that watch for almost six years until I just felt like it didn’t speak to me anymore. The 42mm wide “Maxi” case seemed too big and the big, thick hour and minutes hands just began to bug me. I can’t explain why I was so dead set on the 216570 rather than the older 16570 at the time but I can certainly say that now, in 2025, the Rolex Explorer II 16570 is not just my preferred iteration of the modern spelunking watch, but an all-timer from Rolex. I’ve started to refer to the 16570 as a “Forever Rolex” because it ticks all the boxes - size, reliability, dual-time functionality, and discrete aesthetics - all while remaining one of the few Rolexes that isn’t immediately recognizable to every casual observer. Let’s take a look at why I’m such a big fan of this old-school Rolex. Case and Specs: The Other Rolex GMT Measuring 40mm wide and 12.2mm thick with a 47mm lug-to-lug height, the 16570 is an eminently wearable Rolex. And while this is very obviously a sport/tool watch, these proportions make for a very versatile and subdued piece. No, there isn’t a rotating bezel with a nickname-ready color combo here. Rather, there is a demure, fixed ...

Hands-On With A Quintet Of Hublot Big Bang 20th Anniversary Watches

My favorite guilty-pleasure brand is, without a shadow of a doubt, Hublot. The colorful ceramic models, in particular, have the X factor. Guess what: the quintet of Hublot Big Bang 20th Anniversary watches is made in different materials, one of which is bright red ceramic. The other four are titanium, King Gold, Magic Gold, and […] Visit Hands-On With A Quintet Of Hublot Big Bang 20th Anniversary Watches to read the full article.

Introducing - The New H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept Purple Enamel

Moser hits the nail on the head when it states that for a straightforward three-hand watch to rise above the generic models populating the field, it requires perfect balance and proportions, high-end finishes and a unique touch. The new Endeavour Centre Seconds Concept ticks all the boxes with its well-finished, balanced case, captivating purple Grand […]

Introducing: The New Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Worldtimer In Deep Black With Turquoise Or Gray Accents

Omega’s Deep Black series is a sub-collection within its Seamaster Planet Ocean line. The watches all have a 45.5mm brushed black ceramic case with a 600m depth rating. Today, the brand from Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, adds two new references to the four current ones by introducing the popular worldtimer complication. You have the choice between versions […] Visit Introducing: The New Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Worldtimer In Deep Black With Turquoise Or Gray Accents to read the full article.

Hands-On: the Rado True Square Automatic Skeleton

I have a feeling that if you asked most watch enthusiasts to tell you their thoughts about Rado, they’d start with the Captain Cook. The brand’s diver has been revived in recent years and become an enthusiast favorite, appearing in both traditional vintage inspired designs as well as more forward thinking and tech oriented variants. I’ve handled my share of Captain Cooks and while I think it’s a perfectly fine dive watch, there’s something a little generic about it and it’s never quite grabbed my interest. It seems positioned as a calling card product for Rado, but I find myself wondering if it’s really the watch that we should most closely identify with the brand.  Because the truth is, when it comes to Rado, they are far more adventurous than the Captain Cook would lead you to believe. And, for that matter, they’re more adventurous than we should have any right to expect given their fairly competitive price points and their place within a big luxury watch group, not typically the home of risk taking when it comes to watchmaking. Beginning with the DiaStar in the 1960s (which featured a case made from an ultra hard alloy that was among the first watches marketed as “unscratchable”) and on into the 1980s when the brand really began hitting their stride with ceramic, Rado has carved out a niche for itself as a brand willing to experiment with both raw materials and the form and function of a watch.  There are many examples of this throughout the brand...

Rado’s Continued Path to Success: Ceramics, Design & Craftmanship

GoPro Announces a Pair of New Cameras Offering Big Improvements

It’s probably not an exaggeration to say that GoPro is one of the most influential and consequential tech companies to spring up in the past two decades or so. Known for their easy to use, affordable, and compact action cameras, they have defined an entire product category, and influenced the way everything from YouTube videos and feature films are shot. Their ubiquity is obvious in the outdoor sports and recreation world, and they’re almost as essential a piece of gear as proper footwear and a pocket knife. Over the years, GoPro has continually refined and improved their core products, expanding use cases and making it even easier for just about anyone to capture high quality video of their lives, whether they be banal and mundane or a constant adrenaline rush. The newest GoPros, the Hero and the Hero13 Black, offer a suite of improvements of their predecessors that should benefit casual and more professional oriented users.  The Hero enters the lineup as a slim downed unit that is the smallest ever GoPro with an integrated screen. It weighs just 86 grams and is being positioned as an easy to use 4k video camera aimed at curious amateur videographers who might use it during hardcore outdoor activities like alpine skiing, mountaineering, or water sports (it’s waterproof to 15 feet), or something more sedate like vlogging a vacation experience. The rear facing LCD screen is meant to help frame up shots, and users then control the action from the same screen by touch....

Alarm Watches: A Complete Guide to the Most Underappreciated Watch Com

If we're ranking watch styles by everyday practicality, it's hard to beat the alarm watch. Most of us are regularly needing reminders of appointments, events, and other commitments, and to have the source of such audible alerts right on your wrist, rather than buried in a pocket or a handbag, would seem to be the height of practicality even in today's high-tech world. Around the middle of the 20th Century, many watchmakers agreed and began to embrace the style, but alarm watches never achieved anywhere near the widespread popularity of other complications like chronographs and GMTs. Nevertheless, the alarm watch has played a significant role in horological history, and a handful of important brands have not only been instrumental in its creation and development but continue to rely on it as a major pillar of their collections today. Here is the story of how the mechanical alarm watch came to be, how it became a signature style of certain watchmakers, and how it continues to evolve today despite its niche status in the industry.  Johannes Dürrstein, regarded as the inventor of the alarm watch  Watches with alarm functions go back farther into horological history than most probably realize. Johannes Dürrsstein, a watchmaker in Glashütte, Germany, invented the first mass-produced, alarm-equipped pocket watch caliber in 1900. Dürrstein’s invention used an extra-long mainspring that could fuel both the timekeeping and the independent alarm hand, which was activated by a...

[VIDEO] Twin Peaks: How Zach Weiss and Zach Kazan Use their Peak Design Everyday Backpacks

Back in February, Kat Shoulders and Zach Kazan emptied their tech pouches onscreen, in a video that showed you how each of them packs for a trip to the office. Today, the next logical step: Zach Weiss and Zach Kazan are emptying out their backpacks. But whereas our tech pouch video featured two very different packs, this one shows how Zach and Zach have arranged their gear in the same backpack, the Peak Design Everyday Backpack.  The Peak Design Everyday Backpack is notable for the way it can be customized by the user. Designed primarily for photographers, the backpack is fitted with three interior separators that effectively can be used shelves to store gear on. These “shelves” can be shaped and positioned in any number of ways, depending on what the backpack needs to carry, and they can be accessed from both sides of the pack and the top (via a unique magnetic panel).  Zach W. and Zach K. are using their backpacks in very different ways, illustrating the versatility of the design. For Zach W. this has become a true everyday backpack, and he fills it with those indispensable items that are needed on a daily basis. For Zach K., it’s more of a travel backpack, and he’s set it up for easy train commutes and hassle free flights.  Let us know in the comments if you’re a Peak Design Everyday Backpack user, and how you’ve set yours up to make the most of its flexible design. And if you’re not, let us know about your ideal everyday backpack.  The post [VIDEO] Tw...

Fratello’s Top 5 Currently Available Watches With Full-Lume Dials

Another Friday, another Top 5! This week, we take a step away from the pre-owned watches we have been covering lately. Earlier this week, IWC announced the first fully luminous ceramic watch. Watch spotters saw it on the wrist of Formula 1 driver and IWC ambassador Lewis Hamilton last weekend during the Monaco Grand Prix. […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Currently Available Watches With Full-Lume Dials to read the full article.