Results for Marine Chronometer & The Longitude Problem

When Accuracy Mattered - Part III: The Triumph of Brands Over Watchmaking

The demise of chronometry competitions last year – when the final edition of Concours International de Chronométrie took place – finally killed the dangerous heresy that a watch is a practical instrument that should be trusted to show the correct time. With the elimination of the last scientific and independent assessment of a watch’s worth, the cult of haute horlogerie comes into its own, reinforcing its definition of a watch as an emotional product born of passion, tradition and prestige. Trials to see who can produce the most precise, accurate and reliable watch originated in Geneva in 1879, when the head of its observatory, Professor Emile Plantamour, devised a testing routine that rated watches in the various positions and temperatures encountered in everyday wear. Observatories soon became the influencers of the pocket-watch age, determining the legitimacy and worth of luxury timepieces. American magnates like James Ward Packard, Henry Graves Jr and Pierpont Morgan secured the most highly rated pieces. A Longines split-seconds chronograph pocket watch that was tested at the Neuchatel Observatory in 1968; this particular example once belong to Jean Pitallier, the former president of the French Cycling Federation (FFC) Despite the advent of wristwatches, the Neuchatel Observatory kept the competitions alive until 1968 when Japanese entrants swept the board. In 1972, deputation of Swiss watch brand executive petitioned the Neuchâtel government minister Ren...

New: Greubel Forsey Balancier S - The GF Inclined Balance reborn as a sports watch

Greubel Forsey unveils an addition to their sport collection showcasing their iconic inclined balance, combining chronometry with sport in the Bancier S.

MB&F; and Massena Lab Introduce the T-Rex Bronze

Massena Lab was founded by watch industry veteran William Rohr – who is better known by the pseudonym William Massena – in 2018, with the purpose of collaborating with notable independent watchmakers, and perhaps one day make its own watches. Having made its debut with Habring2 , Massena Lab has just announced the T-Rex Bronze, a 15-piece variant of the quirky MB&F; table clock launched last year. Best described as a hand-blown Murano glass eyeball inside a bronze socket with legs, the T-Rex is made by L’Epee 1839, who is also responsible for all of MB&F;’s other clocks. Initial thoughts The T-Rex is an offbeat, statement piece for the desk, but powered by old-school mechanics – a key-wound, eight-day movement made by L’Epee 1839, a clockmaker founded in, well, 1839. That blend of contemporary creative and classic mechanics makes it cool. But the Massena Lab edition is a departure from the usual MB&F; clock style, which is dominated by metallic silver or black, resulting in a highly mechanical look. The Massena Lab T-Rex replaces the steel of the original version for frosted bronze and “aged” feet, giving the clock a striking, steampunk aesthetic. Permanent patina Standing a little under 27 cm high, the T-Rex weighs about 2 kg. According to MB&F; founder Maximilian Büsser, the form was inspired by a bipedal Christmas ornament on his desk. Freelance watch designer Maximilian Maertens then created the clock, relying on images of an actual Tyrannosaurus Rex to d...

Panerai Introduces the Luminor Blu Mare 44 mm PAM01085

Perhaps the most recognisable Panerai is the Luminor Marina 44 mm. A modern-day creation inspired by a vintage military-issue watch, the Luminor Marina was introduced in 1993, and a decade later became one of the watches that kickstarted the fashion for bigger watches. While the Luminor Marina was historically all about black dials for a no-nonsense military look, Panerai has been injected more colour into the line up for a civilian-friendly style. The new Luminor Blu Mare 44 mm PAM01085 – blu mare translate as “blue sea” – retains the traditional design codes of the Luminor plus a fashionable blue dial. Initial thoughts While earlier Luminor models like the PAM1663 and the PAM1033 have had blue dials, but the new Luminor is arguably the cleanest, harking back to the entry-level Luminor Marina “Logo” of about a decade ago. The blue is metallic, subdued and finished with a radial-brushed finish that’ll definitely catch the light nicely. A colour that’s been in vogue for a couple of years, the blue dial gives the Luminor Blu Mare a slightly more elegant and contemporary feel than the typical Panerai, a useful quality for someone who likes the functional Panerai design but prefers lighter colour palette. The design, however, is strictly traditional. With the vintage originals designed as functional instruments for navy frogmen of the Second World War, the new Luminor is expectedly utilitarian, with large, eminently simple hands and indices – very much the ...

VIDEO: Highlights of the 2020 Panerai collection, including the watch with a warranty that will probably out-live you

96. That’s how old I’ll be when the warranty on one of these watches runs out. This year is all about the Luminor in the 2020 Panerai collection, with a number of exciting new references that have been released so far. We focus on two highlights within the collection, the Panerai Luminor Marina PAM01117 and … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: Highlights of the 2020 Panerai collection, including the watch with a warranty that will probably out-live you appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Breguet Classique 5177 Deconstruction: What The Naked Watchmaker Didn’t Reveal - Reprise

The Naked Watchmaker (TNW), aka Peter Speake-Marin, does a series of deconstructions of a broad selection of modern Breguet watches and movements, starting with the Classique 5177, a relatively simple (for Breguet) three-hand dress watch with date. Here Ian shares a few details that The Naked Watchmaker didn't reveal.

Jaquet Droz’s Charming Bird Deconstruction By The Naked Watchmaker (Plus Video)

Ian Skellern still remembers the sense of awe he felt when he had the opportunity to watch and listen to a recently restored centuries-old Jaquet Droz singing bird. The animation was compelling, and the quality of the birdsong sound was incredible. But as impressive a feat he thought that full-sized eighteenth-century Jaquet Droz singing bird clock was, shrinking that mechanical technology to wristwatch size is just mind-blowing. As The Naked Watchmaker, Peter Speake-Marin, highlights here.

Panerai Introduces the Radiomir California PAM 931 & Radiomir 8 Days PAM 992

Panerai’s new launches this year have so far been inclined towards civilian sports – including the Luna Rossa trio and Mike Horn edition – which is a key part of chief executive Jean-Marc Pontroué’s strategy that also emphasises “experiences”. But with its two new launches – the Radiomir California 47mm (PAM 931) and Radiomir 8 Days 45mm (PAM 992) – the brand returns to the old school Marina Militare style – both have a familiar look that’s heavily inspired by wristwatches Panerai made for frogmen of the Italian navy in the 1930s and 1940s. Radiomir California 47mm PAM00931 Notably, both watches have steel cases with an “aged patina effect”, essentially a surface coating that reproduces the look of the vintage originals. The Radiomir California 47mm (PAM00931) revisits a design that Panerai has reproduced several times in the past – modelled on the ref. 3646 of the 1930s – but now with a “tropical” dial in graduated brown that mimics the look of aged dials on vintage Radiomir watches. It has Roman numerals on the upper half and Arabic numbers on the bottom, a design originally meant to aid legibility by clearly distinguishing the upper and lower halves of the dial. The crystal is domed PlexiGlas, while the movement is the extra-large, hand-wound P.3000 with a three-day power reserve. The second model is slightly more interesting, since the design is more novel (in other words having not been done before, at least in the exact same con...

The Revolution Guide to the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition

Your definitive guide to the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition 2019 in Singapore Marina Bay Sands from September 28 to October 13.

Complete List And Photos Of All Shortlisted Watches In The 2019 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG)

The 2019 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has just published the list of “pre-selected” (shortlisted) watches in the run-up to the eagerly anticipated red-carpet event in Geneva on November 7, 2019. The categories for 2019 are: Ladies, Ladies’ Complication, Men’s, Men’s Complication, Iconic, Chronograph, Chronometry, Mechanical Exception, Calendar and Astronomy, Divers, Jewellery, Artistic Crafts, Petite Aiguille, and Challenge. And, drum roll please, here are the stars of this year's show!

RECOMMENDED READING: This is what happens when you take apart the ultra-thin Bulgari Octo Finissimo chronograph

The Naked Watchmaker is one of our favourite internet projects, and not just because of its punny name and the fact that the man behind it, Peter Speake-Marin, is one of the nicest people in the business. No, it’s fascinating because it offers a view of watches we don’t typically see. Deconstructed, and not in … ContinuedThe post RECOMMENDED READING: This is what happens when you take apart the ultra-thin Bulgari Octo Finissimo chronograph appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Omega now rules the deep seas with the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional

Big news overnight from the house of Omega – they can now claim the lofty (well, the opposite actually) title of deepest diving watch ever. Just how deep are we talking here? How about 10,928 metres? That’s the depth Victor Vescovo took his submersible, Limiting Factor into the Mariana Trench. And on that sub, was the Omega … ContinuedThe post Omega now rules the deep seas with the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

HANDS-ON: 150 years of greatness, the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges 40mm 

The Triple Bridges holds a special place in the history of Girard-Perregaux, as does the tourbillon. In 1867, a watch with three bridges and one tourbillon won a prize for chronometry at Neuchâtel Observatory, and the distinctive design became a de facto logo for the brand. The striking design of the triple arrow-headed bridges is … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: 150 years of greatness, the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges 40mm  appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Journe & the Piece Unique Split Seconds Chrono Made for Prince Albert II’s Charity Gala in Singapore

François-Paul Journe, the man who “Invented It and Made It” sits down with REVOLUTION to talk about F.P. Journe’s LineSport collection, as well as the piece unique Chronograph Monopoussoir Rattrapante that he created for The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation charity auction that was held at The Marina Bay Sands, Singapore on the 9th November 2018.

RECOMMENDED READING: The Rolex Submariner, deconstructed

If you follow the world of independent watchmaking you’re likely familiar with the name Peter Speake-Marin. Until recently, Speake-Marin was the man behind the eponymous watch brand. After 17 years, the English watchmaker stepped away from the brand (which is still in business) and announced a new venture – The Naked Watchmaker - a site that … ContinuedThe post RECOMMENDED READING: The Rolex Submariner, deconstructed appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

OMEGA celebrates 60 years of the Speedmaster history

OMEGA celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Speedmaster history with a special exhibition at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

VIDEO: Montblanc 2017 collection overview and our verdict on the new Timewalker

Over the past few years we’ve come to depend on Montblanc for their faultless heritage-inspired reissues and ‘real world’ pricing structure, so imagine the surprise on our faces when we caught our first glimpse of their 2017 line up. Sure, there were still plenty of Heritage Chronométrie pieces and new 4810 models, but the real … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: Montblanc 2017 collection overview and our verdict on the new Timewalker appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

In Conversation: Karl-Friedrich Scheufele Part 1 of 3: The beginnings of the L.U.C Manufacture

We had tea with Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-President of Chopard and President of Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud. Discover the man and his passion.

The Incredible Story of Marie Antoinette’s Watch with Nicholas Parsons on BBC Four

Rare Watches: Voyage to the bottom of the sea: Part 1: Rolex Deep Special

We get hands-on with the Rolex Deep Sea Special. Very rare hands-on with the first watch ever to have been to bottom of the Mariana Trench.

Hautlence at the GTE in Geneva

During the same week as the SIHH, the GenevaTimeExhibition, the show for the independents brands, was held in the centre of Geneva. Besides Hautlence, brands like Moser & Cie, Cabestan, Heritage and Speake-Marin were among the 34 exhibitors. The location was really cool and looked in fact, like an old former hydroelectric station. http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a65/Pasha_1950/GTEbuilding.jpg http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a65/Pasha_1950/InsideGTEbuiding.jpg […]

Hands-on - The Urban Jürgensen UJ-2, the Brand’s Sophisticated Time-Only Watch

When Urban Jürgensen returned under the stewardship of Kari Voutilainen and Alex Rosenfield, the inaugural collection naturally attracted attention with the spectacular UJ-1 Tourbillon and the sophisticated UJ-3 Perpetual Calendar. Yet, of the three models, it is perhaps the UJ-2 that best explains what the revived manufacture is looking to achieve. The UJ-2, to put […]

Happenings: Inside The Launch Of HODINKEE Australia & New Zealand At The Sydney Opera House

This week, HODINKEE Australia & New Zealand was officially launched at one of the country’s most iconic venues, Bennelong, tucked beneath the sails of the Sydney Opera House. The evening also served as the perfect moment to reveal the first edition of HODINKEE's local print magazine, with three spectacular covers and an unmistakable Australian focus, ahead of its newsstand debut on August 3. “This is exactly what the Aussie watch community has been waiting for,” one prominent collector told us ahead of the formalities, a sentiment echoed in countless conversations over the course of the night. With a crowd comprising collectors, enthusiasts, industry friends and brand partners, the guest list was a who’s who of some of the most important members of our industry, many of whom had travelled from across the country to be part of the occasion. Guests were welcomed with Champagne Billecart-Salmon, before Switzer Media publisher Alex Switzer and HODINKEE ANZ Editors Jamie Weiss and Nick Kenyon reflected on bringing one of the world’s most respected watch titles to Australia, and what this exciting new chapter means for the country’s ever-growing community of collectors and enthusiasts. Against the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House’s looming sails, guests enjoyed the best of Bennelong's exceptional menu, while Grandiflora's Saskia Havekes transformed the space with beautiful seasonal flowers. As the evening unfolded, there were plenty of wris...

Glashütte Original Introduces Two New Limited Editions Versions of the SeaQ

When it comes to luxury divers in the $10,000-$20,000 range, the usual suspects are big Swiss heritage brands. Rolex, Omega, and Blancpain immediately come to mind, and IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and a host of indies offer sporty watches that are dive adjacent if not divers, strictly speaking, that collectors might consider cross shopping. Glashütte Original is a brand that probably doesn’t get mentioned enough in this category, as they actually offer two dive watches in this price range built on their SeaQ platform that are worthy of consideration. The brand has just introduced new versions of their SeaQ Panorama Date and standard SeaQ in a new “Northern Tide” colorway for the North American market that got me thinking about these watches (frankly, reminding me they exist).  I’ve handled both the SeaQ and SeaQ Panorama Date in the past and both watches are very nicely made, but each come with significant tradeoffs that make them tough to commit to, but in different ways. The standard SeaQ is the brand’s stripped down stainless steel diver, measuring 39.5mm in diameter, 12.15mm tall, and 47.2mm from lug to lug. The SeaQ’s case is very nicely executed and gives the feeling of a classic skin diver but with higher end, luxury finishing. The trade off here is really the movement – it runs on GO’s Caliber 39-11, which is a very nicely decorated movement, but has a power reserve of 40 hours, which is low relative to the competition, and is missing the signature Gla...

The Definitive Modern Speedmaster - Six Years With The Calibre 321

Recently, one of our readers asked me for an update on my ownership of the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321. He also wanted to know how often I wear it compared with the stainless-steel Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch introduced the following year (2021). They’re fair questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them today. Over […] Visit The Definitive Modern Speedmaster — Six Years With The Calibre 321 to read the full article.