Watches - another OCD problem
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IWC have just announced their new Big Pilot's Heritage Watches, which will be formally unveiled at SIHH in a few weeks.
There are two models, a 48 mm with an eight day 4 Hz (28,800 bph) manual wind movement, an a 55 mm with a 2.5 Hz (18,000 bph) calibre. Both have titanium cases, with a soft iron Faraday cage to protect against magnetism, and 60 metre water resistance.
To put them in context, here are some historic pilot's watches. I don't know about the one on the left, but the one in the middle is an enormous WW2 Luftwaffe timepiece, and on the right is the original IWC Mark XI.
I'm quite keen on the 48 mm, which is a more wearable size, and has a better movement.
More at aBlogToWatch or Monochrome Watches.
Last year IWC announced the Connect, a basic smartwatch / fitness tracker module, launching initially with the pilot's watches. I wonder if it's still pending, as it'd make for a potentially useful add-on for the above.
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Casio Smartwatch, powered by Android, via aBlogToWatch.
I find things like this far more interesting than developments at the haute horologie end of the spectrum. There's a sense of something new, or failing that remixed, whereas the traditional watchmakers are obsessed with tourbillons!
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I posted a while ago about my G-Shock frogman watch 'DW-8200-1B '
Sold a while ago due to my worsening eyesight and not being able to see the digital display,
just bought 2 new watches.
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Oris have announced the Carl Brashear limited edition. It's a version of their gorgeous Sixtyfive diver, but in a slightly larger bronze case.
More at Monochrome.
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That is the prettiest Oris I've seen in a long time. Price is reasonable, too. That said, I think making a dive watch with only 100 meter water resistance is a questionable decision.
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A friend of a friend was after an IWC Portugieser Automatic last year, and I was keeping an eye on prices. I don't know what happened in the end, but I reckoned he should get the Anniversary edition instead, as it's probably the nicest watch that they make.
I saw one whilst out yesterday, so snapped a picture for my friend to pass on. It uses the same movement as the Big Pilot I was eyeing up the other day, though the case is a bit smaller. I really like it, and I think it'd work well in both casual and dressy settings.
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These days, it seems like 43mm is mid-range, though I think the size tide is turning. I usually feel comfortable in the 40-44 range, personally. I expect a big guy like Graeme could go up to 46 or so and still have it look reasonable, not like a can of tuna strapped to his wrist.
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SIHH is going on right now, and the Richemont group, plus one or two others, have been pimping their wares. These are a few things that have caught my eye so far.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas. Available in stainless steel, comes with two straps and a bracelet as standard, and has an in-house movement with the Geneva Seal. It looks like something you could wear everyday.
The Laurent Ferrier Galet Square Boréal seems a similar semi-dress / semi-sports watch. I love the lume pattern on the dial. At CHF 35,000, I'll have to admire it from afar.
Royal Oak Openworked. The slightly gothic looking skeletonised movement really appeals, as does it having a pair of balance wheels.
Panerai Lo Scienziato Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanio. The case is built up using a sintering process which uses lasers to weld layers of titanium together. OK, I won't be able to afford it, but it's got a similar look to the Audemars, above, so I like it.
IWC have launched a new Pilot Worldtimer. The bezel has a mechanical linkage, so rotating it sets the timezone. Shame it hasn't got the antimagnetic inner casing, though.
Something that the watch press has missed so far is the Jaeger LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Date. That dial…
Lastly, some proper watch porn. This is the A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Jumping Seconds.
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@Chris I can get away with big watches. I used to wear a 44 mm Breitling, though nowadays it's a 35 or 36 mm Tender. I think people get too fixated on diameter, and I'm always amused when I see a posting "If only it came in a 44 mm, 42 mm is too small for me!"
As well as the Big Pilot watch I was admiring, IWC have just launched a new 36 mm piece. It's rather lovely. Perhaps the tide is turning, or they're covering all bases.
