Monthly Archives: March 2016

Christopher Ward – New C1000 Typhoon

Christopher Ward have announced a new version of there C-1000 chronograph.

A watch that celebrates the Typhoon Eurofighter combining both a remarkably strong yet light case of ceramic and titanium, with the ETA Valjoux 7750 movement.

The Cockpit Edition celebrates not only the plane but the remarkable pilots of the RAF who fly them. Taking design cues from the cockpit (particularly the yellow “warning” elements) the completely new look dial and hands suggest the instrumentation at the centre of the pilot’s fast moving world.

Typoon

There will be three variants available, all at £995.

This my favourite of the three

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You will find more information here

Unfortunately since I’ve moved to self hosting I have not worked out how to embed the greta video.

George Daniels Watch- sold at auction

daniels 99

GEORGE DANIELS. A VERY FINE AND RARE 18CT YELLOW GOLD LIMITED SERIES AUTOMATIC CENTRE SECONDS CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH CO-AXIAL ESCAPEMENT WITH FITTED BOX, PAPERS AND LETTERS SIGNED BY GEORGE DANIELS
Millennium, Made in 1999
Sold for £146,500 inc. premium
For more information follow the link below :

The auction

The Future of Luxury Watches

 

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Last week in the Financial Times Watches and Jewellery special section there was a thought provoking article in which Jorn Wedelin, the Danish but British based watchmaker gives his opinions on the future of luxury watchmaking. It is better to read the whole article. Here is a link to the FT.

One point he made that I think points to a future for our British brands when pitted against the Swiss power brands is – rarity. Part of the appeal of luxury watches is their rarity and their stories. Fingers crossed.

Bremont – Basel

This has been a pretty exciting week from a watch point of view given all the new watch announcements. One company worth a mention, despite them not being British, is Tudor. I am particularly taken by their Black Bay in bronze which I like to believe is following the lead of Pinion and Schofield in the use of this material.

Anyway moving onto the news in the title of this entry, Bremont and their new models. At the watch fair they announced no fewer than 10 new watches.

Four of which coming from their involvement in the Americas Cup and collaboration with Boing.

AC-R-SS-Front            OTUSA-R-BK-Front

On the left is the AC-R in steel and the right the OTUSA.

Bremont also have three new watches for women. Based on the 32mm case below.

SOLO-32-LC-Front

For all the news follow this link  2016 Releases

Christopher Ward C70 GP Chronometers

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These fine watches  are a limited edition collection of four  COSC-certified chronometers, celebrates four of the earliest Grand Prix races from the pioneering years of motorsport.

This are really great looking watches for motor sport fans. I was a little disappointed to discover they have  quartz movements, I would have thought a mechanical one would have more appeal to petrol-heads.

Each watch is available either with these leather straps or a steel one or

More details here

Pinion Axis II – range

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The latest newsletter from Pinion, that arrived this morning, announced that the Axis II range now consists of a choice of three cases, Steel, Bronze and Black DLC. Each being available either with a closed or exhibition back. One interesting “Pinion Fact”  is that emerged from reading about these watches was that the Bronze Axis was the first bronze watch from a modern British company.

For more news of the range follow this Axis link

I really looking forward to seeing this new range soon.

Offshore Professional

On one of my browsing sessions I came across another British “micro-brand” that has escaped my notice up until now. Offshore Professionalb from Classic Chronographs Ltd whose stated aim is to build unique chronographs under the OFFSHORE Professional model name.

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These are the broad specifications:
  • 44 mm diameter (47.5 mm incl crown), 14.5 mm thick
  • Custom made triple complication 25 jewel Swiss Valjoux automatic movement with anti-magnetic key components
  • Movement manufactured to a customised top echelon grade with decorated and rhodium plated mainplates 
  • Day and Date display 
  • Hour, minute and 1/8 second chronograph
  • Layered shock resistance
  • Pressure rated to 10 ATM (300 ft water depth)
  • Suitable for any climate (tested in the arctic, tropics & middle east) 
  • 4 layer dial designed for maximum low-light and harsh-light visibility
  • C1 Super Luminova solid wafers in hour and minute hand
  • C3 Super Luminova hour markers on dial
  • No luminous markings on subdial or second hands for clear night time legibility of hour and minute hands
  • Silicon impregnated leather strap with rubber core and neoprene anti-sweat lining
  • 316L stainless steel multi-hinge deployment clasp with engraved Trident logo
  • 316L stainless steel bracelet with Trident logo deep engraved into a butterfly clasp
  • Both the bracelet and strap are included with each watch
  • Leather travel case suitable for up to 2 watches
  • 2 year Warranty & a Lifetime Guarantee
 There is a great description of this limits of this guarantee :
There isn’t much in day-to-day life that will destroy one of these watches. If you break a crown, button, sapphire crystal, damage the movement or do anything else from any reasonable level of accident (dropping onto a tiled floor for instance) over the first 2 years of ownership then just send it back and it will be repaired or replaced. Same goes for any water ingress provided you promise you didn’t push the chronograph buttons when swimming.
The warranty extends to the strap, clasp and bracelet. You can swim or shower with the leather strap as it is silicon impregnated to be more waterproof than your skin, but please remember not to apply any mosquito repellents containing high levels of DEET as they will dissolve the neoprene lining and leave a black stain on your wrist.
If you manage to break an OFFSHORE Professional Field Engineer through something not covered by the Warranty, like running over it with a car, then I will replace it at half the price of a new one. This is a lifetime guarantee (my lifetime as I don’t want to pass any liabilities onto my children) regardless of abuse, lack of servicing or number of owners. Failure analysis is a important part of engineering and from a dent or damage size, I can back calculate the impact energy that caused it and the energy levels that were absorbed or transmitted through each of the shock absorbing layers.
More information can be found at the company’s website www.classicchronographs.co.uk