See full version: The Top 5 Best Watches From The 2015 Golden Globe Awards
Eddie Redmayne took home one of the night’s biggest prizes, the trophy for Best Actor in a Drama, for his role as famed physicist Steven Hawking in The Theory of Everything. Redmayne, who is no stranger to the fashion world thanks to his background as a model, looked dashing in a Gucci suit and a Chopard Classic Manufacture watch in rose gold.
We also spotted one woman – Diane Kruger – wearing a timepiece on the red carpet, so we’re including her as a bonus on our list of the Top 5 best watches at the 2015 Golden Globe Awards. Kruger paired a beautiful Emilia Wickstead dress with a Jaeger-LeCoultre Joaillerie 101 Art Deco timepiece.
Photo courtesy Officine Panerai. [links]
Mark Ruffalo, whose film Foxcatcher was nominated in the Best Motion Picture Drama category, was spotted on the red carpet with wife Sunrise Coigney wearing a Montblanc Star Twin Moonphase watch. here
I like the ‘aged lume’ version; it’s also available with plain white, pepsi bezel, etc. more
ETA 2893 GMT movement, respectful hat-tip to the Rolex GMT master that’s not a copy, lovely design and CW’s usual attention to detail. Why oh why does Rolex refuse to use anti-reflective coatings, for example, on their crystals? So very foolish of them when brands like CW are there to innovate in their place. A steal at $725 non-EC.
At almost Rolex-level pricing at $7200, the Hard Black II is hardest to defend. From “The One” series, it’s an unusual take on the dive watch in yellow and black. Only 88 made, and LW often does runs under 200 watches total. Special case for the snap-on hiking or diving computers, it’s look is beyond bold and you’ll know immediately if you want it. I almost chose the Spido-Lite but on a dive watch I want a moveable bezel; just super useful. The snap-on dive computer tipped this one over the edge; a great idea to transform your daily wearer into a hardcore diving instrument. more
A bit thick at 14.5mm, and it only has anti-reflective coatings on the inside of the crystal. No crown protection, like my IWC, weird looking lugs.
You can see some distortion from the curvature of the crystal, and I’d prefer just white hands instead of Plongeur style orange. Minor nits.
When Breguet puts their mind to something, the result is typically very impressive. The brand isn’t too open about their internal research and development, but they are among the few producers of classically-inspired watches that nevertheless utilize interesting and often new mechanical technology. If you are familiar with the basic concept of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre, you will more or less understand the idea behind having two separate drive trains to power the part of the watch that indicates the time and the part of the watch that offers complications. The Breguet Tradition Chronograph Independent starts with a single mainspring system that powers a separate gear train and escapement for the time and for the chronograph. Each of the balance wheels spin at a different rate with a 5Hz balance for the chronograph and a 3Hz balance for the time. It all looks beautiful and is a treat to wear on the wrist for those who love watches because they love mechanical movements. Price for the Breguet Tradition Chronograph Independent 7077 is $78,900 in 18k rose gold and $79,700 in 18k while gold. [links]
In 2007, Omega delighted enthusiasts by reintroducing the iconic Seamaster Ploprof from the 1970s. In 2015, Omega updated the Seamaster Proplof 1200M with some new tech, material updates, and more reasons to love this cult dive watch that enthusiast adore. The large and heavy Omega Seamaster Ploprof is now a lot lighter, being rendered entirely in titanium – which also includes the supplied mesh-metal bracelet. The watch now uses a ceramic bezel and has a cleaner looking dial without the date. Inside the Seamaster Ploprof 12000M watch for 2015 is Omega’s new 8900 family of in-house movements that is more or less an 8500 movement with the addition of anti-magentic parts and Omega’s new METAS certification – “Co-Axial Master Chronometer.” The new Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M Co-Axial Master Chronometer versions aren’t half bad either, but these continue to be pricey timepieces, starting at $12,500. [links]
The aBlogtoWatch team had a difficult time (as always) selecting our list of the top 10 watches of Baselworld 2015. The watches on the list are by no means the only good watches from the show, but represent our relatively democratic agreement of what we feel comfortable recommending to a large pool of people. If you are into ultra-extravagant complicated timepieces, brands like Breguet, HYT and Jacob & Co. certainly have something for you. If you like more demure dress watches, then Bulgari, Frederique Constant, and Zenith all have things you’ll be into. So without further ado, and in no particular order, here is aBlogtoWatch’s list of the top 10 watches for Baselworld 2015. here
Guessing what Rolex is going to come out with each year is a difficult task that most people get wrong, but oddly, I guessed that a new Day-Date model was on its way – and for 2015, there indeed is a new Rolex President (another name for the Day-Date). Rolex has discontinued the Day-Date II 41mm watch in favor of this brand new Day-Date 40 which is more than just a “facelifted” product. This is a totally new Day-Date watch, with updates concerning the case, bracelet, dial, and movement. The operative term here is “refinement.” The Rolex Day-Date 40 isn’t about changing the Day-Date, it is about making what has been successful better. The new caliber 3255 movement is more accurate and reliable, the bracelet links have new ceramic inserts for durability and comfort, the dial has more detailed hour markers and decoration, and the case has been carefully refined to really optimize the experience. Rolex has upped the ante with the Day-Date 40, making what they do even better – although, at the same time, it is a product without any real competition in the market. Exclusively in gold or platinum, the prices for the 2015 Rolex-Day Date 40 range from 33,200 CHF in Everose gold to 59,600 CHF in platinum. here
Yes, smartwatches. With TAG Heuer’s loud “Biverian” announcement that they will soon release a smartwatch produced in partnership with Google Android Wear and Intel, the watch world was buzzing with plans for how they should adapt to the upcoming Apple Watch or merely offer their own take on dealing with the high-end “connected watch” market. Surprisingly, talk of the Apple Watch (whose April 2015 release date was announced just one week before Baselworld 2015) was not a common topic of conversation during our meetings with watch brands. The aBlogtoWatch team anticipated a lot more questions and discussions regarding what will likely be a highly disruptive product. While some brands certainly had feet in the world of connected electronic watches, comparisons or alternatives to the Apple Watch seemed slim.
My guess is that brands did not feel they actually had anything to compete with Apple’s product and simply preferred not to bring it up too much. Other than TAG Heuer’s smartwatch announcement, the new brand Vector soft-launched a new smartwatch concept, Bulgari announced a magnesium Diagono with an NFC chip built in that connects with an electronic locker app, Frederique Constant was extremely bullish on their MMT platform-based Horological Smartwatch, and several year old Kairos finally showed off some close-to-being-complete watches that combine mechanical movements with digital screens.
+ Winds automatically and offers a 48-hour power reserve [links]
Sport Diver Staff Photographer [links]
Oris Aquis Red Limited Edition
+ Stainless case is water resistant to 30 atmospheres here
+ Striking aesthetics and a marine-conservation message here
Clerc Hydroscaph H1 Chronometer
+ Clerc C609 21-jewel COSC- certified chronometer movement
+ Dial features Super-LumiNova 3-D numerals and hour markers