1971 saw the revival of the Ultra series with The Return of Ultraman. It’s in this particular TV series that saw an Omega Speedmaster 145.012 with a distinct orange hand being featured as the Monster Attack Team held their breath and counting down, quite literally, the seconds of Ultraman remaining in superhero form, thus earning the nickname Speedmaster Ultraman.
Read MoreMention independent horology, and the discussions usually centre around beautifully hand-polished and spaceship-like watches. For those who are nerdier, it’s the names on the dials, and the people behind these creations, that make independent watchmaking wonderful and unique.
It’s quite possible to connect these independent watchmakers with each other, with the links forming something of a web. Peter Speake-Marin’s name is one that pops up quite a bit in this realm. Peter is known for his namesake manufacture, Speake-Marin, his watch dissections on The Naked Watchmaker, and more recently, launched Stoic, his new line of affordable watches.
Read MoreLadies watches, of the past 20 years or so, can often feel limited in range, an afterthought in designs. Quartz movements are often preferred over mechanical movement when it comes to watches for women. In all fairness, quartz movements offer distinct advantages when it comes to high jewellery pieces; it allows for far greater creativity in the case, dial, and bracelet or strap design, without compromising the basic time-telling functionality on artful pieces.
Read MoreSpanning a variety of complications, metals and colours, F.P. Journe has one of the most diverse range of models amongst independent watchmaking brands. While the models on offer come and go, the Tourbillon Souverain has remained a staple in the lineup.
Read MoreOne of the more unique and distinctive dials on the watch market today is that of the Swedish independent brand, GoS. A collaboration between Johan Gustafsson, a bladesmith, and Patrick Sjoegren, a watchmaker, their watches use damascus steel, hand-forged by Gustafsson, using his own reinventions of ancient Viking smithing techniques.
Read MoreBack in the late 1870s, Patek Philippe shipped a silver pocket watch to the jewellers Carlos Gondolo and Paulo Labouriau, and established a fascinating relationship with Brazilian watch collectors and aficionados.
Read MoreThe traditional dress watch is, perhaps, one of the more under-appreciated watch categories today. Finding something that is contemporary, simple, and elegant, while showcasing traditional Swiss watchmaking in a pure form, can prove to be somewhat difficult.
Read MorePeter Speake-Marin’s tenure at his namesake company came to an end in June 2017, after growing to have authorised dealers, brand ambassadors, and multiple lines of watches. Since its establishment, the brand relied on well-proven ebauches to power its watches, modifying the movements to Peter’s exacting standards.
Read MorePeter Speake-Marin’s Velsheda is a clear evolution from and development of the Piccadilly. Whilst many of the hallmarks have been retained, others have been given a fresh naval twist.
Read MoreIn 2017, Peter Speake-Marin left the company he started 14 years ago. In this multi-part series, we trace Peter’s time at Speake-Marin through three watches. First up: the Piccadilly, a unique time-only creation.
Read MoreThe Omega Speedmaster Professional: a watch with a rich history, plethora of stories, and its very own culture. It commands an army of followers, enthusiasts, and collectors. Entire books have been dedicated to the watch and its variants. Thousands of posts are posted on online fora and social media discussing the different dial, hands, case, and movement variations of each iteration.
Funky watches don’t always carry a hefty price tag. Nor do they even have to be Swiss.
The Petrodvorets Watch Factory in St Petersburg has a fascinating history. It was founded by Peter the Great in 1721 as the Peterhof Lapidary Works, making hardstone cravings, and remains the oldest
When one hears of Russian watchmaking, images of rugged, utilitarian pieces often come to mind. This is no surprise: after all, while the Swiss were busy innovating and refining their processes in the 20th Century, Russian watches from the Soviet era were often more focussed on functionality.
Read MoreWhen 2nd LT James Richard Hoel was shot down while on a mission on 17th May 1943, his bomber crashed into the Maas River in German-occupied Holland, along with the Gallet Commander wristwatch he had received as a gift from his employer before he left for the war.
Read MoreChronometry: why do we care? Since the dawn of humanity, we have tried to measure time in some way or another. Different cultures in different periods used differing periods and standards
Read MoreAlthough many other brands are commonly associated with flight, Zenith was one of the manufactures that had a connection with aviation since the early days of flight itself. Without going into a long history lesson on the aviation, it should be noted that in 1909 a Frenchman by the name of Louis Bleriot
Read More
