We have recently introduced a new series called "Cost of Entry" which features the most affordable model offered by a popular watch company, and we are kicking the series off with none other than Rolex. Speaking of Rolex, we are also taking a close look at their sister company Tudor, and how their newest watches and recently announced in-house movement are going to affect the market for Swiss tool watches.
It is often said that the best way to engage customers (and the press) is to invite them to tour the manufacture – we have dozens of manufacture visit articles published here, on aBlogtoWatch. The chance to go on a trip aside, it is through these articles that we can get closest to the craftsmen and artisans who manufacture the watch, and such trips are always enlightening and eye-opening. In this round-up, we show you what goes on behind the scenes at one of the oldest and most respected names in the business - Minerva.
And to end the month of May, we are also looking at new watches from Piaget, Jean Dunand, and a comparative review of two hi-beat watches from Zenith and Grand Seiko.
1. Cost Of Entry: Rolex Watches
Cost of Entry is a new series that looks at what it costs to purchase the least expensive model offered by a popular watch company. We are kicking off with Rolex, one of the absolute most sought after watch brands in the world. Starting off with Rolex is fitting because this year Rolex introduced its new Oyster Perpetual collection, which comprises different sizes and dial variations of what is Rolex’s most basic watch. It is offered as a time-only three hander and is available in a variety of sizes to suit both men and women. If you are looking to get a solid watch from Rolex with the least amount of money, you'd want to read this to see how it compares to other offerings by Rolex and its competitors.
2. Tudor Style Watch Review
Tudor’s recent sports watches such as the Heritage Black Bay and Heritage Chrono Blue have been sell-out hits. However, Tudor also quietly launched a new line of dress style watches aptly called the the Tudor Style earlier this year. It sports a really dressy and elegant look and has hints of vintage-inspired design cues. What’s more, it comes in various sizes – 28mm up to 41mm – with prices beginning at just over $2000, which makes it one of the most bang-for-buck serious dress watches you can buy when you are looking to get something with a top-brand's name on the dial.
3. Piaget Altiplano Chronograph Watch Hands-On
Mention ultra-thin watches, and it is hard to not think of Piaget. They have been breaking records for thinnest watches for a long time, and for 2015, they came up with the Altiplano Chronograph – now the world’s thinnest hand-wound flyback chronograph. The caliber 883P that powers it is just 4.65mm thick, and the entire watch itself is only 8.24mm thick. Yet the watch features a flyback chronograph mechanism, a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, running seconds at 6 o’clock, and - get this - a GMT dial at 9 o’clock. Piaget truly are masters at being thin.
4. Seiko Marinemaster Professional 1,000M Diver’s Hi-Beat Limited Edition SBEX001 Watch Hands-On
To celebrate Seiko’s 50th anniversary of its very first dive watch, the Japanese manufacture has a new limited edition dive watch - the SBEX001. Did you know that Seiko was the first to use titanium in a dive watch? And that they were also the first to fit a quartz movement in a saturation dive watch? So to demonstrate its prowess in crafting dive watches, the new SBEX001 is water resistant to 1000m and features a hi-beat movement that is derived from Seiko’s high-end Grand Seiko watches.
5. Jean Dunand Shabaka Watch For 2015 Hands-On
The Shabaka from Jean Dunand is not exactly new. It debuted in 2007, but that watch had an angular case with an integrated lug design. New for this year, the Shabaka has been updated and now features a more familiar round case. Nevertheless, it is still a highly unusual and unique watch that features perpetual calendar and minute repeater complications, and shows the day, date and year by way of a unique roller system.
6. New Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 & Elvis Presley’s Original Watch Hands-On
If you are like me and like watches with distinct and perhaps even unusual designs, then Hamilton’s Ventura watches should register on your radar. The Ventura has a highly angular, trapezoidal case that is unlike any other, and it was thrusted into the spotlight when Elvis Presley wore one in the 1961 film Blue Hawaii. To celebrate what would have been the King's 80th birthday, Hamilton has just released the new Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 watch.
Minerva is a hallowed name especially when it comes to chronographs and enjoyed much success in the early parts of previous century. Minerva’s chronographs were renowned, and it was even the official timekeeper for the 1936 Winter Olympics. Today, Minerva has been acquired by Richemont and is responsible mainly for producing complicated movements for Montblanc’s haute horologerie pieces, and also for other Richemont Group companies - most notably, Panerai. Find out what goes on behind the scenes at Minvera’s manufacture.
2. Tudor Seeks To Re-Invent The Swiss Tool Watch With In-House Made Mechanical Movements
Make no mistake, Tudor has been on a roll for the past few years. The Heritage Black Bay, the Heritage Chrono Blue and the Fast Rider Black Shield Chrono have all been hits. Sure, it’s easy to downplay Tudor’s achievements and say that their success is largely due to Rolex’s backing - Tudor is after all the sister brand of Rolex - but that doesn’t take anything away from the momentum they have built up in the past couple of years. This year, Tudor is taking things one step further by introducing their own in-house movement. What does this mean for the Swiss watch industry?
3. Comparative Review - The Zenith Espada vs. Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000
The higher the frequency of the movement, the more accurate the movement generally is. Briefly, it allows for the measurement of smaller units of time, and it recovers from shock more quickly. The fastest mass-produced movements today beat at 36,000 beats per hour, and the two most famous brands that produce them are Zenith and Seiko. Here’s a head to head comparison of two hi-beat three-handers from the two brands.
4. My Ten-Year Anniversary
There are all sorts of watch collectors. Some collect based on brands, others perhaps by models, and some might buy only new watches, while others might swear by vintage pieces. Here is a post celebrating one collector’s 10 anniversary on the IWC Forum and details his collection of Big Pilot watches. Lots of amazing photographs in here. If you are a fan of the IWC Big Pilot, you won’t want to miss this.
5. AP Watchmaking Class
What better way to appreciate the craft of watchmaking than to invite collectors and customers to a watchmaking class? This was exactly what Audemars Piguet did recently when they invited guests of the brand to a class in San Francisco. And as you can imagine, even assembling AP’s simplest hand-wound movement, the Caliber 3090, proved to be a challenging task. But assembly aside, this exercise also gave guests the chance to see and learn more about the different finishing techniques that are applied to an Audemars Piguet movement.
