Well, not exactly. But the dial is able to change colours, depending on the light and angle, because this watch has a special crystal. Here’s the word from Storm and it’s available in turqoise and a damask red, as well as this electric blue.
The STORM Pinnacle is a bold and contemporary watch with photochromic glass which enables the dial to change through a range of intense colours under different lighting.
The large chunky case has an open side design revealing its raised cut glass. The graduated dial is numbered at 3, 6, 9 and 12 with luminous details which glow in the dark enabling you to view the time in low light conditions. The case width is 43mm btw, so pretty chunky on the wrist.
Quartz movement as you would expect.
The Pinnacle has a thick mesh Interchangeable strap with quick release pins, allowing the strap to be changed for a different look.
The latest from Ball Watches in Switzerland, celebrating that polar explorer chap Shackleton. Here’s the word;
The 41mm Engineer III Endurance 1917 GMT features our Manufacture GMT Caliber RRM7337-C – a true GMT chronometer – wrapped in a 904L stainless steel case and shining with micro gas tube luminosity.
Three complementary models are also available, each designed with unique features yet united by incomparable brightness and high-quality build.
Limited to 1000 pieces each, the series is now available for pre-order until 01 June 2022 at an exclusive price. The entry level is £1260 and the range topper in green is £2190 on a steel bracelet.
Our fave is the ice blue dial model, which fits that polar theme of course. Nice cyclops on the date and dare we say it, that blue is er..Tiffanyesque? So yeah, you get that latest Rolex vibe without the waiting list.
Verdict; worth a look on pre-order at £1990, as this is a COSC grade GMT, Swiss made too. Rivals include the TAG Aquaracer GMT at about 2K, the Oris Aquis GMT, maybe the Breitling Avenger GMT has more investment potential long term, although it retails at about £3500 new?
The latest from Hamilton is a surprising one; a vintage aviation style chronograph, with a grey dial, modest 40mm case width and vintage details like the military style numbers and lume.
At £1800 this isn’t cheap and even with a 60 hour reserve and sapphire crystal, there are cheaper alternatives around from many Indie brands. You can pre-order on the website by the way, so yeah, they are trying that waiting list tactic beloved of Rolex and other brands.
With a distinct vintage military aviation design, the Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical Chronograph brings back the form and function of the chronographs issued to British Royal Air Force pilots in the 1970s. Rugged and reliable, the 40mm watch is powered by our exclusive hand-wound H-51-Si movement.
Verdict: Beautiful old school styling but should be around £1300 RRP. Alternatives include a Forza Drive King quartz at £400, a Certina DS-2 quartz at £700 or a Baltic Bicompax 002, which admittedly only has a Seagull movement. Only £540 though.
There is always the classic choice of picking up a Breitling Top Time secondhand for about the same £1800 asking price for this Hamilton. I guarantee the Breitling will have a higher resale value after 1 year, or 100 years.
Yes, nearly summer and as many people in the UK will reject the globalist 3 hour queues nonsense at airports, that could mean more UK holidays.
If love mountains then trekking up some of the 282 Munro peaks in Scotland is a grand way to get away from it all and burn off a big breakfast. Pure freedom; no masks, no politics, just you and the big sky. It’s always good to have a rugged watch as part of your kit, along with an anorak, boots n water of course and Kartel Scotland are on the job.
Here’s the promo video;
So a tool watch that has simple, bold numbers, reliable Citizen movement, sapphire crystal and some night-time lume is welcome for those adventures.
Kartel, who are based in Scotland, have created a modern classic we feel, with a 41mm steel case, beautiful blue or green dials – there’s a black too – and a range of bracelets and straps. Quick change mechanism built in for swaps too.
Love the big day window, and the knurled crown, it has a sort of old school railway pocket watch vibe on the dial layout as well. If we are nitpicking, then we would love to see a slightly bigger date window. Just saying.
UK High Street jeweller Chisholm Hunter has a Sale on just now, so we picked out some bargains from the watches section.
INVESTMENT WATCHES
A limited edition Grand Seiko is arguably one of the best investment watches you can buy right now. On the upside, you are getting a superb watch, in many ways superior in quality to any Rolex, genuinely hand-crafted compared to mass produced. Secondly, no waiting list, you simply pay £10,370 and it’s yours. That’s 2K off list price.
You might find this unusual brown dial GS Sport 20th Anniversary Edition is a collectors item ten years down the line. Not too big at 44mm across, featuring the Spring Drive movement, with power indicator, chrono functions and 200m of resistance.
Could be a smart move.
How does ten grand off a Parmigiani Toric Chrono sound? This black dial beauty has a rarity value, although many watch fans don’t know much about the brand. COSC calibre, 40mm case, that lush gold bezelled case -understated brilliance really – perfect dress watch.
Now down to £11,700 for this ex-display model.
JUST BECAUSE THEY’RE COOL
A Zenith El Primero with a full skeleton dial is kinda different, most variants have that porthole/open heart thing going on. But this Zenith stands out for us because it has that tachymetre track at the edge of the see-thru dial, blue sub-dial detailing etc. The whole thing has a punchiness and freshness about it, just looks totally different from the usual El Primero models. That’s a good move.
A handy 2K off list is good news, but at £7850, it’s still too rich for us, we reckon you should haggle it down to 7K straight, take it or leave it.
EVERYDAY CLASS
OK, a Longines for £700 is worth looking at because it has that classic Swiss name, a bold dial design with those standout numbers, plus superlume on the hands & markers. Inside there is a reliable quartz movement, long life battery. Like those crown protector shoulders too, plus the engraved rear case.
This 41mm watch is an everyday piece you can be proud to wear and it won’t break the bank.
Inspired by the art deco ships, cars and watches of the 1930s, the MHD Streamliner has an interesting side view. Kinda like the decks of an ocean liner stacked up in miniature. It’s different, which is what every Indie watch brand should be aiming for of course.
Inside there’s a Miyota auto movement and you get a see-thru caseback to look at it – but you know what? It’s better kept under wraps, not an attractive movement at all.
Another detail worth noting is the steel dial, which gives it that industrial look. Add on the screwdown bezel for extra porthole styling too.
It’s a 40mm case, with steel bracelet or leather options. August deliver, pre-order now at £595.
Samgamon watches has a new dive model on pre-order right about now.
Price starts at $299 on the early bird, which is valid until 15th April. The Grand Expedition has an NH35 auto movement inside, 200m of resistance, clickable bezel etc. Two dial colours, white or black. We love that red chapter ring on the white one.
Limited to 150 pieces by the way.
Here’s the full spec on it;
Case Size: 42mm Case Material: Brushed 316L Stainless Steel Case Thickness: 12mm Dial Color: Black Glass: Domed Sapphire Crystal with 5 layers Anti-Reflective Coating Bezel: 120-Click Uni-Directional Black Ceramic Bezel Lume: Swiss BGW9 Super-LumiNova (White in Daylight, Neon Blue at Night) Band: Brushed/Polished Stainless Steel with additional Quick Release Silicone Band (Black and White Two-Tone) Band Width: 22mm Movement: Japanese Seiko NH35A (Automatic) Crown: Screw-Down with Engraved Logo Vibrations per Hour: 21,600 bph Jewels: 24 Power Reserve: 41 Hours Water Resistance: 20 ATM (200 Meters) Case Lug-to-Lug: 49.0 mm Case Back: Lewis and Clark Expedition Deeply Engraved Picture Packaging: Premium Navy Cardboard Box with Story Card 1-Year International Warranty Metal Card included
Strapcode has sent us a few pics of their straps dsigned for the new Seiko Speedtimer chrono, which include a camo option, black leather, plus a retro 70s Rally style bracelet.
Here’s the word;
Camo: Genuine Tuscan leather watch strap, 100% handcrafted in Italy, this Tuscan leather watch strap collection has average thickness 4.3mm, the perfect thickness to match every watch.
The price is $99 though. Yeah.
Rollball Retro:
This Rollball version II QR watch band is designing for straight watch lug diving or sport watch case. The idea of “Rollball” Rally metal watch band was inspired by a famous game – rolling a ball over a “ball-hop” hump that jumps the ball into rings and anchored by Seiko Chronograph watch.
Unlike traditional rally bangles, this high-end Rollball version II has precise adjustable links details for easy length adjustment. This Rollball version II slightly reduced the thickness and roundness, also had a relatively less modernized design to evoke strong nostalgia. In addition, this Rollball Q.R. version metal watch band features integrated quick-release spring bars for a speedy attachment to your timepiece, also further enhancing flexibility and comfort.
The Gulf editions of the TAG Monaco are the most collectable. Yes, some rare brown or red dial models are hard to find, but almost every TAG fan wants a Gulf colours Monaco. It just looks the part.
This year TAG has added a bold 60 number at the 12 o’clock position, plus sharpened the watch is subtle ways. It is still Steve McQueen retro, but looks modern too. Not easy to do, as Zenith often prove with remakes of the El Primero.
The dial refresh is bang on we think, love the 60 detail and the gulf colours on the sub-dial too. Cal 02 movement inside, 39mm case means it’s a versatile everyday watch if you’re in the mood too.
Priced at £5850, it’s not too expensive compared to many other Swiss chronographs and the new, more macho caseback view, the crisp dial details and that blue calf leather strap are making us drool slightly.
Grand Seiko is producing some outstanding work this year and Watches & Wonders is the place to see it. Just superb detailing, next level craft. Respect.
The price? About £310,000 says the FT today. Yeah that beautiful art costs lots of time and money.
Here’s the word from GS;
Grand Seiko reaches a new milestone in its sixty-two year history with the introduction of its first mechanical complication watch, the Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon.
At its heart is a uniquely innovative movement that combines a tourbillon and a constant-force mechanism as one unit on a single axis for the very first time in horological history and so delivers a level of stable accuracy unprecedented for Grand Seiko.
Watch the GS video here. it’s a ballet of balance;
Most remarkable of all is the way that the constant-force mechanism and the tourbillon have been integrated together to allow the creation of an overall design that is perfectly in harmony with the values of Grand Seiko and whose technical ingenuity is encased in a watch of great elegance and wearability.
The Grand Seiko Kodo will be available as a limited edition of twenty in October 2022.
