Celebrating 100 Years Of The Iconic Cartier Tank - Part 1, The First One, The 1917 Tank Normale - Monochrome Watches
If you were to ask your fellow watch-lovers what they thought was the ultimate, chic dress watch for men (or women), I would be confident in saying that the Cartier Tank – in one of its many variations – would feature very high on the list. Versatile, distinctive and instantly recognisable on the wrist, the Tank is, without doubt, one of the most unconventionally iconic watch designs of all time. So much so, in fact, that it's hard to believe the ageless Tank turns 100 this year. Today, we're looking back to where it all began, to celebrate not only everything the Tank has achieved for Cartier but also to try and understand what goes into making an icon.A Stroll Through HistoryThese days, the visual identity of the Cartier Tank is so well-known - and well-loved - that it's hard to imagine this classic wristwatch ever being a revolutionary force in luxury watch design, and indeed in the watch industry as a whole. And yet, that's exactly what it was. It helped change and shap

Oris Big Crown ProPilot Worldtimer, With Clever Bezel-Actuated Dual-Time Function (Hands-On with Price)
Over the past few years, Oris have wowed us with several practical, innovative timepieces that harness a utilitarian look, feel and features, with competitive prices. Think about the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter for instance: a highly practical watch with a hard to ignore bang-for-buck attitude, or the 2013 Oris Aquis Depth Gauge, a simple yet clever development. Today, there is a new kid in town, with yet another cool innovative element (even if its name tends to indicate a different type of watch). It is the Oris Big Crown ProPilot Worldtimer, and it is a very intuitive GMT watch.Oris is well-known for being mechanically creative, whilst remaining true to their DNA, which stands for well built, competitively priced and cleverly conceived watches for various uses. Whether we take a look at their dive watches, pilot watches or even the more fancier watches with the in-house Oris Calibre movement, each watch has a distinct feature not often found in other brands operating in the sa

Longines HydroConquest 43mm Blue Dial and Bezel
The popularity of dive watches is at an all-time high, and there are plenty of big fish in the pond. With stiff competition from all quarters, it's always encouraging to discover a dive watch from one of Switzerland's oldest and most respected brands that hasn't strayed into inaccessible waters. Unlike the popular remakes of family heirlooms in the Heritage Collection, like the vintage-inspired Legend Diver or the Skin Diver, the HydroConquest is a contemporary dive watch at an accessible price. Benefitting from a makeover in 2018 with a fresh palette of colours and matching ceramic bezels, two case sizes, and a sturdy modern automatic movement with an extended power reserve, the HydroConquest has escalated its luxury appeal but without escalating its price. Let's take a look today at the 43mm time-and-date blue HydroConquest on a steel bracelet.Big Fish in the pondDive watches, which were originally marketed as tool watches, have inched their way up the luxury ladder – along wit

The Hand-Wound Omega Speedmaster 57 40.5mm
I know… The title is voluntarily a bit provocative. In the world of watches, it’ll be hard to forget about the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. It simply is one of the most emblematic and historically-important watches ever made by Omega, and by extension, the whole industry. And the latest version of the Moonwatch, the Master Chronometer Calibre 3861, is one of the best chronographs on the market. Period! However, not everybody will be attracted by this watch. Without denying the qualities of the classic Speedy, there are multiple reasons for someone to prefer something else, something different, something less consensual. Enters the Hand-Wound Omega Speedmaster 57 Chronograph Co-Axial Master Chronometer 40.5mm. And if it has the name Speedmaster printed on its dial, it certainly is a completely different take on the collection and one that has serious arguments too.The Speedmaster in its most classic version, the Moonwatch ProfessionalFor many decades now, the Speedmas

Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver Reedition
About a week ago, we introduced you to a rather cool watch, the Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster, which marked the return of a highly original and important model in dive watch history. What's even more noticeable is the fact that the name Nivada Grenchen, a niche but cult brand specialized in instrumental pieces, is coming back. Finally, the best news is that the most iconic watch ever produced by the brand, the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver, has been faithfully re-edited. Let's have a closer look at this vintage-inspired watch, modelled after what was once named the Super Chronograph.Nivada GrenchenNivada was founded in Grenchen (Granges), Switzerland in 1926 by Otto Wullimann, Hermann Schindler and Jack Schneider. The company remained under the control of the Schneider family until its 50th anniversary in 1976. From the earliest days, the company focused on instrument watches that went beyond the simple indication of the time – among the first to offer water-resistance, automatic