Watches NEWS
Petrolhead Corner - Three racing cars so good they were banned
It is sometimes stated that the very first car race happened 5 minutes after the second-ever car was built. And to an extent, that is very true. Racing has been part of the automotive industry from day 1 basically, as people try to find out who is quickest in what car. The direct result is a race for innovation as well, as one tries to outdo the other. It’s pretty much an ego game at the end and something that attracts huge crowds the world over. But what happens if an engineer or race car driver has an idea that propels a car so much ahead of the field, it becomes unfair? Should it be allowed, should others try and catch up, should the rules be changed or should the car in question be banned outright? With that in mind, it’s time for another Petrolhead Corner episode looking at cars so good, they were banned from competition.?We’ve touched on the subject of banned cars before, but more from the perspective of legality or even downright cheating. Those focused on driv
Introducing: An X-Ray Unitas Adorns the Dial of this Mido Multifort Mechanical
The Unitas, known under the names ETA 6498 and 6497 (depending on its configuration, Lepine or Savonette), is without a doubt one of the most important and most long-lasting movements of the Swiss industry. This simple, no-nonsense but reliable hand-wound movement has been produced since the 1950s, yet originates from classic pocket watch calibres. Often seen as an entry-level and quite mundane alternative, it shouldn’t however be overlooked. And Mido, a brand owned by the Swatch Group, owner of ETA, has decided to give this movement its credentials back, putting an X-ray image of its mechanics right on the dial. Pretty cool, maybe even cooler than an entry-level openworked movement.There’s been a bit of a trend recently with so-called sketched dials, watches where the movement inside the case was suggested by a drawing on the dial – such as this Octo Finissimo Automatic 140th anniversary, or a unique Czapek for TimeforArt auction. Mido somehow brings the same concept
Buying Guide - 4 New Uber-Complex Chronograph Watches of 2022
The idea of this article came to life after our first encounter with the new MB&F Legacy Sequential EVO a few weeks ago. Looking at this ultra-complex, yet impressively intuitive and pragmatic chronograph – that was officially launched today – made us look back at the new chronograph watches in 2022. And this is how we discovered that, indeed, there are some rather impressive models lurking in stopwatch territory. A classic chronograph is designed to time an event; these chronographs, however, do far more than that. They either improve the technical characteristics drastically or have entirely new ways of displaying elapsed times – or everything at once! Yes, the chronograph is still one of the top complications, and it’s here to stay!Basically, a chronograph is a watch equipped with an additional feature that can measure elapsed times. A stopwatch, if you prefer. The duration of an event can be timed, on demand, with extra hands placed on the dial, which ca
The Auction Hammer: Elvis Presleys Omega Constellation - Monochrome Watches
It's Now or Never, or it will be at the Antiquorum sale of Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces in New York on December 11. If You're Lonesome that night you might want to take yourself downtown to Madison Avenue where among the highlights will be the rare sighting of a c.1960 Omega Constellation, which was once owned and worn by a king. And not just any old king either, we're talking about The King himself - Elvis Presley!Charlie Hodge, a successful musician himself, became a close friend of Presley during their time together when both were serving in the US Army. The two struck up a lasting chemistry between them, and their friendship would endure until the Legend's death, with Hodge a faithful and loyal aide and counsel, and even residing in Graceland for 16 years. Presley's Omega Constellation regularly drew admiring comments from his friend, and eventually Hodge was made a gift of the watch as a token of their bond.The Elvis Presley Omega Constellation features the Cal. 504 man
Omega Grabs the Sailing Spotlight - The Louis Vuitton Cup - Monochrome Watches
The stage is set. The players are in place, and the quest for the America's Cup trophy is set to begin. The conclusion of the Louis Vuitton Cup saw Omega's Emirates Team New Zealand win and earn the right to challenge Team Oracle USA for the America's Cup trophy. We previewed the America's Cup season and the new AC72 yachts here; now we are ready for the dramatic denouement. In a prescient move, Omega made ready with its Omega ETNZ Seamaster Diver Special Edition. The Race is on, and Omega is there!The Louis Vuitton Cup is the penultimate competition to determine the challenger who will race against last year's winner for the America's Cup trophy. On Sunday, August 25th, Omega's Emirates Team New Zealand dealt Luna Rossa a 7-1 defeat in a foggy, capricious San Francisco Bay. This year catapulted the longest sailing competition from the bemused interest of the topsider-clad elite into a world more nearly resembling Extreme Sports or Formula One. This year witnessed carbon fiber wings, r