You might be wondering… are there really that many new watches released every month? The simple answer is yes, but… most of the time, watchmakers are just updating their established model lines, improving the mechanisms which beat inside, and fine-tuning design details, while discontinuing the previous versions. And sometimes it’s smaller sizes being introduced, new colour options added or different materials used. In the end, watchmaking is all about craftsmanship, precise engineering and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Louis Vuitton Escale
Yes, Louis Vuitton not only produces clothing and accessories but also continues its contemporary luxury watchmaking journey. After last year’s Tambour update, the Parisian luxury house comes with a refreshment of the Escale dress watch line. The case and the dial of these models are directly inspired by the look and hardware of Louis Vuitton’s heritage (till now it was only discreet elements on the case) and further evoke, in a very elegant way, the legacy of the brand’s trunk business. It comes in a case of 39mm with different colour options (rose gold with textured silver or blue dial; platinum with meteorite dial; and diamond-set case with a black dial). While we would probably look into other brands’ dress watch offerings in its price range, this model is a solid, classically inspired entry into this competitive space.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini
Lovers of small watches be aware because the teeny, tiny watch trend is still on and kicking. At only 23mm in case diameter, the new Royal Oak is the smallest one in the current collection, introduced in pink, yellow and white gold, all with a frosted gold finish. Of course, where there are small watches, there are often quartz calibres, and this watch is no different. While this watch might be smaller than most of the other sports watches, don’t assume it’s a women’s watch only, as we can picture celebrities, like Timothée Chalamet, rocking this small version. For us, the 34mm, which is the next size-up model in the line, would be the sweetest option on the wrist though.
Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1965 Diver
After last year’s complete revamp of the Marinemaster collection, Seiko is adding two new colourways to the three existing variants – greenish-grey with a black bezel insert along with the full-blue. Its skin-diver-style case of 39.5mm comes with a mechanism inside that holds a power reserve of 45 hours, and with horizontally stamped lines on a dial. This adds something extra to the look, which a plain matte or glossy dial cannot. It’s a nice diver watch, but here comes the “but”. The biggest flaw is perhaps Seiko’s optimistic pricing of this line. While we love other models which are a great entry-level option when slowly diving into a watch game, we might add a few hundred euros extra and get a watch from a Swiss watchmaker with better quality, specs and heritage.
The MoonSwatch ‘Mission On Earth’
It’s playtime again! With MoonSwatch models already dedicated to the Sun, the Moon, and Pluto, not to mention all the limited editions with gold-plated seconds hands or with Snoopy, it was a bit unclear what’s next. Well, a trio of MoonSwatches has landed, inspired by our home planet. Called Mission on Earth, these are dedicated to the lava, polar lights, and desert, obviously all seen from outer space. Aside from their different colourways, they are still the same as the older models – a bioceramic case watch emulating the design of the Omega Speedmaster, with velcro straps, and an uninspiring 30-meter water resistance. It’s a fun watch to have, but you know us – we still prefer to have the original Moonwatch shining on our wrists.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Black
Speaking of Omega, the Swiss watchmaker has announced a trio of models with black dials. Omega’s Aqua Terra line has been in the brand’s portfolio for more than two decades and offers a perfect balance between elegant and sporty features. While there are already models with a black dial on the market, this trio comes with glossy black lacquered dials instead of a “teak” pattern (horizontal lines engraved into its surface) which offers a more sleek, classy look to the watch. Available in 34mm, 38mm, and 41mm sizes, with 150m of water resistance, these new models come with the updated bracelet, which includes a butterfly-style clasp and an integrated micro-extension system. We like Aqua Terra in general but feel like that the classic “teak” pattern makes these models what they are and more unique.
Becoming a watch nerd?
- Louis Vuitton’s Tambour – this model, with the newest version introduced last year, is a respectable entry into the already-crowed integrated bracelet sports watch space.
- Frosted gold finish – the Carolina Bucci-led decorative technique, based on an ancient Florentine jewellery-making practice and made with a diamond-tipped tool. The result is a gold surface that sparkles as if it were laden with precious gems.
- Quartz movement – Uses a battery as its primary power source. To create power, a battery sends an electrical current through a small quartz crystal, electrifying the crystal to create vibrations. These vibrations keep the movement oscillating and drive the motor to move the watch’s hands.
- Dial – also known as the face, is a a big part of a watch’s personality and the portion of the watch that displays the time, or any other indicators, such as date, day, moon phase etc.
- Diver – diving or dive watch – is a watch designed for underwater diving to record elapsed time that features, as a minimum, a water resistance greater than 100m (typically around 200 to 300m). Another important feature is a bezel, which must have uni-directional rotation. If the bezel is bi-directional, any knock could rotate and the diver can lose the tracking.
- Bezel – the part of the watch case that surrounds the watch glass, serving as a protective guard and as an aesthetic frame. Rotating dive watch bezels help to track a diver’s bottom time – the total time spent underwater – a reminder to prevent divers from exceeding their diving time with limited oxygen.
- Second hands – the hand that marks the seconds on a watch
- Omega Speedmaster / Moonwatch – is one of the most iconic and collectable watches, worn by NASA astronauts and used on the moon landing mission. The history behind the Speedmaster is often connected with Buzz Aldrin who wore one when landed on the moon in 1969. However, the Speedmaster was launched into space long beforehand on Walter “Wally” Schirra during the Sigma 7 mission of the Mercury program in 1962. It features Chronograph functionality and has an external tachymeter bezel.
- Tachymeter – is a function that allows measuring average speed, over a known distance, for example, based on how many seconds it takes a vehicle to travel 1km (the available measuring range is up to 60 seconds), the average speed within the distance can be calculated.
- Chronograph – is a traditional timepiece fitted with an extra complication to act as a stopwatch, allowing it to record time. Most chronographs have subdials on the watch face that display seconds, minutes, and hours elapsed. To use the chronograph function, there are typically pushers on the side of the watch case that allow to return of stopwatch hands to zero.
- Velcro straps – velcro is a type of fastening tape consisting of opposing pieces of fabric, one piece with a dense arrangement of tiny nylon hooks and the other with a dense nylon pile, that interlocks when pressed together, used as a closure on a strap.
- Gloss lacquered dial – to achieve a lacquered dial, the manufacturer coats a base metal with layers of enamel paint, either by hand or with a machine and then heats it to a high temperature to achieve a glossy look.
