Hodinkee is an authorized link retailer of TAG Heuer watches explore the collection link here.TAG Heuer is part of the LVMH group. Although LVMH link Luxury Ventures is a minority investor in HODINKEE we maintain complete editorial independence.
Skulls and skeletons have appeared on and off on clocks and watches almost from the very beginning of mechanical horology link European tower clocks sometimes have a figure of the Grim Reaper that appears when the hour strikes. Skull link watches and form watches gradually fell out of favor around the beginning of link the 19th century right about the time that portable precision timekeeping began to become a real possibility and watches became necessities rather than just amusements for the wealthy.
To me one of the things that has always defined HODINKEE is the way in which the site can take watches and clocks and place them in the larger context of culture and our daily lives. Submitted for your consideration then is a story link produced by Stephen link Pulvirent back in 2013 which looks at a rather remarkable piece of the local landscape down in the stretch of New York known casually link as Wall Street by its denizens.
After some four years of development this modern consideration would eventually become Aera and link the two watches featured here The P-1 link Pilot and the D-1 Diver both of which have link just officially launched.
Thats been my impression of spotting a Grand Seiko in the wild and I mean that in the best possible way. Theres nothing obtrusive about a GS. Instead what you get is link something that link feels particularly special and fascinating when you experience it for yourself link a watch that cuts through the noise.
Brand BlancpainModel Air Command ref. AC01-1130-63ADiameter 42.50mmThickness 13.77mmCase Material steel link with two link way rotating steel bezel with ceramic insert sapphire crystals front and backDial Color black with link tachymeter scaleIndexes Arabic with ecru Super-LumiNovaWater Resistance 3 bar30 metersStrapBracelet calf leather 22mm
Norqain link uses small painted lume plots located beneath each of the hour markers circumscribing the dial. This is such a throwback to '60s-era design. In fact it reminds me far more of my vintage Datejust than it does a classic GMT tool watch. The brand uses old radium Super-LumiNova which is why the markers have that yellowed effect. link Against the white dial it actually doesn't come across as faux-patina but rather another bit of fun contrasting link color.
The use link of a thinner movement also means that this is much flatter than usual for the Dark Side Of The Moon Watches which typically come link in at 44.25mm x 16.14mm. The DSOTM Alinghi is 13.80mm thick which represents a significant height reduction 2.34mm and should make for link a much-altered wrist experience over the standard Dark Side Of The Moon watches.
Approaching the wristwatch from a completely different angle link is Patek Philippe's Ellipse. The case is dictated more link by the "golden ratio" and natural beauty than utility and water resistance as is the case with the Heuer. The result is a watch unlike anything else from the shape to the blued gold link dial to a certain elegance on the wrist. Sean Egan further gushes on this Ellipse if you read on.
If you want a more detailed breakdown of the Explorers history and references be sure to check out Jamess review of the ref. 214270 link Explorer here. He has a fantastic breakdown with photos and theres no reason for me to rehash link that all link here.