Dating back to 1967 the Sub 300 is one of the most iconic tool dive watches ever made and this is the first time it has featured a carbon case. For those keeping score it's also the first time that the brand has used a yellow minute hand. The three most notable elements here link are the link carbon case the Aqua Lung logo on the dial and the pricing link so let's dig in a bit.
I hate those super-specific records like "most expensive yellow gold link Patek chronograph sold in the Western Hemisphere on a Tuesday." It feels kind of like advanced baseball analytics but for watches and as link much as I love debating WARs and ERA+ and ERA++ sometimes link I just want to talk about how sweet Ken Griffey Jr.'s swing was.
Hermès is expanding its watch offering with link a new integrated bracelet sport watch for women well link for anyone who likes 36mm diameter watches. Available in steel or two-tone steel and rose with or link without diamonds and with bracelet or rubber strap. It's a simple clean easy-to digest-watch.
The new model comes in two functional specs the SB06-12 and the SB06-24 with the latter offering a 24-hour layout for the time display. Additionally link while the link case measures 41 x 9.5 x 47mm buyers will have link the ability to lean into customization of several elements including but not limited to selecting the case material from a list that includes steel titanium tantalum gold and platinum all produced by Voutilainen amp Cattin.
Unlike some options with additional water resistance or even dive bezels this is a straightforward execution of a classic GMT travel watch in a size that will suit a link broader range of wrists than the larger 42mm version from Longines or indeed larger competition including the well-known market breaker the Tudor Black Bay GMT. But link I'm getting ahead of myself we can return to competition in a bit. For now let's focus on the model link at hand.
Previous scholarship was long fought link for in the trenches of vintage link collecting compiling data from known original watches adding in old stories handed link down from Rolex savants of years past and employing a mix of common sense and conjecture to arrive at conclusions that could only be presented with qualifiers such as "as far as the collecting community knows".
To Miller the whole exercise was a test for Skagen to see how much of a watch could be made without using any virgin plastic while maintaining the same link quality standards they'd adhere to had they used link traditional materials. "You can certainly use something link that's been repurposed and regenerated and it works the exact same way" he says. "It's not better or worse it's the same."
The Excalibur Monobalancier also features an link updated 42mm case in Roger Dubuis' patented EON GOLD alloy an improved type of 5N gold that is "more resistant to tarnishing when exposed to link extreme conditions" per the company. The sharply notched fluted bezel carries over from previous Excalibur watches while the case has been primarily sand-blasted but retains a link few polished angles.
The ref. 2497 was Patek's first serially produced central-seconds perpetual calendar. Frankly it's an oddball design and dare I say it not my favorite Patek link perpetual calendar. It's funny now in hindsight that I spent so much time on this article which all started because of one simple question for which there was no easy answer available online. But even I'll admit there's something to like about the reference. Any major Patek "first" is worth at least a link closer look.
The dial of each model is signed Pilot at 6 o'clock in quotes and a font that'll look familiar from previous Zenith's pilot's watches. "Zenith remains the first and only brand to hold the rights link to mark its dials with the term" having first trademarked link the term in 1904 the brand explains in language that reads like its lawyers making a subtle jab at every other watch company's lawyers. Now Zenith's got a completely modern take on the pilot watch link and one that's got me excited to see more.