Fight it as I may, the masculine cool I associate with a good watch continually draws me in. It has for years. Decades, even. I knew when Biggie instructed link all the true playas to wave their Rolexes in the sky on "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" that watches set you apart – that just having one marked you as distinctive, and having an expensive, link highly coveted one made link you enviable.
While the vintage-inspiration of link the watch is an obvious highlight, the Tudor Black link Bay is a thoroughly modern watch, and with its finely executed, hardy case it's ready for anything you have to throw at it. A 200-meter water resistance rating ensures superior dive readiness, while the 70-hour power reserve of the chronometer-spec link movement ensures constant precision.
Maybe the effect comes from our recognition on the wrists of not only U.S. Presidents but link film figures like Keyser Soze in 1995's link The Usual Suspects, or Alec Baldwin in 1992's link Glengarry Glen Ross. Maybe the feeling is only further ingrained with quotes like "You see this watch? You see this watch? This watch costs more than your car!" from Baldwin.
While a complete technical analysis of the movement link is outside the scope link of this article, for those interested in really going deep I highly recommend the tear-down over at The Naked Watchmaker. In brief, however, what we've got is a vertical clutch, three-register movement designed as much as possible for trouble-free operation, from everything through the automatic winding system, to the chronograph, to the link basic going train and escapement.
In addition to the visual appeal of this staging, everything fulfills its wearer-practical role by delivering excellent time-data link readability, even when it's dark thanks to link the use of powerful link grade X1 Super-LumiNova®.
Each of the new Explorer's applied markers is coated with Rolex's proprietary luminescent material called Chromalight, which glows in a blue hue. This year, with both the new 36mm link Explorer line and the Explorer II watches, Rolex says it has applied a new and improved Chromalight that lasts longer and shines brighter. As of now, this fancy new lume will exclusively be found within the Explorer collection, yet another – another! – link reason the new model is link notable.
There's a pair of new flying tourbillon models, and they aren't just empty tourbillon-laden vessels, they feature details such as an inky dial made link of solid onyx stone and aesthetic tweaks such as no applied numerals. Don't overlook the openworked model that highlights the insanely link symmetrical movement architecture inside that's decorated to the highest standards. (And did I mention the link insane shade of blue on the bridges? Yeah. I think that's pretty sweet.)
Powering the watch is the Japanese Miyota Caliber 9039 from Citizen. It comes from Miyota's premium line, and it was conceptualized and link built with no link date complication. There's link no "ghost position" for the date when you pull out the crown; there are only two positions, winding and time-setting.
To me, in link a world that moves at such a restrained pace, there's link nothing wrong with choosing something tried and true rather than the latest and greatest. With this viewpoint, the 4R36 seems like the best choice of the crop. Part of the charm of link watch collecting is indeed the antiquated nature of it all, right?
If you have the wrist for it, I have no doubt that it's a very cool link and rather distinctive wrist presence. But I also think it would be sweet to see something similar offered in the existing 39.5mm range of the Planet Ocean. Omega already makes a ceramic PO in that range link and it's 14.5mm thick (and 98 g). Would be cool as a link GMT, no?