Month: April 2019

Buyer’s Guide: Omega Seamaster Watches of James Bond

Author: Rob NuddsWhen watch lovers hear the word ‘Seamaster’, it is likely the first model to pop into their head would be the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m. Given that model’s exposure (on the wrist of James Bond for the past 24 years, no less), it is totally understandable. However, the term ‘Seamaster’ actually refers to an entire range of tough, ready-for-anything watches that includes dressy pieces as well as highly refined tool watches, suitable for use in professional diving situations.
There are sub-families too, like the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, the Bullhead, the Ploprof, and even the independently iconic Railmaster. Each sub-family has their own identifiable characteristics and aesthetics, as well as target demographics. But none comes close to matching the importance of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m. While the world needs a hero like 007 to save the day once in a while, watch brands occasionally need a willing soldier to step into the fray and clear a path towards success. ..

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Purchaser’s Information: Omega Seamaster Watches of James Bond

Author: Rob NuddsWhen watch lovers hear the word ‘Seamaster’, it is likely the first model to pop into their head would be the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m. Given that model’s exposure (on the wrist of James Bond for the past 24 years, no less), it is totally understandable. However, the term ‘Seamaster’ actually refers to an entire range of tough, ready-for-anything watches that includes dressy pieces as well as highly refined tool watches, suitable for use in professional diving situations.
There are sub-families too, like the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, the Bullhead, the Ploprof, and even the independently iconic Railmaster. Each sub-family has their own identifiable characteristics and aesthetics, as well as target demographics. But none comes close to matching the importance of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m. While the world needs a hero like 007 to save the day once in a while, watch brands occasionally need a willing soldier to step into the fray and clear a path towards success. ..

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The Enduring Appeal of High-End Quartz Brands

Author: Rob NuddsThere was a time in the not-so-distant past that mechanical watchmaking was assumed dead. In the 1970s the quartz movement emerged and all but cannibalized the industry. Hundreds of brands folded and it seemed very likely that the days of mainsprings and balance wheels were in the dirt. And why not? Battery-powered quartz watches were cheaper to produce, more accurate, and seen as futuristic and cool. Mechanical watchmaking had not, up until this point, been seen as a luxury industry. Yes, a good watch carried some social prestige, but only because it was seen as a necessary instrument, and the more opulent your necessities, the more successful you are seen to have been (think cars, houses, and cloths for direct parallels).
No, in those days, mechanical watchmaking existed because it was all there was. When the quartz revolution hit, everyone wanted a piece of the action. Even James Bond ended up with a snazzy LED Hamilton Pulsar on his wrist for Live and Let Die, whic..

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The Enduring Attraction of Excessive-Finish Quartz Manufacturers

Author: Rob NuddsThere was a time in the not-so-distant past that mechanical watchmaking was assumed dead. In the 1970s the quartz movement emerged and all but cannibalized the industry. Hundreds of brands folded and it seemed very likely that the days of mainsprings and balance wheels were in the dirt. And why not? Battery-powered quartz watches were cheaper to produce, more accurate, and seen as futuristic and cool. Mechanical watchmaking had not, up until this point, been seen as a luxury industry. Yes, a good watch carried some social prestige, but only because it was seen as a necessary instrument, and the more opulent your necessities, the more successful you are seen to have been (think cars, houses, and cloths for direct parallels).
No, in those days, mechanical watchmaking existed because it was all there was. When the quartz revolution hit, everyone wanted a piece of the action. Even James Bond ended up with a snazzy LED Hamilton Pulsar on his wrist for Live and Let Die, whic..

Continue reading

What’s Your Perfect Watch? Here’s a 10-Step Plan to Find It

Have you ever wondered “What’s the perfect watch for me?” Perhaps you framed the question like this: “Which watch should I buy?” Here’s a 10-step plan to help you find the one that’s perfect for you.

1. If you’re just starting out in the world of watches, visit online communities and ask questions. No, don’t ask “Which watch should I buy.” The forum participants don’t know you, so their advice is likely to be off the mark. Instead, ask specific questions about watches to build your knowledge. Ask questions based on the guidelines below. In any online community, keep in mind that the answers may reflect a built-in bias. Regular forum participants may have already formed strong brand allegiances. A site dedicated to a particular brand will be populated by devotees of that brand.

2. Make a list of the features and qualities you seek in a timepiece, prioritize them, and then look for watches that fit your list. Really think about the features. Will you use the watch in the water? Do you ..

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What’s Your Excellent Watch? Right here’s a 10-Step Plan to Discover It

Have you ever wondered “What’s the perfect watch for me?” Perhaps you framed the question like this: “Which watch should I buy?” Here’s a 10-step plan to help you find the one that’s perfect for you.

1. If you’re just starting out in the world of watches, visit online communities and ask questions. No, don’t ask “Which watch should I buy.” The forum participants don’t know you, so their advice is likely to be off the mark. Instead, ask specific questions about watches to build your knowledge. Ask questions based on the guidelines below. In any online community, keep in mind that the answers may reflect a built-in bias. Regular forum participants may have already formed strong brand allegiances. A site dedicated to a particular brand will be populated by devotees of that brand.

2. Make a list of the features and qualities you seek in a timepiece, prioritize them, and then look for watches that fit your list. Really think about the features. Will you use the watch in the water? Do you ..

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WatchTime’s Official Editors’ Round Table for Baselworld

Baselworld 2019 will most likely go down as the show’s deciding year: On one hand, Baselworld had to deal with yet another significantly lower number of exhibitors (and visitors); on the other hand, the show’s new management also had to make sure the outlook for 2020 would be convincing enough to bring back large portions of the watch and jewelry industry it had lost in just two years (if it ever wants to go back to being profitable). Still, the 2019 edition was good, and Baselworld is by far the largest and most important show for the watch industry, even without the brands from the groups like Kering, Haldian, Movado and, most importantly, Swatch Group present. More importantly, Swiss investment bank Vontobel concluded that “feedback from Baselworld was more positive than expected with almost all brands talking about a higher order intake”. Which is good news for everyone, even though “America has seen a little bit of a slowdown,” according to Vontobel.

WatchTime’s editorial team (a..

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WatchTime’s Official Editors’ Spherical Desk for Baselworld

Baselworld 2019 will most likely go down as the show’s deciding year: On one hand, Baselworld had to deal with yet another significantly lower number of exhibitors (and visitors); on the other hand, the show’s new management also had to make sure the outlook for 2020 would be convincing enough to bring back large portions of the watch and jewelry industry it had lost in just two years (if it ever wants to go back to being profitable). Still, the 2019 edition was good, and Baselworld is by far the largest and most important show for the watch industry, even without the brands from the groups like Kering, Haldian, Movado and, most importantly, Swatch Group present. More importantly, Swiss investment bank Vontobel concluded that “feedback from Baselworld was more positive than expected with almost all brands talking about a higher order intake”. Which is good news for everyone, even though “America has seen a little bit of a slowdown,” according to Vontobel.

WatchTime’s editorial team (a..

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Don’t buy a Rolex GMT Master until you read this.

Watch collecting is a habit that can easily get out of hand. For years, my privileged position as an industry analyst meant I was rarely desirous of owning the watches I was able to temporarily access with ease. It was like being part of a private members club that ensured I always had the latest novelties on my wrist. Why would I shell out my hard earned cash to own (and subsequently have to insure) these pieces I could just borrow for a couple of weeks before moving on to something new?
Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi Blue and Red BezelWhen I took a hiatus from writing to focus on growing the international sales network of a well-known German brand, I started buying watches for myself. The floodgates very quickly opened and, before I knew it, I had a list as long of my arm of watches I simply had to have. So fastidious was the nature of my obsession, I even compiled sub-lists broken down by which display case the watches would sit in, their groupings defined by brand, colorway, or function..

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Do not buy a Rolex GMT Grasp till you learn this.

Watch collecting is a habit that can easily get out of hand. For years, my privileged position as an industry analyst meant I was rarely desirous of owning the watches I was able to temporarily access with ease. It was like being part of a private members club that ensured I always had the latest novelties on my wrist. Why would I shell out my hard earned cash to own (and subsequently have to insure) these pieces I could just borrow for a couple of weeks before moving on to something new?
Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi Blue and Red BezelWhen I took a hiatus from writing to focus on growing the international sales network of a well-known German brand, I started buying watches for myself. The floodgates very quickly opened and, before I knew it, I had a list as long of my arm of watches I simply had to have. So fastidious was the nature of my obsession, I even compiled sub-lists broken down by which display case the watches would sit in, their groupings defined by brand, colorway, or function..

Continue reading