ALESSANDRO MICHELE EXTENDS HIS MAGIC TO THE LATEST COLLECTION OF GUCCI WATCHES - HarpersBazaar.com4/28/2017
 After teasing the pieces with a semi-sardonic (and controversial) social media campaign of timepiece-themed memes, Gucci unveiled a collection of watches totally worthy of Insta-fame, reflecting all the wit, humor, and creativity endemic to the fashion house. In short: You're going to want them all. The statement-making accessories adapt popular iconography from the Gucci archives beloved by fashion fans and collectors (think the signature tri-color stripes, animal logos, and Renaissance elements), paired with modern touches, like current-day graffiti art. Our favorite—pictured below—features the brand's emblematic cat head cast in bright yellow resin and a colorful, vintage-style woven strap. The result is a perfectly flashy, of-the-moment watch that plays nice with loud prints and crisp neutrals alike...and looks like it time-traveled straight out of a Rainbow Bright episode from the '80s.  They're designed for deep-sea diving — but certainly merit everyday wear. A nod to the heroism of the Royal Italian Navy, the grit of the long-distance channel swimmer, and even Jacques Cousteau’s spirit of exploration, dive watches manage to be inherently inspiring. In their first iterations in the 1920s, dive watches marked an important milestone. Advancements in water resistance helped popularize the use of the wristwatch (vs. the more typical pocket watch) by making them much more durable and practical for everyday wear. In the 1950s, when scuba diving was gaining popularity as a recreational sport, the dive watch became a truly necessary tool for keeping track of time while descending deep underwater, particularly when worn in tandem with a depth gauge. And as advancements in diving equipment and technology allowed for deeper dives, the watch industry kept pace with greater and greater ingenuity.  Introducing the Ressence Type 1H limited edition for Hodinkee.  few months back, we suggested keeping your credit line free and clear for a potential surprise launch of a heart-stopping limited edition timepiece requiring your immediate financial attention. Horological catnip to watch fans and collectors, these panic-inducing online flash sales create a buy-it-now frenzy that produces amazing results in remarkably short amounts of time. Well, fire up that Black Card, the next day of reckoning has arrived. Online watch magazine Hodinkee has done it again, this time with an unexpected collaboration with the avant-garde Belgian watchmaker Ressence, known for creating innovative watches that completely reinvent how you read the time—the hour, minutes, and seconds become a series of concentric circles each turning independently inside one another. The 20-piece Type 1H limited edition for Hodinkee accentuates this orbital system even further by skeletonizing—cutting away—sections of the discs, making the fascinating inner workings entirely visible through the German silver dial.  A sartorial report straight from Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie and Baselworld.  Here's the thing about investing in a watch: You want your purchase to look exquisite, but it should also hold up, keeping time for decades, if not generations. At the 2017 Swiss watch fairs, Geneva-based Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie and the more recent Baselworld, many of the women's pieces highlighted a classic elegance, but they also included impressive mechanics. So while a lack of bling was notable—the offerings leaned toward a simple, wearable vibe instead—it was the use of high-tech materials and new textures that proved particularly impressive.
Aesthetically, it's also an exciting time to add a watch to your jewelry drawer. Pink is making a welcome comeback and offering an attractive femininity, and a handful of monochromatic styles are the pinnacle of chic. Even better, a few styles are known for holding their value, helping to justify the expenditure. http://www.elle.com/fashion/accessories/g29735/ladies-watches-basel/  There's something of a revolution happening in the watch world. With a whole generation of potential customers who can't even wrap their heads around the idea wearing a high-end mechanical timepiece, something has to give. And at this year's most important industry event, important clues to its survival started to emerge.
Unlike the fashion industry—which can reflect the changing times by turning on a dime—the careful watch world works at a slightly slower pace. At Baselworld 2017, it became clear that the industry now has a greater understanding of consumers' shifting priorities and a willingness to look thoughtfully and respond their desires. This year's winning timepieces showcase the distinguished history of watchmaking while incorporating ingenious modern updates as well as wild advances in materials, manufacturing, and technology. They're also achingly beautiful. From the "holy grail" pieces featuring major complications that each serve a unique purpose to affordable knock-around weekend watches, here's a roundup of the most memorable timepieces, straight from the fair. Each offers vital proof that while your phone may do a perfectly serviceable job of telling you the time, watches still matter. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/g3288/baselworld-watches-2017/ Van Cleef & Arpels has a long history of dreaming up amazing creations, and at this year's Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, two new dazzling timepieces were unveiled along with an equally stunning collection of unique pieces from the esteemed Parisian jeweler's archives. Each of the new releases—an incredible Automate Fée Ondine Table Clock and the wearable Lady Arpels Papillon Automate Watch—come to life during certain times of day, illustrating jaw-dropping animated scenes right out of an enchanted fairy tale.  Introducing the Fossil Q x Cory Richards smartwatch.  Checking the hour after his recent SXSW keynote speech, Cory Richards looks over his jam-packed schedule and realizes the day is slipping by faster than he imagined. Living life on the edge provides Cory with unprecedented clarity, a unique perspective much wiser than his youthful 35 years might suggest. After inspiring a massive crowds at the Austin Convention Center, the extreme mountain climber and Nat-Geo photojournalist is quickly able to settle down and explain his ongoing relationship with the passage of time, the watch brand Fossil, and his very first Fossil Q smartwatch collaboration. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/a53873/cory-richards-fossil-smartwatch/  Plus, a look at some of his previous on-screen timepieces.  In a world where "look at me" red carpet style reigns, you might think a grand gesture would create the biggest impact. But as it turns out, the smallest details make the man—especially when it comes to being the best dressed. And even though La La Land didn't actually win best picture last night (resulting in one of the most memorable Oscar moments we've ever seen), Ryan Gosling has proven himself to be a solid menswear style-setter time and time again.  One remarkably effective tool in his arsenal: a fantastic wristwatch. This tiny detail, seemingly small and insignificant, is an area where Gosling ultimately excels. Throughout his career, some pretty fabulous watches have appeared in both Ryan's films and real life—intelligent choices revealing an important facet of his character's personality or quietly respecting the dignity of a formal occasion. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/a53451/ryan-gosling-la-la-land-watch/  The Vagabondage III, by F.P. Journe, features a never-before-seen watch function: seconds markers that "jump." There is nothing like hearing the word "no" to inflame the passions and desire of a collector, and few understand that concept better than Geneva-based independent watchmaker F.P.Journe. In the world of high-end watchmaking, quality, scarcity, and availability (often the lack thereof) are vital parts of the equation. Journe utilized these brilliant tactics with the January release of the third (and final) part of a three-part series of watches: the Vagabondage III.   Introducing The Vacheron Constantin Historiques Cornes de Vache 1955 Limited Edition for Hodinkee.
An immediate product drop following a surprise social media attack has become common practice for an overstimulated fashion industry desperate to stir up excitement (and some much-needed sales). With instant-gratification, snooze-you-lose tactics used by everyone from Supreme to H&M, the surprise announcement has proven to be this season's more-successful pop-up store. And in what might be considered the most surprising flash sale yet, online watch magazine Hodinkee teamed up with venerable Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin to launch a limited edition stainless steel watch on a Thursday morning at 11:30 am—right in the middle of winter storm Niko, no less. http://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/news/a53061/vacheron-constantin-hodinkee-cornes-de-vache/ These timekeepers look traditional, but they're packed with an array of smart features and advanced technology. Important lessons learned from the first generations of smartwatches have brought about a new wave of wearable technology: the hybrid, analog-connected watch. These have all the cool, connected features and the fashionable good looks of a classic wristwatch, which means they'll have longevity even after the novelty of those smart features may wear off. Instead of trying hard to take the place of your phone, these watches work in perfect harmony with the rest of your devices.  The timepiece trade show did not disappoint. The past year hasn't been terribly kind to the luxury watch market. Business news sources continue to report a grim future, but a recent trip to Geneva's Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) painted a very different picture. The invitation-only trade show, presented by luxury goods company Richemont, not only showcased the latest creations from top watch brands but also presented innovative collections from courageous, independent watchmakers. For admirers of exquisitely beautiful timepieces, this was a banner year.   A preppy staple, straight from France. According to The Official Preppy Handbook, there are ten critical fashion principles of proper prep style for both men and women. Is it possible for a classic wristwatch from a storied high fashion French luxury goods house to address all these important all-American rules? You bet your Top-Siders it is. Behold, the Hermès Cape Cod. The deceptively simple Cape Cod watch designed in 1991 and quickly proved to be a master class of these all-important prep dress codes. A few of these core principals? Neatness, practicality, and quality: Check, check, check. Excellent materials, heritage, humor? Most definitely, check. http://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/jewelry-and-watches/a9199/hermes-cape-cod-watch/ Say hello to the #SpeedyTuesday Speedmaster. Just how important is social media to the wristwatch industry? You might want to ask Swiss timekeeper Omega. Back in 2012, Fratello Watches founder Robert-Jan Broer tagged an Omega Instagram photo #speedytuesday. Like most viral sensations, there wasn't much in the way of forethought or design—he was simply posting the Omega Speedmaster image on a Tuesday.   February Esquire '17 Timepiece innovations are often the result of tweaking decades-old mechanical inventions, so when a watch comes on to the scene that completely reinvents the game - check out the oil-filled dome!- we notice.  
Time waits for no man, not even for a leading man of stage and screen. The current star of Broadway's Les Liaisons Dangereuses and TV's Ray Donovan--not to mention the cover of Esquire—actor Liev Schrieber performs a bit of Shakespeare in a short clip as a conceptual ode to the New York minute and his stainless steel Tiffany CT60. The watch—a self-winding, three-hand, 40mm mechanical model—ticks away the seconds as he contemplates the passage of time, nature, and youth within the lyrical iambic pentameter of Shakespeare's Sonnet 12, which just so happens to be the perfect length for Instagram's brief, 60-second video limit.
Give the gift of a positive future. The watchmaking industry has a long history of adapting to an ever-changing landscape, and recent times are no exception. Cutting-edge design and groundbreaking innovations prove the future of watchmaking remains bright—no matter what the stars have in store. http://www.esquire.com/style/g3152/the-19-best-timepieces-to-give-the-futuristic-watch-lover/  Watches with a little history don't have to look like boring antiques. That's why we've rounded up 16 timepieces with serious staying power. The DNA is drawn from the past, but the features and looks are entirely contemporary. http://www.esquire.com/style/news/g3150/classic-watch-gift-guide/  Progress in the world of design is important for a reason: It makes our lives better. Innovative thinking leads to smarter resources, greater sustainability, and hopefully, more beautiful surroundings. At the recent Design Miami Fair, New York-based SHoP Architects were this year's recipients of the Panerai Design Miami/Visionary Award.   For Chinese artist Sun Xun, the existential questions explored in his artwork are the same existential questions he asks of himself. What is time? What is forever? What is history? What is the future? What is now? http://www.esquire.com/style/news/a51263/audemars-piguet-sun-xun-art-basel-miami-beach/  At the invitation of luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, a site-specific artwork called "Reconstruction of the Universe" was unveiled for the second Audemars Piguet Art Commission at Art Basel in Miami this past weekend. It may not immediately seem like a natural pairing, but these compelling time-related concepts are shared by AP—a reflection upon the rapidly changing future of complicated fine watches. What seems to be a highly conceptual connection slowly reveals an important similarity between the artist and watchmaker. Imagine a top fashion designer showing a collection that barely changes from one season to the next. For an industry built on change, it would be a radical concept. By definition, trends come and go, but Rolex believes in the opposite. Consistency equates to reliability, with the brand's fabled attention to detail being its key to success. A former company slogan, "A crown for every achievement," sums up Rolex accurately: No other watchmaker commands this level of popular recognition or manufactures a product that's viewed as a tangible symbol of success by a huge swath of the world.  In the pantheon of luxury goods, Rolex has a unique spot: The word conjures up not a logo or a covetable item, but rather the very idea of a beautifully made and enduring timepiece. It is nearly synonymous with the word heirloom, and for that reason, the watchmaker has earned an enormous and loyal following around the world. For many, buying new gives them instant access to this legacy, but collectors and connoiseurs want something more, a watch with history as well as pedigree. The value of rare models reaches stratospheric heights at some of the biggest auction houses in the world. Phillips, Sotheby's, Christie's, and Antiquorum have all set records prices for notable Rolex watches that have come up for auction.  Great design knows no boundaries. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the post-World War II golden age of Italian automotive design—from the 1940s through the 1970s—has influenced the world of watch design as well as the world of cars. Automakers like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia, and Maserati immediately conjure up visions of sleek, aerodynamic lines that feel as appropriate on a sports car as a timepiece. Watches and driving are, after all, intimately linked, with accurately measuring speed an all-important aspect of auto racing.   When it comes to buying an exceptional watch, Rolex is virtually synonymous with achieving success. Like buying a bespoke suit, purchasing a Rolex watch represents one of life's great accomplishments, one that goes far beyond just owning a beautiful timepiece—and no other brand conjures up quite this type of personal connection or emotional reaction.   The day has come. You've worked your butt off, you've saved up for months, and you're now ready to reward your hard-earned success with a status symbol that says "I've made it." It's time to buy a grown-up watch. But where do you start? You want a piece that will impress your friends with your impeccable taste, sure, but you also want to make a smart (and beautiful) investment. First thing's first: Educate yourself. Shopping for a big-ticket watch can be intimidating, but armed with the right questions and know-how, you can be confident you're choosing the right one for you. Here, all of the most important elements to consider:  |
AuthorStephen Watson is a freelance stylist and watch editor. Archives
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