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November 2023

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The Watches

G-Shock Celebrates 40 Years with Carbon-Cased Debuts 

Casio celebrates G-Shock’s 40th anniversary with two full-carbon-cased versions of its first-ever G-Shock watch, the DW5000.

The new models, GCWB5000UN-1 and GCWB5000UN-6, each place the watch’s already high-tech solar-powered timekeeping (paired with Bluetooth and radio controlled accuracy) into a choice of two new lightweight, three-layer carbon cases, each with the G-Shock 40th anniversary logo engraved on the back and the year of G-Shock’s birth noted on the dial .

These are premium models within the extensive 5000 series, which has presented the rectangular G-Shock dial and case for four decades to ardent collectors. 

Available now for the first time in Carbon cases, each of the anniversary editions is built from three types of carbon materials – forged carbon, carbon fiber reinforced resin, and multi-layered carbon. Carbon layers also appear within the dial and the extra thick bracelet.

One model, the GCWB5000UN-1, boasts a monochromatic midnight black hue while the other, GCWB5000UN-6, features a spacey, textured purple design.

Not only are these debuts newly cased in carbon, each case is also somewhat thinner than earlier offerings within its Full Metal sister line. The thinner case and the carbon, case, bracelet and clasp means these new model weight in at 64 grams while the full metal series tips the scales at 167 grams.

Of course both watches feature all the technical features you’d expect from the newest 5000 series models, including the aforementioned solar-powered timekeeping with Bluetooth and radio control, as well as a Super Illuminator (high-brightness full auto LED backlight), shock resistance, 200 meters of water resistance, strong magnetic resistance, four daily alarms, a snooze alarm, world time, countdown timer (24 Hr.), a stopwatch and 12/24-hour time formats.

Look for each model to arrive in 40th-anniversary special packaging.

The G-SHOCK GCWB5000UN-1 and GCWB5000UN-6 are each priced at $2,000 and are available at select retailers, gshock.casio.com/us, and the G-SHOCK Soho store. For more information about the G-SHOCK brand, visit gshock.casio.com/us.

The Father of G-SHOCK, Kikuo Ibe, speaks during the G-Shock 40th Anniversary celebration in NYC on Nov. 9.
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American Brands

Abingdon Launches Formula 1 Las Vegas Watch 

To celebrate the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023, Las Vegas-based Abingdon Co. is launching a limited-edition Year 1 of Las Vegas Race Watch in partnership with Neiman Marcus.

The new Abingdon Year 1 of Las Vegas Race Watch.

Available exclusively at the Neiman Marcus Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, the watch is a tribute to the Las Vegas-based brand’s deep-rooted connection to the city and its support of racing. The watch will be available as a limited edition of forty pieces, each numbered. 

“The Year 1 of Las Vegas Race Watch is a passion project for me,” says founder and CEO Abingdon Mullin. “For collectors, enthusiasts, and hobbyists,  I hope this timepiece preserves wonderful memories of an incredibly magical week in Las Vegas.”

The 40mm steel watch is powered by a reliable Seiko Epson YM12 quartz movement and is set with a black leather strap with rally-inspired detailing and red stitching. 

The watch proudly proclaims ‘Las Vegas’ on its bezel and on its caseback, which features a ‘Let’s Race in Fabulous Las Vegas’ engraving.

Abingdon will make forty Year 1 of Las Vegas Race Watches available for purchase at the Abingdon Co. pop-up at the Neiman Marcus Fashion Show Mall during race week (through November 18th.)

Each limited-edition timepiece is priced at $1,499 and will be displayed in a custom racing helmet watch box, echoing the racing equipment worn by the Formula 1 drivers just outside the doors of store.

New Jordan Watches 

In addition to offering the special Formula 1 watch, Abingdon adds five new colors to its Jordan collection, the watch company’s best-selling motoring watch, the Jordan.

As part of the launch, the new in the Jordan collection watch are also upgraded with the latest six-hand Seiko Epson YM12 quartz movement.

The new iteration adds a longer, easy to read tachymeter seconds hand, which is perfect for tracking lap times during a race.

Each watch also features a tachymeter bezel, a second-time zone and a 60-minute stopwatch.

Each watch also  includes an interchangeable matching genuine leather band with race stripe detailing. 

Prices: $650 to $750. 

Source: Abingdon Co.

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The Watches

Oris Adds Laser-Cut Dial to ProPilot X Calibre 400

Oris introduces a version of its ProPilot X Calibre 400 with an unusual, colorful laser-cut dial produced using a technique new to watchmaking.

The new Oris ProPilot X Calibre 400 Laser.

The titanium dial, created with the assistance of ETH Zürich university, shimmers with color changes, appearing to change from blue to green to violet to echo the colors seen on iridescent beetles.

 

Based on the principles of biomimicry, the phenomenon is a natural one called ‘optical interference.’ This means that red light waves are destroyed, while blue and green waves are reflected.

There is no color pigment on the dial.  

While the eye sees colors, there is not one drop of color pigment on watch’s dial. The surface instead splits the light into its components to create the visible rainbow effect.

The entire dial is laser cut. Oris and engineering students at ETH Zurich created the logo, indexes, minutes track and dial text using another laser process that creates a three-dimensional effect.

 

In addition to the spectacular dial, the watch retains the familiar components and specifications found on the ProPilot X Calibre 400, which Oris debuted in 2022. These include a 39mm titanium case, titanium bezel and crown and a three-link titanium bracelet.

 

Oris fits its superb Calibre 400 inside the watch, offering chronometric accuracy, high levels of anti-magnetism and a ten-year warranty with ten-year recommended service intervals.

Price: $5,200. 

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The Watches

Introducing the New MB&F HM11 Architect

MB&F builds a 1960s house for your wrist with its latest debut, the Horological Machine Nº11 Architect.

The new MB&F Horological Machine Nº11 Architect.

With four titanium ‘rooms’ radiating from a sapphire-domed central flying tourbillon, the new watch recalls the designs of mid-twentieth century biomorphic-style houses, with four symmetrical parabolic ‘rooms’ emanating from a central atrium.

Each room houses a display, with one showing the time, the next showing the watch’s power reserve, a third indicating temperature and the fourth housing the winding crown. The wearer can choose which display is in direct eyesight when wearing the watch by rotating the entire housing, which will click into place as desired.

The rotation is more than a choice of display: each 45° clockwise turn delivers 72 minutes of power directly to the barrel. After ten complete rotations, the HM11 will reach its maximum 96-hour power reserve.

Also unusual, the massive 10mm crown (used to set the time), protected with eight gaskets, is made of clear sapphire and allows another view of the HM11’s flying tourbillon. In total, nineteen gaskets protect the movement.

At the center of the HM No. 11 Architect is the watch’s flying tourbillon, on display under a dual clear sapphire dome. MB&F has designed an unusual quatrefoil-shaped upper bridge, meant to recall the shape of clerestory windows.

Among the four displays, the thermometer stands out as the most unusual for a high-end watch. This thermometer uses a bimetallic strip to indicate temperature, a method akin to  an analog display amid the many instant electronic thermometers seen on electronic devices and even digital watches. This display is available in Celsius or Fahrenheit variations.

Each of the peripheral ‘rooms’ on the HM11 feature exterior walls of polished grade-5 titanium. Within the sapphire domes, the new movement beats at a stately 2.5Hz (18,000 vph) amid a choice of metallic blue or rose gold PVD plates. 

MB&F will make twenty-five Horological Machine Nº11 Architect watches in each color, each priced at $230,000.

Specifications: MB&F HM No.11 Architect 

Movement:

Three-dimensional horological engine featuring bevel gears, composed of a flying tourbillon, hours and minutes, a power reserve indicator and temperature measurement, developed in-house by MB&F.

Mechanical movement, manual winding (by turning the entire case clockwise).

Power reserve: 96 hours

Balance frequency: 18,000 bph/2.5Hz

Plates: Blue and 5N PVD treatment

Number of movement components: 364 components

Number of jewels: 29 jewels

Functions/indications:

Hour and minutes

Power reserve

Temperature (-20 to 60° Celsius, or 0 to 140° Fahrenheit)

Case:

42mm diameter x 23mm grade 5 titanium, display markers: conical rods in stainless steel (0.50mm to 0.60mm), darker beads in polished titanium and lighter beads in polished aluminum (1.30mm to 2.40mm). Water resistance: 20 meters.

Sapphire crystals:

Sapphire crystals on top, back, and on each chamber-display treated with anti-reflective coating on both faces, sapphire crown

Strap & Buckle:

Rubber strap – white for the blue model and khaki green for the red gold model

Titanium tang buckle.

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The Watches

Hublot’s Newest Sapphire Smile 

Hublot deepens its partnership with artist Takashi Murakami as its creates the MP 15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire, a dramatic new limited edition central flying tourbillon watch with a clear sapphire case, dial and crown.

The new Hublot MP 15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire.

The watch maintains Murakami’s well-known flower and smile-face motif, which Hublot and the artist have developed for previous special models, but enhances the focus here to clear sapphire.

Also central to the design is Hublot’s central flying tourbillon, a first for the watchmaker set within a series-produced model. The fully skeletonized movement, exposed without an upper bridge, appears to float in space.

In place of a traditional dial, Murakami places twelve clear sapphire flower petals that frame the tourbillon, onto which Hublot adds two titanium eyes and a broad titanium smile. Two small hands rotate, unusually, under the tourbillon cage, with their tips indicating hours and minutes.

In order to create this rare configuration, Hublot watchmakers pivoted the cannon pinion and the hour wheel around the tourbillon support, creating a co-axial construction.

Hublot tops the black-plated hands with SuperLuminova for thrilling night-time visibility.

The central flying tourbillon is also quite unusual— and technically interesting. With an impressive power reserve of 150 hours, the tourbillon can be fully wound via a supplied stylus. Rechargeable using a USB socket, the stylus is placed on the crown and winds it through 100 revolutions. The wearer can also wind the watch using the crown.

The Hublot MP 15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire is surprisingly modest in size (42mm by 13.4mm) and arrives on an integrated rubber strap. The watch will be made as limited edition model of fifty pieces.

Price: $316,000. 

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