Ulysse Nardin will give away one of its Diver Lemon Shark watches to a lucky collector who enters its new Shark Hero sweepstakes. Teaming with the marine science organization OCEARCH, the watchmaker aims to raise funds for research that will allow scientists to better understand the movement and habits of sharks in order to help maintain their ecosystem.
The Ulysse Nardin Lemon Shark Diver.
With a goal of raising $100,000 for OCEARCH, Ulysse Nardin will enter each collector who submits a $100 donation into the Shark Hero Sweepstakes to win a Ulysse Nardin Lemon Shark Watch. With each additional $100 donation, the donor will earn another entry into the Sweepstakes.
The Diver Lemon Shark is a shark-themed version of the Ulysse Nardin Diver 42mm. Ulysse Nardin launched it last year in honor of World’s Ocean Day and to celebrate Ulysse Nardin’s partners, shark experts, divers, universities, and non-profits. The watch features a black dial with a yellow lemon shark ‘signature’, a stamp of three lemon sharks on the back and a black strap made from recycled fishing nets.
In addition to the watch, winners will also win a one-of-a-kind plaque that was featured on the OCEARCH shark lift and signed by the OCEARCH crew and an exclusive shark buoy used on OCEARCH’s past expeditions.
To donate to OCEARCH and secure an entry into the Sweepstakes, click here.
Oris teams with Canadian aerial firefighters Coulson Aviation to create the Coulson Limited Edition, a Big Crown ProPilot watch with an unusual 3D-printed carbon fiber case and a fiery gradient orange dial.
The Oris Coulson Limited Edition, a Big Crown ProPilot watch with an unusual 3D-printed carbon fiber case.
Oris created the 41mm case with the assistance of Switzerland’s ETH Zurich university (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology). Researchers there utilized a high-grade polymer PEKK developed for the aerospace industry. Technicians weave the material with carbon fiber to create a rigid, ultra-lightweight material.
According the Oris, the process is so precise that you can create a pattern on the case. Most carbon fiber watch cases develop random patterns.
Oris then finishes the watch with a grey-PVD-plated titanium fixed bezel, screw-down crown and case back and a black textile strap. The watch and the movement together weigh a wispy 65 grams.
The fiery dial is meant to recall the work of Coulson’s firefighting pilots, who rush toward blazes while others turn away. Inside Oris fit its excellent and equally innovative COSC-rated Caliber 400, an anti-magnetic movement with a five-day power reserve.
In conduction with the release of the Coulson Limited Edition, Oris is promoting a documentary called “Birds of the Fireline.” Oris produced the fourteen-minute short-form documentary in-house.
Coulson Aviation in action.
Coulson Aviation is a Canadian-based family-run independent company that sends pilots, planes and equipment to areas of the world affected by wildfires.
Rolex has started its own Certified Pre-Owned service that now enables retailers in the brand’s official distribution network to sell second-hand Rolex watches that are certified as authentic. All will be sold with a new two-year international guarantee.
The Certified Pre-Owned program concerns all second-hand Rolex watches, provided they are at least three years old.
Rolex says the program will first offer the Certified Pre-Owned watches at Bucherer boutiques in six countries (Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Denmark and the UK) starting this month. Other official Rolex dealers that opt in to the new program will be able to do so starting in Spring 2023.
Valid for two years, the guarantee card is meant to attest to the authenticity and proper functioning of a Certified Pre-Owned Rolex watch.
According to Rolex, the new service is designed to “bring added value to the existing supply of pre-owned Rolex watches. Because when these watches change hands, their authenticity must be attestable at the time of resale by the Official Retailers.”
The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program offers the opportunity to purchase second-hand watches that are certified and guaranteed by the brand.
The watchmaker explains the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned seal that accompanies the watches “symbolizes their status as certified second-hand Rolex watches. The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned guarantee card, delivered at the time of the sale, officially confirms that the watch is genuine and guarantees its proper functioning. This card bears the words “Certified Pre-Owned” and serves as an official certificate of authenticity.”
The Luminox ‘secret sauce’ has always been making large, rugged, watches with tritium markers. This one, the 44mm Luminox Pacific Diver Chronograph, is no exception. It has all the features that you would expect from Luminox, like 200 meters of water resistance, a sapphire crystal, and a Ronda quartz movement.
The Luminox Pacific Diver Chronograph is priced at $795 on a black, white or colorful rubber strap and is $895 on the steel bracelet.
Despite having three additional functions on the dial, the hands are broad and easy to see against the backdrop of the busy dial. Otherwise, reading the time would be like playing “Where’s Waldo?”.
Looking at the bezel, the forward action is great if you like a loud tactile ‘clack’ that can scare the neighbor’s cat. However, it does have a bit of back-play. The chronograph pushers are tactile and make this watch a fidgeter’s dream come true.
Quality product
This Luminox feels like a quality product on the wrist and all of the features are a pleasure to use.
What could Luminox have done better?
The markings on the bezel are a real point of contention for me. When you set the bezel anywhere on the lower half of the watch, the “05” reads like a “50”. I also feel like the pip should have more contrast with the rest of the bezel as it takes me a second longer to find it. Perhaps adding a dash of red or white would have solved the problem. And unfortunately, the bezel on my example does not line up well with the dial.
Typically, this is no big deal if you are paying less than $400, but when you’re forking out $795-plus I would hope for better.
How does it wear? Awesome, actually! I have small wrists and this watch sits flat and comfortably all day. A lot of that is due to the well-designed lugs that are compact and hug the case.
Due to the fact that this watch wears a lot smaller than it is, wearing it in public doesn’t make me feel like I’m compensating for my little man syndrome. Although the specs might suggest otherwise, I am happy to report that the Pacific Diver Chrono does not wear like a “wristburger”!
Light show
We have ignored the star of the show. The real magic happens when the lights go out and the tritium ampules fluoresce. I love setting this watch on my night stand and being able to see what time it is when I get up for the fifth time at night. It’s a game changer.
So what’s the verdict? The Luminox Pacific Diver Chronograph is perfect for you if you are someone who likes the functional look of a big watch, a busy dial, and tactile feature interfaces.
If you can forgive the minor issues with the bezel, this watch will reward you with a taste of that sweet Luminox ‘secret sauce’. If you are the kind of person who wouldn’t touch a 44mm watch with a ten-foot pole, try one on before you make any assumptions. As for me, I found myself slapping this watch on the wrist and showing it off a lot more than I expected to. I really like it for what it is.
As the Bulgari Octo Finissimo celebrates its ten-year anniversary, the originator of the design and the Phillips auction house have teamed to create the Octo Finissimo Special Edition Phillips in Association with Bacs and Russo, a limited edition model that echoes the collection’s monochromatic dial, thin octagonal case and symmetric design elements.
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Special Edition Phillips in Association with Bacs and Russo.
Since Bulgari designs always reference Roman architecture, the new special edition also retains the Roman sense of geometric symmetry. Thus, around the center of the sand-blasted titanium dial you’ll see a symmetric set of engraved markers with only the 12 and 6 breaking the pattern. The new watch eliminates the seconds subdial found on the historic Octo Finissimo design, a decision that highlights the full round dial within the eight-sided case.
“With this sectored dial design, our intent was to create a symmetry and pay tribute not only to Bulgari’s Italian roots, but also to the great Italian architects and designers of the 20th century,” explains Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant, Bacs & Russo.
“By eschewing the small seconds counter, a first for this model, we wanted to draw the focus on the engraved dial with its large numerals and the chapter ring whose color sways from black to grey to bronze, depending on the lighting.”
The thin 40mm case and the bracelet are finished to match the dial in sand-blasted titanium.
Bulgari’s BVL 138 movement with a platinum micro-rotor (visible from the caseback) powers the watch, offering an impressive 60-hour power reserve. The watch will be sold as a limited edition of fifty pieces via Phillips Watches.
Price: $16,600.
Specifications:
Octo Finissimo Special Edition Phillips in Association with Bacs and Russo (Ref. 103709)
Movement:Extra-flat mechanical self-winding with platinum micro-rotor, Caliber BVL 138 (2.23 mm thick); 60-hour power reserve; frequency 21,600 vph (3 Hz).
Case: 40mm sand-blasted 40mm titanium, transparent case back with special engraving on the sapphire crystal on the reverse side, water-resistant to 30 meters.
Dial: Laser-engraved sand-blasted titanium.
Bracelet: Sandblasted titanium with integrated folding clasp.
The watch features a black dial with a yellow lemon shark ‘signature’, a stamp of three lemon sharks on the back and a black strap made from recycled fishing nets.
“By eschewing the small seconds counter, a first for this model, we wanted to draw the focus on the engraved dial with its large numerals and the chapter ring whose color sways from black to grey to bronze, depending on the lighting.”
Bulgari’s BVL 138 movement with a platinum micro-rotor (visible from the caseback) powers the watch, offering an impressive 60-hour power reserve. The watch will be sold as a limited edition of fifty pieces 