Tag

titanium

Browsing
The Watches

Grand Seiko Enhances ‘Snowflake’ Series 

Grand Seiko adds two watches to its ‘snowflake’ series of watches known for their particularly rich white-patterned dial inspired by the pristine snow-covered landscapes of Shinshu, Japan.

The two new quartz-powered references, SBGX355 and STGF385, present the eye-catching dial pattern in different sizes and within different case materials.

One model (SBGX355, above) features a mid-sized (37mm) titanium case and bracelet while the second model (below) measures 28.9mm in diameter and features a stainless steel case, a diamond-set bezel and a steel bracelet.

On the larger model, a dual-curved sapphire crystal protects the crisp white dial. Inside Grand Seiko fits its superb quartz Caliber 9F62 that operates with an accuracy of ±10 seconds per year.

The smaller model, STGF385, is a more luxurious with a bezel set with 44 diamonds.

This is a fairly thin watch, measuring 8.8mm from top to back, and its subtle gem-set accent only enhances the snowflake dial, echoing ice atop a new snowfall. Grand Seiko’s quartz Caliber 4J52 powers the hands.

Prices:  $3,800 (SBGX355) and $5,500 (STGF385).

Specifications: 

Grand Seiko SBGX355

  • Case Material : High-intensity Titanium
  • Case Diameter : 37mm
  • Case Thickness : 10mm
  • Case Length : 44.6mm
  • Lug Width : 19mm
  • Dial Color : White
  • Crown : Push Crown
  • Strap/Bracelet : High-intensity Titanium w. three-fold clasp
  • Crystal : Dual Curve Sapphire
  • Caseback : High-intensity Titanium
  • Caliber : 9F62
  • Type : Quartz
  • Power Source : Battery
  • Jewels : 9
  • Accuracy : ± 10 seconds per year
  • Duration : 3 Year Battery
  • Features : Time, Date
  • Water Resistance : 100m
  • Magnetic Resistance : 4,800 A/m

Price: $3,800. 

 

Grand Seiko STGF385

  • Case Material : Stainless Steel w/ 44 diamonds (0.39 carat) on bezel
  • Case Diameter : 28.9mm
  • Case Thickness : 8.8mm
  • Case Length : 35.4mm
  • Lug Width : 14mm
  • Dial Color : White
  • Crown : Push Crown
  • Strap/Bracelet : Stainless Steel w. three-fold clasp
  • Crystal : Dual Curve Sapphire
  • Caseback : Stainless Steel
  • Caliber : 4J52
  • Type : Quartz
  • Power Source : Battery
  • Jewels : 7
  • Accuracy : ±10 seconds per year
  • Duration : 3 Year Battery
  • Features : Time, Date
  • Water Resistance : 100m
  • Magnetic Resistance : 4,800 A/m
  • Price: $5,500. 
by
Keep Reading
The Watches

Greubel Forsey Launches Thinner Balancier 

 

Greubel Forsey launches Balancier 3, a thinner and less pricey model within its double-curve-case Convexe collection.

The new Greubel Forsey Balancier 3.

The new 41.5mm x 13.55mm titanium watch retains the watchmaker’s emblematic arched bridge and multi-level architecture, but here the case lugs no longer have screws—a first for Greubel Forsey.

The watch’s three prominent bridges and its namesake balance wheel dominate the dial. One bridge houses the barrel, the second holds the large (12.6mm) balance wheel, and the third is attached to the seconds counter, supporting the hour and minute hands.

All the bridges feature Greubel Forsey’s signature hand finishes: a curved polished surface, polished bevels and hand-polished screws.

Both of the watch’s two series-coupled fast-rotating barrels (one turn in 3.2 hours) are also quite prominent at the top of the dial. The barrels provide a chronometric power reserve of three full days.

In another first for the Convexe collection, Greubel Forsey has placed the Balancier 3’s power reserve indicator on the caseback.

The watchmaker will make the new Balancier 3 with either a black or blue dial, each limited to eighty-eight pieces with a rubber strap or a Greubel Forsey titanium bracelet upon request.

Price: $182,000. 

by
Keep Reading
The Watches

Ulysse Nardin Launches Freak One Ops 

Ulysse Nardin dresses its Freak One in khaki and black to unveil the Freak One Ops, a military styled version of its groundbreaking flying carrousel movement watch.

The new Ulysse Nardin Freak One Ops.

This newest Freak retains the same specifications and black DLC case of the Freak One that the watchmaker debuted earlier in 2023. That watch (recently named winner of the Iconic Watch Prize at the 2023 GPHG) combined several favorite Freak designs from the past. These include the notched bezel of the original 2001 Freak, the open gear train seen on the 2013 Freak Cruiser, plus the high-legibility of the 2018 Freak Vision.

Here, Ulysse Nardin offers a more casual version of the earlier design. Instead of the earlier watch’s luxurious gold-finished bezel and movement we see a carbon bezel, a khaki green palette and a sunray patterned barrel cover, creating a stealthier version of the watch.

As noted, the 44mm Freak One Ops maintains all the Freak One’s ‘no hands, no dial and no crown’ technical features, anchored by the highly-visible UN-240 self-winding movement with a 90-hour power reserve.

The movement’s flying carousel, silicon balance wheel and escapement are suspended by a bridge that acts as the minute hand while the second bridge serves as the hour hand.

The Freak One Ops is regulated by a silicon hairspring (which Ulysse Nardin introduced in 2008) with an escapement treated with the synthetic diamond and silicon plasma treatment called DIAMonSIL, which Ulysse Nardin added to the Freak in 2007.

Ulysse Nardin offers the Freak One Ops with a choice of two integrated straps: one in black and khaki “ballistic” rubber, and an alternate two-tone recycled-rubber strap, also in black and khaki. Both have black DLC titanium and black ceramic folding clasps.

Price: $66,500.

by
Keep Reading
The Watches

Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin Launch Neo Bridges Edition

By Elizabeth Doerr 

As part of the partnership with luxury carmaker Aston Martin since 2021, Girard-Perregaux reveals a second co-creation from its quintessential Bridges collection. This line pays tribute to company cofounder Constant Girard, who was one of the very few watchmakers of the nineteenth century able to make a tourbillon; his special trio of visible bridges continues to be the focal point of the wristwatches in this collection to this day. 

 

The new Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition.

In 2014, Girard-Perregaux presented a radically modern evolution of the Three Bridges called the Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges featuring changes that endowed the new sub-line with a much more avant-garde spirit thanks to the shape and material of the bridges, the crystal, and the redesigned caliber. 

The bridges, now made of titanium instead of gold, were redesigned to provide extra three-dimensionality and visually lightened the appearance of what is essentially a rather large watch (45mm x 12.18 mm). They also add sleek modernity. 

For this latest iteration – the fifth co-branded timepiece overall – the team comprising designers from both companies was inspired by the world’s first Super Tourer, the Aston Martin DB12. 

Rather unusually, though, the watch features an inverted movement: the symmetrically designed Caliber GP0840000-2164 therefore visibly relocates components usually found at the rear of the watch to the front, including the micro rotor for automatic winding at 1:30 and the mainspring barrel across from it at 11:30, whose looks are motivated by the brakes found behind the Aston Martin DB12’s spoked wheels. 

Two PVD-coated “neo” bridges in Aston Martin Green not only hold the balance wheel and gear train in place, but, along with the minute markers and strap seams, provide color splashes against the resolutely modern blacks and greys of this watch. The effect is striking.

Girard-Perregaux darkens the new watch’s 45mm titanium case with DLC and builds a skeletonized movement decorated with the green hue associated with Aston Martin. The hands and markers both glow with green SuperLuminova to match the metallic Aston Martin Green bridges that dominate the dial.

Look for additional green tints in the black rubber strap (with a fabric effect), which is enlivened with green stitches and then fitted with a titanium DLC triple folding buckle.

Girard-Perregaux will offer the Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition as a limited edition of 250 pieces.

Price: $37,700. 

by
Keep Reading
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. 

by
Keep Reading