Tag Archives: watch

Uncrate x Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Wayne Enterprises satin-polished steel watch with copper-brown inner bezel is ready for the caped crusader

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Watchmakers have an uncanny way of drawing inspiration from fictional characters to connect with pop culture enthusiasts. For its latest inspirational outing, Bell & Ross has entered into a collaboration with online publisher Uncrate to design a Batman-worthy watch for the fictional comic company, Wayne Enterprises.

The Uncrate BR 03-92 Wayne Enterprises is an adaptation of the existing and famous Bell & Ross with the same moniker. The latter is an aviation-inspired timepiece with etched military aesthetics, which the new design reworks for the better of pop culture. The BR 03-92 Wayne Enterprises transforms the iconic square case of the original Bell & Ross giving it a skeletonized outlook, allowing the appreciators to peek through the dial down to the mechanical movement.

Designer: Bell & Ross

The Uncrate x Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Wayne Enterprises watch arrives in a square-shaped 42mm satin-polished steel casing. The copper-brown inner bezel highlights the black see-through dial permitting sight of the movement’s inner workings. The watch numerals are painted black while the hands and indices are filled with Super-LumiNova for the convenience of reading time in the dark. The highlight here is the words “Bell & Ross” at 12 o’clock, which appear white or black. According to the French watch company based in Paris, this is because the mirror effect alters the text color (between black and white) depending on the light reflection.

The movement visible through the skeletonized dial is a Calibre BR-CAL.321 self-winding movement which offers 38 hours of power reserve. The solid caseback features engravings highlighting the Bell & Ross, Uncrate, and Wayne Enterprises collaboration. The watch is strictly limited to 100 examples – each specifically numbered and valued at $4,800. The lucky vigilante can switch between leather and nylon straps and dress up to save lives in town!

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Apple Watch Ultra is rugged and capable but tech giant still leaves a lot to make repairability effortless

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It’s unwise to shell $800 odd for a smartwatch and not have the confidence that it will last for a lifetime. This may be a slightly exaggerated statement but no matter how you choose to see it, the new Apple Watch Ultra, in Apple’s own interpretation, is the “most rugged and capable smartwatch” yet. It is a ‘perfect balance between ruggedness, corrosion, and weight,’ thanks to its impressive titanium frame.

It’s customary for Apple devices to go through rigorous testing for their exorbitant claims; no wonder then, the Apple Watch Ultra has already been under the hammer and through dive chambers. Now the pros at iFixit have taken Ultra into their hands and doing what they know best. The bloggers have given us a detailed peek into the watch to help us understand the repairability aspect of the new Apple device.

Designer: iFixit

Provided in a 49mm titanium case, the Apple Watch Ultra is designed essentially as an exploration tool that you can take 100m underwater, into the desert, or anywhere life takes you. The completely redesigned watch is a reliever from the similar watch form factor Apple was delivering since 2014. The design has been appreciated and even criticized by some for its bold and bulk outlook, however, that is still the last thing iFixit cares about.

These guys show that the Apple Watch Ultra can be opened from both the front and the back. The rear has, for the first time on an Apple Watch, screws to clip open the ceramic caseback which should’ve increased the chances of repairability and battery replacement. The construction is sturdy with easy access GPS antennas (which should mean better GPS accuracy on the watch), and a glue-like gasket holding the unit impermeable. The gasket destroys the moment the back panel is peeled off. Interestingly the watch is no longer fully waterproof, unless it is replaced.

The battery is not accessible from the caseback, instead, the screen needs to be ripped apart. The titanium case is paired with a flat sapphire crystal display, which does not make getting under it any easy. In fact, the guys at iFixit crack the OLED screen in the process of getting to the Apple Watch Ultra’s 2.1Wh battery, which is huge in comparison to the 1.19 Wh battery in the Apple Watch Series 8.

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The Apple Watch Ultra is a great smartwatch, but it’s also a brilliant marketing tool. Here’s why…

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The Apple Watch Ultra is the tech equivalent of “Do you even lift, bro?”

With 8 years in development, Apple has firmly cemented the Watch’s reputation as a device that saves lives. The Apple Watch isn’t just a smartwatch, it’s also an incredible medical and safety device that’s helped people in emergencies. Every year, Tim Cook even spends a few minutes on covering real-life stories of how the Watch saved its wearer’s life. The Apple Watch Ultra, however, doesn’t share that reputation. It’s built for extremes, for the ultra-human, whether they’re scaling mountains, crossing deserts, diving in oceans, or just pushing their bodies to the limit in the pursuit of a goal. In Apple’s own words, the Watch Ultra is an “essential tool for essentially anything”… but here’s the part Apple didn’t say out loud. They know that regular people will want the Watch Ultra too, just for the ability to portray themselves as limit-pushing ultra-humans. It’s the watch equivalent of owning a Peloton, having a bike mount attached to your car’s rear, or just taking gym selfies. The Watch Ultra is an exceptional device, but it’s also a status symbol of sorts for people who want to be perceived as adrenaline junkies and adventure lovers.

The Ultra suffix tells you practically everything you need to know about what this new smartwatch was made for. Apple doesn’t envision this to be the watch someone wears to the office, or an elderly person wears it to monitor their heart levels. This watch was designed absolutely push the limits of what a watch can do and endure. The watch sports a rugged titanium design that’s more resilient in inclement weather, including snowstorms, and is rated WR-100 water resistant as well as EN13319 certified, which means you can use it as a dive computer during scuba diving sessions.

The watch’s new design was made for easy operation even when you’re wearing gloves. The crown is thicker, grippier, and the power button more accessible. There’s even a new Action button on the opposite side for controlling the watch’s various ‘ultra’ activity tracking features, whether you’re competing in a triathlon, deep-sea diving, or even marking your position on the watch’s own mapping system during a trek. It sports a redesigned home screen interface, called the Wayfinder, that gives you access to all the important features you need during your activities, including a compass, GPS coordinates, altitude, and other useful metrics. The watch’s battery can last for 36 hours, although Apple claims that future updates can push this to 60 hours, so your watch aides you on your long, difficult journeys whether you’re trekking, camping, long-distance jogging, or completing a triathlon. The watch even comes with a ‘night mode’ that’s accessible simply by rotating the crown, which turns the interface minimal and red, retaining visibility while conserving battery… and an internal 86-decibel siren lets you attract attention to yourself in the event of an emergency.

The watch comes with a rugged titanium alloy construction and sports three different strap styles, an Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band. The Watch Ultra by default comes with GPS and Cellular, and sports all the other features of the Series 8, including a much more advanced temperature tracker and period tracker, crash detection, international emergency calling, fall detection, and an always-on display. With all those advanced features, the Watch Ultra doesn’t come cheap. At $799, it costs as much as the iPhone 14 (yes, the new one), making it the most expensive smartwatch money can currently buy. However, for people heavily invested in an active or extreme lifestyle, this one might just be a doozy.

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Minutes rotate and hours jump to different position every 60 minutes on Hautlence Vagabonde Series 4

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There are a few time-forward watches that have intriguing caseback and an even more exciting dial. If you’re not me, you may beg to differ; but with the Vagabonde Series 4 by Hautlence, I can choose to speak no different.

Hautlence offers many path-defining wandering hours timepieces on the market and the Vagabonde Series 4 is an extension of the models with a caseback you’d want to flaunt. The dial of course is way beyond the league, adding complication that is rarely tried by many horologists. Featuring the brand’s signature TV-screen case made from satin-finished, polished stainless steel; the watch measures 43mm by 50.8mm and has a decent 11.9mm thickness. The forested brass dial has fixed four discs that orbit around the revolving central minutes disc. The automatic movement in the core powers the hours and minutes discs to revolve around the central axis.

Designer: Vagabonde

Understanding the dial is a little typical. As time passes, the sapphire minute disc rotates clockwise while the sapphire hours disc below reveals a number through the cut-outs in an arrow-shaped pointer to display the correct time. The dial is surrounded by polished steel protrusion on the left side and a steel crown circled with a blue rubber ring on the right side. The ultra-modernized Vagabonde Series 4 dial may seem complicated to read, but the interesting contraption is designed to let minutes tick away slowly while the hours constantly jump to the next number after every 60-minute circle.

Water resistant to 10ATM, the Vagabonde Series 4 is powered by a B30 in-house automatic movement made up of 197 components. The movement, visible through the inventive sapphire caseback uses 34 jewels and offers the watch 72 hours of power reserve. The watch features a lug-less design, which means the paired blue rubber strap is integrated directly into the steel case to present the watch with an incredibly premium look. According to Hautlence, the Vagabonde Series 4 is strictly limited to 28 examples, which shall retail for CHF 30,000 (USD $30,500) each.

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$15,000 Diamond Encrusted Apple Watch Case Is The World’s Most Expensive

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Because “How can we add diamonds?” is the thought on many jewelry designer’s minds, Golden Concept of Sweden has created the Golden Concept Diamond Edition, the world’s most expensive Apple Watch case. The case features 443 diamonds totaling over 4 carats set in a single block of titanium. Personally, I think it’s an eyesore, but I just saw my wife add it to her Christmas list, so I guess different strokes for different folks.

The luxury watch band only fits the Apple Watch Series 7 45mm model, and will presumably be obsolete with the upcoming announcement of the new Apple Watch 8, which I’m sure Apple will make either 44mm or 46mm just to ensure previous aftermarket products won’t be compatible. I’m on to you, Apple!

If you really do want one you better act fast, because Golden Concept is only making seven of them in total, which is seven too many if taste and decency actually prevailed in this world. Oh who am I kidding, it’s kind of growing on me.

[via TechEBlog]

This retro-punk Nixie wristwatch actually uses authentic nixie tubes to tell the time

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There are only a finite number of functioning nixie tubes in the world after their production was stopped in the early 90s, and it’s honestly incredibly hard to get a hold of them just because of their low supply. The Nixiea puts this fascinating retro technology on your wrist, using authentic IN-16 nixie tubes to tell the time in glorious retro-punk fashion.

Styled after the classic smartwatch aesthetic (albeit with a thicker body thanks to the nixie tubes), the Nixiea is arguably more fascinating than any smartwatch you can find. For starters, it has actual, limited-edition vintage technology on the inside from an era gone by. It isn’t too often that we come across nixie tube products just because sourcing them is a headache – but the technology still remains one of the most sought after, thanks to its strong collector fanbase. In fact, we’ve seen attempts at making watches with ‘nixie-style’ displays, but they’ve never used actual nixie tubes. The Nixiea watch uses two tubes that count down the hours, with an auto-wake function that switches the watch display on when you tilt it towards yourself. The wristwatch even charges wirelessly, giving you the best that retro and modern tech have to offer!

Designer: Zonis Team

Click Here to Buy Now: $99 $169 (41% off) Hurry! Only 40 hours left!

The Nixiea comes with what’s best described as a ‘thicc’ body, rivaling even the thickest G-Shock you’ve seen. It measures 44mm wide, 68mm in length, and a whopping 19.5mm in thickness (or a little more than two iPhones stacked one above another). The top of the watch comes with a sapphire-coated crystal that’s scratch-resistant, while the body of the watch is made from a tough but light aluminum alloy. The watch also comes with TPU straps, completing that wonderful smartwatch-esque illusion, and if that somehow wasn’t enough, it’s also built to be IP67 dust and water-resistant and can be submerged up to 5ATM (50 meters).

The Nixiea watch uses authentic IN-16 Nixie tubes

The characteristic feature of the nixie tubes in the Nixiea is that they come with this wonderful red glow that allows you to read the time even at night. The watch uses the 24-hour time-telling format, with the number updating every hour. It isn’t the most accurate if you’re looking for something that tells the minutes or seconds, but the appeal of the Nixiea clearly isn’t its accuracy, it’s the retro tech that sits underneath.

The Nixiea draws power from 380 mAh battery, which sounds rather insignificant, but it can power the watch’s display for up to 1 hour continuously – which should last for days considering nobody stares at their watch for an entire hour (not even if it’s running on incredibly cool nixie tubes). The watch has a standby time of an entire year, and comes with its own 25W wireless charging pad that can also charge your AirPods and smartphone. The Nixiea comes in three colors – black, silver, and space-grey, with four strap colors to choose from. The watches ship globally, starting December 2022 – although that’s partially due to the fact that assembling these watches with nixie tubes has to be done almost entirely by hand.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99 $169 (41% off) Hurry! Only 40 hours left!

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Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari is now the world’s thinnest mechanical wristwatch

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Renowned Watchmakers are constantly pushing the envelope of ‘attention to detail’ with their thin designs to set a new precedence in horology. Yes, I’m talking about the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Ultra watch that set the world record for being the thinnest mechanical timepiece back in the month of March 2022 – measuring just 1.80mm thick. That crown has now been taken away by the Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari which is just 1.75mm thick. That’s about the thickness of two credit cards!

Not only is this Ferrari collaborative, an ultra-thin skeletonized timepiece, but also the most robust out there with the ability to take on a force of 5,000 Gs (litany of strength tests approved) and water-resistant of up to 100m. This mind-boggling size shrink is possible courtesy of the redeveloped escapement and case construction. Compared to the Bulgari’s watch that has the caseback doubled as the baseplate, the RM UP-01 Ferrari has assembled the entire movement (developed by RM and Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi) measuring 1.18mm thick into the case itself.

Designer: Richard Mille

The intricate design has a titanium variable inertia balance wheel for thickness reduction without compromising any functions. Unlike traditional escapements on most watches that protect the lever from shock with a guard pin and safety roller, The RM’s patented creation eliminates these components and brings the banking function directly to the anchor fork. Further, this fork is elongated and the horns are modified to accommodate the size crunch.

Case of the RM UP-01 Ferrari has a rounded rectangular shape, as elements surrounding the time display are the bezel here. The crown for selecting winding or setting options is etched onto the vast bezel. This crown has two black ceramic inserts to protect the bezel from friction or water damage. The dial on this wafer-thin timepiece is covered with sapphire crystal and an anti-reflective coating on each side. The Ferrari logo inside the divot is a nod to the racing character of this jaw-dropping creation of modern art.

According to Richard Mille, only 150 limited edition pieces of this ultra-thin wristwatch will be created. Loyal RM fans and collectors who swear by the brand can own this modern marvel of watchmaking for a steep price tag of $1,888,000. The level of detail and the intricate skill required to put together this masterpiece justifies it all.

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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Music Edition gets a swanky equalizer watch face

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In the world of luxury watchmaking, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking are valued way above anything else. The horologists over at Audemars Piguet know their craft when it comes to putting together desirable timepieces, and their new watch keeps up the valued tradition.

In awe of the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary, the Swiss manufacturer has already surprised collectors with the Royal Oak Selfwinding Carolina Bucci Limited Edition boasting a mirror dial. To pep up things, now Audemars Piguet has introduced fun new timepieces in titanium and all-black ceramic inspired by the love of music. Understandably christened the Royal Oak Offshore Music Edition, the watch comes in both 37mm and 43mm case sizes.

Designer: Audemars Piguet

Click Here to Buy Now!

Based on 2021 revamp of the Offshore collection, the limited-edition timepieces come with rubber straps in blue or black and turquoise, yellow and green with titanium AP pin buckles. The waffle-shaped design of the AP’s creation is apparent and that tapisserie dial is pretty cool. To mimic the active sound levels for music equalizer visualization on this one, the rainbow colors are arranged meticulously on the lower half of the dial. The audio theme drips over to the strap studs with a knurled texture to replicate the jack pugs and the crown guards looking like the mixing console faders.

These exclusive watches have the new in-house time-only 4Hz automatic movements at the heart. 37mm version gets the Calibre 5909 movement while 43mm one has Calibre 4309 movement. The power reserve on the two is rated at 60 and 70 hours respectively. Both these titanium dial timepieces will be limited to just 500 pieces each and are priced at £24,600 (approximately $29,800) for the 37mm variant and £26,700 (approximately $32,100) for 43mm one. The Black Ceramic one we are interested in is even more elusive, since it’ll come only in 250 pieces and priced at  £34,100 (approximately $41,400).

For sure, the music equalizer is an unexpected take on the traditional design, and also has a motif element to it. The Royal Oak Offshore Music Edition will undoubtedly attract music composers and artists since they already swear by AP’s cool creations!

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Star Wars TIE Advanced x1 Watch Winder keeps any automatic watch going all the time

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TIE Advanced x1 Watch Winder

The TIE Fighter is perhaps one of the most distinguishable fictional spacecraft in the Star Wars universe. You see one, and you know it’s something related to the Galactic Republic, but you would still recognize it even if you’re not a fan of the epic franchise. With hundreds to thousands of Star Wars-inspired creations worldwide, it may be challenging to track them all, but some items make a remarkable impression, especially if they have special functions. We don’t want any more useless stuff, so if we are presented with a new object like a sculpture, it better be functional. If it is a furniture item, it should have another function, so the effort isn’t wasted, so multi-functional items are very much appreciated by those who want to keep their lives compact, minimalist, and small.

Designer: Kross Studio

Kross Studio TIE Advanced x1 Watch Winder 3

Kross Studio is a relatively new company, but it has been introducing exciting products from several collaborations. The Studio’s identity includes collaboration as an integral part of the business, and so far, its partnerships have been successful. We remember that 1989 Batmobile Desk Clock as the perfect sidekick to a geeky desk setup. Star Wars fans will never forget the Death Star Watch and the Boba Fett Tourbillon Watch and today, we’re showing you the TIE Advanced x1 Watch Winder, described as the next chapter of the brand’s Star Wires-inspired collaboration.

Kross Studio TIE Advanced x1 Watch Winder 4

The latest collectible is functional but is available in a limited release only, but the dark universe-inspired TIE Advanced x1 watch winding sculpture can be considered a magnificent piece of art by hardcore Star Wars fans. However, it is mainly a watch winder in its solid aluminum glory with an integrated winding engine to keep an automatic watch always running even when not worn. This operational art object weighs 4kgs and measures 20cm long, 28cm wide, and 17cm high—made from a solid black anodized aluminum.

Kross Studio TIE Advanced x1 Watch Winder 2

Kross Studio is known for its excellent design and manufacturing skills, which are clearly evident in the TIE Advanced x1 Watch Winder. The functional sculpture has been machined, finished, and assembled in-house, resulting in a piece that harnesses the force of movement to keep any automatic watch going while within the capsule. The Kross Studio TIE Advanced x1-inspired watch winder sculpture is activated when an infrared sensor detects a watch. It stays in standby mode if there is no watch available to conserve energy, but the battery can last for more than two years. If you need to change the batteries, you may need to use a key inspired by the Galactic Empire.

Kross Studio TIE Advanced x1 Watch Winder

Everything about the TIE Advanced x1 watch winder proves Kross Studio’s principles when it comes to disruptive design. The studio has big collaborations and ambitions that have been successful since its launch in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. This watch winder is no different and we believe more projects with other franchises will be introduced by Kross Studio.

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Casio G-Shock GAB2100 is the perfect follow-up with solar power, extra functions

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Casio G-Shock GAB2100-1A Features

Casio is a brand that has an excellent reputation in the watch industry. It remains a leader in the field of professional and personal timepieces that deliver both impressive form and function.

One major reason why it continues to be a best-selling brand is because of the relative affordability of the watches. Casio can’t really be considered a house of luxury watches, but there are a few models that are worthy of being collected. There are some Casio watches too that are worth a second look, especially since they were designed with unique features and distinct characteristics. The last one we remember featuring that made nerds drool was the Casio A100WEPC Pac-Man edition watch. Today, a follow-up to an iconic model becomes available and is ready with additional features.

Designer: Casio

Casio G-Shock GAB2100-1A

This time, we’re sharing with you this potential must-have—the Casio G-Shock GAB2100. It’s an analog-digital solar-powered watch that can do more than just keep yourself in time. This one runs on stable solar power so you are guaranteed a watch that won’t just die.

Casio G-Shock GAB2100-9A

Casio’s new GAB2100 series is mainly a follow-up to the analog-digital GA2100 series. It delivers Bluetooth connectivity and Tough Solar capabilities. More functions are ready, too, as made possible by the optimized structure of the interior, allowing more components to be added.

Casio G-Shock GAB2100-1A Design

Casio has kept the octagonal shape from the very first G-SHOCK watch decades ago. The iconic form is reused here for that retro look that we know will last forever. The sleek design of the new G-Shock piece is also minimalist, so it doesn’t appear bulky or overwhelming. Furthermore, this model is great because it comes with a carbon-fiber-reinforced resin case. The carbon fiber material is what mainly makes the watch compact and lightweight.

Casio G-Shock GAB2100-3A

Casio G-Shock GAB2100-2A

The retro styling is overshadowed by the fact that the watch comes with Tough Solar power and Smartphone Link features. The Tough Solar features work, thanks to the film-like solar panel found on the dial. It is highly resilient and can convert power from the sun. Actually, it doesn’t really need the sun to work as regular light sources are enough to power up the watch.

Casio G-Shock GAB2100-1A Specs

The Casio G-Shock GA2100 comes in different colors: Black, Green, Yellow, and Navy. The four color options were also the first colors the company released for the G-Shock line. Just like the original model, this one offers a similar fit as made possible by the Carbon Core Guard structure. As with most G-Shock pieces, this one comes with the standard G-Shock features: shock resistance, a 200M water resistance, daily five alarms, super illuminator double LED light, full auto-calendar, 1-sec countdown timer, world time, and a hand shift feature.

Casio G-Shock GAB2100-1A Face

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