It feels like it has been quite some time since I wrote about a dive watch (Matt has been covering those more as of late), and I know it has been a good long while since we had Prometheus on our pages. We will address both of those lapses with a talk about the Prometheus Piranha.
There are a couple of companies producing dive watches with cushion cases, and I have seen quite a few bronze divers of late, but there are not a lot of bronze divers with a cushion case. Well the Benarus Bronze Moray 42 is here to help fill that niche. Offered in two dial colors with two design options each, this limited production watch is a statement on your wrist.
I will admit, I am a sucker for a visually interesting watch. If you start exposing the more compelling (and kinetic) portions of the movement, then all the better. While I have only had one tourbillon cross my desk, I have to admit that it was a treat to watch in action. So, when I caught wind of the Antoine Preziuso 3volution Tourbillon, I definitely sat up and took notice.
Last month, we brought you word of a new addition to the Tissot Visodate line – more precisely, a new bracelet to the lineup. From afar (and the one image that was available), I found myself rather liking the watch. Since then, we were able to spend some time with a sample, so today we are able to bring you a true review of the Tissot Visodate Milanais.
The Szanto 4000 series chronograph, specifically the bronze 4002, is the third of the Szanto military themed watches loaned to me for hands-on reviews. Like the two previous watches, the 1100 series and the 2250 series, Szanto is trying to recreate a vintage look with modern proportions and materials, at a value price.
In an interesting (OK, maybe not that interesting) coincidence, I happened to be wearing my Zelos Helmsman when I received an update from company on the Zelos Chroma, their second watch project, which was going live that afternoon on Kickstarter. The Zelos Chroma is being billed as a minimalist automatic, which may actually sell the project a little short.
When it comes to mechanical time keeping, the oscillator is truly what allows the measurement of time. Take, for instance, a grandfather clock – it is the frequency of that pendulum swinging back and forth, at a constant rate, that allows the internal gearing to tell us the time. While things are on a much smaller scale, the same sort of principle applies to watches, be they mechanical or quartz watches. The humble oscillator has some really rather interesting developments recently, and that is what we will talk about in today’s edition of Historical Horology.
What are the key features you would like in a basic dive watch, beyond the requirements for lume, pressure and a bezel? Sapphire crystal? A reliable automatic movement? A little flair? The Borealis Sea Diver is their entry level diver which offers a lot of value at a price point below $250, plus a clean, modern design.
The rise of crowdfunding has really opened up watchmaking to new entrepreneurs and enthusiasts wishing to make their mark on the industry, and put their product on your wrist. The first product out of the gate is interesting, but for me, the real test comes with the follow up watches. The Rossling & Company Automatic is the firm’s sophomore effort, back on Kickstarter, that builds on their first watch offering, keeping a similar aesthetic, but adding a mechanical movement.
Szanto was nice enough to loan me three watches to review on this site, with the Szanto 2252 being the second piece of the trio. The Szanto 1100 was the first watch I reviewed, and I liked the look and feel of this field watch. Yet to come is a 4000 series, a two eyed chrono which I have also liked. My relationship with the thee eyed 2252 chronograph, however, is more complicated.
