Dezza

Great (& pretty exhaustive) review of 26 watches covering a wide price spectrum and similarly wide choice of styles from the more usual conservative designs to frankly absurd. I need to be careful what I state in terms of my preferences as something then pops up to make me eat my earlier words, to illustrate this point, I have previously outlined that I am not a lover of moon phase watches, and now this beauty has been revealed (the Loresum LS04 V2 – Eisenkiesel), wow, gorgeous. I guess if you are going to show a moon phase, then go for it in a big way and not slip it in under the radar, this watch does just that in a stunning manner. What more can I say, I love the use of rose gold (one of my favourite finishes), the shape of the case, the dial material, basically everything (with the exception of the strap), I would have to change that for one similar to that used on the Olto-8 Chrono Gate Burgundy, but in a colour that would complement and draw the eye to the tone of the veining of the dial, but that's my designers eye coming to the fore, but at that price, the cost of a replacement strap is a drop in the ocean, which is a tenuous link to my next admission, and a further large portion of humble pie! Having also previously stated that I don't particularly like dive watches, I have to admit that the Sherpa Ultradive Tuxedo is also gorgeous, (if that is the right term for a more chunky utility watch), but in a very different way, for me, it's less of a dive watch and more of a field watch / GADA watch that is easy of the eye, and easy to read, maybe it's because it doesn't have the more typical rotating external bezel of dive watches that makes this distinction to my way of thinking. Nothing to nit-pick here for me (well, the exception being the price). I have been looking for my perfect field watch, and this ticks (no pun intended), all of my personal boxes, (except the cost criteria). Guys, I'd me more than happy to field trial this watch (again, no pun intended) for a very extended period. These are my two stand-out pieces from a large list.

Cases, dials and straps all look lovely and all blend together beautifully (particularly the mid green version), but the visible mechanics really spoil things IMO, could almost be a Collab with JCB. As for the price, no further comment needed.

I personally don't think that pocket or fob watches are actually making any inroads into an actual resurgence to have any real impact of the continued wrist watch arena. As stated by Sam, these were the precursors to trench watches and then the accepted normal use of wristwatches due to practicality more than anything else. I think it's based on seeing these in TV or film recreations of classic Edwardian period dramas that may be the reason for current interest, so not something that will swamp the market (IMO). I personally like the Christopher Ward x Studio Underd0g Alliance 02, but the AP Royal pop doesn't hit the spot for me, (ceramic watches, a big no!) With the right choice of clothing, the Christopher Ward watch would look good (say, with a tweed jacket).

You can't question the expertise that goes into the making of this watch, but I do personally question the reason for it's inception. - I guess this relates to most pieces of art (well, modern art really, the classical pieces are more simple to answer), and art experts can argue for hours on how each artist may have been feeling at the time of each pieces creation, but that's all too deep for me. So, to this watch, taking all of the above into the equation, I still have to ask why, maybe it's 'because they can' due to their own expertise (which has been mentioned), but more the question on aesthetics, to me it's hideous, I can't get my head around why anyone would buy these (limited edition) pieces, surely not to actually wear, so down to wealthy collectors I guess, personally, I do wear each of the watches in my small collection, that is why they were created, to wear and to (as accurately as possible), indicate the time, whilst also looking attractive in their own right. - Am I missing something. Oh yes, museum pieces, or are horological experts going to argue about the feelings of the maker at the moment of it's makers initial idea for the watch. All beyond my thinking (and that is coming from a long career as an engineering designer!)

I do get the historic nature of Panerai watches (Italian naval supply etc), so the overstated size and crown protector makes sense technically (but not aesthetically), but I don't understand why their range continues to be aimed at the wannabe he-men. The Luminor (in whatever size) isn't an attractive watch, however, the Radomir does have a degree of pleasance (smaller size and no hideous crown protector). How many people that own dive watches actually use these for the purpose that they are designed for? - I'm guessing not many, but dive watches continue to be released on an almost weekly basis, I'm yet to see one that is attractive to the eye, so why buy / wear one around town. Panerai definitely doesn't do it for me.

As Laura has hinted, no matter how many times this frog may be kissed, it's never going to turn into a handsome prince. The best thing about this is the strap. A further link to the fairy story sector could be the beauty and the beast (the strap being the beauty - do I need to finish the rhyme!)

No surprise that I'm going to like this watch as my preference naturally leans towards dress watches (I'm obviously not averse to other watch styles when worn in the correct situation, but dress watches are my 'go-to' area). So, yet another beautiful offering from this company, very stylish having a more traditional vibe but with a touch of modernism. Very nice, not a lot else to say apart from, yes. I would wear it.

Michael's comment was not lost on me (but maybe missed by some others that go for bling or bold design): "Jeff Koons Balloon Dog is approximately £32,000 for the smaller porcelain versions such as the Bernardaud edition and the record is $58.4 million for one of the big sculptures at auction – meaning this is an exceedingly rare situation where you can say that Hublot’s offering is a bargain." - I'm reading this as a nod to the parody programme by that tongue in cheek TV series 'Ab Fab' which was basically lampooning the overly wealthy fashionados that simply must have the latest designer trend item, surely these Hublot offerings fall into this category. I guess Hublot only need to sell a few of these to the tasteless few with bulging wallets to make it worthwhile, but, Hublot's business model has always appeared to have been based on this questionable criteria. 'Let them eat cake' springs to mind, not of the common man but the few. A bit like comparing a Jackson Pollock to a Gainsborough I guess. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder.

All very clever, well yes, most definitely, but necessary, well in my opinion No! Here's another statement that will have the Rolex lovers seething. I personally don't like Rolex watches for many reasons, they are generally too much 'in your face' and attention grabbers for the wrong reasons (we have surely all heard of the 'Rolex rippers' stealing from people's wrists), well now I actually know someone that fell into this trap whilst on holiday in Europe, a very expensive watch lost, but it could have been much worse, violence or a knife crime statistic. So, this backs up my long held belief that 'less is more'. Elegance is key, a feature that appears to be lost by Rolex. So to this latest release, - again, too much, the coin edges, the garish colour dials, and as for the moon phase - why, are there really that many lunar lovers out there that appreciate this feature, I don't think so, it's just another adornment that is past it's sell by date.