This week has been an interesting week as we approach the end of the year. First things first, we have Scottish Watches latest collaboration with Raketa featuring a stunning dial, though that is best learnt about on the podcast here. Then we have Rolex topping brand perception rankings, WatchBox’s latest expansion plans, Christopher Ward giving its first sponsorship, Revolution’s and Hamilton’s latest (separate) watch collaboration, IWC’s new confusingly named pilot’s watches and some breaking news from Patek Philippe. These are the top 7 things in the world of watches; let’s get into it.
Rolex tops Superbrand Consumer Rankings
Photo Credit: WatchPro
This week, the UK Superbrands ranked Rolex as the top consumer brand in the world. Superbrands does an annual survey to assess consumer brand perception based on its quality, reliability and distinction. The survey was circulated to 2,500 consumers as well as 2,500 business professionals which was supplemented by scores provided a panel of independent brand profesisionals and marketing experts. Remarkably, Rolex came out on top of not just brands in the watch industry but all brands that cut across 152 categories. It is a testimony to how well the brand has done in terms of cementing its position in the minds of consumers as a top notch, reliable, high quality luxury brand, even with all the negative sentiment in watch communities regarding its supply shortages.
WatchBox to open second retail outlet in Middle East
Photo Credit: WatchPro
Last week, we heard about how WatchBox had raised US$165 million that it planned to used for further expansion and growth initiatives. Now, we have further insight on what those expansion plans are, starting with a second retail outlet in the Middle East. According to the company, its first retail outlet, set up as a joint venture with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, has had tremendous success which has prompted this latest move. Mohammed Seddiqi, COO of Seddiqi Holdings, said that the partnership has seen “fantastic success in response to (the) joint venture with WatchBox in the past two years”. WatchBox success in moving towards having physical retail spaces from being solely a digital platform is interesting to witness given that it seems to fly contrary to the watch industry’s perceived necessity transition towards having a greater digital presence. Nevertheless, this initiative as clearly proven to work, and I for one would like to see whether this helps improve its likelihood of going public.
Christopher Ward sponsors Team BRIT
Photo Credit: WatchPro
Christopher Ward has just announced that it has become the official timekeeper for Team BRIT. Team BRIT is an impressive racing team that was started in 2015 to support and help people with physical disabilities. The idea was to use motorsport as a platform to allow such individuals to prove to themselves and the world that they could compete with the very best despite the disadvantages that life had thrown their way. Team BRIT has been extremely successful in this endeavour too, having built a race car that featured only hand controls, and finished third in this year’s Britcar Championship, barely losing out to second place by 2 points. The team is also set to participate in the British GT Championship. While it is unsurprising that Christopher Ward chose a British team to lend its support to, it goes beyond there, with many similarities between the brand and Team BRIT. Both are or were underdog brands that have proven themselves against the top brands and competitors in their respective fields, despite the odds against them. Because of that, this partnership is a very much a feel-good collaboration that one cannot help but get behind.
Revolution & The Rake’s Baltic Bicompas Pulso
Photo Credit: Revolution Watch
Revolution is on a roll with its collaboration watches. Two weeks ago it released its latest Hanhart bi-compax limited edition. This week, it has another bi-compax hronograph, this time, a collaboration with Baltic. This collaboration is a fantastic looking release, one that appeals to my aesthetic preferences. Those who know me would know that means a smaller watch and this comes in at 36.5mm which is the smallest chronograph that Baltic has done to date. The dial is naturally what stands out though, with a salmon sector dial that features a circular brushing that encloses a sandy textured centre dial and is complemented by leaf shaped hands. To keep the watch at an affordable US$670, a hesalite crystal is used and the movement used is a Chinese developed Seagull ST1901 movement. While this does not carry the same prestige as the usual Swiss or Japanese suspects, it is a relatively reliable movement and Baltic stands behind its quality control to ensure that every one used is up to specifications. Overall, it is a lovely elegant looking watch that offers tremendous value especially given that there are only 250 pieces made. At the time of writing they are all sold out and I wish I had heard about this release sooner as I would have likely jumped on it.
Hamilton’s Matrix Resurrections Digital Watch
Whether you like the franchise or not, the Matrix has a significant place in pop culture, especially the first movie. With its impending resurrection (pun intended) in cinemas in about 2 week’s time, it now has its movie watch from, no surprises here, Hamilton. The watch takes the form of a 40.8mm x 34.7mm blacked out Pulsar with green LCD numerals that the is reminscient of the coding colour in the Matrix. Is this watch release innovative in the vein of the brand’s Tenet watch? No it isn’t. Time will tell whether it even plays a role in the new movie. But it is a cool looking watch, and the Matrix was one of the most memorable movies I watched as a kid in the cinemas so this watch certainly is on the wishlist because of the nostalgia factor.
IWC’s Big Pilot Spitfire
What happens when IWC decides to combine two opposing lines (size wise) into new releases? Well, we get average sized (for IWC anyway) Big Pilot Spitfire watches that builds on the smaller Big Pilots released this year. IWC just released 43mm Big Pilot watches that feature bronze or titanium cases, the latter of which has a traditional black flieger dial with the minute numerals and track on the outer ring hour numerals and track on the inner ring. The bronze variant has a more standard look with a green dial and Arabic numerals. In fact, it looks exactly like the 39mm bronze Spitfire that was released about two years ago, just with a larger case size. Despite releasing it as part of both the Big Pilot and Spitfire lines, IWC opted to model the dial text after the former, with just a single line stating “AUTOMATIC” on the dial. It makes the choice to include as part of the Spitfire line all the more puzzling given that it has virtually nothing in common with the earlier Spitfires from the brand, at least size wise. Naming and model lines aside though, these watches are far more wearable options to the usual Big Pilot watches and is more differentiated because of the materials use. Still, given how long the lugs were on the 39mm time only Spitfire versions, these watches would have to be tried on in person to determine their wearability. If you can pull off the case size though, they are good looking watches.
Patek Philippe’s final final Nautilus
Earlier this year, Patek Philippe announced that it would be discontinuing the Nautilus 5711. It also announced that it would release a farewell of sorts which appeared to the 5711/1A-014 olive green dial model at Watches & Wonders. But the brand seems to be unwilling to fully let go of its hottest model just yet. In breaking news today, Patek Philippe announced what will be its final final Nautilus, a Tiffany Blue version. It is essentially the same 5711 Nautilus but with a Tiffany blue dial The indices and hands are different too, in that they are black with contrasting lume as opposed to the more common silver coloured indices and hands. Personally, I prefer it this way, as black indices and hands stand out strongly which works well with the striking Tiffany blue dial. Naturally, the dial also states Tiffany & Co. There are only 170 pieces that will be produced, as a celebration of the 170th anniversary of Patek Philippe’s partnership with Tiffany & Co. that traces back to 1851. Not that the number matters too much, since most mere mortals like me will never get even a whiff of this release in person. Availability aside, the dial looks amazing. Assuming this really is the final Nautilus 5711 to be released, this would be one hell of a send-off for this now iconic sports watch.
So that is it for this week. As always, get in on all the action on the Scottish Watches website, YouTube Channels (Scottish Watches, Scottish Watches Live as well as Watches Unboxed) and of course, the podcasts on your podcaster of choice. Till next time, take care everyone.
@wildwristwatch
