Seiko Prospex - Golden Charm!

Seiko Prospex Aviator is what I call this timepiece.

Why the aviator? Well the timepiece reminds one of aviation style - the aeroplane seconds hand and the altimeter-style date window are some clues.

Somehow, I like the gold version better than the black ion finishwhich I reported previously.

As I have said in my other post, the date window feels a little off (pun intended) with the marker at the 17 minute location as opposed to it at the 15.

And typically, the window should display three dates but the Prospex displays 5.

The bezel has a sand-blasted finishing and gives the watch a more rugged feel about it.

And the crown is protected by the crown guard but it is a normal push in crown without a locking mechanism.

The SRP580 comes with a normal tang buckle and fitted with a leather strap.

I really like the Seiko marque - very well done.

Although it is a Limited Edition, Seiko does not divulge how many are made - these are non-numbered Limited Editions. I find that somewhat odd. But the timepiece is priced right. Priced below $400, the Seiko Prospex is a winner for me.

We Never Go Out of Style!

I was watching the Taylor Swift music video Style and the image of the Lange One came to mind. How appropriate!

Even though the timepiece was first unveiled in 1994, the Lange One is still so stylish. For the longest time, the Lange One was my dream watch (and still is) and it means a lot to me to own one of these beauties.

The iconic timepiece with the off-centre dial and large date is unmistakably the Lange One.

The class and finesse of the dial is so pure.

The off centre dial - the hands and the applied markers are very well finished.

And the large date window...

And Lange is always about looking at the movement side too. The Glashutte ribbing and the three quarter (German silver) plate with all the rubies and blued screws add to the beauty of the movement.

And the close up of the engraved balance cock - another hallmark of Lange.

The Lange One has been updated but the essential DNA stays intact. After all these years, why change something when it is still relevant and attractive. We never go out of style!

Seiko Prospex - Oddly Attractive!

Seiko is perhaps the biggest watch company - they sell the most number of watches and has pieces for every price range.

Today I feature the new Seiko Prospex range - a series of Limited Edition pieces. I have two of the timepieces the SRP579 and the SRP580. The SRP579 is what they refer to as Black Ion finish while the SRP580 is gold coloured. Both are steel cases. First the Black Ion finished SRP579.

The 45mm timepiece wears pretty nicely on my small wrist and it is definitely a rugged watch for the outdoor.

While the dial display is more of an aviation style with the altimeter-style date window and the aeroplane seconds hand, the bezel is more of the Landmaster style.

But I find the date window a little odd - the pointer is slightly below the 15 minute mark - notice the red marker somewhere near the seventeen minute mark?

The dial shines like it a sunburst and the markers are printed.

A close up of the applied Seiko mark.

The crown is a “normal” push in crown unlike the diving range where it is a screw in crown. This crown is protected by the crown guard.

The movement is the 4R35 calibre hacking movement. Simple.

Overall a nice piece to own - as with all Seiko timepieces, they are functional.

I shall be doing a separate post on the SRP580 - the gold coloured version.

The Ultimate Harmony

This to me is the ultimate Harmony Chronograph - the Tourbillon Chronograph from the manufacture Vacheron Constantin.

When Vacheron launched the Harmony range at SIHH 2015, they knew the highlight was the Harmony Tourbillon Chronograph. Two complications into one timepiece - the Tourbillon and the monopusher chronograph.

Encased in platinum and limited to 26 pieces worldwide, the Tourbillon Chronograph is a "must-have" for all collectors. It comes in the category of "dream watch" in my humble opinion. The watch is encased on a 42mm by 52mm platinum case.

As with the other Harmony chronographs, the Tourbillon Chronograph has a power reserve indicator at six o'clock and the tourbillon situated at the twelve. A rather large tourbillon considering that it covers half the dial. And the beauty is the using of the Maltese Cross in the tourbillon cage.

The chronograph counter is at the three o'clock and it displays the 45 minutes chronograph counter.

The tourbillon is particularly well finished but it is the size the amazes me. It covers half the dial!

A close up of the tourbillon. Spectacular is how I will describe it. And did you notice one of the screws on the tourbillon Maltese Cross is blue while the other three are not? Well if you guessed it was to differentiate the "seconds" then you are right. After all, the tourbillon rotates one revolution in 60 seconds.

The tourbillon is particularly well finished.

And now for the movement. The in-house developed calibre 3200 comprises 292 parts. The manual winding movement has a power reserve of about 65 hours.

The manual winding calibre features the Maltese Cross on the column wheel. You should know that by now. And the finishing on the calibre is top notch. The calibre 3200 is is 32.8mm in diameter and only 6.7mm thick. The bridge is engraved with the 260th Anniversary pattern

The timepiece is very attractive and a hefty piece too. I held it in my hands and it weighs a ton!

A rather handsome piece from Vacheron. But I suspect it is way beyond my budget. Limited to 26 pieces worldwide, the reference 5100S is only available in the Boutiques and comes with the Geneva Seal. A dream watch indeed! Read more about the Harmony Chronograph and the Harmony Ultra-Thin Grande Complication Chronograph in my other posts.

The Harmony Ultra-Thin Grande Complication Chronograph

Of the range of Harmony Chronograph, the Harmony Ultra-Thin Grande Complication Chronograph is probably the most handsome of the lot. Needless to say, that is my favourite of the Harmony range. Spectacular is how I will describe it!

The Harmony Ultra-Thin Grande Complication Chronograph is an automatic monopusher chronograph with the thinnest automatic movement in the world! Limited to only 10 pieces worldwide, the timepiece comes only in Platinum. If I thought the Harmony Chronograph was stunning, the Grande Complication Chronograph is out of this world!

As with the Harmony Chronograph, the chrono hands are in blue while the hands that tell time are white gold. The power reserve indicator is at the six o'clock.

The split second monopusher chronograph is absolutely beautiful! The monopusher for the split second is located at one o'clock.

What is so special about this double split chronograph? Well for one, it is an automatic chronograph that actually does not obscure the movement!

The rotor is a gold peripheral rotor and the movement is just 5.2mm thick. The in-house developed Calibre 3500 consists of 459 parts. Comes with a power reserve of around 51 hours.

Embedded in the movement are not one but two Maltese Cross - the timepiece comes with the Geneva Seal too. And as one would expect the quality of finishing of this piece is at its highest. The peripheral rotor is engraved with the 260th Anniversary pattern.

The dial work is also flawless but it would have been even better if it were either lacquer or enamel. The case as with the other Harmony cases is 42xx by 52mm.

As I have mentioned in my other post on the Harmony Chronograph, I like to be able to see the full view of the chronograph movement especially if it were a column wheel chrono.

Vacheron Constantin has outdone the field with a fully visible automatic chronograph movement with the world's thinnest automatic movement. Drop dead gorgeous! The reference 5400S will only be available in VC Boutiques and only 10 will be available.

Vacheron Unveils the Harmony

During the SIHH 2015, Vacheron Constantin unveils a series of 7 limited edition timepieces aptly named the Harmony. And this to celebrate 260 years of uninterrupted watch manufacturing. And the chronograph range is a winner for me. Today, I feature first of the three chronographs - the Harmony Chronograph.

The Harmony Chronograph is a manual winding monopusher chronograph in rose gold and limited to 260 pieces worldwide. Stunning is how I would describe the timepiece - well balanced and well... in Harmony!

Unlike other chronographs the start, stop and reset button is a single pusher at the same position and integrated into the crown. The dial features a pulsometric scale.

A close up of the crown showing the Maltese Cross.

The blued hands of the chronograph seconds and the gold minute and hour hands are very well finished. The chronograph hands are in blue and the time display with the golden hands. At the six o'clock is the power reserve indicator.

Now to the beauty of the timepiece - the movement side. Notice the Maltese Cross in the movement?

The beauty in the manual winding chronograph is that you see the full movement and the finishing unlike a chronograph with an automatic movement where the rotor covers half the movement.

The finishing on the movement is top notch as one would expect from the house of Vacheron and the hand engraved balance cock in the calibre 3300 is a testament to how special this piece is. This engraving is only available in all the pieces celebrating the 260th anniversary. The in-house developed calibre 3300 comes with 252 parts and has a power reserve of more than 60 hours.

The cushion shaped case is 42mm by 52mm and only 12.8mm thick.

The reference 5300S comes with the Geneva Seal and a special 260th Anniversary presentation box. The Harmony Chronograph is a very special piece - I cannot recall another cushion shaped chronograph in recent history that I believe will evoke so much emotion.

P.S. the Harmony cushion shaped case is not new to VC. In fact, the "original" cushioned shaped monopusher chronograph was first unveiled in 1928 and true to its roots, Vacheron Constantin is relaunching this collection with some updated numerals to give it a more modern touch.