When creating a menu, main courses need the company to qualify as proper meals. This ranges from the gravy and a side serving to a full suite of supporting courses. In this issue, if Hard Time is the cote de boeuf then this list is the sauce that gives the meal its character. It should go without saying that we could not delve into something like ceramics without providing a list of great watches you might want to consider. In 2020 though, there is a problem…
While the following watches are potentially iconic – in some cases they are undeniable that – they are almost universally not new. Typically, this is hardly a problem but we do like to offer at least a few all-new timepieces to provide a bit of sharpness. To continue the food analogy, these would be the sprigs of rosemary off to the side of the meat, or perhaps more appropriately the roughly diced flat-leaf parsley sprinkled on top of the sauce.
In short, the following watches might not be new, but they did help move ceramic watches away from a niche proposition explored only by the likes of Rado, Omega, and IWC. This is precisely the reason we open this piece with a visual of Rolex bezels because these watches truly confirmed that the watch buying public was ready for the hardcore lights, to paraphrase the Pulp song.
TUDOR FASTRIDER BLACK SHIELD
BUOYANT HEAVYWEIGHTS
The ubiquitous use of titanium and carbon fibre does not satisfy a growing number of watch lovers; the indisputable rise of quiet design vexes them. The recent release of hefty and heavy timepieces, especially in the dive watch segment, proves that some just like it big
YEN FOR PRECISION
While we typically think of watchmaking as a Swiss matter, this ignores the powerful contributions of Japanese industry and know-how. We begin this deep dive with a look at the biggest names in the game
LEGENDARY DEPTHS
From pioneering chronographs to revolutionizing dive watches, Longines has always been at the forefront of horological advancements. Explore how the Swiss brand's journey through water-resistance shaped the future of dive watches-and made a splash in the process
LEAPING AHEAD
IWC updates the perpetual calendars in its Portugieser range with four new models
HOLDING THE HIGH GROUND
Chanel's 2024 collection represents a rare moment where haute couture and haute horlogerie coexist perfectly
SARTORIAL TIMING
Parmigiani Fleurier encourages us to take a second, and perhaps third, look at the new Toric collection of watches
LEFT HAND DRIVE
The DOXA SUB 300T Aristera is a tribute to the brand's heritage in dive watches, combining the original design with a left-handed twist for 2024, offering the standout features that made DOXA renowned while breaking new ground in functionality
LIVING HISTORY
A. Lange & Söhne has spent the better part of this year celebrating the 25th anniversary of the seminal Datograph. With the Datograph Handwerkskunst, the watch is elevated to the highest level
THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION
Since its inception, Rolex has never wavered in its pledge to create the world's finest watches for anyone, anywhere
SWEET SPOT
The Longines Legend Diver is just the right amount of watch for a contemporary sports model that could also pull dress watch duties
