WatchTime & Windup: NYC’s horologically-fueled weekend to return next month
Zach BlassOne of the best parts of being a member of the watch press is that we get to go hands-on with a ton of watches. For the public, aside from meetups and boutique visits, these moments can be a bit more scarce. Well, for those in the NYC area, the end of October once again promises to be a great opportunity for watch fans to see a wide spectrum of the latest and greatest in watches ‘in the metal’. With two different events happening during the same weekend (October 20 – 22), you would think each event would risk cannibalising the other. This is not the case. In fact, they actually pair perfectly, like peanut butter and jelly, each offering a touchpoint with a different range of brands and a different range of price points.
Windup New York 2023
Worn & Wound’s Windup New York will once again be held in the Altman Building downtown in New York City, with over 80 brands all showcasing their products – which you can actually purchase during your visit. Nerds within the niche will undoubtedly be familiar with the majority of the roster – still, regardless of where you stand on the watch nerd spectrum, the Windup festivities allow people to engage with brands that do not have a large physical retail presence worldwide. This means it is a rare moment when you can handle these watches before you decide whether or not you purchase them. While commercial in nature, there is zero pressure to make a purchase during your visit and there are also a slew of panel discussions to enjoy on the grounds as well. The best part: it is 100% free to attend.
For the full roster of brands and further information on Windup New York 2023, you can click here.
WatchTime New York 2023
Within a mile away from Windup, WatchTime New York returns to Gotham Hall – just a little over 20 minutes to walk or a little over 10 minutes by train. Like Windup, WatchTime New York offers the experience of being able to engage with a wide array of watch brands as well as take in a variety of moderated panel discussions. But, as I mentioned earlier, with the exception of one or two brands, the 34 brands exhibiting at WatchTime New York will not be exhibiting at Windup. The brands here predominantly skew towards the higher-end, and range from well-known manufacturers like Chopard, Breguet, Blancpain, and Piaget to independents such as MB&F, Armin Strom, Parmigiani Fleurier, Speake-Marin, and Voutilainen. The only caveat is that this is a paid ticketed event, with a 1-day pass for Saturday, October 21 or Sunday, October 22, priced at US$39. From experience though, I would say the US$39 cost for entry is well worth it.
Hiking with Hamilton in the Alps
When it comes to affordable field watches, Hamilton reigns supreme. But just in case there were any doubters, the brand reinforced that reputation last week with the Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition – see a full review here. This is a watch that’s built for adventure (or people with a terrible sense of direction). That’s because it comes equipped with a bi-directional rotating compass bezel that can handle all your navigational needs. As it happens, our Editor-at-large Luke Benedictus navigated his way to the launch of the Khaki Field Expedition in Switzerland, which was a hoot.
The watch was launched at a spectacular event in Zermatt. To put the Khaki Field Expedition into its working context, guests trooped off on a three-hour hike in the shadow of the Matterhorn. The backdrop of snow-capped peaks and glacial lakes was deliberately chosen to reinforce the watch’s ability to laugh off whatever extreme weather conditions you can throw at it. Just in case anyone hadn’t snapped enough mind-blowing pics, guests were then shown around the world-famous Air Zermatt mountain rescue service of which Hamilton is a long-standing supporter.
After learning about the treacherous conditions under which these airborne paramedics save lives in the surrounding mountains, guests were sent up in a helicopter to get a bird’s eye look at the glaciers and mountains that constitute a normal day in the office for these intrepid rescuers. The underlying message was clear: whether you’re faced with ice, wind, snow or some perilous mountain rescue, the Khaki Field Expedition has got your back.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Zach
Watch meme of the week: Manhood in millimetres
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You know what they say: a big watch means a big… wrist.
Wrist shot of the week: Ricardo rocks red
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Former Time+Tide contributor and current Worn & Wound Shop Manager Ricardo Sime, unsurprisingly, snapped the new Bulova Jet Star on his wrist with an eye-catching red sunburst dial. This watch has been getting a fair bit of attention as of late, with its handsome faceted case, colourful dial, 262kHz quartz movement with the sweeping second hand of a mechanical watch, and US$595 price-point.
Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Zodiac
Things are warming up Down Under, with the promise of a hot and sunny summer just around the corner – i.e., perfect dive watch weather. And if you’re talking dive watches, you’ve got to talk about Zodiac, which boasts one of the most historically and horologically credible ranges of dive watches on the market. A brand nearing 150 years of operation, Zodiac was among the first to introduce a dive watch, matching Blancpain’s 1953 Fifty Fathoms release with the Sea Wolf. Re-editions of models like the Aerospace GMT and Astrographic were runaway successes, revitalised with the help of movement supply from Swiss Technology Production after the brand was purchased by the Fossil Group in 2001. Today, Zodiac is a brand on a high, and it’s not hard to see why: their range of robust, handsome and reasonably priced dive and tool watches (as well as cool collaborations) represent some of the best value propositions on the watch market right now.
Find the entire Zodiac collection in the Time+Tide Shop.
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week
HANDS-ON: Zenith Defy Revival Shadow brings modern noir to a vintage design
The Zenith Defy Revival was initially born as a tribute to the original Defy born in 1969. Years after its release, Gerald Genta would go on to initiate an octaganol watch design craze and many today poke holes in modern homage designs that rest a bit too much on these laurels. But, this original Defy was born before these designs, and its distinct look is the result of an octagonal case with a fourteen-sided bezel – nicknamed upon its introduction the ‘bank vault’. The modern Defy Revival, for a time, was limited to configurations that pulled directly from the archives with nearly 1:1 recreations. This new Zenith Defy Revival Shadow, however, is the first within the collection to inject more of a modern feel.
5 of the best budget skeleton watches
The skeleton dial is one of the most coveted construction techniques in watchmaking today. With its roots even as far back as the 1700s, watch enthusiasts have long been obsessed with being able to view their technically beautiful movements through openworked dials. But, often these carved and highly decorated calibres can cost a hefty sum. Tom, however, has a list of five skeleton watches that will not break the bank.
Has the hype watch launch gotten out of hand?
Zach ponders whether or not the hype watch launches that have become the norm have gone too far. In in a digital age, almost every new release is now dramatised and teased – stirring the watch community into a frenzy. Is it necessary? Or, is it a one-way road to disappointment? Read his thoughts here.