Baselworld 2018

[SaMaster14]

Baselworld releases are coming in - thoughts?

Here's a good site to see it all!:
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/tag/baselworld-2018/

Rolex GMT Pepsi on a jubilee bracelet ... insane new rainbow sapphire Daytona, a bunch of new Omega Seamasters, etc!

Discuss below!

[hooligan_G01]

#1 - I hate what they've done, and continue to do with the Deepsea.

#2 - I like the new GMT Master II a lot on that jubilee bracelet, but I'm not looking to drop $10K on a watch and I wish it was 42mm.

#3 - That Tudor Black Bay GMT is a looker!

#4 - I like that Sinn chrono, except for the strap/bracelet options.

#5 - I like the Oris Divers Sixty-Five a lot, just wish it were 42mm or bigger.

Breitling - blah. Omega - blah.

[John Tanglewood]

The Batman is in 40mm and wears larger, so I'm not surprised we aren't seeing a bigger sized GMT Master II.

I'm SO pumped about the Pepsi and will likely be swapping my BLNR for it. Didn't think they'd ever release it since it's already made in WG.

[SaMaster14]

Originally Posted by hooligan_clt

#2 - I like the new GMT Master II a lot on that jubilee bracelet, but I'm not looking to drop $10K on a watch and I wish it was 42mm.

Omega - blah.

New GMT is interesting; I've always preferred oyster bracelet to jubilee... pretty happy with my LN, definitely wouldn't trade it for the new Pepsi. I much prefer the new two-tone with the caramel/black bezel!

I actually really like both the new Omega Seamasters on rubber straps (blue steel, and sedna gold with black rubber). I already have a Semaster 300 (Spectre) and a Speedmaster (Racing), so... a new Omega is almost definitely not in the books for my next watch.

Still eyeing a Skydweller, glad a new Submariner nor Skydweller didn't come out

[overcoil]

Has anyone held off on a purchase because of the iWatch ?

The steel gmt rolex Pepsi colors is very interesting but I’m thinking the next version of the cellular iWatch is all I really want - kind of hesitant now to lust the Rolex.

[E92LNGCGY]

Pepsi GMT is awesome especially with jubilee. I have already contacted my sales rep to get one.

Rootbeer GMT was a surprise and I actually really like it.

The new Patek Aquanaut 5968 is quite interesting and you can tell Patek is catering to the younger crowd. However I suspect it will be around $50k CAD?

Nautilus 5740 is just so damn nice.

Salmon dial Patek 5270 is such a classy and beautiful watch.

Oh can't forget about the new 5524 in rose gold. I think that looks even better than white gold.

[shay2nak]

The full RG GMT looks sick. I want that 41mm Breitling Navitimer 1.

[Bt12]

People seem to really like how strong Tudor showed up with

[hooligan_G01]

Originally Posted by John Tanglewood

The Batman is in 40mm and wears larger, so I'm not surprised we aren't seeing a bigger sized GMT Master II.

I'm SO pumped about the Pepsi and will likely be swapping my BLNR for it. Didn't think they'd ever release it since it's already made in WG.

That's fair, I haven't tried on any of the newer "big" 40mm cased watches.

Subs and GMTs always seem to look bigger on others' wrists than on my own for some reason.

[hooligan_G01]

Originally Posted by SaMaster14

New GMT is interesting; I've always preferred oyster bracelet to jubilee... pretty happy with my LN, definitely wouldn't trade it for the new Pepsi. I much prefer the new two-tone with the caramel/black bezel!

I actually really like both the new Omega Seamasters on rubber straps (blue steel, and sedna gold with black rubber). I already have a Semaster 300 (Spectre) and a Speedmaster (Racing), so... a new Omega is almost definitely not in the books for my next watch.

Still eyeing a Skydweller, glad a new Submariner nor Skydweller didn't come out

I don't like the new super-pronounced "wave" texture on the new Seamaster dials. At all.

The 1948 Seamasters are handsome, because they look just like vintage Seamasters.

I like the Nomos Autobahn watches, too, save for the all white one - not enough contrast or visual interest on the dial of that one for me.

[E92LNGCGY]

I just checked the Canadian Tudor site and the new GMT Pepsi is a really good price $42xx with a bracelet. Knowing Tudor here we could even get a nice discount.

That seems like really good value compared to the Rolex.

[BwoodBMW]

I'm a fan of Breitling showing up with a 38mm Navitimer 1. Probably the first Breitling that stands a chance of going on my wrist. I'm excited to try it out.

[Bt12]

Also I think there is the new marine master from Seiko. Looked good

[GuidoK]

I am a huge Seiko fan, but I dont understand Seiko's strategy. And looking at the baselworld 2018 I still dont understand them.

The grand seiko high beats are all very classically styled. Sure they do the classical style very well but why no different high beat designs? A high quality more sports like watch or more fashionable... they dont make (except divers).
They do it for the sarb line, and some extend brights/presage and of course their lower lines but not for their top model line imho.

As far as divers go, they do loads of them, and also re enactments/rereleases of series and models, even in the high quality category (marine master/prospex). This is something Seiko does very well, making very respectable models that are well talked about in every price range.

But if you look at seiko's history, there is another catagory of watch seiko used to be king, and that is chronographs.
Why dont they make high class chronographs now that are decently styled. They make/made one or two ananta's with very classic japanese styling (sometimes roman numerals..... on a chrono....), so very boring, but hardly anything modern styled, sporty styled or as re-enactment/rerelease of their classic '70's chronos, where, for instance, they competed to launch the first automatic chrono, with, get this, Heuer, Breitling, Dubois-Depraz and Zenith. That was the creme de la creme of swiss watchmaking when it came to chrono's, selling them for tenfold the price Seiko did
Not only that, Seiko had an affordable movement that was also equipped with a column wheel and vertical clutch, meaning it was horologically speaking a more refined caliber than some of their very expensive, well regarded swiss counterparts. And seiko had the first automatic chrono in space.

So Seiko played a huge role in the automatic chronograph development both on a technical aspect and a historical aspect.
And they had a massive lineup of both classical and radical styled chronos:
Seiko Pogue:


Seiko kakume:


Seiko Jumbo:


And that list goes on and on (ufo, tokai, panda, bullhead etc).

Why not draw inspiration from that?
Rolex, Tag, Breitling etc all sell loads of very high end chrono's, fetching top dollar, often double the money of their regular models, advertising how much heritage is in their models and past, but seiko's automatic chrono's are scarse and dull designed, having no visible lineage to seiko's rich history.

And even now they do have 2 killer chrono movements:
The 6s37, which TAG Heuer wanted to license for europe (as calibre 1887) but when some watch geeks found out it was a seiko design it obviously resulted in a huge riot in the watch world, but it shows the quality of the movement if TAG wants it.
And above that movement, seiko even has a higher placed automatic chrono, the 8r28 (and 8R48, probaby a variant).
Why not make a few series with those movements, inspired by the rich past when seiko made chrono's with daring and fashionable design, crazy cases/shapes etc. Make someting that rivals a daytona, monaco, el primero etc. At a fraction of the price.

ITs a missed oppertunity.

The only Seiko chrono from the last few years that I consider a succes designwise is the Seiko SDGZ013

A hommage/reenactment of the 6138-8020 (seiko Panda) with 8R48 (still not a daring design, the classic panda propbably the most classic sports design of that era....)
Something inside me says I should buy it, if I see it. Because its still crazy: good looking automatic chrono, killer (obviously in house) movement (8R48) and 500pcs limited edition....
Looking at those specs, but put rolex or tag or breitling on it (if they can match the quality of the movement) in such a limited edition, what kind of a price would that fetch...... (5 figures surely)

Sorry that I talk about what not to expect at Baselworld.....


What I find very interesting at the coming basilworld: Zenith Defy Zero G (gravity oriented tourbillion, well sort of, and now miniturized to be wearable on the wrist):
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/zenith-defy-zero-g-watch/

Movement orgasm.
let down: 100k+

[Nivarox]

There's only two new models which massively attracts my interest for this Basel :

1- Rolex Deep Sea's tweaks , from outside it's same watch as the older model but movement wise there's where Rolex makes a big hit
2- Laurent Ferrier's School model gets a minute repeater

[Blksnowflake]

Already paid in full for my D-Blue. Should be here in June. Cant wait.

[Bt12]

Originally Posted by Nivarox

There's only two new models which massively attracts my interest for this Basel :

1- Rolex Deep Sea's tweaks , from outside it's same watch as the older model but movement wise there's where Rolex makes a big hit
2- Laurent Ferrier's School model gets a minute repeater

I’d love to get the deep sea, but 6.75 inch wrist....massive on my wrist. Felt bigger than a panerai in some ways


Put my name in with AD for sub no date. We’ll see if the shortage frees up soon.

[Bt12]

Originally Posted by hooligan_clt

#1 - I hate what they've done, and continue to do with the Deepsea.

#2 - I like the new GMT Master II a lot on that jubilee bracelet, but I'm not looking to drop $10K on a watch and I wish it was 42mm.

#3 - That Tudor Black Bay GMT is a looker!

#4 - I like that Sinn chrono, except for the strap/bracelet options.

#5 - I like the Oris Divers Sixty-Five a lot, just wish it were 42mm or bigger.

Breitling - blah. Omega - blah.

Not sure why but I never dug the Pepsi... I do like the jubilee bracelet though. Have it on my dj41. So shiny so comfortable.

The Tudor 58 looks really nice. when I tried on the regular sized black bay, It felt bulky.

Love the Oris 65’s. Tried one of the prior models at the store. Great looking watch and feel. Good price new too. Was offered 20% discount. Preowned I think you can get it for $1k. I think I remember reading that it’s not their own movement in the 65. Can’t remember

[Wills2]

The Rolex 40mm S/S sports watches are so small it's not true, why anyone would pay the asking price is beyond me.

I know it's a cycle and people think hey I've got £6-7k I can go on the list and not lose anything but seriously I used to have a 16710 that I got for less than £2k new back in 2004 and thought it was OK, in 2009 someone offered me 4k and I was like are you serious? OK it's yours! I've no idea why people are wiling to spend what they do on these watches, my old watch now goes for 8-9k which is madness.

I recently tried a Kermit and BLNR on but I was thinking no way I'd pay these prices for something with this lack of wrist presence.

I think a date just II is much better bet, 41mm x 12 mm and 51mm lug to lug and less than mrsp with a white gold bezel and shimmering blue dial.

[uniqueMR]

Rolex GMT Master II,

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by Wills2

The Rolex 40mm S/S sports watches are so small it's not true, why anyone would pay the asking price is beyond me.

I know it's a cycle and people think hey I've got £6-7k I can go on the list and not lose anything but seriously I used to have a 16710 that I got for less than £2k new back in 2004 and thought it was OK, in 2009 someone offered me 4k and I was like are you serious? OK it's yours! I've no idea why people are wiling to spend what they do on these watches, my old watch now goes for 8-9k which is madness.

I recently tried a Kermit and BLNR on but I was thinking no way I'd pay these prices for something with this lack of wrist presence.

I think a date just II is much better bet, 41mm x 12 mm and 51mm lug to lug and less than mrsp with a white gold bezel and shimmering blue dial.

40mm is perfect size, imho. The DJII is too large, but Rolex addressed this with DJ41. Slightly smaller lugs and bezel. I have a Sub and a Speedy. Even though the Speedy is 42mm the overall diameter of it and the Sub is actually the same. Presence is not just about the size, it's also the design and materials. It's obvious how awesome Rolex watches are on the wrist no matter the size. If that's an issue, then Yachtmaster II, Sea Dweller and Sky Dweller would be the ones to buy.

[saaltonen]

Posted these in another thread too, but I picked up one of Hamilton's new Khaki Field Mechanical with no date. I liked the old one, but this is a big improvement and offers a great vintage look.