Close-Up: Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman” (With Video)
Black for? the night sky, blue for day �� these colors just make sense, but if you expected to find them on the bezel of one of the world's most famous GMT watches, the Rolex GMT-Master II, you would have been disappointed, until recently. We take a look at the Rolex watch that has been nicknamed “Batman.”New bezel colors don't usually generate a buzz heard ��round the world, but this is Rolex. The bezel is the story here, so we'll continue down that road. It's fashioned from Cerachrom �C Rolex's version of ceramic, and though the bezel is two colors, it is a single piece. You might think Of course it's one piece; they just paint it two colors, but that's not how Rolex does things. Vintage collectors may love weathered, faded bezels, but today's versions are built to last, so nothing is painted. The bezel is formed as a single piece, and in this instance, the whole thing starts out blue. Black is added to half of the bezel early in the production process when the ceramic is

Three New Casio Oceanus Models To Feature Hybrid Timekeeping System Merging GPS And Radio Signal Syncing
Earlier this year, we brought you news of a?fresh G-Shock release, which was Casio's �C and in fact the world's �C first wrist watch to incorporate a hybrid movement that would allow the?watch to sync the exact time both through atomic clock radio signals and GPS satellites. Recently, Casio has announced three new models, all versions of the Casio?OCW-G1000 models?from?the Casio Oceanus collection, which will receive the same novel?hybrid movement?that we saw make its debut in the G-Shock GPW-1000.?This heavy-hitter combination of?the more elegant Casio Oceanus line and the?unique?feature-set of the movement certainly is designed to be Casio's answer to?Seiko's Astron Solar GPS watches (which we reviewed here).Casio has worked together with Sony to develop this unique low-energy consumption movement that would allow for both the reception of six-band radio signals as well as GPS signals. Radio controlled watches can sync up with?signals coming from six different?sources, which are locate

Eterna Calibre 39 Watch Movement: Valjoux 7750 Alternative And So Much More
No doubt in light of the fact that ETA-made movements are harder than ever to get, Eterna has just announced that they have created a new movement, dubbed the Calibre 39, which is the result of a project that started in 2007. This is potentially a very important announcement for the industry as the Calibre 39 is designed to be both an alternative to many hard to get ETA movements, as well as a strong base caliber for lots of complications.The Calibre 39 is a fully modular movement that has been designed to be as expandable as possible, ranging from a manual two-hander to a column wheel-equipped flyback chronograph. A project that started out with the goal of designing a competitor to the ETA 7750, Eterna has now launched a proposed entire family of movements thanks to a modular design that builds upon a base movement platform. It is worth noting that long ago Eterna actually started ETA.With over 88 different specifications, it is clear that Eterna has put lot of development into the C

Omega SMP Electric Blue experience
I have a full size elec blue SMP with the Speedmaster style bracelet that I was thinkng about trading in for a Rolex Exp 1 the no date 36 mm.I had sent the SMP in for service about 7 months ago and it looks about 97%and they told me nobody likes the elec blue model and they would give me 400 bucks for it in trade.......I walked out without saying a word.I will keep the elec blue till i die now.

Supersize v Elegance
The new 5990.... when I first saw it I was delighted.............then I saw the video. While I admire the potential value of this piece to travellers, I cannot bring myself to come to terms with the bloated pushers and (formerly) hinge detail on the crown side. We see iterations of classic designs in all spheres of life and, usually, this comes with a increase in size. There comes, though, a point where the original concept and elegance has evolved into an entirely new product. The elegant 5711 morphed over time into the 5980 which, on its own merits, has become a most admired and classic piece. It retains the original DNA of the Nautilus. Somehow, I feel this has been abandoned with the advent of the 5990. There has always been some crossover between the Nautilus and Aquanaut with the 5164 filling an increasingly important niche in the market. Perhaps it is just the Modernist in me rebelling and I am willing to be convinced otherwise, but I am finding this release somewhat bemusing