FEBRUARY 2017 GQ.COM.AU 57W
F
irst revealed in June of
lastyear,youcannow
finally get your hands on
an Omega ‘Planet Ocean
Deep Black Collection’.
With its 45.5mm ceramic
case, METAS (Swiss Federal Institute
of Metrology) certification for magnetic
resistance and 60-hour reserve, this
divingwatchhasintegritybut,tobe
deeplysuperficial,it’sallabout the
stunning new colour.
Thismaywellmeanwe’vereached
peakall-blackpieces,sothinkofits
stylisticvariationswithcolouraccents
–ingold(pictured,left),blueorred–
likeapopofcolouronadarkoutfit.
Shades aside, there are other differences
–theblackandgoldaccentededitions
have polished cases and dials, while the
coloured models are brush finished. And
thegoldversioncomeswithaleather
strap, despite the other models boasting
fabric-looking rubber. Take your pick,
but inGQ’s opinion the red version goes
faster–whilekeepingperfecttime.CERAMIC ‘PLANET OCEAN 600M DEEP BLACK’
WATCH, $15,075, BYOMEGA.The‘Pelagos’isturnedonitsheadwiththecrownplacedon
theleft-handsideofthe42mmcaseinTudor’snew‘LHD’(yep,
left-handdrive)version.Thetitaniumtechnicaldivewatchtaps
intoTudor’shistoryofsellingpiecestotheFrenchNavy,where
diverswouldwearmodelsupsidedownontheirrighthandbefore
the brand interceded in 1970 with a left-handed version of the
‘Submariner 9401’.
Thisnewiterationalsodiffersfromtheoriginalwithalternating
blackandrednumeralsonthedatewheel–thebrandwrittenin
red–andalimited-editionnumberprintedontheback.Youstill
get the unique ‘strap adjustment system’ (a steel folding clasp
thatallowsthebracelettobemodifiedmid-drive);in-house
calibre‘MT5612-LHD’;andheliumescapevalveforhardcore
divers, which protects it from overpressure during longer
periods underwater. At $4400, it’s almost enough to have
traditionalists consider changing sides.
TITANIUM ‘PELAGAOS LHD’ WATCH, $4400, BYTUDOR.SEA CHANGE
SAIL-BY DATE
Bell&Ross’‘BR01InstrumentdeMarine’
isinspirednotbytheocean’sdepths,but
the 18th-century clocks carried aboard
Britishshipsandspecificallythemarine
chronometers created by master clockmaker
John Harrison.
Bronze is used for the square 46mm case,
bezelandwindingcrown,whiletheretro
effectisaccentuatedbyaslenderbandof
rosewoodencirclingthedial.Exposed
screws, blued steel pear-shaped hands and
a white lacquered dial with Roman numerals
addtothetime-warpfeel,asdoesthe
modern titanium confined to the case-back.
Limited to 500 pieces, the 56-hour
powerreserveofthemanually-wound
‘BR-CAL.203’ movement is perfect for
contemporary voyages from England to
Australiabyair,butmay require attention
iftravellingbysea.BRONZE ‘BR 01 INSTRUMENT DE MARINE’ WATCH,
$8400, BYBELL & ROSS.HERITAGEMINIMALIST
ALTERNATIVE