Categories
Swiss Replica

Replica Maurice Lacroix’s very modernSquelette

Today it is time for a bit funky skeletonised fun. Part of Maurice Lacroix’s ‘Masterpiece’ collection, the Squelette (i.e. ‘Skeleton’) (Ref. MP7138-SS001-030) features a hand decorated manual wind Cal. ML134 movement visible through the domed sapphire crystal on the front, and the screwed case back with sapphire crystal on the back.

The movement features bridges and screws with black or tantalum coloured PVD. This theme is continued on the dial, with index markers coated in PVD and luminous PVD-treated steel hands. This gives an almost semi-industrial feel to the replica watch. This is no dainty dressy skeleton timepiece.

There is a seconds sub dial at 9 o’clock, but as is the case with too many skeletonised replica watches, it will probably prove difficult to read for some people. Perhaps making the the seconds hand luminous may have solved this to some degree.


The Squelette has a power reserve 40 hours.

With a case size of 43mm (thickness of 10mm), this is not a delicate skeletonised dress replica watch, and it does have a very pronounced wrist presence. The one featured in this post is the brushed stainless steel case model but the Squelette also comes in a rose gold version which, in fact, won a 2009 Red Dot design prize. I prefer the stainless steel model. A brushed white metal seems to me more in sync with the modern tone of the replica watch created through the use of PVD than a more dressy rose gold version.

Categories
A. Lange & Söhne Replica

Replica A.Lange Söhne now inAustralia

Lange at Replica Watches of Switzerland

Many have wondered why there has not been a Lange presence in Australia. The brand has many owners and admirers here, after all. Well the simple answer is that it has not been for want of trying. After years of persistence and belief in the brand, Eric van der Griend has managed to bring them here. A few weeks after the opening of the refurbished Replica Watches of Switzerland (Melbourne) with its new Lange area, my friend The Tailored Replica Watch and I paid a visit.

Enjoy.

1815 CHRONOGRAPH

Named after the birth year of Ferdinand A. Lange, this is the WG version (Ref.402.0260), a manually wound flyback chronograph (Calibre L951.5) with a sixty hour power reserve.

Its silver dial design was inspired by vintage pocket replica watches, with two slightly ‘lowered’ subsidiary dials for seconds and a 30-minute counter, and classical blued steel hands. It is a very traditional looking chronograph as befitting its naming influence, and at 39.5mm and a height of 10.8mm it is a very accessible size and sits very comfortably on the wrist.

LANGE 1

Perhaps Lange’s most recognisable ‘look’, these are the models with the patented big date and the off-centre dial configuration that have become indelibly linked with the brand since their launch in 1994.

The off-centre dial design is not to everyone’s taste, but the dial has no real overlap of sub-dials and a good clean look. To the easterly side of the dial, following the contour of the case, is a power reserve indicator marked “Auf” and “Ab”, up and down. At 5 o’clock the subsidiary seconds.

Along the edge of the dial is “Gangreserve 72 stunden” i.e. “power reserve 72 hours”.

At 10 o’clock a pusher provides operates the outsize date. This is the YG version (Ref. 101.021) with a champagne silver dial and contains the manually wound calibre L901.0. At 38.5mm in diameter and with a height of 10mm, it is fractionally smaller than the 1815.

LANGE 1 TIME ZONE

The most talked about new addition to the Lange 1 family line, this WG (Ref. 116.039) has the manually wound Cal.L031.1 with 72 hour power reserve. The Lange 1 Time Zone is based on the original Lange 1 and has a pretty busy silver dial and rhodiumed luminous hands and markers.

In looking closer at the replica watch, the second time zone is indicated by a small secondary dial at 4 o’clock. At the 5 o’clock subdial there is an small indicator pointing to the outer rotating city ring, which represents the (local) time zone the wearer is currently in (and the time for which is displayed on the dial). The city ring can be advanced zone by zone by pressing the pusher at 8 o’clock. The large sub dial is for the wearer’s home time, and both of these dials have day/ night indicators. The choice of which dial for home versus local time is probably the one thing I’d change, as I intuitively look to the larger dial for my ‘current’ time. At 41.9 mm with a height of 11mm it may be larger than some people are accustomed to, but it doesn’t sit too large on the wrist.

LANGEMATIK PERPETUAL

As Lange put it, their Perpetual will be able to run for 122.6 years continuously before it will have to be corrected by one day on 28 February 2100, when our calendar year will have to be re-synchronised with the solar year. When that date comes around, all you (or perhaps not exactly you) will have to do is to press a pusher on the case.

It also has a patented zero-reset mechanism that allows the calendar displays as well as the moon-phase indication to be advanced both individually and, with one single main push-piece, collectively.

The Langmematik contains the automatic Calibre L922.1 Sax-O-Mat movement with a 21 carat gold and platinum micro-rotor and a power reserve of 46 hours. The rotor is bi-directional. The movement’s surfaces are hand decorated, its edges chamfered and polished.

Despite the complexity of the timepiece and amount of information on the dial, it is both clear and easy to read. The hands and Roman numeral markers contrast well against the silver dial. At 12 o’clock there is the classic big date. At three o’clock is the month indicator, along with an inset leap year indicator. At six o’clock is the moon phase complication and small seconds hand. Lastly, at nine o’clock is the day of the week indicator and 24hr. second time zone sub dial. All of this is encased in a 38.5mm (height 10.2mm) diameter case, a nice size for a dress replica watch.

RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON “Pour le Mérite”

At first glance the Richard Lange “Pour le Mérite” appears quite different to the cleaner dials of the other Richard Langes. This is largely because its regulator dial was inspired by the design of a pocket replica watch crafted by master replica watchmaker Johann Heinrich Seyffert of Dresden in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. With its fusée-and-chain transmission, tourbillon, and stop-seconds mechanism.

This Richard Lange has a fusée-and-chain transmission as well as a tourbillon with a patented stopseconds mechanism. I guess that for replica watch enthusiasts, the ‘fun’ part of this replica watch is the fusée-and-chain part, given that tourbillons seem to be par for the course nowawdays.

The dial of the replica watch contains three overlapping subdials covering the hour, minutes, and seconds. The most interesting part of this is that the seconds dial is cutaway, with the tourbillon and movement visible beneath it. This is viewed in conjunction with a retractable section on the hour subdial dial to the right. When the replica watch is telling the time from 12 to 6 o’clock, the portion of the disc that roughly has indicators for 8 to 10 o’clock is hidden from view, giving a full view of the tourbillon. When the time is 6 o’clock, the hidden dial retractable moves into view, with VIII, IX and X pivoting into place to complete the hour scale via a switching mechanism. Once the time reaches 12 o’clock, the segment moves out of view again. Thus, the tourbillon can only be seen in its entirety between 12 and 6 o’clock.

As if this wasn’t enough, it has a patented stop-seconds mechanism. The Richard Lange Tourbillon can be halted simply by pulling the crown, allowing the time to be set to one-second accuracy.

Through the open caseback you can see the manual wind Cal. L072.1 with 36 hours power reserve. The case itself 41.9mm with a heigh of 12.2mm. It is not a small replica watch, but hey, this isn’t an ordinary replica watch.

SAXONIA AUTOMATIC (JEWELLERY VERSION)

Yes, the selection of Lange was not all about the large replica watches, there was also this 37mm Saxonia with a brilliant-cut diamond bezel and a discreetly elegant natural mother-of-pearl dial. It comes in pink, white and yellow gold and, at 37mm with a height of 8.4mm, it’s larger than some women are used to wearing, but not too large by any stretch. It has the Cal.L086.4 automatic movement with a 72 hour power reserve that case be seen through its sapphire caseback.

SAXONIA THIN

This unexpectedly stole the part of my heart that wasn’t taken up by the Zeitwerk. I have a fondness for thin time-only dress replica watches. There’s nowhere to hide with a replica watch like this. Either the balance is right, or it just seems to miss that something that can make an ultra thin replica watch go from being merely ordinary to perfectly proportioned and a stunning dress replica watch.

The Saxonia Thin comes in 18-carat pink and white gold versions. Through the sapphire-crystal caseback you can see the beautifully finished manual wind Calibre L093.1, which has a power reserve of 72 hours.

With a case diameter of 40.0 millimetres, it is a mere 5.9mm high, the thinnest replica watch brought out by Lange so far. This is the WG version and, given my preference for white metals, would be my choice. If you have been looking for an elegant dress replica watch at this level, this is worth considering.

In thinking about all of them in their entirety, I found that my pre-existing thoughts about the beautiful finishing of Langes was confirmed by the reality of looking at them. They are, by and large, surprisingly discreet replica watches, and whether or not any of designs are to your personal preferences, they are deeply elegant timepieces.

Many thanks to Eric and Sam for their generosity in giving us so much time with their range of Langes and sharing with us their enthusiasm and belief in the brand for Australian replica watch lovers.

Due to the sheer number of replica watches that we looked at that afternoon, there will be two more posts focusing on two particular models of note. The first will be about my first meeting with a member of my replica watch ‘dream list’, the Zeitwerk and whether it meet my expectations ‘in the metal’. The second will focus on the astounding Lange 31.

Categories
Swiss Replica

Replica Glycine’s Airman goes‘stealth’ Hands On

Glycine Airman Base 22 Mystery

Given the history of Glycine’s Airman, in may ways it was one of the last replica watches that I’d have imagined would join the ‘stealth black’ trend. There have been more than enough ‘black stealth’ replica watches released in recent years to satisfy even the most devoted fan of PVD, but the all-black look doesn’t always work, and merely making a replica watch black is no guarantee that it will be popular, let alone anything else. The lack of care taken towards the dial by some brands has puzzled me. In the end, the time has to be able to be read; if your replica watch is blackened to the point where I cannot tell the time in dim lighting, then its core function has been diminished.

GlycineAirmanBase22Mystery1

So we come to the new Glycine Airman Base 22 ‘Mystery’ (Ref. 3887). At 42mm with a stainless steel matte black PVD coated case, it essentially looks like a blackened Airman. However, what distinguishes it from other replica watches of this type is that the dial isn’t so much black (although it is called black) as a very dark matte grey, which makes the dial and the numbers, which are in a shade that is a fractionally lighter (and the ‘12’ and ‘24’ in an even lighter shade) actually legible and functional.

The design legibility success continues with the markers and the jet black hour minute and seconds hands, which can be seen against the darkness of the dial.

GlycineAirmanBase22Mystery3

Inside is the automatic ETA 2893-2 used in many of the Airman models, with a 42 hour power reserve. The crown is cross-hatched, a nod to the Airman’s history, and it comes on a nylon NATO-styled strap with PVD hardware.

Less black and more ‘black and tones of dark grey”, the Glycine Base 22 “Mystery” is an interesting modernisation of the very functional Airman. Probably trend-driven but still able to be used, on a practical level, in that sense it is still a ‘tool replica watch’, albeit one driven slightly by fashion. It’s quite a good looking replica watch, the ‘f’ word aside, with the ‘black’ design nicely thought out. Whether or not it will appeal to purists is uncertain. It is certainly not a replacement for the classic design but perhaps it is more a funky addition if you already have an old-school Airman and want something fun to co-habit with it, or if you are looking for an all-black replica watch but want something that is a little bit more than just about the colour.

The ‘Mystery’ actually comes in two versions – a GMT Version (four hands, three time zones) and what they are calling a “ Purist Version” which is 24 hours, three hands, two time zones.

Sydneysiders can find Glycine replica watches at this AD.

Categories
MBF Replica

Replica Watch Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two TRC in titanium Review

Today’s Weekly Replica Watch Photo features photos of the Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two TRC, again. Back in September I already showed you some photos of the new Chapter Two TRC, photographed by Ming Thein.

A few weeks ago, at SalonQP in London, I ran into Steven Holzman, founder and CEO of Maîtres du Temps, and he told me that he had more of these beautiful photos. Since the Weekly Replica Watch Photo is mainly about enjoying the beauty of a exquisite timepiece, photographed in a very attractive way, these photos are perfect for Monochrome’s WWP. This time we focus on the (non-DLC) titanium version of Chapter Two TRC (Triple Calendar Round).

Maitres du Temps Chapter Two TRC

Let’s take a step back and have a look at the beginning of Maîtres du temps. It was 2007 when Steven Holzman founded Maîtres du Temps, which is not so much a new replica watch company, but more a new horological concept. A concept that I find very appealing, as it brings some of the greatest replica watchmakers  together to develop a new timepiece. It is a promotion of the people who actually craft the timepieces, something that we here at Monochrome full support of course!

“I saw my role as a connector and as a catalyst, bringing people together to come up with ideas and providing the template for independent replica watchmakers to be seen through a collaborative effort,” says Holtzman. “By blending the different styles and talents of the replica watchmakers, I was able to realize my vision—Maîtres du Temps.”

maitres du temps chapter 2 trc

There are of course parallels with the Opus series of Harry Winston and cheap swiss replica MB&F. Where Harry Winston’s Opus series gives one replica watchmaker the opportunity to create his Opus Magnus, MB&F is more guided by Max Busser’s ideas and concepts. Maîtres du Temps brings together more replica watchmakers who’re gonna create something very special and every time respecting the old and traditional approach of replica watchmaking!

“What we’re looking for is creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship,” Holtzman says. “In assembling our teams of masters, we traveled throughout Switzerland and Europe, meeting amazingly talented craftsmen. Each master brings a new perspective and his own strengths, so by teaming up these gifted individuals, we can create something very special.”

Maitres du temps Chapter 2 TRC

All Maîtres du Temps’s timepieces are created by famous replica watch makers, who in my opinion can be considered the rock stars of the replica watch industry. For Chapter One was signed of by Peter Speake-Marin, Roger Dubuis and Christophe Claret and Chapter Two was created by nobody less then Daniel Roth and (again) Roger Dubuis and Peter Speake-Marin. We covered Chapter Three for you here.

Chapter One is the most complicated of all three Chapters (price is around $ 400,000 USD) and features a tourbillon, a mono-poussoir (single pusher) chronograph, retrograde date, retrograde GMT, and two rolling bars at 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock, indicating the day of the week and the phases of the moon. Chapter Two was launched at a starting price of $ 67,000 USD, which was made possible by loosing the tourbillon, retrograde GTM and chronograph functions. Making it less complicated, and in my opinion more wearable!

Maitres du Temps Chapter Two TRC

Chapter Two features hours and minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock, a big date, and the day and month spelled out on two rollers positioned on either side of the case. Although one might think it’s a perpetual calendar, it’s not, Chapter Two is a so-called triple calendar. Adjusting the day or month is easy, as it requires just a push at the buttons at the back side of the case.

Two years after its initial launch, Maîtres du Temps released the TRC version of Chapter Two, featuring a round in stead of a tonneau shape case. TRC stands for Triple Calendar Round, simple as that. There are three different version, each made from grade 5 titanium and some with PVD coated case parts.

Maitres du temps Chapter Two TRC

Crown, pushers and screws are all in red gold or white gold and so are details on the dial and the diamond-cut hands. Chapter Two TRC is available for CHF 69,000 (excl. taxes) and is, based on its looks, the most sporty Maîtres du Temps. For now there are three flavors: full titanium (with white gold details), titanium and PVD coated titanium (also with white gold details) and full PVD coated titanium with red gold details.

Maitres du Temps Chapter Two TRC

Photo credits go to Ming Thein, who’s photos are incredible again; here you can visit his website.

The Maitre du Temps Chapter Two is available for CHF 69,000 (before tax). More information about Maitres du Temps can be found on their website here and on the official Maitres du Temps Facebook page.

This article is written by Frank Geelen, executive editor for Monochrome Replica Watches.

Categories
IWC Replica

A look at replica IWC’s Calibre83

Having blogged about IWC’s classic Calibre 89, today I go a step back from that and look at an example of their Calibre 83, introduced in 1939 and generally understood to be a transitional calibre between pocket replica watches and wrist replica watches.

IWC’s manual winding calibre 83 was produced in the 1930s to 1940s, and layout closely resembled the IWC pocket replica watch calibres of the same era, Cal.95 and Cal.98. One of the major alterations that was made to it during its life was the addition of Incabloc shock resistance when it was redesigned for use in the Mark X military replica watch.

Although not as popular as the Calibre 89, and certainly less readily available, it forms an important part of this collector’s vintage IWC collection.

In comparing the Calibre 89 with the Caliber 83, the most obvious difference is the seconds display. For me, I probably tend towards the 89, aesthetically. For some who collect these calibres, they prefer them in their military issued form of Mark XI for the Cal.89 and W.W.W. for the Cal.83.

Both movements were utilised for many dress replica watches. This example is a 35mm 18ct gold replica watch from c.1945. It is in pretty good condition but is showing its age just a bit on the dial’s patina, though this is pretty much inevitable in a replica watch of this age, and part of its charm.

Categories
Swiss Replica

How long does it take to ‘construct a clock replica’?

This is not just any clock, it is the “Construct-A-Clock”, intended as an educational toy for 6 – 10 year olds, according to the manufacturers. I had been unsuccessfully looking for one of these on and off for a few years, but happily, I finally stumbled upon one a little while ago here in Sydney. Clearly, I was not the only one interested, as a follow-up visit a few weeks later revealed them to be sold out.

Not entirely confident about my own ability to finish it in under 10 minutes, let alone having it filmed, I found a brave soul who was prepared to put his reputation on the line.

With a captive public audience replica watching and timing (with their replica watches, naturally), you can see the results below. Oh, and any lingering doubts by all adults present that it was a mere child’s toy were dismissed by the end.

So – are you game? How long do you think it would take you to construct this clock? If you’d like to get one for yourself (or someone else, I guess), see this post for details.

Categories
Patek Philippe Replica

Replica Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Limited Edition for Tiffany Co – A Solid Investment

Patek Philippe has cooperated with Tiffany & Co on many ocassions throughout the past 160+ years, a cooperation that was celebrated in 2001 with the introduction of the ‘T 150’ Annual Calendar, that was limited to 450 pieces.

Now they celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Patek Philippe boutique located in the Tiffany & Co flagship store in New York, by introducing a ladies wrist replica watch and the new Annual Calendar replica watch (Ref. 5396G) in white gold, that is limited to 100 pieces. This is what we call a beautiful timepiece AND a solid investment.

Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co 5369G

The in 2001 released annual calendar ‘T 150’, or reference 5150J, had a list price of $ 21,500 for the yellow gold version and $ 22,500 USD for the rose gold and white gold versions. Today these pieces go for $ 65,000 USD and upwards, so that looks like a very solid investment!

The new ref. 5396G features, like the T150 from 2001, an annual calendar and this one displays day, date, and month in apertures, moon phases and 24-hour indication. The black dial is double-signed by Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co and the sapphire crystal case back reveals caliber 324 S QA LU 24H with an exclusive engraving “Patek Philippe – A Shared Vision – 2008-2013 – Tiffany & Co”.

The ladies model that Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co jointly developed to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Patek Boutique is a Ladies Gondolo timepiece (Ref. 4987G) and is inspired by the Art Deco period. It features a tonneau-shaped case in 18K white gold accented with 164 round brilliant-cut diamonds (0.63 ct). There is a choice of two dials, a mat blue sunburst dial with white painted Roman numerals and a white mother-of-pearl dial with powdered gold Roman numerals.  The limited edition comprises 50 pieces of the ladies’ model, 25 of each dial version.

For more information about these timepieces and the availability, please visit the Patek Philippe website or of course the Patek Philippe Boutique in the Tiffany & Co flagship story in New York City.

This article is written by Frank Geelen, executive editor for Monochrome Replica Watches.

Categories
Bell&Ross Replica

Replica Bell Ross Baselworld 2012 exhibition :Sydney

The brand of Bell & Ross is most well-known for its aviation themed ‘flight instruments’, those distinctively large square cases designed like aircraft cockpit instruments. What is less known are their ‘vintage’ collection, introduced in 2010, and the ‘marine’ line, the third of their collections.

Last week I was invited to the opening of an exhibition of Bell & Ross replica watches at Gregory Jewellers featuring many of their 2012 Baselworld releases, and had the opportunity to try many B&R replica watches that I hadn’t seen before, including some much more classically styled and of a size more suited to those who find their ‘instruments’ a bit bulky.

Bell & Ross’ ‘vintage’ collection has two lines within it – ‘Heritage’ and ‘Original’, both with quite different aesthetics.

To start off with is, of course, the WW2 Regulateur Heritage. A 49mm sandblasted steel case with PVD finish, its bi-directional notched bezel’s ‘teeth’ are particularly large, allowing for ease of movement with gloves, and rendering it very distinctive. It’s actually quite a slim replica watch, so despite its size, it sits easily on even smaller wrists.

Also from Baselworld 2012 are the BR01 Alimeter, BR01 Horizon, and BR01 Turn Coordinator (left to right above). These form part of Bell & Ross’ more ‘experimental’ approach to the instrument range, and are limited editions of 999. One of them was actually a 1/999, which was an unexpected sighting.

The Turn Coordinator uses a disc system to tell the time, instead of hands; the wearer reads the time where the numbers line up via the vertical line that goes down the middle. There is a disc in the centre showing seconds, and the half-point cutoff looks like a plane (wings, tail etc) from the rear . The middle represents the pilot’s plane, and the original instrument on which this is based is relied upon by pilots to display the rate of turn, roll, and to keep the plane co-ordinated.

The Horizon mimics, as the name indicates, the cockpit instrument which monitors the aircraft’s position relative to the horizon, called the ‘attitude indicator’. The bar in the middle represents the pilot’s plane in the original instrument.

Unlike the other two, the BR01 Altimeter looks more conventional in comparison, with a large date display at 3 o’clock where the altimeter, which shows height above sea level, would normally appear.

If you look at the original instruments after which these are named, you will see the resemblance.

Another ‘flight instrument’, the BR01 Radar. Three circles showing hour, minute, seconds.

The 42mm BR03-02 Military Ceramic below is a matte khaki colour. This comes on a matching rubber strap and with a second khaki synthetic fabric strap with Velcro closing.

Two other quite different but still military-inspired replica watches in the exhibition are the WW1 Argentium Ruthenium and lighter dialled Argentium Silver have lugs reminiscent of the fixed wire lug military trench or officers’ World War One wristwatches. They are 41mm, manual wind, and very appealing elegant dress replica watches with beautiful grey alligator straps. These were some of my favourites from the exhibition.

The replica watch that I was drawn to the most was the WW1 Chronograph Monopoussir Heritage, which is the same case design, but in a 45mm size. It is automatic and, as the name indicates, a single-button chronograph, with 60 second and 30 minute subdials for this function. The chrono button is smooth and easy to use, and for me, more attractive than the stiffer chrono pushers used for the ‘instruments’.

Some of the other replica watches on display.

The Bell & Ross exhibition is on at Gregory Jewellers, 67 Castlereagh St., Sydney until 18 November 2012.

Categories
Longines Replica

HANDS-ON with Replica Longines’ AvigationA-7

I have written about some important historical Longines aviation replica watches, namely the rare replica Longines-Wittnauer Second Setting replica watch and the well-known Longines Lindbergh, and today’s offering is in the spirit of these. It is Longines’ newest addition to what I think is an increasingly strong heritage inspired range, with its ‘aviation’ and ‘navigation’portmanteau name of the Avigation Replica Watch Type A-7.

The new Avigation, available from this month, is a new single push button column wheel chronograph inspired by the brand’s rich historical relationship with the world of aviation and the world of military replica watches.

During the World War 2 era, the most commonly used replica watch used by the U.S. military was the Type A-11, about which you can read a bit more here, but there were some other Type A military replica watches, such as the A-17 and the A-7 specifications. The A-7 was produced during the late 1920s to 1930s and called the ‘Avigation’ – yes this is not a new fangled model name thought up by Longines, but a genuine nod to its history. The A-7 was a chronograph with a Gallet chrono movement and looked like an angled pocket replica watch strapped to the wrist. I have found a photo of the original design from MWRF member ‘zumann’ so you can see how Longines’ new version compares with the original.

This new model is clearly spiritually faithful to the original and at a rather large 49mm, makes its wrist presence felt. The case, at a 50° angle to the right, is stainless steel and contains the L788 Longines column wheel movement, operated by a single-button onion styled crown.

Historically, the angling of the dial was so that the replica watch could be worn on the inside of the wrist and aligned with the aircraft’s instruments. This, in addition to the size, was to ensure that they were quickly and easily read at a glance during flight missions. The design of the crowns was deliberately large so that pilots could get a grip on them when wearing gloves.

I really like the sleek deep black of the A-7’s dial. It is symmetrical and balanced, has a clean classic design, and is very eye-catching. I have a particular fondness for Breguet-style hands (these are Rhodium-plated), and am pleased to see that this has been maintained. There is also the addition of a tachymeter scale around the outer edge, a 30-minute counter, and a date window.

On the flipside, the A-7 is a hunter caseback opened via a pusher on the bottom right, with a sapphire open caseback under the cover. Given that they are using a column wheel chrono movement, the capacity to see this will please a lot of people.

Unfortunately, as this was a non-functioning prototype, I can’t tell you how the monopusher feels when functioning, but what I can tell you is that the pusher itself is very easy to use.

It’s unexpectedly comfortable, despite its size and thickness. The Avigation feels less about the 49mm (it sits like a 47mm) and more about the thickness when it is actually on your wrist. With its heft also comes a definite wrist presence; you are not likely to forget that you are wearing this replica watch. It looks like a converted pocket replica watch (including the onion styled crown), and it fairly much sits like such a conversion as well.

During its week with me, I shared it with a number of people with varying wrist sizes, to try. We were split about whether we thought it should be thinner, with half believing that as was like a pocket replica watch conversion, it seemed to suit the design.

Whether you like this style of case angling may well determine whether this replica watch is suited to you or not, but regardless of this, it is undeniably a good looking timepiece.  An angled dial is not everyone’s first choice but you quickly become accustomed to reading the time that way after only about an hour or so of wear.

Me? I like it a lot, in fact more so than I had expected to before I got the opportunity to handle one.

In the end a replica watch should be worn; that was the intention of the designers and the replica watchmakers in its creation. I had assumed that the A-7 would be too big to comfortably wear; I have looked a number of replica watches this year which have been 47mm plus. Some of them have just been ridiculously big and impossible to wear but the Avigation, unless your preference is strongly for traditional dress replica watches and the like, is very much wearable. I realise that there are historical reasons for this angled design, but should Longines come out with a model with the same dial at a smaller size/ thickness and with the angle ‘normalised’, I suspect it would be rather popular.

The Avigation comes on a black alligator leather strap and will be priced at AUD5,925 here in Australia. In the U.S. it will be USD4,900.

Many thanks to Longines (Australia) for providing the prototype review replica watch.

Categories
Seiko Replica

HANDS-ON with the replica Seiko AstronGPS

The Seiko Astron GPS Solar doesn’t have the clean beauty of the NOMOS Nomos Zürich Weltzeit or the classicism and elegance of the Patek 5130 World Timer, but as a purely functional travel replica watch (not to mention its accuracy) that is price-accessible to far more people, it is, dare I say, just pretty damn cool and desirable.

Some may think that the target market is tech/ geeky/ gadget-loving males and geeky male replica watchnerds. I admit that I thought this, and I went to look at them with the expectation that I’d find them interesting in a distant-admiration sort of way, but that they were highly unlikely to really appeal to me on an aesthetic or tech-geeky level.

My preconceptions were, I admit, challenged.

I still suspect that it will appeal most to those with a liking for gadgets and for replica watches, but against all expectations, I found myself being really quite taken with them. Perhaps it was a lot to do with the sheer fun of pressing the GPS activation pusher and replica watching the seconds hand move that I liked. It is actually rather amazing, and when you think about the fact that Seiko have some one hundred patents for this replica watch, including for micro GPS technology, it’s really quite an astonishing little bit of wristwear.

Firstly, for a summary about the Astron GPS (including model variations), see this earlier post. This is Seiko’s first solar powered GPS replica watch, using a patented low-energy receiver that picks up GPS signals and identifies the time zone, time and date using at least four GPS satellites, covering thirty-nine time zones. The replica watch updates automatically once a day, and also on demand.

Because I have covered the specs before, I will not repeat them but focus on what it is like to have on your wrist and play with ‘in the metal’.

Firstly, size. When writing about it after its Baselworld announcement (for another blog), I mentioned that at 47mm, it would probably be too large for most people. This is another thing that I will have to retract. It is definitely large, and especially for a Seiko, but it sits on the wrist more like a 44mm case, and is quite lightweight, whether in stainless steel or titanium. The case shape and lugs mean that it is far more comfortable than you’d intuitively expect of a 47mm case.

I tried both the bracelet and the silicone strap versions. My preference is for the latter, and to some degree I think that the replica watch seems smaller on silicone for those whose preference is not for such a large replica watch, but the bracelets are solid and comfortable. The rest (colour, steel vs. titanium, the limited edition versus regular production models etc) is a matter of personal taste.

In terms of the original PR photos versus ‘in the metal’, the Astron GPS stacks up well. If you liked it in the photos, there’s a pretty strong likelihood that you will like it when you try it on. One thing that was harder to pick up in the publicity photos is that this is a very architectural replica watch. The dial has a lot of actual physical depth, the hour markers standing up in sharp contrast to the rest of the dial, giving it a 3D almost canyon-like effect.

So, how do you activate the GPS reception? Well you press on the pusher at 2 o’clock for six seconds, at which point the seconds hand will jump to 6 o’clock to let you know that it is ready to receive the signal. It will then jump to the hour number indicating how many satellite signals it is trying to get reception from i.e. if it jumps to 4 o’clock, it is trying to receive information from four satellites. It will then take between 30 seconds and two minutes to receive these signals, at which point your replica watch will sync. How accurate is it? To 1 sec.

The pusher at 4 o’clock is for setting the time zone. A quick push will show your current time zone and then jump back to regular time keeping. If you push and hold it for more than 4 seconds, you will be able to manually adjust the time zone – use the 2 o’clock (or 4 o’clock) pusher to scroll through the cities listed and then the hands can calibrate to the selected time zone. Press the 10 o’clock pusher to reset to your current time zone.

If you are wondering how important the launch of this technological advance is for Seiko, take a look at this video of its Europe launch.

If you are under any illusion of how popular this replica watch already is, a mere matter of weeks after its launch it has not only been a hot topic online and even been covered by generalist men’s magazines, but Seiko sold a truly astonishing one thousand odd Astron GPS replica watches in Japan in the first week of its launch. Yes you read correctly – 1,000.

Five days after its arrival in Sydney (not exactly known as a hotbed of Seiko aficionados), which had a far smaller initial allocation, it had sold so well that there are now two left.

If you are in Australia, the Astron GPS it is not readily available. There is one authorised dealer in Melbourne and there will be two in Sydney. At the moment, if you want to take a look/ buy/ order in Sydney, visit or phone Fredman SVW. If in Melbourne, the AD is Salera’s. If you’re not in either city, just give either AD a call. The second Sydney AD Regal is not due to have any for another couple of weeks, and their allocation is as yet unknown.

Which one do I like the most? The SAST011 – it’s the most stealthy looking one. If I was a frequent traveller across time zones, I would find this incredibly handy, and although my preferred replica watch case size is 36-42mm, I can see myself wearing the Astron GPS.

Seiko have a dedicated Astron website, so should you need help with operating your replica watch, it is close at hand.

The technological developments of the Astron GPS Solar are incredibly important to Seiko. So much so that they rank it up there with their development of the Spring Drive in 1999, the Seiko Kinetic in 1988, their first ever solar replica watch (1977) and of course, the world’s first quartz replica watch, the Astron after which this is named, which was launched in 1969.

You can read about the first Quartz Astron and its sleek 40th anniversary commemorative edition here, about the Spring Drive here, and if you still haven’t had enough of Seiko, take a look at the unusual Izul.