Time waits for no man, not even for a leading man of stage and screen. The current star of Broadway's Les Liaisons Dangereuses and TV's Ray Donovan--not to mention the cover of Esquire—actor Liev Schrieber performs a bit of Shakespeare in a short clip as a conceptual ode to the New York minute and his stainless steel Tiffany CT60. The watch—a self-winding, three-hand, 40mm mechanical model—ticks away the seconds as he contemplates the passage of time, nature, and youth within the lyrical iambic pentameter of Shakespeare's Sonnet 12, which just so happens to be the perfect length for Instagram's brief, 60-second video limit.
Give the gift of a positive future. The watchmaking industry has a long history of adapting to an ever-changing landscape, and recent times are no exception. Cutting-edge design and groundbreaking innovations prove the future of watchmaking remains bright—no matter what the stars have in store.
http://www.esquire.com/style/g3152/the-19-best-timepieces-to-give-the-futuristic-watch-lover/ Watches with a little history don't have to look like boring antiques. That's why we've rounded up 16 timepieces with serious staying power. The DNA is drawn from the past, but the features and looks are entirely contemporary.
http://www.esquire.com/style/news/g3150/classic-watch-gift-guide/ Progress in the world of design is important for a reason: It makes our lives better. Innovative thinking leads to smarter resources, greater sustainability, and hopefully, more beautiful surroundings. At the recent Design Miami Fair, New York-based SHoP Architects were this year's recipients of the Panerai Design Miami/Visionary Award.
For Chinese artist Sun Xun, the existential questions explored in his artwork are the same existential questions he asks of himself. What is time? What is forever? What is history? What is the future? What is now? http://www.esquire.com/style/news/a51263/audemars-piguet-sun-xun-art-basel-miami-beach/ At the invitation of luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, a site-specific artwork called "Reconstruction of the Universe" was unveiled for the second Audemars Piguet Art Commission at Art Basel in Miami this past weekend. It may not immediately seem like a natural pairing, but these compelling time-related concepts are shared by AP—a reflection upon the rapidly changing future of complicated fine watches. What seems to be a highly conceptual connection slowly reveals an important similarity between the artist and watchmaker. Imagine a top fashion designer showing a collection that barely changes from one season to the next. For an industry built on change, it would be a radical concept. By definition, trends come and go, but Rolex believes in the opposite. Consistency equates to reliability, with the brand's fabled attention to detail being its key to success. A former company slogan, "A crown for every achievement," sums up Rolex accurately: No other watchmaker commands this level of popular recognition or manufactures a product that's viewed as a tangible symbol of success by a huge swath of the world.
In the pantheon of luxury goods, Rolex has a unique spot: The word conjures up not a logo or a covetable item, but rather the very idea of a beautifully made and enduring timepiece. It is nearly synonymous with the word heirloom, and for that reason, the watchmaker has earned an enormous and loyal following around the world.
For many, buying new gives them instant access to this legacy, but collectors and connoiseurs want something more, a watch with history as well as pedigree. The value of rare models reaches stratospheric heights at some of the biggest auction houses in the world. Phillips, Sotheby's, Christie's, and Antiquorum have all set records prices for notable Rolex watches that have come up for auction. Great design knows no boundaries. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the post-World War II golden age of Italian automotive design—from the 1940s through the 1970s—has influenced the world of watch design as well as the world of cars. Automakers like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia, and Maserati immediately conjure up visions of sleek, aerodynamic lines that feel as appropriate on a sports car as a timepiece. Watches and driving are, after all, intimately linked, with accurately measuring speed an all-important aspect of auto racing.
When it comes to buying an exceptional watch, Rolex is virtually synonymous with achieving success. Like buying a bespoke suit, purchasing a Rolex watch represents one of life's great accomplishments, one that goes far beyond just owning a beautiful timepiece—and no other brand conjures up quite this type of personal connection or emotional reaction.
The day has come. You've worked your butt off, you've saved up for months, and you're now ready to reward your hard-earned success with a status symbol that says "I've made it." It's time to buy a grown-up watch.
But where do you start? You want a piece that will impress your friends with your impeccable taste, sure, but you also want to make a smart (and beautiful) investment. First thing's first: Educate yourself. Shopping for a big-ticket watch can be intimidating, but armed with the right questions and know-how, you can be confident you're choosing the right one for you. Here, all of the most important elements to consider: |
AuthorStephen Watson is a freelance stylist and watch editor. Archives
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