Designed as an ultra-limited model for the members of the CronotempVs club, the Ball Engineer III 00RED edition rethinks the traditional “tool watch” from the American brand and turns it into something a lot more modern (and arguably more desirable.) My only problem with the 00RED is that Ball Watches doesn’t plan to make more of them.
ETA 2836
Chr. Ward C9 Moonphase Automatic Caliber JJ04
Once a maker of all sorts of “homages”, Christopher Ward puts a lot of effort into becoming a serious brand. This new, dressy Chr. Ward C9 Moonphase is a step in the right direction for the relatively young watchmaker.
Stowa Seatime Black Forest Edition 1
The German watchmaker has just started taking orders for its new Stowa Seatime Black Forest Edition 1 automatic diver. Offered at a moderate price of just €1390 (including VAT), the new timekeeper is a wise choice for a person looking for a nice diving companion, but not willing to pay the premium for a Seamaster or a Submariner. Reserved, but also handsome, this is so far one of the most attractive divers that money can buy.
Mido Multifort Two Crowns Automatic Skin Diver (Ref. M005.930.11.060.00)
While Mido is good at producing watches that look anonymous at best, this new stainless steel Mido Multifort Two Crowns (Ref. M005.930.11.060.00) actually looks nice and even recognizable, although even this design always leaves you scratching your head trying to remember if you have already seen this gadget before.
Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Captain Poindexter
The limited-edition Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Captain Poindexter still makes quite an impression with its massive body and a bold face with broad, pointy hands that look like they were inspired by some super-sword from one of those Final Fantasy series of videogames.
Fortis B42 Marinemaster Yellow Day/Date 670.24.14
The Fortis B42 Marinemaster range of diving tools has recently been expanded with a Yellow Collection. Comprising an ETA Valjoux 7750-powered automatic chronograph and a more traditional-looking Fortis B-42 Marinemaster Yellow Day/Date (Ref. 670.24.14) three-hander, the collection differs from the rest of Marinemaster family only with its more jovial (and also more legible) color scheme that adds acid-bright lime accents to the bezels and dials.
Technomarine BlackReef Ti Ultimate Automatic
Presented in a lightweight titanium body, the Technomarine BlackReef Ti Ultimate features a highly reliable automatic movement and is adorned with whole 54 precious stones covering its unidirectionally rotating bezel. In case you wonder, yes: those clear white, jet-black, and shiny yellow crystals are in fact real baguette-cut diamonds that also happen to work as markers on the diving scale. And, yes: with its water resistance rating of 50 ATM, this is an actual diver although using it as such would be utterly crazy. And, yes: so far, this is the most bizarre diver that we have seen among this year’s premieres.
Mido Commander Datoday Automatic
Mido, yet another child of Swatch Group’s quiverfull family, has finally updated its Commander line of sporty timekeepers. The refreshed Mido Commander Datoday Automatic (ref. M014.430.11.061.00) features the same ETA 2836-2 self-winding blank movement that also powered their Multifort Bicolor 42 mm model presented back in 2011, but features a lot more interesting looks with lots of straight lines and an elegant, lugless design of its compact body (although it may make it difficult to find an after-market replacement strap or bracelet if need be).
Ball Watch Engineer Master II 300M Diver
The year of updates continues. This time the American watchmaker Ball Watches has presented its new Ball Engineer Master II Diver (ref. DM2020A-PA-BKGR).
MKII Paradive Type 1B Diver with Sapphire Bezel
MKII, a fairly young privately owned U.S.-based brand, has recently announced that its popular Paradive diving watch will soon be available with a trendy sapphire bezel with a luminous diving scale that is supposed to greatly enhance the timekeeper’s nighttime legibility. It will complement a slightly less expensive model with an anodized aluminum bezel and will be sold as MKII Paradive Type 1B.
Ball Trainmaster Eternity Automatic
The legendary American brand has just started selling its new member of the Trainmaster line. Ther Ball Trainmaster Eternity (ref. NM2080D-LJ-SL) is claimed to be one of the thinnest self-winding watches in Ball’s whole model range. Although the stainless steel case of the Eternity looks similar to the bodies of other Trainmasters, it is in fact slightly refreshed in order to make the timekeeper both slimmer and more comfortable on a wrist.
MIDO Baroncelli III Lady Chronometer in Steel (Ref. M010.208.16.053.20)
MIDO has just presented its updated Baroncelli III Lady Chronometer (Ref. M010.208.16.053.20). Although some bloggers take MIDO’s recent press release too literally and call this new model the brand’s “first” entry into the world of ladies chronometer watches, it is not exactly so. Here’s why.
Oris Maldives Limited Edition 300M Diver (Ref. 643 7654 7185 RS / MB)
The Oris Maldives 300M Diver (Ref. 643 7654 7185 RS / MB) celebrates the World Oceans Day while raising some money to Bluepeace, an environmental NGO, which is based on the Maldives and has its main objective “to protect the environment through environmental education and training.”
MIDO Baroncelli III Rose Gold 18K Chronometer
The 2011 MIDO Baroncelli III Rose Gold 18K chronometer (ref. M901.408.76.033.20) was revealed at Baselworld 2011 show. The dressy timekeeper successfully combines a chronometer-grade -albeit relatively inexpensive- Swiss-made movement with an elegant, classic shape of the case.
Fortis B-47 Big Black Limited Edition
Besides the 2011 Spacematic 2012 series, at Baselworld 2011, Fortis has also presented a less mundane limited-edition B-47 Big Black (ref. 675.18.81 K) collection delivered in that trendy “Black-is-You-Know-the-New-Black” color theme.