Swiss Watches
Earlier this year, the German watchmaker Steinhart has issued their new take on the concept of a "vintage-modern pilot's watch". Successfully blending vintage exterior with a classic caliber and modern CNC machinery, the new Steinhart Nav.B-Chrono 47 Baumuster B Grey Edition (ref. 106-0877) offers, perhaps, the best "value for money" ratio for those interested in buying a relatively affordable brand new pilot's timekeeper.
Swiss Watches
The new Porsche Design Chronograph Titanium Limited Edition looks like yet another masterpiece of German design. Delivering just the right combination of manliness and reserved elegance that could only be compared to that of a Porsche 911 Carrera sports car, the wristwatch is issued as a limited edition of just 500 pieces, which is really a pity: collectability or not, the world, which is dominated by tasteless, soulless objects of industrial design, needs more beautiful things like this one.
Swiss Watches
The new Fortis Blue Horizon features a very appealing color scheme with its bronze-toned dial (that the brand actually prefers to call "Metallic Brown") nicely matched by a cognac brown leather strap. Although the blue accents on the timekeeper's face look a bit ahem controversial, I must admit that this is one of the dressiest "pilot's chronographs" that the Swiss brand has ever produced. Just don't forget to get yourself a complementary set of good brown shoes.
Swiss Watches
While the new Fortis VP-40 "Laging Handa" Patrol Squadron Forty automatic chronograph wristwatch doesn't even try to look different from dozens of other Fortis aviation-inspired chronos, it still offers a very nice combination of a solid-built body with pleasantly massive push-pieces and setting crown, and a dial that, although looking a bit cluttered, nevertheless easy enough to read (only if you don't try to use the standard tachymeter scale on the bezel flange).
Swiss Watches
Chopard is known for its endless love for all things automotive. During the last two or three of years, the Swiss brand has introduced a number of beautiful sporty timekeepers (check this Mille Miglia Zagato Chronograph GMT Limited Edition (Ref. 168550-6001) for example) and it doesn't look like they are going to stop churning out new racing-inspired chronographs and three-handers any time soon. Coming in a flashy black-and-yellow (a color scheme, which is often associated with Chevrolet's Corvette Racing team, although I am not sure whether the similarity is intentional or purely coincidental), the new Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Chrono 2014 (ref. 168570-3001) will surely not go unnoticed even if you plan to wear it with a Hawaiian shirt.
Swiss Watches
The face-lifted version of the Ball Watches Fireman Storm Chaser Pro (ref. CM3090C-L1J-BK) wrist watch, which is set to be released soon at the upcoming Baselworld 2014 event, is equipped with a finely executed telemeter scale and packs within its medium-sized 42 mm stainless steel body the same tried and tested automatic chronograph movement, but now looks a lot more elegant than the previous iteration of the timepiece. It's almost like if Porsche has released its current-gen Cayenne performance SUV with its gorgeous exterior and plush interior without sacrificing all the off-road goodness of the first-gen model.
Swiss Watches
Based on their current Oris Big Crown X1 Calculator (Ref. 01 675 7648 4264-07 5 23 77) model that was first released three years ago, the new Oris Big Crown Timer Chronograph (Ref. 675 7648 4234 LS) automatic pilot's watch features only subtle cosmetic changes that, however, make all the difference: as cluttered as the base version is, the gadget still somehow manages to look cleaner and is more easier to read.
Swiss Watches
The well-known Hamilton Khaki X-Wind Chronograph collection (the one, which is listed on their web-site as a member of a larger Khaki Aviation family of military-themed watches) was recently updated with a limited edition version (including a version with black dial, pictured, ref. H77766331.) Well, being ahem limited to ahem just 1999 pieces, the watch will clearly never become a rarity (well, may be in fifty years or so), but I must admit that this little guy still looks nice. Featuring all the usual stuff, like a true chronograph movement and their famous drift angle calculator, the new watch differs from the rest of the pack with its new color combinations and a slightly reworked face.