The King Seiko (SJE095) captures the spirit of Tokyom, where King Seiko was first born in the 1960s. This latest timepiece construction has been inspired by the 1965 King Seiko KSK, which features a sharp angular case along with high functionality. The case of the new King Seiko reflects this same design, with a touch of light polish, especially with the bezel so that it reflects light pleasantly.

The 38.6mm stainless steel case for this King Seiko SJE095 is also only 10.7mm thick, which means that on the wrist it should sit fairly comfortably, especially if you don’t like bulky timepieces. The many different angular lines and shapes on the case and bezel give this watch a lot of character which is further complimented by the beautiful dial.

Seiko has used a white dial which against the stainless steel case lets the pattern stand out nicely. The pattern on the dial is based on the chrysanthemum, which is seen as one of the national flowers of Japan. The chrysanthemum flower is seen as having great significance in Japanese culture, as the flower represents rejuvenation and longevity. The brand has displayed the flower pattern on the dial through the use of finely intersecting lines called kiku tsunagi-mon, which, in Japanese, signifies a chrysanthemum pattern that connects with itself.

This pattern is especially associated with edo-kiriko glassware, a form of traditional cut glass considered to be one of the most popular craftworks from Japan. Edo-kiriko, which translates to “faceted objects of Edo,” is renowned for its intricate beauty and its unique designs achieved through the skillful cutting of glass into multiple facets.

The beautiful patterned dial is finished off with faceted hour and minute hands, which further demonstrate the high quality of modern Seiko manufacturing. The hands and hour indices also match nicely with the finishing off the case and stands out well against the patterned background. The case back of the timepeice carries the “SEIKO” inscription along with the King Seiko name and the same shield design as the original 1965 model.

Seiko have given the SJE095 the slimline Caliber 6L35 movement, which as the name suggests measures in at only 3.69mm thick, even with a date window and automatic winding mechanism. This allows the overall watch to be thinner, hence why it’s only 10.7mm thick! The movement operates at a high-frequency of 28,800 VpH (4hz) and can power the timepiece for approximately 45 hours.

The King Seiko SJE095 is offered as standard in the beautiful 7-link bracelet. Previous versions of this model also came with this bracelet , and understanably so as well as the bracelet gives a nice luxurious presence on the wrist. The sharp design of the links also give it a more refined architectural look. A second strap is also on offer, with Seiko presenting an additional grey leather strap, with it’s colour and texture matched to the dial.

Seiko has released previous versions of this particular design already with the release of the SJE089 and SJE091 models, however, the dial designs were the standard black and white. Now, with the release of this latest SJE095 model, King Seiko gets a beautiful patterned dial with meaning to add to the collection. The timepiece will be released as a limited edition model, with only 600 pieces being made. It will be available worldwide from October 2023 from select retailers.

Reference: SJE095

Specification

• Case: 38.6mm
• Case Material: Stainless Steel
• Dial: Patterned white dial is based on the chrysanthemum flower
• Crystal: Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
• Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
• Movement: Automatic Caliber 6L35
• Power reserve: Approx. 45 hours
• Strap: 7-link Stainless Steel bracelet or an additional grey leather strap whose color and texture complement the patterned dial.

Availability: October 2023, Limited to 600 watches to be purchased from select retailers.

Australian Recommended Retail Pricing:  AUD $5,350

The year 1965 was when Japan saw their first diver’s timepiece being created, by none other than Seiko. This 1965 diver’s watch came packed with a reliable and robust automatic movement, as well as the case being able to withstand a water resistance of 150m. The watch wasn’t just reliable on “paper”, as it proved useful when the members of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition used the timepiece from 1966 to 1969.

Seiko’s 1965 divers timepiece would serve as inspiration for a range of diver’s watches created by the brand in the years that followed. Much like the Japanese Antarctic team, the newer diver’s watches created by Seiko were favoured by professional divers and adventurers alike. This all-new faithful recreation of Seiko’s original diver’s watch will be no different.

The re-creation of the 1965’s divers timepiece will be released into the brand’s Prospex collection and will have the codename 62MAS. The external characteristics of this re-creation such as the dimensions, and visual design will be virtually identical to the 1965 model, while the internal characteristics will be modern and up-to-date with Seiko’s latest technology and movements.

The 62MAS is identical in design to the original 1965 model. The modern timepiece includes large rectangular hour indices, with the 12 o’clock being almost double in size. Like the original, the 62MAS has been filled with SuperLumi-Nova as well, with the modern re-interpretation using Lumibrite to enhance legibility in low-light conditions. Other similarities include the 3 o’clock date design, the pip on the uni-directional bezel, the minute track details to the 60-minute counter layout on the bezel itself. The stainless steel case construction has, however, now been upgraded to have a 200m water resistance rather than the 150m that was on the original.

Inside the new 62MAS timepiece is Seiko’s new Calibre 6L37 movement. This movement is Seiko’s first from the 6L slimline family to be made specifically for diver’s watches. Seiko has taken the accuracy and power reserve from the 6L35 movement from the 6L slimline family and given it modifications by using new materials and different movement construction. The durability and shock resistance are now up to the standard of a Seiko Prospex diver’s watch. The calibre 6L37 movement operates at a high frequency of 28, 800 VpH and gives out a power reserve of approximately 45 hours.

The 62MAS comes with a high-strength silicone strap that pays homage to the original, while this modern version is designed for greater durability and comfort. This faithful re-interpretation brings back an icon into the world of modern watches. What was Japan’s first diver’s timepiece is now back in Seiko’s lineup with one of the brand’s best diving movements. The Seiko Prospex The 1965 Diver’s re-creation is a limited edition timepiece with only 1965 models being produced, to reference to iconic birth year of Japan’s first diver’s watch.

References: SJE093

Specification:

• Case: 38.00 mm
• Case Material: Stainless Steel
• Dial: Grey sunburst effect
• Crystal: Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface
• Case Back: Screwed-down, stainless steel with dolphin emblem
• Water resistance: 200 meters
• Movement: Calibre 6L37 movement
• Power reserve: 45 Hours
• Bracelet: High-strength silicone strap.

Australian Recommended Retail Price: AUD $5,500

Availability: Available now from all Authorised Dealers and online at Seiko.com.

While your standard black, white/silver and blue coloured dials are still the go-to colours due to being tried and tested, while also fitting a range of attires and functions, coloured dials are only getting popular. People are also drawn to certain colours due to their personality and also what draws their individual attention.

One of the few colours that has been getting far less attention than the others, however, is purple. This is intriguing as purple looks quite stunning on timepieces, especially with added sunburst finishing effects. Is it that the colour purple may be too feminine for males to consider it an option, or is it simply just not being presented enough by the brands themselves? With this being said, however, brands do still produce the odd purple-dialled timepiece, with prices for these ranging from $500 all the way to well over $100,000k.

It should be noted that most brands do tend to release purple dials as special edition timepieces, due to the nature of purple being a very rare colour in the watch industry. This rarity can be seen in a positive light too, for if you were to own a purple dial watch, it would be a unique piece and be a great conversation starter! With this in mind, in this article, we will be presenting 5 purple dials priced under $5000.

Sartory Billard – SB04 Purple With Breguet Numbers

The SB04 Purple by Statory Billard is a great purple dial to start off this list. It’s not too dark or too light and gives just the right tones to not only stand out beautifully but also make the hour indices and hands stand out too.

The watch comes with an automatic movement enclosed in a 40mm stainless steel case (titanium option available too). This timepiece is a special order, with the base price starting at $4,920.00 AUD. If you want to see more of this piece, click here.

Australian Recommended Retail Pricing: $4,920.00

Louis Erard – Excellence Petite Seconde Voilette

Sophisticated yet elegant, the Excellence Petite Seconde Voilette by Louis Erard ticks all the boxes for a great look purple dial timepiece. The watch even comes with a matching purple leather strap. What makes this timepiece stand out is the colour tone variation on the dial.

Formed in three circular “rings”, the outer circle where the minute track lies are standard purple. The second ring where the hour indices lie has a sunburst finish and the center circle has the same finish as the outer circle. The second indicator at 6 o’clock also comes with a sunburst finish. The Louis Erard Excellence Petite Seconde can be purchased through the brand’s e-commerce here.

Australian Recommended Retail Pricing: $3,735.68

Seiko King Seiko (SPB291J)

One of the lighter purple-coloured dials in this list is the King Seiko (SPB291J). This simple three-hander model from Seiko features a Mauve purple-coloured dial. The gradient dial starts off with being more white in the centre which gradually becomes more purple as it gets towards the edges of the dial.

This 37mm stainless steel model comes with Seiko’s excellent 6R31 movement which puts out an impressive power reserve of 70 hours. The model can be purchased in-person only through Seiko boutiques, however, can be purchased online through the brand’s e-commerce site here.

Australian Recommended Retail Pricing: $2,900

anOrdain Fabrik Model 1 GMT

Based in Glasgow, anOrdain is a Scottish watchmaker that specialises in enamel dials. In fact, they are only one of the few brands that do all enamel dials in-house. The Fabrik Model 1 GMT is not enamel finish due to the various dial finishes and inscriptions, however, it does come with a hand GMT function.

The Fabrik Model 1 GMT comes with a sunken inner dial with concentric grooves with the outer dial being a sun-brushed finish, creating a beautiful contrast between the two finishes. The watch can be purchased from the brand’s e-commerce here.

Australian Recommended Retail Pricing: $2,783.87

Christopher Ward – The Twelve (Ti)

This Christopher Ward timepiece is yet to be released, with the release date set to be early November 2023. The timepiece will surely be a hot take upon its release thanks to that stunning nebula purple dial. The dial also features the pyramid pattern that is shown on the brand’s other Twelve timepieces.

The dial is not the only stand-out feature of this timepiece. The integrated bracelet design along with the grade II titanium case are a few of the other impressive details about this timepiece. Sitting at approximately $2,650.00 (Aud) this timepiece can be pre-ordered from the brand’s e-commerce site (here).

Australian Recommended Retail Pricing: $2,650.00

I myself have had a Seiko 5 Sports and have used it as one of my reliable daily watches for almost 5 years. There have been many different iterations of the Seiko 5 Sports and watch lovers around the world are drawn to it for its simplistic design along with the aforementioned reliability.

Earlier this month, as a celebration of the Seiko 5 Sports 55th anniversary, the brand released a new limited edition timepiece, which is a faithful re-creation of the first Seiko 5 Sports from 1968. Alongside this re-creation, three other models were also released as part of the anniversary celebrations, with each of these watches paying homage to the designs and colors of the 1969 collection.

Seiko 5 Sports 55th Anniversary Limited Edition (SRPK17)

The 1968 Seiko 5 Sports was loved by watch fans during the late 1960s and 70s, and even after its discontinuation, it remains quite a popular model in the vintage market. The new re-creation (SRPK17) is a limited release and will have a run of a total of 15, 555 units. The timepiece is re-created to be as faithful to the original as possible, all the while using modern materials and movement.

The 55th-anniversary limited edition (SRPK17) comes in a 39.5mm stainless steel case that’s uniquely curved to meet the lugs of the stainless steel bracelet. The dial contains all the exact details on the 1968 model, with the exception being the inscription at 6 o’clock now reading “Automatic 24 Jewels 10 Bar” instead of the original ” Water 70 Proof 25 Jewels”. The knurled bezel comes with a minute track style inscription along with a large Lumibrite indication at the 12 o’clock position.

The large red minute with the single circular Lumibrite hand stands out prominently against the black dial background. The day and date indication at 3 o’clock from the 1968 model is also retained in this 55th-anniversary recreation, which actually blends in subtlety with the dial thanks to the date window’s black background. All elements such as the hour indices and hands have a generous coating of Lumibrite for Excellent low-light readability.

SKX Sports Style (SRPK09, SRPK11, SRPK13)

The three other models released alongside the anniversary limited edition are the SKX Sports Style models which pay tribute to the 1969 Seiko 5 Sports collection. Carrying the same reliable and durable characteristics as the 1969 collection, and now much improved, these new models also have the same coloring and aesthetic designs.

Each timepiece comes in either a silver, black or orange dial, with bezel inserts that closely follow the designs used in 1969 5 Sports collection. The aesthetics of the dial and bezel are combined with the homage to the legendary SKX case, with its iconic shape and crown protectors at the 4 o’clock position. This case design, however, was not the original one used in the 1969 Seiko 5 Sports collection. The case for original models was large square-shaped, and while it’s certainly unique, they may not be overly practical in today’s world. All three timepieces come standard with a three-link stainless steel bracelet.

SKX Sports Style Silver Dial (SRPK09)

This SKX 5 Sports model comes in a beautiful sunburst silver dial in a 42.5mm stainless steel case. The orange minute hand adds a nice touch of color to the dial as well.

The bezel insert is done in a monochromatic layout, with interchanging black and white horizontal stripes. The inscriptions are only limited to 10-minute intervals, which helps the bezel be less cluttered.

SKX Sports Style Orange Dial (SRPK11) “Double Hurricane”

The orange dial version of this new SKX Sports range is easily the most vivid and stand-out timepiece in the collection. The 42.5mm stainless steel case is met with a black bezel insert which acts as the perfect contrast against the orange dial.

The hour indices and hands also contrast well thanks to its steel-like finish. The black horizontal strip across the dial, along with the alternating black and orange strips add the finishing touch to a sporty timepiece.

SKX Sports Style Black Dial (SRPK13) “Regatta”

While the orange dial is the more “in your face” timepiece, the black dial variant is the colorful one. Presented in the same 42.5mm stainless steel case, the bezel is split into red and white inscriptions.

Where the red inscription finishes and the white starts on the bezel, the minute track underneath follows the same layout, this time in blue and green color variation. The black dial serves as a great backdrop for these colors to really stand out in an aesthetic way.

All four models are presented in Seiko’s Calibre 4R36 movement. Operating at a frequency of 21,600 (3Hz), the movement is able to give out a power reserve of approximately 41 hours. All three of the SKX Sports Style models are available for purchase through Seiko Boutiques and retailers now, while the Seiko 5 Sports 55th Anniversary Limited Edition (SRPK17) will be released worldwide in July 2023.

Reference: SRPK17 (55th Anniversary),  SRPK09 (Silver Dial), SRPK11 (Orange Dial) and SRPK13 (Black Dial)

Specification

• Case: 39.5mm (SRPK17), 42.5mm (SRPK09, SRPK11, SRPK13)
• Case Material: Stainless Steel
• Dial: Black (SRPK17), Silver (SRPK09), Orange (SRPK11), Black (SRPK13)
• Crystal: Curved Hardlex crystal
• Water resistance: 100m (10bar)
• Movement: Calibre 4R36
• Power reserve: 41 hours
• Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with push button release (SRPK17),  stainless steel bracelet with three-fold clasp with secure lock and push button release (SRPK09, SRPK11, SRPK13)

Availability:  (SRPK09, SRPK11, SRPK13) June 2023 from selected retailers and Seiko Boutiques. (SRPK17) Available July 2023 from selected retailers and Seiko Boutiques.

International Recommended Retail Pricing: $415 USD (SRPK17), $350 USD (SRPK09, SRPK11, SRPK13)

I was out the supermarket checkout a week or so ago, and there was a young guy serving me. On his wrist was a Tissot PRX. I casually said, “Nice watch” and he went on to explain that it was his first watch, and was the quartz model, not automatic. Now Tissot is a great first watch, in fact, the Tissot PRS200 was my first swiss watch, and as a first watch when in your teens, you could do a lot worse than a PRX!

We spoke briefly whilst he scanned the groceries and I told him what I did, so he asked me – what would be my recommendation for a first proper automatic swiss watch? The answer to this is long and varied as there are a lot of great pieces out there now and at all different price points. But it did get me thinking. If I were back at the start of my journey, knowing what I know now with what is available on the market today, what would I choose as my foray into the watch collecting world?

After much discussion with the Watch Advice team, we’ve come up with some great options at different price points as we realise that people are all different with different levels of income and stages of life. What an 18 year old would buy for their first ‘good’ watch vs someone in their 30’s who wants to celebrate a milestone with their first nice timepiece they’ll keep forever will vary greatly. Let’s dive in!

Under $500

Seiko Solar – SNE525P

The Seiko Solar SNE525P is a great starter watch. It’s solar powered, or powered by any light really, so as long as you wear it in the day, you’re good and won’t run out of battery for up to 10 months once fully charged!

With an accuracy of +/-15 seconds per month, it’s more accurate than most mechanical watches out there and with both day and date indicators it’s highly functional too. Measuring 40mm and only 9.7mm thick it will wear well and has a classic steel sports watch design with the blue dial, so it won’t date easily.

Australian Retail Price: AUD $475.

Available at Seikoboutique.com.au

$500-$1000

Baltic HMS 002

Baltic are going from strength to strength with their vintage inspired pieces due to their build quality and design at their price point, and the HMS 002 is no exception. With a 38mm case size and 12mm thick, its more dress watch than sports, but it’s design means you can wear this casually. You also have the option of choosing the preferred strap and open or closed caseback to fit your style.

Made from 316L steel, 50m water resistance, a screw down crown and an automatic movement with 60hrs power reserve, it’s a great all round watch.

Australian Retail Price: Approx AUD $725 (€360 + €80 delivery)

Available at baltic-watches.com

$1000 – $1500

Tissot PRX Powermatic 80

We mentioned the Tissot PRX Quartz at the start of this article, but if you can stretch the budget to just over $1000, then the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 is a great value watch that punches above its weight.

With an integrated bracelet design and great sturdy construction and nice finishing, it rivals watches 3x it’s price. It has Tissot’s new Powermatic 80 movement, meaning you’re good for more than 3 days and with the Nivachron balance spring, it’s essentially antimagnetic.

Australian Retail Price: AUD $1,100.

Available at tissotwatches.com

$1500 – $2500

Longines Hydroconquest

For those that want the look of a proper dive watch, then the Longine Hydroconquest in 41mm is a great entry level diver. 300m water resistance, rotating dive bezel, and steel bracelet with fold out dive extension, it’s a robust watch.

Longines has a lot of heritage in watchmaking, and whilst they’re not a hype brand, they are a solid brand with solid credentials, and this watch is an example of this. With the L888 automatic movement, 72 hours of power reserve and screw down crown, it’s a serious watch and great bang for buck.

Australian Retail Price: AUD $2,100.

Available at Longines.com

$2500 – $5000

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200

We’ve covered the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 last year in our hands on review, which you can read here. It’s a good entry level piece into a reputable brand that has so much history and are doing some great things today. At 40mm and only 12mm thick it wears pretty well and with a few new colours, like the green fumé dial pictured here, they look good.

It’s a highly versatile watch with 200m of water resistance and an automatic movement giving you 38hrs power reserve. Whilst that seems low, it’s designed to be a daily, so you shouldn’t have to worry the watch going dead. It also has a bright green and blue lume, so it’s highly legible in low light, adding to its versatility.

Australian Retail Price: AUD $4,150.

Available at Tagheuer.com

So there you have five watches to start your watch journey, no matter what your budget is. Whilst there a lots of others out there that would suit equally as well, too many in fact for this article, we felt these five would suit most people’s tastes and are all pretty versatile. Should you have more than $5000 saved up for your first watch, then congratulations! But this then would be another conversation.

Do you agree with these selections? Have suggestions for people? The leave us a comment below.

Since last year, Seiko has been driving the classic style of the King Seiko KSK models, by keeping the core design intact while adding 21st-century enhancements that Seiko is vastly experienced in. Now, Seiko is bringing two new watches to the table, both inspired by the classic KSK. Each timepiece will be powered by the brand’s slimline Calibre 6L35 movement, which incidentally also marks the movement’s appearance for the first time in the King Seiko collection.

The case of these new recreations has a refined design, which starts with the lugs. The lugs and cases are faceted with large flat planes and sharp angles. The case surfaces are polished so that a distortion-free and mirror finish can be achieved, which also allows the cases to reflect light in a visually aesthetic manner. The refinement of the original 1965 KSK is shown through the combination of the angular case and flat dial with its faceted hands.

The case measures in at 38.6mm, while also being 0.2mm thinner than the original King Seiko KSK watch. The watch is also slimmer than the previous heritage recreation limited edition model, made possible thanks to the new case construction and boxed-shaped crystal. The case is then combined with the slim and beautiful bracelet, which when worn on the wrist gives an elegant look. The “bricks” on the bracelet have brushed surfaces while the outside links have angled sides, adding further to Seiko’s attention to detail. Matching the case, the bracelet also adds a level of shine that leaves a lasting impression.

Both of the timepieces come with an elegant dial design as well, fit to wear the King Seiko Signature. The two watches are presented with a new sunray finishing technique on the dial that gives the watch a more understated look, in either a silver-colored dial or a new shade of black that was created specifically to suit the new case design. Out of the two dials, the silver dial gets the more subtle yet elegant look, while the black dial gets the more contrasting and bold look.

The two timepieces come with hour and minute hands which are faceted, showcasing Seiko’s high-quality manufacturing that is used to create watches worthy of honoring King Seiko’s legacy, all the while advancing its collection into the modern era. Seiko has gone a step further for the hands on the black dial, giving them fine hairline finishes which heighten the contrast level against the black dial.

Seiko’s 6L35 movement is an automatic manual winding system that brings about an accuracy of (+15 to -10) seconds per day. The movement sits at just 3.69mm tall and operates at a frequency of 4Hz (28, 800 VpH). It also gives out a power reserve of approximately 45 hours. The two main features of this movement are the hacking seconds and also the quick date correction system.

The continuation of the reinterpretation of the 1965 King Seiko models sees two new timepieces added to the collection. The classic colours of black and silver have been given somewhat of a more complex finish with the subtle sunray and refined faceted hands. Overall the design of these two timepieces brings about an elegant, simple, and classic look, all the while having a sophisticated and modern movement underneath, capturing the essence of the original 1965 KSK.

Reference: SJE089, SJE091

Specification

• Case: 38.6mm
• Case Material: Stainless steel case
• Dial: Silver-coloured or black with a sunray finishing technique
• Crystal: Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
• Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
• Movement: Calibre 6L35
• Power reserve: 45 h
• Strap: Stainless Steel bracelet

Availability: July 2023, through selected boutiques or Seiko’s E-Commerce website.

Australian Recommended Retail Pricing: $5,200 (Both models)

For 2023, the Seiko Astron GPS Solar collection gets four new models that now come with a dynamic new design. A total of four watches are presented by Seiko, with three of them being part of the main Astron collection whilst the fourth is a limited edition model. The three collection timepieces are presented in varying dial and bezel colours, while the limited edition comes with a different dial design altogether.

All four creations come in a 41.2mm titanium dimensional case with a faceted bezel. The bezel has polished finishing on the sides while the top is hairline finished, which matches with the rest of the case nicely. The angular lines of the bezel flow seamlessly into the case and lugs, with this design then being carried over to the integrated bracelet. The bracelet is designed in a way to neatly taper into the clasp, which completes this new Astron GPS Solar design.

The titanium cases are given a super-hard scratch-resistant coating and along with the lightness of the material makes it sit on the wrist comfortably, perfectly suited for daily wear. All four variants come with the same dial layout, with a date window at 3 o’clock and a sub-dial at 8 o’clock which indicates the receiving process of GPS satellites along with the timepieces charge status, leap second data receipt, and the in-flight mode.

The three models in the main collection come with either a blue or black dial. The dials have a pattern that is symbolic of the quartz crystals used to create the tuning fork-shaped quartz oscillators of the original Astron Quartz that was created by Seiko in 1969. The dials also have applied indexes that match the colour of the bezel on the watch. All of the indexes have lumbrite which not only allows for easy viewing in low-light conditions but also provides a stark contrast for the indices on the blue and black dials.

Seiko has paired the blue dial with the full titanium bezel, case, and bracelet (SSJ013). The grey dial in the main collection gets a rose-gold coloured bezel with a titanium case and bracelet (SSJ014). The third version (SSJ015) comes with a completely different look. While still titanium, it’s now been given a black super-hard coating treatment which makes the case, bezel, and bracelet black. For anyone considering an all-black daily, this is certainly a timepiece to consider.

The fourth timepiece is the limited edition (1500 pieces) grey dial timepiece (SSJ017). It comes with a full titanium case, bezel, and bracelet design, with the exception being the dial pattern is now horizontal stripes in alternating grey.

All four models come with Seiko’s caliber 3X62 GPS Solar movement. The watch is able to connect automatically up to twice a day when the dial detects sunlight. Once detected, the watch connects to the GPS satellite network and automatically adjusts to the correct time. If however, the watch is not under sunlight, the movement remembers the time of its last manual connection and will attempt to receive the GPS signal once again at the same time.

Seiko’s new Astron GPS Solar takes their solar-powered watches to new heights with a new movement and all-new design. Ideally suited for daily wear with a lightweight and scratch-resistant titanium case, the Astron GPS Solar is one electric watch worth owning.

Reference: SSJ013, SSJ014, SSJ015 And Limited Edition SSJ017

Specification

• Case: 41.2mm
• Case Material: Titanium case and bracelet with super-hard coating (SSJ013, SSJ014, SSJ017) and black super-hard coating(SSJ015). Titanium bezel in rose gold-colored super-hard coating (SSJ014)
• Dial: Blue, grey & black
• Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
• Water resistance: 100m (10 bar)
• Movement: Caliber 3X62
• Power reserve: N/A
• Strap: Titanium bracelet with scratch-resistant super-hard coating.

Availability: June 2023.

International Recommended Retail Pricing: $2,000 USD (SSJ013, SSJ017), $2,100 USD (SSJ014), $2,200 USD (SSJ015)

Now, Seiko is delivering the Presage Sharp Edge in a whole new light, with a new aesthetically pleasing design and a new movement with an impressive 3-day power reserve. Two dial colours are available for this new Presage Sharp Edge Series; a light-coloured dial named “Shironeri”, a reference to unbleached white silk or a dark blue dial named “Aitetsu” or Indigo Iron. While both dial colours offer different visual aesthetics for the watch, our personal favourite has to be the Indigo Iron.

The detailed Asanoha or “Hemp-Leaf” pattern stands out a lot more on the blue dial compared to the “Shironeri” colour. This “hemp-leaf” pattern has appeared on Japanese textiles since the Heian period well over 1, 000 years ago, and is synonymous with growth and success.

Both variants come in a stainless steel (super hard coating) 40.2mm case size with a decent 100m water resistance. Seiko for the first time in the Presage Sharp Edge series has used a dual-curved sapphire crystal, which gives the timepiece a more slimmer profile. Not only that, but the dials now appear much closer to the crystal, showcasing the beauty and detailed design of the Asanoha pattern.

The dial comes with a 24-hour indicator at the 6 o’clock position, which is juxtaposed with a cut-out at 9 o’clock to show an open-heart for the movement. This cut-out however isn’t simply there to show the balance wheel. Seiko has gone a step further and decorated this cut-out with an enlarged “hemp-leaf” pattern, the same pattern that’s shown on the dial. The hour indices and seconds hand also have a more refined design as well. The hour markers are shaped inwards and point towards the centre of the dial, while the second hand is curved slightly downwards towards the edge, with the counterweight design being more angular and spiked tail.

Accompanying the new dial aesthetics is a new 6R series movement which makes its debut with these timepieces. The new movement named “6R5J” operates at a frequency of 3hz (21, 600 VpH) and delivers an impressive 72-hour (3 days) power reserve. As recognition of this upgraded movement and upgraded power-reserve, the dial has an inscription underneath the “Seiko” and “Presage” at 12 o’clock which reads “Automatic 3 Days”.

This all-new Presage Sharp Edge Series by Seiko is a great improvement on its predecessor thanks to the beautifully designed dial and the brand-new movement boasting a 3-day power reserve. The two variations will be available for purchase beginning June 2023 at Seiko Boutiques and select retail partners worldwide.

Reference: SPB415, SPB417

Specification

• Case: 40.2mm
• Case Material: Stainless Steel (Super Hard Coating)
• Dial: “Shironeri” or “Aitetsu” colour with open-heart
• Crystal: Dual curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
• Water resistance: 100m (10 bar)
• Movement: 6R5J
• Power reserve: 72 hours (3-days)
• Strap: Stainless Steel with three-fold clasp with push button release

Availability: June 2023 at Seiko Boutiques and select retail partners worldwide.

Australian Recommended Retail Pricing: $1, 950 (both variants)

The birth of the GMT watch came during the era in which commercial airlines first started overseas travel. During the “Jet Age” aircraft powered by jet turbines allowed for social and cultural changes, where the public was able to for the first time have international travel. One of the problems that arose with international travel was jet lag and the fact that pilots were losing track of time back in their home country. GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time, and is time zone zero against which all other timezones are measured against, also referred to as UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).

The first GMT watch that was ever created to fix the issue of two time zones was the Glycine Airman in 1953. This timepiece was designed to specifically meet the pilots requirements of being able to tell two different times, which is why the dial at the time of creation looked so unorthodox. First the dial had a 24-hour scale instead of the traditional 12-hour. This would display the local time. The bezel then featured another 24-hour scale, which would be used to tell the second timezone. While the Glycine Airman was certainly the first, they didn’t get the attention they deserved as the watch never caught on.

This is where Rolex would come in, and was one of the first brands to step in and develop a watch to display two timezones with the traditional 12-hour dial. Having already mastered different feats such as making a watch functional at deep sea levels and also at high altitudes prior to this, the brand was certainly up to the task. The watch they envisioned and ultimately created in 1954, became an icon. A design that is still used to this day for their modern GMT watches.

The Rolex GMT-Master Pan Am built in 1954 came with a Pepsi-coloured bezel and a red arrow-tipped GMT hand. As the name suggests this timepiece was designed specifically for Pan American World Airway’s pilots as they crossed multiple timezones. With the addition of the red GMT hand, pilots were able to distinguish two separate time zones at once.

How exactly does the GMT function work?

The GMT function on a watch is a relatively simple one to use. To use a GMT function, the watch first needs to have a 24-hour scale in which the second (or third) time zone can be read from. A GMT timepiece will come with a 24-hour scale on either the dial itself (usually along the minute track) or as markings on the bezel.

The GMT function is used by having the GMT hand read the second timezone in 24-hour format. For example, say we are in Brisbane where the time is 7:00 am, and we have family in Singapore where the time is 5:00 am, the GMT hand would simply need to be adjusted to meet 5:00 am on the 24-hour scale on the bezel or dial scale (if it exists). If both the bezel and dial 24-hour scales are shown, then a 3rd timezone can be read.

A 3rd timezone is read straight from the bezel as it’s the only timescale that can be adjusted. As the second timezone can be read from the dial’s timescale. Using the example above, if we had friends in Geneva, the time would be 11.00 pm (relative to 7:00 am Brisbane time). Without moving the GMT hand, as it is set up to read the second timezone through the dial’s 24-hour timescale, the bezel would be adjusted so that the GMT hand would read 11:00 pm.

For ease of use, the local time needs to be shown on the main dial, with the second and third time zones being shown by the GMT function. Having a second-time zone (or third) can come in real handy not just for knowing the time back home or time where you’re family/friends are residing. It can also be used for knowing for example the market opening of the overseas stock market. Another practical use is as business to know when your overseas suppliers/operations are opening, or when your international client wants to set a meeting for a certain time. All this can be done by a quick glance at a GMT watch, provided it is set up correctly initially.

Furlan Marri Rosso Grigio

Reference: 1085-A 

Australian Recommeded Retail Price: CHF 555.00 (Approx $895 AUD)

Availability: Now

Starting off this list is the Furlan Marri Rosso Grigio (ref. 1085-A). This chronograph timepiece comes with a dual-counter layout, with the 3 o’clock counter being a 24-hr timer and the 9 o’clock counter being a 60-minute counter. The outer part of the dial features an asthmometer (5 respirations) scale. The asthmometer is used to measure respirations per minute by using the chronograph hand and stopping it after the patient/person’s 15th respiration.

The timepiece comes in a 38mm 316L stainless steel case (50m waterproof) which has a beautiful shine under light. I personally own the “Mare blu” and under different lighting conditions, the case shines so well, even more so in sunlight. The 38mm case size makes it a great fit for the average wrist (6.5-7 inches), however, if you have a larger wrist size you may find this small. Legibility of the dial is fairly easy thanks to the white markings on the grey dial background. The hour indexes are a mixture of baton-style black markings or Arabic numerals for the 12 and 6 o’clock.

The movement in this piece is a mechaquarts Seiko VK64. Mechquartz movements are hybrid movements that use quartz technology for the chronograph watch movement and a mechanical module for the operation of the chronograph. Priced at CHF555.0 (approx $895 AUD), this timepiece is a great contender for the under $1,500 category.

MIDO Commander Big Date

Reference: M021.626.17.041.00

Australian Recommeded Retail Price: $1,450

Availability: Now

The MIDO Commander Big Date is a three-hander timepiece with super easy dial readability. The watch comes in a 42mm stainless steel case that offers a see-through case back. The initial release of the MIDO Commander Big Date back in 2018 celebrated the 100th anniversary of the brand. Since then there have been different iterations of the watch created, with the one chosen for this article being the blue sunray satin-finished dial.

As the name suggests, the timepiece comes with a large date window at 6 o’clock, which MIDO states “offers unrivalled date legibility”. As part of MIDO’s 100th-anniversary celebrations, they developed an exclusive automatic movement named Calibre 80. In addition to the big date window display, the power reserve on offer is impressive at 80 hours. The open case back shows the Calibre 80 movement with its finely decorated oscillating weight with its Geneva stripes and MIDO logo.

This, modern and elegant timepiece is a great option to consider, as it offers great readability with a beautiful sunray blue dial while having the performance of an 80-hour power reserve movement to back up the aesthetics.

Maurice Lacroix Aikon #Tide

Reference:  AI2008-80080-300-0

Australian Recommeded Retail Price: $1, 190

Availability: Now

For those that are after something a bit more funky, playful with a dose of colour and backed by a luxury brand, the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Tide may just be that watch. The Maurice Lacroix Aikon Tide is offered in a variety of eye-popping colours as they were made to be noticed. One of the best things about these timepieces is they help the oceans become a little bit cleaner.

The Aikon #tide range of watches comes from the same family of other Aikon watches created by Maurice Lacroix and is created by ocean-bound upcycled plastic which is then combined with glass fibre. This results in the overall material being twice as hard as standard plastic material, five times more resistant and with a carbon footprint that is greatly less than the production of virgin PET. Maurice Lacroix states that “the bezel, case, case back, crown, end-piece and buckle on this new model are all made from this composite material. It takes 17 bottles to make one fabulous watch and its tailor-made packaging”.

The watch has a 40mm case size and comes in a wide array of colours that match the dial. Our personal favourite is the blue dial with “vagues du Jura”, however, as mentioned a variety of colours to choose from depending on personal tastes.

SEIKO Presage Sharp Edge Blue Rose Open Heart

Reference: SPB311

Australian Recommeded Retail Price: $1,550

Availability: Now

The timepiece from Seiko ticks a lot of the boxes for being a great timepiece under $1,500 (Aud). Seiko’s Presage Sharp Edged series was created a few years ago, and since then has established itself for its combination of traditional mechanical watchmaking with a distinctively modern Japanese style.

Seiko has given this model a 40.2mm stainless steel case with a contrasting brown leather strap. The beauty of this timepiece lies in the dial. Firstly we have the patterned indigo blue dial which is complimented beautifully by the rose gold-covered hour indices and hands. Then at 9 o’clock, we have the open-heart which shows the movement’s balance wheel in action. A nice touch to what is already a stunning dial.

Seiko has given their 6R38 movement for this timepiece, giving out a sturdy power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The watch comes with an open case back too in which you can see more of the movement.

TISSOT PRX Powermatic 80 Ice-Blue

Reference: T137.407.11.351.00

Australian Recommeded Retail Price: $1,100

Availability: TBA.

A list of great timepieces under $1,500 wouldn’t be complete without the addition of Tissot’s PRX Powermatic 80. This watch has been out for a while now and is loved by watch aficionados around the world. With the shimmering bracelet design, the 1970’s integrated case now brushed and polished to the ‘tapisserie’ patterned dial, Tissot hit the ball out of the park with this watch.

Now, the brand has quietly introduced an ice-blue coloured dial into the PRX’s lineup. It borders on the ever-so-popular Tiffany-blue, but is a few shades lighter. The ice blue is beautiful, and combined with the tapisserie dial makes it stand out very well.

This latest PRX Powermatic 80 carries all the same functions and features that make the previous versions so great, the only difference being now is the dial colour change. The movement inside is the Powermatic 80.111 which gives out a power reserve of approximately 80 hours. The timepiece is however not yet been released in Australia, however, keep an eye out on Tissot’s website as it is expected to be dropped shortly!