Moto Koure MK I offers an automatic and mecha quartz.
Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of sampling a variety of different watches from Ball, with quite a few different styles in play. For all of that variety, I had yet to go hands-on with anything from their Engineer line (Engineer II, yes, but not Engineer). Well, we saw fit to rectify that particular oversight, and got to spend some time with the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon.
I see a lot of super slim, minimalist, three hand, Bauhaus inspired watches, many of them for well below $200. Heck, you can’t swing a metaphorical cat around Kickstarter without running into one of these projects. But those are generally quartz watches, sold by a someone just getting into the watch-making business. The GT&FQ Rider M005, on the other hand, is an automatic being sold by an established retailer who is building their in-house brand.
Given how popular our article on the Oulm Watches was, this latest release from moVas seems like it should be right in the wheelhouse of a great many of our readers. While the moVas Exotica Twin Timer shares some looks with those Oulm watches, this is a watch that looks to be built to a much higher spec. This is the first watch the brand has released in the Exotica line, and looks to be their foray into more experimental, or “out there”, designs.
The AVI-8 Hawker Hunter Automatic watch was as unknown to me as the 1950s British jet by the same name. This automatic watch does not disappoint in keeping with AVI-8’s aviation designs that look like the watch was ripped off the plane’s instrument panel and given a leather strap.
When it comes to pilot watches – specifically, Flieger-spec pilot watches – Laco is a name that many are likely very familiar with, and their designs are recongnizeable, in that they follow the specifications set out some time ago for the various Fliegers. Their latest, however, is supposed to be a Type C, and is a design that I do not think I have ever seen before. Or, if nothing else, the Laco Spirit of St. Louis is a less-common style of Flieger.
Sometimes, a brand will want to branch out into new designs – this happens quite a bit, across many industries. If there is some concern that the new direction might dilute or otherwise confuse what had already been built, a new brand will be created, allowing some other avenues to be explored. Of course, all the expertise and history travel along from the sister brand, which makes what we have with the Belmoto Timepieces an interesting proposition.
When it comes to dive watches, especially those that we see showing up on the crowdfunding sites, they are decidedly more of an entry-level proposition. I am not saying that there is a problem with that (quite the contrary), just stating a fact. That makes it all the more curious – or interesting, depending on your view – that we caught word of a new higher-end sort of an option showing up over on Indiegogo. The Haldor Abissi 1000M just launched, and offers some rather nice specs especially for the pricepoint.
This Sunday I am doing something a little different. Instead of showing off a few videos, I am going to do a pair of re-reviews, Rewind Reviews if you will, second looks at watches that we have featured here at the site. I have a pair of divers that Patrick reviewed the Benarus Vintage Moray and the Van Speyk Dutch Diver. I have had some time with both watches, and I like them both, though they are very different.
Start counting your pennies because the Sinn 356 Flieger II Sa on a strap deserves your attention and maybe your money. I found this copper-beauty at the WatchBuys.com road show and it reminds me why Sinn watches (pronounced Zinn) is a brand to consider.