Posted on

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue Replica Watches Hands On

ith the frenzy of Baselworld 2017 releases barely behind us, Tudor is at it again, this time partnering with storied Swiss watch and jewelry retailer Bucherer. Tudor’s Heritage Black Bay series, which already includes something like ten different variations, is being further expanded with the release of the new textile straps Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue copy watches. This updated model is part of Bucherer’s Blue Editions collection, an ongoing collaboration between Bucherer and some of Swiss watchmaking’s heaviest hitters like Audemars Piguet and IWC. The Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue is also the Bucherer Blue Edition collection’s first real diver’s watch.

The Arabic numerals Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue fake watches are essentially the same watch as the existing Heritage Black Bay Bronze (which we covered here) but with a deep blue dial and bezel. The new edition has the familiar 43mm aluminum-bronze alloy case, aged leather and fabric strap options as standard, no-date, vintage-inspired dial and hands, and Tudor manufacture COSC certified MT5601 movement with 70 hours of power reserve.

This simple aesthetic update is in keeping with Tudor’s custom of releasing a new model and then updating it every year or so with changes in dial color, material, or more prominently with the addition of their new manufacture movement which is now seeing action in many of their watches. Tudor similarly updated their titanium Pelagos model with a blue dial and bezel in 2015 (in-depth review of the Tudor Pelagos here).

Tudor is no stranger to the use of blue in their watches, especially their divers. The Tudor Submariner, which was issued to and used by the French Marine Nationale (Navy) and other military organizations, has been available in blue since 1968. Tudor’s military heritage is represented in the Black Bay Bronze by the inclusion of a fabric strap inspired by the straps used by French Navy combat divers. The use of bronze, however, is something relatively new in the world of watches.

Bronze has long been used in a variety of maritime applications such as for boat propellers and diving equipment and naturally develops a unique patina over time. Bronze is catching on rapidly with the powerhouses of watchmaking, having been used by IWC and Panerai as well as many others.

Tudor and Bucherer’s new release of the Heritage Black Bronze Blue, while not earth-shattering, is a tasteful addition to their already extensive lineup of retro-inspired dive watches and represents Tudor’s willingness to follow watch industry trends. The use of blue will no doubt please a number of Tudor devotees because of the color blue’s historical significance to the Tudor name. The new Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue unique replica watches will be available from Bucherer for 3,800 CHF and will be delivered with a fabric strap as well as an aged leather strap.

Posted on

Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days PAM 700 Replica Watches Hands-On

The use of novel and space-age materials in high-end watches is always fun to follow as a spectator, but it’s far more appreciated when their practical benefits might sometime soon be used in watches that a broader segment can enjoy. That’s rarely the case, but one watch that piqued my interest in this way was the transparent case back Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days PAM 700 copy watches (debuted here). Utilizing an array of carbon composites and low-friction components that run without the need for any kind of liquid lubrication, the result is a watch that guarantees 50 years of service-free operation. There’s no way to know if the guarantee will hold but, limited in production to only 50 pieces, I can’t imagine that 50 Panerai enthusiasts and collectors, aka “Paneristis,” won’t want to engage in this long-term experiment with the brand.

Alongside the Panerai BMG-TECH which also centers around the use of fancy, high-tech materials, the black rubber straps Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days PAM 700 fake watches demonstrates the capabilities of the Laboratorio di Idee (LAB-ID), which operates as Panerai’s R&D department based in Neuchâtel. Like some of Panerai’s previous timepieces (such as this Luminor Submersible 1950), the watch utilizes a material known as Carbotech that serves on both functional and aesthetic levels. While I can’t dispute the use of carbon composites for the sake of their mechanical advantage, I can’t help but notice just how well the deep shaded layers of the Carbotech interact with the minimal blue luminous dial and crystal Panerai incorporated here.

There are four innovations Panerai utilized in developing its caliber P.3001/C, starting with a set of mainplates and bridges constructed entirely out of tantalum-based ceramic, removing the need for any kind of lubrication. This oil-free concept also moves into the DLC-coated silicon escapement, which is second in the list of innovations. Thirdly, with the kind of ceramic and DLC use we see here, Panerai has eliminated the need for traditional jewels. Therefore, the movement uses a set of just four DLC-coated jewels that remove the need to lubricate the Incabloc shock system. Finally, the two mainspring barrels also operate without any grease or oil and do so with a multi-layer coating and a final layer of DLC.

It’s true that the low-friction, oil-free concept isn’t something new in watchmaking. Back in 2007, Jaeger-LeCoultre released the Extreme LAB followed by the Master Compressor Extreme Lab 2, another watch that could operate without lubrication for its lifetime. The same can be said about a watch like the Cartier ID Two Concept we covered previously. What these pieces didn’t have was the 50-year guarantee, and while the Cartier concept remained a concept, the JLC is designed to grab attention and reflect its “overengineered” attitude both inside and out. This Panerai, however, isn’t really that different-looking from any other watch they make, save for the use of blue and other subtle hints. I like that it’s a watch you can actually ostensibly wear every day for 50 years without feeling self-aware about it – if you have wrists like Sylvester Stallone, that is.

The Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days PAM 700’s case is sized at a substantial 49mm. Much of the larger size is offset by the Carbotech’s characteristic lightweight features. It displays thick layers of the carbon fiber composite and, as I mentioned previously, this creates interesting visual effects with both the luminous blue and deep black tones on the dial. This layered effect even carries on into the crown-protecting device Panerai is known for. The matte finishing is also a nice inclusion to the watch’s stealthy and high-precision look. Additionally, the case boasts 100 meters of water-resistance.

On the dial, Panerai uses carbon nanotubes meant to absorb any trace of light that hits it, resulting in a deep, deep black. The blue Super-LumiNova used throughout the numerals and markers on the “sandwich-style” dial pops against the black tone and is also incorporated into the hands. It almost reminds me of single beams of light piercing through miles of deep oceanic abyss. Overall, I find the dial to be as legible as it gets considering its high contrast and massive size.

The crystal itself has the text “Luminor, Panerai, LAB-ID,” printed directly onto it, and I think this is where some people might find issues with the watch. Because the text is printed onto the crystal itself, it will inevitably get in the way of the hands, which could throw some people off when trying to read the time. Personally, I find that it serves as an interesting solution to the fact that Panerai could not print text on the carbon nanotube dial. Additionally, the crystal features double anti-reflective coating.

Taking a look at the case back, we find the caliber P.3001/C in all its deep, dark glory. One of my favorite features is the power reserve indicator that uses the same blue accents found on the dial. Power reserve is three days and the movement operates at 21,600vph. For convenience while time setting, Panerai included a seconds reset function that returns the seconds hand to the 12 o’clock position. It’s a feature that seems to grow increasingly popular and is definitely something I can appreciate.

No surprise here, the strap on the Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days PAM 700 carries the black and blue scheme. The same dark tones found throughout the watch carry on all the way through the buckle and the blue contrast stitching ties together the look.

The use of innovative materials and movement architecture to cut down on the need for servicing is an area where the industry still has a long way to go before implementing these technologies on a larger, more accessible scale, but I think the Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days PAM 700 marks a notable step. If my math is correct, routine and minor service costs for the average Panerai could potentially add up to around $8,000 over the span of 50 years. It’s a figure that falls way short in terms of justifying this particular watch’s price, and there are still a few areas (magnetization, for example) that I’m not sure about. But hey, I have a feeling that the buyers of these delicate copy  watches probably aren’t doing that math in their head to justify the cost, but rather enjoying the watch and tracking its 50-year promise.

Posted on

UK Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph Fake Watches Hands-On

In 2017, with Ferrari design objectively at one of its all-time highs, Ferrari has finally conceived its first ever wristwatch. They have done so in partnership with – you guessed it right – Hublot, and the result of their collaboration comes in the unusual form of the Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph. It is a watch that, by definition, has tested the horological prowess of the designers and engineers of one of the world’s leading car manufacturers.

Conceived by the Ferrari Design Center in Maranello and built by Hublot, the black rubber straps Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph copy watches (initially covered here) gives a fresh twist to the seemingly ever-lasting cycle of the usually extremely stale “[watch_brand_name] asks for attention by partnering with [car_brand_name]” collaborations by letting the eggheads in Maranello have their go at making a watch.

What do $295 quartz beaters, Movado, Cabestan, Panerai, Girard-Perregaux, and Hublot all have in common? They all have legally made watches with the Ferrari logo on them. However, to be fair, Hublot has far and away made the most of its partnership with Ferrari (review of the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari here, for example) who, in all likelihood, must have enjoyed the idea of working with a partner actually interested in dedicating separate, well-developed, versatile collections to the prancing horse, as opposed to just name-dropping Ferrari.

If you’re a long-time watch enthusiast, you are at this point more than familiar with the versatility as well as strict limitations of watch design. But when I first heard about the Hublot Techframe, I did wonder what the process was like for Ferrari in understanding the spatial, technical, functional, and technological limitations (and possibilities!) that lie in watchmaking.

Both Hublot and Ferrari are adamant about this watch having been primarily designed by Ferrari. And as such, under the leadership of Ferrari Head of Design Flavio Manzoni, the black carbon cases Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph fake watches ‘ unlikely looks were wrapped around Hublot’s (ex-BNB Concept) tourbillon monopusher chronograph “engine.” We’ll work our way from the outside towards the innards of the Hublot Techframe.

You need not look at it for long for the Techframe name to make sense: the “lattice structure” of the case is a unique case design that harnesses the combination of lightweight materials and as many negative spaces (or cutouts, if you like) as possible, without compromising structural rigidity.

Available in titanium, King Gold (which we couldn’t see hands-on, you know, “because Basel”) and PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) Carbon, a multi-layer hypo-allergenic material made from, get this, particularly long carbon fibers. Nothing like a material that has ether twice in its name and is crafted from nice and long pieces of carbon fiber.

Being the hopeless, lifelong car lover that I am, hand on heart, the first thing I thought of when I saw the Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph case’s cutouts was the dashboard of the Ferrari 360 Modena. The combination of the circular and organic shapes seem to be shared between the two. Even if contemporary Ferrari dashboards have gone on to be more like spaceship cabins than traditional car interiors, this nod towards Ferrari’s long, though not necessarily loudly advertised link to organic design is something I presume the more dedicated fans will appreciate.
Negative spaces have for some time been absolutely essential in great car design – as cars are getting more bubbly and inflated in their exteriors in an effort to meet ever stricter safety and emissions regulations, these “concave,” dark areas help enforce a muscular, powerful, visually more fascinating aesthetic. Watches use it almost exclusively in the skeletonization of movements, but given the pace at which case manufacturing has been advancing lately, we shall see it more often in watch exteriors as well.

I will say that the Hublot Techframe Ferrari was one of the watches I had been most looking forward to seeing at Baselworld 2017 – not because it was designed by Ferrari but because of the case itself. I wanted to see its details and appreciate it hands-on and then by reviewing the images I took, as opposed to just by looking at computer renders.

I have to add, though, that I was both amazed and disappointed by it at the same time. The case’s execution, design, and little details are absolutely incredible to look at, with the satin-finished titanium variant being my favorite of the bunch. The PEEK carbon, as high-tech as it may look, adds too much distraction with its black color and aggressive layering from the case’s fascinating looks.

The disappointing bit came in the proportions: the Hublot Techframe Ferrari is 45mm wide and 14.80mm thick – typical dimensions for modern, highly complicated watches. What the spec sheet doesn’t say is just how “long” the watch actually is: for starters, the lugs extend very far out from the edges of the dial (or rather the non-existent bezel) and they do so at a rather flat angle. What adds more length to the watch is the stiff rubber strap that is attached to the lug structure in a way that makes them stretch out even further, making the Hublot Techframe Ferrari one very, very long watch – if you measure the furthest points to which the rubber strap naturally extends, despite the wholesome 45mm width, it is one very thin-and-long-looking watch.

Ergonomics haven’t taken a backseat, however, as it has everything going for it to be a very comfortable watch to wear if you have a particularly wide wrist – the watch is light, strap integration is good and the material and buckle are all comfortable. In the image above, for example, you can see how the case and strap hug the wrist nicely, what you don’t see from this angle so easily is just how much the watch extends beyond Ariel’s wrist on the other side – I don’t think anyone with a sub-7.25″ (maybe more like 7.5″) wrist could get away with wearing this watch and look good doing it.

I spent all this time explaining this issue because I do genuinely like and appreciate the Hublot Techframe’s highly technical aesthetic. It is one very complex shape with the lugs and bezel all flowing into one, not to mention the red strap quick release pushers’ integration or all the space you could get lost in inside the case. It really encourages one to take a different look at case design and how space could be used more creatively in watches.

Neat additional details include a red pusher designed to mimic some Ferrari interior parts that here is actually used to start, stop, and reset the monopusher chronograph. Because someone with the mechanical sympathy of a frustrated ape deemed it better not to ask and just started pulling on said lever at Baselworld, it was broken on one of the watches (the titanium one, if I recall correctly), so if it looks flimsy, that is the reason.

The movement powering the Hublot Techframe Ferrari is the HUB6311 caliber with 253 components – not a lot for a tourbillon monopusher chronograph –, it runs on 3Hz and offers five days of power reserve. The movement looks high-tech and cool both in its color and architecture with its bridges treated with ruthenium anthracite. It isn’t a movement dripping with traditional haute horlogerie decorations, though: no perlage or Geneva stripes, everything is dressed in this 21st-century pale grey – reminiscent more of engine blocks of today than watch movements of yesteryears.

Ferrari turns 70 this year, and while it is a year that will no doubt be packed with amazing celebratory releases, for us watch lovers their first ever Ferrari-designed watch will definitely remain an outstanding one among those. Ferrari has done a commendable job in creating an exterior that corresponds well with how far they have come in car design, and kudos to Hublot for following through and making something as unusual as this Techframe design possible. Too bad that real-world wearability takes a back seat and that the dial isn’t really anything crazy or new to write home about – though it is legible for such an open architecture.

Here’s hoping for some more “lattice structure” cases from Hublot – Techframe does sound sexier, that’s for sure – though preferably with ever-so-slightly smaller and more wearable proportions… and, again, hats off to Ferrari for thinking outside the box. The most delicte replica wacthes are worthy to try.