Here comes the sun: SoCal Springtime Drive of the track-ready McLaren 765LT Spider

What’s cuter than a top-down, sunny Clemente strolling along the coast?

On a sunny Tuesday, with an offshore sea breeze, I decided that email could wait. Outside, the ‘Ambit Blue’ of the McLaren 765LT Spider beckons.

Set the scene
A prescient pause occurs when the supercar is turned on. Let’s call it a ready moment, as if the driver of the vehicle is checking it and saying, “Are you sure you’re ready?” Then there’s the sound of waking up the neighbors, the sound of a dog barking, somewhere in between clucking and growling. There’s no doubt about when this quad-exit titanium-exhaust car will be ready, unlike the hybrid and electric car groups.

Countless car owners will tell you that supercars don’t have a quick exit. Divots means disaster. It’s bumpy, forget it. A loose pebble. Heaven does not. The turning radius is not why you buy a car. The feeling of a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, 755HP ultralight supercar enveloped me as the everyday horrors of the suburbs faded into the rearview mirror. When I retracted the one-piece electric hardtop, I couldn’t help but activate its launch mode, verifying that 0-60 mph is actually 2.7 seconds.

While I’m all too familiar with this particular coastal road, on this day the mountains are covered in the electric yellow of blooming mustard plants as the 101N parrots from the Ventura County coastline into Santa Barbara, California. It’s one of those rare textbook moments when music, weather, scenery, terrific ambience and a mysterious lack of traffic converge into the almost comically perfect drive of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8.

The McLaren 765LT Spider has a top speed of 205 mph, and on the track I’m sure it handles with utmost precision. More than once, however, I looked down while cruising the highway and realized that 100 mph was too easy to achieve. fake watches for sale

Unlike other hulking track-ready supercars, there’s nothing brutal about the LT. With its dramatic design – just look at the evil red-emitting dihedral doors and backlit engine bay to prove – there is no doubt that the full power of the 765LT Spider can be (easily) unleashed at low and high speeds. But it also has a civilized feel to it.

OK, now that you understand the scene, it’s time to talk about cars.

The McLaren 765LT Spider continues to dominate the brand’s “supercar” group (in the same category as the 720S Spider and 720S).

Interestingly, while the “LT” part of its name stands for “long tail,” it doesn’t hold back, even at 181 inches in length. McLaren has been building LT road cars for the past seven years, and it’s almost always sold out immediately. Longer, lighter and faster than its peers, it’s no wonder McLaren limited production. That’s where “765” comes in: it represents the number of versions made.

Custom LT springs and damper hardware join the lowered front suspension and a widened stance between the front wheels for enhanced grip. Meanwhile, the carbon fiber body is meticulously sculpted to increase downforce, not to mention aerodynamic elements such as splitters, edges, fins and diffusers, to name a few.

It’s a bit of a stretch, a concept for a track-ready convertible, but that’s exactly the way the good folks in Woking, England, built the LT’s lifestyle-driven machine. https://www.fanreviewwatch.com

on the way home
While any McLaren is guaranteed to attract attention, there are clear differences between the 765LT Spider and McLaren’s other supercars. That said, among the different classes of vehicles that reach supercar status, the 765LT Spider sits in the clouds.

With that in mind, to showcase the 765LT Spider of this piece, we knew we needed a similar area, one that echoed the car in both design sensibility and ambience. Light and quiet, with some rudeness that shines but doesn’t seek the limelight. Fortunately, the chivalrous Alexander Ali and his team at The SOCIETY Group recommended the 20-acre compound with 270-degree views on the hills above Montecito.

Designed and built by local architect Bob Easton, this 6-bed, 9-bath, 8,500-square-foot estate exudes Provence elegance. The feeling of arrival is unmistakable, a hairpin bend upwards through a pair of gates, and small grass sprouting between the driveway stones. The four-car garage and carriage house complement the LT for ease. fake watch price

Corum Watch – Golden Bridge and Miss Golden Bridge

Coinciding with the festive season, Corum released two new versions of the Golden Bridge replica watch with a new “snow” setting. Snowflake settings are made entirely of diamonds and consist of randomly arranging diamonds of various sizes so that together they cover the entire metal. This is a fine jewelry practice for two reasons.

First, carefully select the placement of each diamond. Although each is different, they still have to be as close together as possible, interlocking so that the edges almost touch. As such, there is no consistency to this task, it breaks away from the brilliant and baguette cut mechanism that all diamonds are interchangeable with. In the snow, the setter’s own experience and guts come into play. Each diamond is individually picked and placed. The final composition resembles a fresco or expressionist painting, with many individually set diamonds that together create an overall image.

Next is the setup itself. Since each diamond has a unique size, so must each prong used for the setting. This is a task that requires extreme precision, which hinders setting standardization, as each paw works individually to set its diamonds individually. Corum fake

“Ultimately, every snow-covered golden bridge is unique,” explains Corum CEO Jérôme Biard. “They are true haute horlogerie and high jewellery at the same time, and we will never make two identical pieces. This skin reflects Corum’s philosophy of breaking the rules and breaking the rules, offering our collectors a completely unique movement, Our rectangular movement, and a highly unique setting that has almost never been used in the history of Corum.”

Two models are available for snow conditions: Golden Bridge (with a 34 x 51mm barrel case) and Miss Golden Bridge (21 x 43mm). Each case, including the crown, has been fully set, giving a unique luster to the oblong movement extending up and down, fully visible through the anti-reflective double sapphire crystal.

Each piece will be available in white and rose gold, meaning there are four models in total, with a total of 314 diamonds for the Golden Bridge and 245 for the Miss Golden Bridge, representing 2.68 carats and 1.28 carats, respectively.

Seiko Prospex 1970 Divers Get the Touch of Black Series with SLA061J1

A bold black and orange color scheme for a Seiko 1970 high-end diver.

Following the three watches cheap Seiko unveiled this morning, the Japanese manufacturer actually has more to show in its Black Series lineup. While the other models are relatively easy-to-use and modern versions, the fourth watch functions in a different field and falls into the SLA category – watches with higher-end mechanics and more refined construction. Inspired by the 1970 “Naomi Uemura” reference 6105, this new watch takes a bolder look with an all-black coated case and bold orange accents. Meet the Seiko Prospex Black Series 1970 Divers SLA061J1.

The story of this watch is a rather modern interpretation of one of Seiko’s most famous dive watches. Following the 62MAS, Seiko showed several evolutions of its diver’s watch concept in the late 1960s. One of them is reference 6105, followed by 6309. In production since 1968, the Seiko 6105 is a rugged diver’s watch that is water resistant to 150 meters. What catches everyone’s eye is the crown at 4 o’clock (in fact, this was first used in the 1961 Seiko Silver Wave) and the large, low crown protector. It will be replaced by the 6309 series in 1976. While very similar to the 6105, the 6309 has a more asymmetrical case design, also adding a day function and a dial with a circular luminescent figure instead of a rectangle.

This watch is known for two things. First off, most of us will remember it from the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, worn by Captain Willard, one of the film’s protagonists, played by Martin Sheen. Second, and most importantly, it was tested in real life by explorer Naomi Uemura, a hugely popular Japanese adventurer revered for his solo feats. For example, he carried the watch on his wrist on a one-man dog sled run from Greenland to Alaska, covering 12,000 kilometers in 18 months.

Since then, we have made more or less faithful reproductions of this famous watch, such as the Re-Creation SLA033 or SLA049 and the SLA051 Tribute to Naomi Uemura – these two watches are more of the 6105 concept Reinterpret and add some freedom to these designs in a way. The new watch we see today is basically the same as the Uemura-inspired model, save for the color and texture. Yes, it’s bolder and more striking than the original watch…

In a nutshell, we find the same round case with an integrated crown guard on the side, with the crown’s signature position (screwed, of course) at 4 o’clock. Overall, the design is reminiscent of watches from the late 1960s, but the proportions and shapes have evolved over the years. Part of the Black Collection, the real change for this watch is the “hard coat” black finish on the case. With a brushed or polished finish, the watch exudes a certain (in a cool way) meanness. The rest is familiar, topped by a curved sapphire crystal framed by a unidirectional bezel and a black aluminum insert with the classic 60-minute mark. The bottom cover is made of solid steel and guarantees water resistance to 200m.

The dial of the SLA061J1, if once again relying on the same base as the Uemura-inspired models, opts for new colors and unprecedented textures – something we see so often in the Seiko and GS collections. Here, the black reflects the mysterious world of the sea at night, the orange highlights the lights that illuminate it, and the texture evokes the sand ripples you’d find on the seabed – I reference the brand for that…away from marketing, This produces a fairly pleasing fine texture that adds some depth to the dial without compromising legibility and contrast. The applied markers and hands are filled with a cream luminous glow that matches the orange seconds hand perfectly. This color can also be found on the depth scale. best online watch store

Inside the case is the 8L35 movement, a 4Hz self-winding movement with a 50-hour power reserve. The movement was specially designed for diving watches by watchmakers at Shizukuishi Watch Studio in northern Japan. It has an accuracy of +15 to -10 seconds per day.

The Black Series 1970 Divers SLA061J1 is worn on a black-coated stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp and dive extension. Also included in the presentation box is a black silicone strap with black coated hardware.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – A MODERN REINTERPRETATION OF THE SEIKO PROSPEX BLACK SERIES 1970 MECHANICAL DIVER
Case: 44mm diameter x 13mm height – 49.3mm lug to lug – stainless steel, brushed and polished, black hardcoat – unidirectional bezel, black 60 minute insertion – screw-down crown and case back – with AR Coated Curved Sapphire Crystal Interior – 185g – 200m Water Resistance
Dial: Black dial with sand ripple pattern – Orange seconds hand – Application markers and hands filled with cream LumiBrite
Movement: Calibre 8L35 – Manufacture – Self-winding – 26 jewels – 28,800 vibrations per hour – 50 hour power reserve – +15 to -10 seconds per day – hours, minutes, seconds (stop seconds) and date
Bracelet: Stainless Steel Bracelet with Black Hard Coating, Folding Clasp with Safety Lock, Push Button Release with Extender Included
Additional Black Silicone Strap
Reference: SLA061J1

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak’s new generation of Jumbo 16202 comes out, the three key points that watch fans care about most

Audemars Piguet fake suddenly released a large number of new styles the day before yesterday, almost completely without notice, killing everyone by surprise may be a little bit ignorant of martial arts, but seeing the styles they brought out will definitely make you swallow the murmur that you just spit in your mouth. This year 2022 is the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak series. In addition to the retirement of the popular model 15202, the successor model that everyone was looking forward to as early as last year was released: the new generation Royal Oak series 39mm “Jumbo” ultra-thin watch, model 16202, Equipped with the new Audemars Piguet 7121 self-winding ultra-thin movement, available in stainless steel, platinum, 18K rose gold and 18K yellow gold.

Model 16202 Four materials
Steel, Platinum, Gold & Rose Gold

AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK 50th Anniversary 16202ST.OO.1240ST.01 Watch

The one closest to the original is the “Jumbo” stainless steel case style 16202ST, adhering to the design features of the original Royal Oak series in 1972. The stainless steel case and strap are hand satin-finished and polished and chamfered. Cloud Night Blue 50″ shade and “Petite Tapisserie” small check surface. The special blue is produced by electroplating, and the “cloud” in the hue name describes the cloudy rendering effect that occurs when the black pigment comes into contact with the protective paint.

In addition, the watch also uses the original 1972 “bathtub” (called “Baignoire” in French)-shaped hour markers and hands, which can be injected with fluorescent materials to make it easier to read. The surface also retains the original design, with a polished 18K gold three-dimensional “AP” logo at 6 o’clock, and the words “AUDEMARS PIGUET AUTOMATIC” at 12 o’clock. In the mid-1980s, the “SWISS MADE” (Swiss Made) logo, which replaced the “SWISS” (Swiss) word, remains at 6 o’clock. feel.

The two new colors are 16202BA in 18K gold and 16202OR in 18K rose gold. The former has a smoky yellow dial that brings brilliance to the 18K yellow gold model, while the latter’s novel smoky gray finish contrasts with the 18K rose gold model. On the turntable, while rotating, the outer edge is carefully painted to create a smoky effect.

Finally, the fourth, the AP House limited edition 16202PT, features a hand-finished 950 platinum case with a sun-patterned smoky green finish for an elegant contrast. The same material and color scheme will also be launched in 2021, 15202PT. Since it is one of the very few Royal Oak styles that does not use a plaid face plate, plus the striking green face, although the platinum material is expensive, there are still many powerful collectors. Interested, this time also joined the ranks of the 16202 family.

AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK 50th Anniversary 16202PT.OO.1240PT.01 Watch

No more tears of the times
Equipped with 7121 new movement

7121 self-winding movement, diameter 29.6 mm, thickness 3.2 mm, the number of parts is 268, the minimum guaranteed dynamic reserve is 55 hours, and the vibration frequency is 28,800 times per hour.
This is the first time since 1972 that the Royal Oak “Jumbo” ultra-thin watch is equipped with a new movement. The Audemars Piguet 7121 self-winding movement with time, minutes and date display functions, accompanied by the new reference 16202 “Jumbo” watch. Looking back to 1972, the 2121 movement, which came out with the Royal Oak series, was the thinnest movement in the world at that time with a central automatic dial and a date display. The thickness was only 3.05 mm, and it was regarded as a classic model for decades.

However, after all, it is a model 50 years ago, and the current watchmaking technology is no longer the same, so with the 2121 also successfully retired, it was replaced by the 7121 movement. The thickness of the new 7121 movement is only 3.2 mm, which can be perfectly incorporated into a case with a thickness of 8.1 mm, and most importantly, a quick date adjustment device has been added. And it takes 24 grids to move forward one day), and now you can quickly adjust to the desired date by pulling out the crown.

2022 limited
50th Anniversary Exclusive Automatic Disc

The 50th anniversary automatic disc will be a feature of all Royal Oak Anniversary models launched in 2022.

The 7121 movements of the four 16202 models are all equipped with a 22K gold 50th anniversary exclusive automatic disc, which not only presents the 50th anniversary logo through hollowing skills, but also engraves the Audemars Piguet logo. The anniversary model features an automatic dial in the same colour as the case, a refined match usually reserved for complication watches. Like the case, the automatic dial is satin-finished and polished and chamfered alternately for added beauty. The 50th anniversary automatic disc will also feature on all Royal Oak Anniversary models launched in 2022.

In addition to the special anniversary-limited automatic dial, the 7121 movement seems to have more secrets. For example, the span bridge of the balance wheel and some of the gears are rose gold, and the mainspring barrel roll car is also specially equipped with rose gold bridges and three ruby ​​bearings. The stability and smoothness of the release power should also bring improvements. The material and structure of the details need more information from the brand. After all, Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary has only just begun! I believe that the future is even more exciting.

Hands On: Tudor Pelagos FXD “Marine Nationale”

No frills but very good.

Leaked online ahead of launch – David Beckham inadvertently revealed the watch on his Instagram account – the Tudor Pelagos FXD “Marine Nationale” was widely anticipated, but surprisingly, at least in the metal .

Developed in collaboration with the combat divers of the Hubert Commando, an elite unit of the Marine Corps, part of the French Naval Special Forces or National Marine Corps. Divers travel secretly underwater in pairs, and the Pelagos FXD is one of their tools for navigation on the water. FXD restores the decades-long relationship between Tudor and the French Navy since the first supply of diving watches to the navy in the 1950s.

initial thought
When I first saw the photos, I liked the idea of ​​the FXD, and seeing it in the metal reinforced my point enough to make me buy one.

In my opinion, its greatest feature, aside from its tangible qualities, is its status as the only fashion watch developed as a military timepiece – currently in service with a unit – in the mid-to-high end of modern watchmaking .

This sets FXD apart from watches made by other brands that offer civilian watches with unit badges for military units, such as brands like IWC, Breitling, and Bell & Ross.

As a military watch, the FXD is simple, but it also boasts Tudor’s attention to detail, even in the finishing of the fixed stem. It is a simple and functional watch that combines the excellent price-performance ratio typical of Tudor watches with actual military provenance.

Granted, I did initially wish that Tudor would do more to differentiate the FXD, for example in terms of high-performance materials or even special movements. Then I realized that this is also a taxpayer-funded tool for military issues, so it really has to be an affordable, no-frills tool. The sheer concept itself is attractive.

On the topic of military provenance, it should be noted that the military version of the FXD is slightly different from the civilian version you see here, but the differences are so small that they don’t matter.

The watch itself wears well. While the FXD is 42mm like most Tudor dive watches, it is noticeably thinner, which gives it an attractively flat profile. That means it looks distinctly different from the Pelagos – blue is also a darker shade – and stands out among Tudor’s diver’s watch collection.

The only downside I can think of is availability – the “21” batch seems to sell out quickly – although it will be available next year with a “22” on the back, and on for subsequent years.

carefree diver
The civilian FXD (short for “fixed”) is basically the same as the actual mil-spec watch issued to MN divers, save for a few details.

One difference is the caseback, again simpler on the released example, only engraved with “MN” and the year of issue. Another is the text on the dial above six o’clock – the watch in question has no chronometer label.

In all other respects, the FXD is identical to a military watch, which is what makes it cool. The difference between the civilian and military versions is purely aesthetic and secondary.

FXD’s blue is understated and subtle, and is model-specific. It’s darker than the blue on the Pelagos and darker than the blue on the Black Bay 58.

The case is titanium and has a diameter of 42 mm, the same as most Tudor diving watches. But at 12.75mm tall, the FXD is much thinner than the Pelagos, which is 14.2mm tall. The reduction in altitude is due in part to the removal of the date, as well as the helium escape valve (which was unnecessary since combat divers in the Navy are not saturation divers).

The case is finished in the usual Tudor fashion, so it has crisp, crisp lines with strong definition and sharp edges. Each surface is brushed, while the bezel is matte blue ceramic. It is worth noting that the knurling of the bezel is larger than that of other TUDOR diving watches, which provides better grip.

While the case is well done, the fixed strap stem stands out in illustrating Tudor’s attention to detail.

This type of retaining bar is common in older military watches, which have individual steel tubes inserted into the lug holes. They are necessary because military watches require secure strap attachments that are not easily damaged.

On the FXD, the retaining rod is integral to the case – the case is stamped and milled to form the rod. To prevent the strips from fraying the fabric strap, the outer edges of both strips have a small chamfer – a tiny but impressive detail.

Another attractive element of the FXD is its strap, as it comes with a pair. Both are exclusive to the watch and were developed specifically for it. Each has its own buckle, something other Tudor models don’t have.

The fabric strap is probably the only element in the entire watch that could be improved. I prefer to have a small stopper at the end of the strap so that it takes some force to remove from the buckle, keeping the strap in a closed loop unless it needs to be removed from the wholesale watch.

The case back is sturdy and features the Marine Nationale logo and the year of production inspired by history. The same “MN” and year of issue are printed on the back of the vintage navy diver’s watch, explaining the engraving on the FXD. Tudor is now the official supplier of French Navy combat divers, hence the logo on the back.

What’s behind is more important. The MT5602 is one of Tudor’s in-house movements and is one of the highest-spec movements at the same price. It has a free sprung balance with a silicon hairspring, and a power reserve of 70 hours.

Although hidden, the movement is finished in a clean, industrial manner, slightly more sophisticated than the usual ETA or Sellita movements in this price segment.

Tudor Pelagos FXD
Ref.M25707B/21-0001

Diameter: 42mm
Height: 12.75mm
Material: Titanium case with steel bottom cover
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 200 meters

Movement: MT5602
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Chain: Automatic Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 70 hours

Strap: Fabric strap with Velcro closure and additional rubber strap

Hands-on: Greubel Forsey Balancier S2 Watch

Today, I experienced first-hand the latest in a new generation of ultra-high-end sports watches from fake Greubel Forsey. This is the Balancier S2 in a titanium case and I’ve been able to wear it on the strap and neat titanium bracelet. The purpose of this watch is, in a sense, an answer to the question: what brand can compare to Richard Mille? This has been a hot topic of debate among some members of the luxury watch industry. You see, Richard Mille was never the only million-dollar watch game in town, but it’s the story of a rare ultra-premium brand that consistently sells more watches than it produces. Everyone wants a piece of what Richard Mille wants, and companies like Greubel Forsey think they can offer something that really appeals to consumers – even if it’s a Richard Mille replacement (for now).

I sat in Dubai with Mr. Antonio Calce, the new CEO of Greubel Forsey, as he explained the new brand strategy. Greubel Forsey has already mastered its business with plans to increase production (we’re only talking about a few hundred more watches a year), but also a bigger marketing campaign considering the brand’s reputation has always been solid and cautious wave. Until recently, the Greubel Forsey I knew had never had a CEO other than its founders, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey. From what I understand, the company is largely independent with the exception of a small stake owned by Richemont, and the appointment of Mr Calce is a big step.

Greubel Forsey makes watches that are well-constructed, built to last, and of exceptional workmanship. In my experience, they are probably the best finished watches of any company that mass-produces timepieces. The Balancier S2 (actually “Balancier S 2” – but I don’t think most people know how to type the ‘squared’ 2 superscript) is closer to the brand’s entry-level price point, and Mr Calce made it clear, looking to the future. Products like the Balancier S2 hint at where they plan to go.

In 2019, Greubel Forsey debuted this special curved case on aBlogtoWatch at Dubai Watch Week in conjunction with GMT Sport. Two years later, Greubel Forsey has decided to unveil the new Balancier S2 at Dubai Watch Week 2021, and it’s great. The case is titanium and is probably the best part of the whole package. It’s 46.5mm wide, but don’t let the size fool you – it’s really comfortable to wear. The case and bezel have an interesting curvature that echoes the shape of the sapphire crystal. This interesting mix of shapes makes the watch extremely conservative in some angles and very edgy in others. Very few case designs I’ve come across do this.

Although the Balancier is arguably the simplest movement Greubel Forsey has ever produced, it is by no means boring. Actually quite the opposite, as its appeal lies in how the various elements of motion are rendered and shaped. The whole point of a Balancier watch movement is the tilted position of the balance wheel, similar to the 24-degree tilt of many of the brand’s tourbillons. I believe the idea is that they found this incline to be the ideal position in a watch to average out where it sits (since gravity affects performance in a slight way) while wearing it naturally on the wrist every day. The way the diagonally sloping balance is presented in the dial and movement is part of the fun, and the dial looks like it’s curved downwards, hence the visual chromatic aberration of the lower layers of the watch’s dial.

The hand-wound movement itself runs at 3Hz and has a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. It has a power reserve indicator next to the exposed mainspring barrel. Near the striking balance wheel assembly is a small but efficient auxiliary seconds dial. The overall design may be what Greubel Forsey considers futuristic. It won’t quite put them in a design museum, but the overall look is satisfying and a welcome point of view for anyone who’s been a replica Greubel Forsey fan for some time.

Will it impress newcomers to the Greubel Forsey brand? That’s a good question, and likely to achieve what the brand wants, it needs to combine a product design strategy with great and clever cultural penetration through an effective marketing campaign, like Richard Mille at least started doing as it was ten years ago now. For what it’s worth, I think the premium sports watch market is big enough for more than one brand to stand out in the upper echelon. There may be room in the world for multi-million dollar sports watch brands.

A matching titanium bracelet completes this new sports case look. The bracelet does look a bit like a Richard Mille bracelet and has been polished as you would expect from a Greubel Forsey. The deploying clasp is satisfying and has a fine-tuning system. That said, the mechanism is familiar, and in the future, I would like to see more original mechanisms in Greubel Forsey branded bracelets, because I think they can design something wild. (That, or they could hire Roland Iten to help.) As a limited edition, Greubel Forsey will only make 152 Balancier S2s in total. In case you haven’t noticed, they actually come in two different grey dial colours, light grey and dark grey.

U-BOAT DARKMOON WATCH review and background

The U-Boat Italo Fontana Darkmoon watch uses a deep, glossy oil-filled dial, bright colors and changeable love or hate compensation bubbles to provide an exciting and truly unique timepiece.

The oil-filled dial presents a fascinating rich color depth

Fashion-forward 44 mm unisex case diameter

Easy to replace “dry” battery compartment

The playful bubbles and deep, rich oil-filled dial make this timepiece instantly memorable and fascinating. We hope you enjoy the amazing wrist experience we introduced.

You may see references to “U-Boat Dark Moon Watch” or “U Boat Dark Moon“; this is easy to accomplish. However, according to U-Boat, Dark Moon is a word. This is U-Boat Italo Fontana Darkmoon, once you see it, it will be unforgettable. Why is Dark Moon? Because, to quote the manufacturer, it is “a series directly from the dark side of the moon.”

Italo Fontana has taken a place in the lunar-related watchmaking industry with this aspiring collection of handmade watches — proud of being “Made in Tuscany”. We think they are the winners. The same is true for Paul Buchanan, whose early encounter with Dark Moon made him the British sales manager for the Italian watchmaker.

Stunning and fascinating red glass dome

Paul told the story: “Just over two years ago, I met Richard, U-Boat’s distributor in the UK and Ireland. He knew that my illusions about the watch industry were disillusioned because the brands copied each other time and time again. He also knew that I was looking for an inspiring brand. After teasing and seducing me with U-Boat’s beautiful Chimera, he followed up with this watch with domed red glass, which makes it in every possible way Amazing and charming. When Richard spoke, I just sat there with a watch on my wrist and looked at it from all angles. I bought that watch, one of the first Dark Moon, and then became the brand’s UK sales manager. Only two watches are needed. U-Boat Darkmoon Red 44mm IPB is still my watch of choice.

Color depth

The rich colors of this oil-filled beauty is just one of the characteristics that fascinated Paul and attracted him to the brand. Once you see these stunning watches, you will notice how the eye-catching dial of Dark Moon provides “open eyes”, fascinating three-dimensional color depth and greater legibility. At first glance, it is obvious that they are very different from the information-intensive visual complexity of other U-Boat classic products such as U-Boat U-65 skeleton watches.

Since the first dark moon, sapphire crystal and dial color intensity improvements have been adopted to improve readability, making excellent products even more impressive. Then the iconic compensation bubbles move around the dial in its crystal clear oil bath. It helps to enlarge the field of view of the two hands-without the second hand-they seem to float freely above the dial.

Amazing magnified view of the hand

TikTok watch influencer Jack Biggs enthusiastic about these features in our U-Boat Dark Moon unboxing video. He said: “Another advantage of the oil bath is that it can enlarge the field of view of the hand and compensate for the temperature between zero and 60 degrees. I think this makes the watch look more three-dimensional, and it gives a deep impression on the dial. a feeling of.

U-Boat himself said that oil injection can “surprisingly magnify the field of view of the hand. Without glass, the hand seems to float freely.” The proprietary oil bath technology pioneered in the Capsoil watch, which premiered on Instagram in November 2018, made this possible.

Since then, cheap U-Boat has apparently been working hard to develop their second oil-filled product line. As a result, Dark Moon is now in its second iteration. It is irresistibly put together with the original Capsoil chronograph and dominates the U-Boat Italo Fontana product page of Watch Pilot, where you can browse and purchase the U-Boat watch of your choice.

Range description
At the time of writing, as Jack Biggs explained, the collection revolves around Darkmoon watches in black, cardinal, elegant brown, noble green and imperial blue. Of course, they are all equipped with the company’s iconic left-handed “destro” screw-in crown. And 50 m (5 ATM) waterproof performance, enough to deal with splashes, gentle swimming and cold showers.

Depending on the model, strap and bracelet options include stylish lightweight mesh, laser-cut hand-made, hand-finished calfskin, and a vulcanized rubber strap embossed with the U-BOAT logo in deep relief on both sides.

Case size and finish

U-Boat Swiss made replica watches are known for their amazing case diameters-no one will be ignored when wearing them! Although smaller than watches such as the 47mm U-47 Classico, the 50mm flight deck pilot watch or the large diameter 55mm U-1001, the latest Darkmoon 44mm case guarantees an eye-catching wrist.

This unique dial design deserves a durable and visually contrasting case finish. Depending on the watch, AISI 316L stainless steel has or does not have IP bronze (such as 8467/B Men’s Brown Darkmoon) or IP Black coating (such as 8464/MT Men’s Black Darkmoon).

Unsurprisingly, U-Boat Italo Fontana attaches great importance to how the Darkmoon dial, hands and quartz movement are all immersed in a special proprietary oil bath. Talk about it later. First of all, here is a campaign about powering the dark moon.

RONDA’s time-tested 712.3 caliber
Visit the highly acclaimed Calibre-corner website or Ronda AG website, you will quickly find that Darkmoon’s 712.3 movement is a proven Swiss made main force in the Swiss watch movement industry.

Put 712.3 into the U-Boat cheap watch, and you will have a good company. This is a tried-and-tested bidirectional 26mm diameter quartz movement. The brand also powers watches from brands such as TAG-Heuer, Raymond Weil and Yema. As the company explains, “Ronda produces Swiss precision mechanical and quartz watch movements for many leading watch brands. Our products can be found in brand watches, from elegant and sporty watches to stylish fashion accessories to Luxurious style.

Replacement battery
Since the quartz revolution in watchmaking in the 1970s, the accuracy and reliability of these movements have meant that batteries are needed.

At first glance, Darkmoon’s dial and movement are all immersed in oil, and it can be tricky to replace the battery every few years. Because of the oil bath, the early version of U-Boat Capsoil—which sounds like a hybrid word derived from “encapsulated oil”—needed attention in a professional factory in Italy when the battery was exhausted. The same applies to earlier versions of U-Boat Darkmoon watches.

Later iterations of Capsoil and the latest Darkmoon solved this problem, with a separate user-accessible battery compartment on the bottom cover. Keep it oil-free through an innovative internal locking ring system, which is a welcome improvement over the first generation of Darkmoon.

Clearly labeled battery port

If you look closely at the bottom cover of Darkmoon, you will see a clearly identified battery port with the battery identifier-SR936SW engraved on it. This and the different surface profile distinguish the battery port from the (upper) oil adjustment port. According to the manufacturer’s instruction manual, that one is for use, “provided exclusively by U-BOAT professional technicians.” If you decide to explore, please don’t say we didn’t warn you!

U-Boat pays attention to details

Now, thank goodness, you can easily replace the U-Boat battery with the dry battery port. In fact, this may be easier than removing the bottom cover and replacing the battery on a traditional quartz watch. This is just another example of the U-Boat details and continuous product improvement we expect from a Tuscan company.

U-BOAT watch
You probably already know U-Boat fake Watch Italo Fontana and the development of this Italian watchmaker since 2000.

At that time, Italo Fontana discovered the design of his grandfather Ilvo in 1942, which details the innovative watch of the Italian Navy’s Regia Marina.

For whatever reason, the design did not go into production. Instead, decades later, it inspired the founder of U-Boat to create his watch brand. Since then, Italo Fontana’s handmade luxury watches, with their large case, unique left watch crown, and iconic retro nautical style—according to some critics, even “steampunk”—design, Has established a loyal following.

The design of U-BOAT DARKMOON
Compared with many U-Boat designs, Dark Moon may appear very restrained. However, its eye-catching sunburst pattern-what U-Boat calls the sun pattern-on the dial, under the charming curved domed sapphire crystal, is by no means low-key.

Inspired by the dark side of the moon

The following is the editor Rob Corder of the respected watch industry magazine WatchPro wrote in September 2020:

‘U-Boat joined the Capsoil series this year, launching a sub-series called Dark Moon [sic]-referring to the black of their dial like the dark side of the moon-even giving them a scary change of blood red And black model. Mr. Fontana may be leading the werewolf in him.

Interesting but not surprising, the rich red glow of the magnifying dial on this particular model caused such a heartfelt reaction. The same is true when we show the collection to Michael Langley, an experienced visual designer, founder of Uchi Clothing and creator of the Uchi Horology collection of watch art and clothing:

Visually striking

“When I saw a red background and black text like U-Boat 8466/MT,” he said, “its eye-catching and visually bold design left a deep impression on me. It is both practical and practical. It is also eye-catching. The liquid dome crystal and huge dial numbers add to the atmosphere of the submarine. If any of the Dark Moon series has such a close connection with U-Boat’s traditional retro nautical style, it must be this .

For anyone trying to understand why certain watch designs are so effective, Watches Tell More Than Time, written by industrial design master Del Coates in 2003, is a useful reference. When planning to write an article about Dark Moon, reading this book in depth is effortless.

It is reminiscent of the iconic Movado Museum watch

Gazing at the dark moon swimming in the compensating bubbles reminds me of Movado’s 1947 museum watch designed by Nathan George Horwitt, which features a circular “noon sun” pattern at 12 o’clock. To quote Coates:

“[Museum Watch] has won its place, on the contrary, it is aesthetically, with groundbreaking innovations with countless faces…it has become one of the most memorable and imitated timepieces ever.”

A design leader for others to emulate?

U-Boat Darkmoon may not be the most complicated oil-filled watch ever, nor is it the most expensive. However, by incorporating this necessary compensation bubble into such a visually deep and impressive “high-value contrast” dial, it may position U-Boat as a design leader that others will try and replicate in the future .

Then, think about the innovative Ressence brand of Benoît Mintiens, a leader in watch design who has tried oil injection…

Comparison with RESENCE is inevitable
We will not be the first commentators to notice the amazing and very expensive timepieces of Capsoil and Darkmoon’s Ressence. In fact, although they are known for using oil-filled technology, they differ from U-Boat watches in several important ways.

The first is technology. U-Boat Darkmoon has its Ronda quartz movement and dial completely immersed in oil. Compare it with TYPE 3 and TYPE 5 Ressence. They combine an air-filled chamber for mechanical movement and an oil-filled upper chamber to provide its iconic “droplet” image projection effect. A complex micro-magnetic transmission connects the two chambers.

Ressence of a poor man?

Is U-Boat Darkmoon “Return of the Poor”? We will let you judge. What we want to say is that oil-filled watches have actually existed for decades, although it is a specialized and unique subset of watches…Of course there is Ressence, and there are anti-fog, non-reflective underwater mission watches, such as Sinn’s user experience. The rest, including timepieces such as the French Beauchat Genesis 4000 HPS or the water and oil-filled Bell & Ross Hydromax 11100M, constitute an exclusive club. But none of them, or even used examples, can be bought at prices close to U-Boat’s latest Dark Moon.

That signature compensation bubble
As mentioned earlier, the moving compensation bubbles on the surface of the Dark Moon (and Capsoil) are constantly reminding the truly iconic Movado Museum watches.

Why is there? The bubble that caused the strong polarizing reaction of watch forum participants is not just the designer’s idling aesthetic indulgence. On the contrary, despite the ability to please or torment the foam within a few hours, it exists for important technical reasons. It provides compensation when the oil expands or contracts with temperature changes within the manufacturer’s recommended operating ranges of 0 °C and +60 °C.

We can only speculate on how many Darkmoon wearers cannot resist trying to place the bubble directly above the center column of the watch.

Who will the dark moon attract?
Is this a unisex U-Boat watch? Although U-Boat offers watches specifically for women, such as its 8474 Rainbow Ladies Mother of Pearl, it is no secret that its main audience is traditionally young men.

However, current fashion-forward watch wearers often see larger men’s watches worn on women’s wrists. According to U-Boat’s British importer, Darkmoon’s 44mm case is smaller than its size shows, which definitely amazes both men and women.

One of the best U-Boat ladies’ watches

Make no mistakes; this is arguably one of the best women’s U-Boat watches at the moment. After all, why should such visually engaging horological objects be reserved for children, especially in a world where women happily rock men’s Rolex watches and other high-end watches?

Obviously, the brand chemistry that made U-Boat so popular among male celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone and Nicholas Cage has also had a powerful influence on female counterparts such as Israeli model Bar Refaeli and actress Lindsay Lohan. How about you?

Go to the dark side
This is U-Boat Darkmoon. Do you like watches with strong retro nautical stories, unmissable visual impact, and fascinating oil-filled technology? If so, this piece with its charming design and fascinating “Made in Tuscany” story may be for you.

Watch Jack’s YouTube videos and be immersed in his passion for these amazing timepieces. Then browse our collection of men’s and women’s U-Boat watches to discover for yourself the wonderful dark side of the Dark Moon series-or as a gift for someone special. 1:1 quality replica watches