The May-June issue of WatchTime is available at retailers (and in our online store) today. Among the highlights of the issue are our cover feature showcasing the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43, an in-depth review of the first Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch equipped with the revived Caliber 321, a comprehensive analysis of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the global watch industry in 2020, a wrist test of the newest Rolex Submariner with the coveted green bezel; and more. Read on for details.
• With the new Big Pilot’s Watch 43-mm collection, launched at this year’s virtual Watches & Wonders event, aviation watch maestro IWC adapts its most iconic design into a more understated, ergonomic package. Mark Bernardo traces its evolution “From Cockpit to Compact” in our cover story, with insights from IWC’s CEO and Creative Director.
• In 2020, no industry escaped the disruption caused by Covid-19. With the release of both LVMH’s and Swatch Group’s full-year results as well as the watch industry report of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH for 2020, it is becoming much clearer how big the impact of the pandemic has actually been. Roger Ruegger explores the fallout from “An Unprecedented Year” in the watch industry.
• Omega’s release of the Speedmaster Moonwatch 321 revived a true legend. The new model, including its movement, is a replica of the Speedmaster Ref. 105.003 that Ed White wore on the first American spacewalk in 1965 and that Ed Cernan wore on the last moonwalk in 1972. In “Spacewalk and Moonwalk,” Alexander Krupp tests the spaceworthy timepiece.
• Durable, robust, accurate, and innovative — the High-Beat Caliber 9SA5 is “Grand Seiko’s New Super Hero,” built to overtake world leaders Rolex and Omega and win over the hearts of watch fans. Jens Koch takes an in-depth look at the watch that contains this magic bullet, the Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary Limited Edition.
• Rolex revised its Submariner collection in 2020 and unleashed an extraordinary demand for its Oyster model with a green bezel. For the test feature “Rare Oyster,” Jens Koch examines this newest edition, with its modified case and new movement, to see it it lives up to the hype.
• Just in time for summer, Tissot is expanding its popular Seastar dive watch collection with a beefed-up version that also comes with a new wave-pattern dial. Roger Ruegger traveled to Le Locle for a hands-on with the new 46-mm Seastar 2000 Professional. You can read the result in “Going Pro,” which also includes an exclusive interview with Tissot CEO Sylvain Dolla.
• For the feature-length review “Master of Precision,” Mark Bernardo goes under the hood of Zenith’s most attention-grabbing release of 2021, the new Chronomaster Sport, whose revolutionary 1/10th-second chronograph display is intended to lead the El Primero series into the future.
Plus: Tests and reviews of the Chopard Alpine Eagle, Wempe Iron Walker Automatic, and Hanhart 417 ES; a roundup of new watches with orange dials, straps, and details; a report on an iconic Patek Philippe model going under the hammer at Christie’s in Hong Kong; an update on the latest watch-and-car brand collaborations; and more.
Click here to download the March-April 2021 issue from WatchTime’s online store, and here to subscribe to WatchTime.
I would love to purchase a magazine or book on IWC watches, is there such a thing?
You can get the magazine in the shop (https://www.watchtime-shop.com/), we regularly cover IWC, but not per se in form of a book. We recommend to check amazon (e.g. Hans-F Toelke and Juergen King, IWC International Watch Co., Manfred Fritz, The Grande Complication)
i would like to buy a years subscription, so what’s the $$$$ ?
It depends on the subscription: https://www.watchtime-shop.com/subscription.html
Your titling of your article “Rare Oyster” is somewhat goofy, as with most of the brand’s offerings, the real title should read “Manufactured Scarcity”, and you should give up on the double entendre.