CLASSIC HOUR

It’s a mix of style and speed, and just by looking at it, you can hear the squeals and growls of the engines.

The Tissot T-Race series holds a prominent position in Tissot's catalogue, a testament to the brand’s history in sports timing, including motor racing. Tissot has been the official MotoGP timekeeper since 2001, and colleagues report Tissot’s T-Race watches are frequently spotted at race events globally, underlining their association with the fast-paced world of racing. Special Tissot T-Race MotoGP models are offered to enthusiasts immersed in racing as limited editions, with quantities limited to thousands – for the fans are many. In line with this tradition, the newly unveiled 2024 Tissot T-Race MotoGP Chronograph with mechanical movement commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the competition and is restricted to just 2024 units. This watch pays homage to the daring speed demons who exhilarate the sport; we delve into the details of this particular timepiece dedicated to the thrill of speed.

When relaunched in 2019,the accessible Seiko 5 Sports collectionwas focused on bringing back the flair of thebeloved SKX series, with a diving-oriented look. Since then, the collection has massively expanded, withfield models,more compact watchesand evenGMT versions. We’ve also witnessed the return of historic designs, including that ofthe very first Seiko 5 Sports from 1968or a watchtaking cues from the Kamen Rider. But today, things go deeper than just a mere inspiration as Seiko brings back the look of the late-1960s 5126-8090 Kamen Rider with two Heritage models, the SRPL03 and SRPL05.

While the brand has already recreated the look of the original 1968 Seiko 5 Sportswith the limited edition SRPK17, it had yet to bring back one of the most emblematic models in this collection in a faithful way. Sure, we’ve seen the “Kamen Rider” already used a source of inspiration for a limited edition model –the SRPJ91– but it was mostly a classic SKX series with a different dial and bezel insert. Today, Seiko goes the extra mile and brings a duo of models with identical cases, dials and bracelets.

With the SRPL03 and SRPL05, Seiko releases a new design with a case that mimics the look of the original Seiko 5 Sports 5126-8090 Kamen Rider. The old model strongly inspired the shape, yet updated to modern proportions and materials. That being said, these two new watches have a compact case of 38.5mm in diameter, with a short lug-to-lug measurement of 44.8mm. The rest is classic 5 Sports series, with a crown (barely visible) at 4 o’clock, a Hardlex mineral glass on top, a rotating bezel with a silver-toned (like the original) metallic insert and a screwed back. Water-resistance is comfortable, as rated at 100m (compared to 70m in the past). The boxy shape certainly brings a 1960s-1970s vibe that will please fans of the brand.

The dial is, once again, strongly inspired by the original watches. The SRPL03 has a silver brushed dial while the SRPL05 relies on a matte black surface. Like the original, there’s a graphic minute track with blocks and baton markers with lume insert, straight hands and a red lollipop seconds hands. References to the past are strong everywhere, with an oddly shaped day-date window and a Sports mention in light blue. Even the original Seiko 5 logo has been recreated for the occasion

The heritage inspiration doesn’t stop there, as Seiko also brings back the single-link stainless steel bracelet to this duo of models. Fully brushed on the top, its look certainly participates in the overall appeal. It’s closed by a folding clasp with push button release. Also included in the box is a retro rally-styled black leather strap.

No surprises under the dial, as the Seiko 5 Sports SRPL03 and SRPL05 are powered by the trusted Calibre 4R36. This automatic movement runs at a 3Hz frequency, stores about 41 hours of power reserve and includes a hacking function. It’s hidden under a solid back with dedicated engravings.

Released in a limited run of 9,999 pieces per colourway, the Kamen Rider-inspired Seiko 5 Sports Heritage SRPL03 and SRPL05 will be available in July 2024

The Mido Ocean Star 39 is marking the 80th anniversary of this diving model. This big of an anniversary even caught me by surprise. I was, until recently, unaware of how extensive Mido’s heritage was, and with eight decades of diving experience under its belt, it’s no surprise that this new release hits a lot of the right notes. With an incredibly wearable size, paired with an attractive dial design, and a reliable movement at an approachable price point, there are a lot of good things going for the new Ocean Star 39. When compared to the bulkier and more modernforged carbon case of the Ocean Star 200Cthat came out earlier this year, these watches prove to be far morewearable for the everyday.

There are four versions of the Ocean Star 39 available. The blue and grey come with gradient dials and two-tone bezel inserts, while the gold dial has a gold PVD coating on its bezel. The fourth model is the stealthiest, with an all-black dial with signature orange lume plots and a black PVD coating across the case, fitted to a black rubber strap.

So, what’s the most important thing to note here? While the case size is perhaps the biggest change being signalled by the name, I would say that the long heritage Mido has with dive watches is the bigger story here. The brand has been making watches worthy of taking under the waves for 80 years now, having pioneered sealing crowns in 1930 with what was called a “cork-crown”. Mido has never made as much noise as its competitors about its history and heritage, but if we look back at the beginnings of the Ocean Star in 1944, it’s clear that the brand has made a concerted effort to offerhighly practical timers that can survive all conditions.

But we’re not here to dwell too long on the past, when Mido’s future is right in front of us. The first thing I noticed when I picked up this piece was its wonderful dial. While the individual elements that make it up might not be anything too remarkable – a wave texture, a gradient, and applied indices – the combination of them all seems to work in a way that caught me off guard. The dial’s texture is modelled off the pattern the ocean makes on the sand underneath it, while the not-so-subtle gradient gives it a real sense of deep water diving. The blue and grey versions have a bi-colour bezel as well, which may give the look of a GMT, but lack the additional functionality.

While the new case size of 39mm might seem off-putting to some who prefer their divers to feel substantial, thanks to its lug-to-lug being 46mm, it still holds a good wrist presence without feeling chunky, measuring just 10.5mm thick. The caseback maintains the starfish logo that has been associated with this model for its 80 year history.

The bracelet is lightweight, but the clasp comes with on-the-fly micro-adjustment which is a key addition to have for any serious diving watch. And even if you don’t intend to take you watch below the waves, having the ability to give your wrist a bit of breathing room on a hot day is always worth it in my opinion.

Inside, the Caliber 72 gives the watch a fantastic 72 hour power reserve, with anti-magnetic qualities thanks to its Nivachron balance spring. Based on theETA A31.111 (in turn developed from the more premium ETA 2892A2), the overall specs of this calibre are not serious high horology, but it offers wonderful value as a step above the usual Powermatic 80/ETA 2824 that is widely adopted by the Swatch Group in this price range.

BALL Watch’s Engineer Master II Diver Chronometer Reefs Special Edition which inspires humanity to care for the ocean’s health and incorporates2 significant marine symbols: the Shark and the Reef,

As we may all be very well know, Sabah is known for its beautiful islands and is an underwater heaven for scuba divers and snorkelers.

Which is why we were overjoyed to be invited to explore this beauty first-hand with a trip to Lankayan Island for  BALL Watch Malaysia’s and Reef Guardian’s launch of theBALL Watch’s Adopt-A-Reef Campaign.

The gorgeous (in the middle of nowhere) Lankayan Island is set within the Sulu Sea Region, and in the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) which spans 46,317 hectares and includes the Lankayan, Billean and Tegaipil islands.

It is home to at least 600 species of reef fishes, 300 species of corals, 6 species of giant clams, 2 species of sea turtles, and 26 species of seagrass and algae.

The area has been recognised globally as a well-managed Protected Area and became an International Union Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List Site, which is the first of its kind in Malaysia and the Coral Triangle Countries.

 As part of the launching of BALL Watch’s Engineer Master II Diver Chronometer Reefs Special Edition, the company adopted a reef which was selected and named after them.

To symbolise its contribution to SIMCA, BALL Watch had adopted a reef called Reef 38 which was discovered by Achier. It is a famous dive site that beautifully captures the wonder of the underwater world with its high diversity of fishes and corals.