Watches of Switzerland Australia is one of the Land Down Under’s pre-eminent luxury watch dealers; its boutiques veritable holy sites for Antipodean watch aficionados.While the family-owned firm now boasts boutiques all across Australia – from its iconic Sydney location right by Circular Quay to Canberras‘ very first luxury watch boutique in the heart of the nation’s capital – its story actually began back in 1997 with the opening of its first boutique on Perth’s well-heeled King Street.23 years later, Watches of Switzerland has unveiled a new Perth location, this time at Raine Square: the city’s premier retail, dining and entertainment precinct. Not only does this new boutique set a new benchmark in luxury retailing, but its opening comes at the best possible time for watch-hungry Western Australians. After a trying twelve months, an exciting new luxury retail experience like this is just what the doctor ordered.Nothing like a bit of retail therapy, as they say.
A cornucopia of horological delights.Measuring an expansive 280sqm, the new Raine Square boutique is defined by its uncompromising attention to detail. Bronze surrounds, French parquet floors, extensive use of natural stone, an opulent silver leaf ceiling and feature lighting by award-winning Australian design studio Volker Haug… It’s one luxurious place to be.RELATED: Groundbreaking Vintage Dive Watches On Display In Australia For A Limited Time
While the boutique plays host to a veritable who’s who of the luxury watch world – A. Lange & Söhne, Blancpain, Breguet (their first Perth location), Breitling, Hublot, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Tudor and Vacheron Constantin just to name a few – two brands that command special attention in the space are Cartier and Rolex.Watches of Switzerland Perth is the only point of sale for Cartier in Western Australia. Similarly, WoS Perth is the only Rolex point of sale in the Perth CBD. Fittingly, both brands have lavished extra attention on their concessions within the space – with their boutiques providing the atmosphere of a mini trip to Paris or Geneva.Cartier and Rolex’s exquisite concessions.
WoS Perth is a unique destination that marks a revolution in Australian watch boutique design and is a testament to the company’s ongoing and decades-long commitment to the Perth market. Next time you’re in Western Australia’s capital, be sure to check it out.
Think The Maldives’ overwater bungalows and lukewarm waters are all the archipelago has to offer? Think again. The pristine paradise has now announced plans to offer foreign tourists the chance to get their COVID vaccine while on holiday.The Maldives, a republic for which tourism accounts for some 28% of its GDP, was one of the first countries to welcome laze-a-bouts back after the pandemic first hit.It now wants to be a front runner when it comes to offering vaccines to holidaymakers. As CNN Travelreports, “Officials for the Indian Ocean destination have announced plans to offer vaccinations to tourists on arrival in a bid to lure more visitors over.”
This comes as part of a three-pronged 3V tourism program: “Visit, Vaccinate and Vacation.”Web In Travelreports that Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, The Maldives’ minister for tourism, speaking at March’s WiT Travel Roadshow, said that the opening of the islands to tourism amid the pandemic has proven the resilience of its tourism sector and its ability to bounce back.The 3V scheme will “offer travellers two doses of Covid-19 vaccines several weeks apart, boost long stays and promote the country as a safe destination during the pandemic. As part of this, it is mulling extending one-year visas to digital nomads who want to work in the Maldives,” Web In Travel reports.
“Arrivals since opening have been encouraging. As of March 24 this year, the Maldives has received 269,504 tourists, down by almost 30% over the same period last year,” (Web In Travel).However, foreign tourists keen to book a vaccination trip to The Maldives will need to wait until the country’s entire population (which is nudging at 550,000), all get the jabs.“The main idea of tourism being open is to provide a reasonably safe tourism with minimum inconvenience,” Mausoom recently told CNBC International.
“Once the country gets vaccinated, then we will move on to ‘3V’ tourism.”
He also said about 53% of the population has received their first dose of the vaccine.In February, Thoyyib Mohame, managing director of the Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation, told CNN Travel that the country has received 555,494 visitors in 2020, surpassing its adjusted arrival forecast of 500,000.Mausoom hopes the vaccine progam will push visitor numbers up even further, CNN Travel reports.RELATED: ‘Beyond The Veil’: Life At The Maldives’ Most Luxurious Boho ResortThe Maldives has reportedly received vaccine donations from India and China, as well as the World Health Organization’s Covax scheme. It is also awaiting another order from Singapore.Mausoom told CNBC The Maldives’ small population and “the quota we get from the various organizations and friendly nations” will help the country achieve its goals.
“However, he did not specify if travellers would be charged for receiving the vaccine,” (CNN Travel).“At present, there are at least 500 resorts and guest houses in The Maldives that are open to international visitors, but its capital city of Malé remains off-limits,” CNN Travel reports.
“The Maldives closed its borders in late March [2020], but officials opted to fully reopen to all international travelers with no restrictions in July [2020].”
“While visitors have been required to produce a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival since September, the destination has continued to welcome travellers over the past few months with cases remaining relatively low,” (CNN Travel).As of April 19, The Maldives has reported a total of 26,145 coronavirus cases and 69 deaths.
LeBron James isn’t just the highest-paid basketball player in the NBA, but one of the highest-paid athletes of all time. Naturally, he has a pretty cool watch collection.From multiple Richard Milles to colourful Rolexes and even a one-of-one Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the man certainly isn’t short on wrist candy. Speaking of Royal Oaks, ‘King James’ has just added another one to his expansive horological library – a particularly eye-catching watch that’s quickly becoming the most controversial watch of 2021.Still recovering from an injury, James was spotted catching the action from the bench at the Los Angeles Lakers’ last game against the Boston Celtics, rocking an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon (ref. 26620IO.OO.D077CA.01) worth a cool 150,000 CHF (~163,000 USD / 211,000 AUD).With its distinctive design and growing notoriety, it’s hard to miss.Images: Getty/Audemars PiguetThe first in what’s touted to be a long line of ‘character watches’ AP plans to produce in collaboration with Marvel, this Black Panther watch features an elaborate sculpture of the eponymous superhero carved out of white gold. A 42mm sandblasted titanium case and an eye-catching purple strap add additional visual flair.LeBron’s model is a limited edition of 250 models, but an additional one-off version of the watch with an engraved white gold case and additional purple highlights was sold at auction for 5.2 million USD to an anonymous Chinese buyer.RELATED: Chris Hemsworth Angers The Gods With Controversial Watch ChoiceJames also took to his Instagram Story to show off the hulking (see what we did there?) timepiece, the big man flexing some Cartier and Louis Vuitton bracelets for good measure.Now, we know what you’re thinking: the placement of both the hands and the tourbillon is somewhat unfortunate. We can’t imagine T’Challa here is particularly comfortable… But that’s not the only thing that’s got watch fans up in arms.
The reason it’s so controversial is that releasing a character watch is a truly bizarre move for a high-end watch brand like AP to make. Character watches are normally the domain of cheaper watch brands, as they’re considered highly gimmicky – for example, Citizen makes a whole range of Marvel watches, including a Black Panther model (which only costs 440 USD).High-end watch brands have dabbled in character watches before: the Royal Oak’s designer, Gérald Genta, famously produced a series of Mickey Mouse watches, and OMEGA has long featured Snoopy on limited editions of their famous Speedmaster ‘Moonwatch’. But it’s different when one of the exalted ‘Holy Trinity’ watchmakers does it.RELATED: ‘Rocking The Boat’: New Holy Trinity Taking Watch World By StormIt could also be considered in poor taste, considering the recent death of Chadwick Boseman, who played Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Is the watch a tribute to his memory, or a cash-grab? The jury’s still out on that one.What the Black Panther AP has been successful in doing is generating publicity. Hell, we’re writing about it. And at least it’s something different – while Watches & Wonders 2021 has been a real game-changer, the reality is that the luxury watch industry is still a rather stuffy one sometimes. Maybe this AP is a breath of fresh air.We just wish we had LeBron’s confidence (and bank balance) to rock a watch like this.
Protein is an essential amino acid that plays an incredibly important role in the body’s overall function. In fact, every single cell in your body requires protein to function and to remain strong. It affects everything from the health of your organs to the condition of your hair. It’s also no secret that it can help determine how swole we can become in the gym, with ‘gym bros’ on a never-ending quest to consume as much as humanly possible.However, for all its benefits, there are often claims to suggest too much protein can have damaging effects on your body. The daily recommended amount of protein is 0.8g/kg of bodyweight – although some experts claim you should base this figure on lean body mass instead – with those looking to pile on the muscle aiming for around 1 – 1.3g/kg.A long-held belief has suggested going over this figure on a regular basis could have a devastating effect on your kidneys because it causes them to work overtime to clear the metabolites (the end product of metabolism).But is that true?Fitness coach James Kew recently took to Instagram to credit @physiqonomics with a post that claims high-protein diets actually have very little effect on the health of your kidneys, although this goes on the basis that your kidneys are healthy. If, however, you have existing renal disease (where your kidneys are already damaged and so don’t function at 100%) then you will need to keep a closer eye on your protein intake.
These results stemmed from a 2003 Nurses’ Health Study, which examined the GFR (glomerular filtration rate i.e. the flow rate of filtered fluid through the kidneys) of people with pre-existing renal disease over an 11-year period. The study found an increase in protein intake did result in a further decline in overall kidney function.But for those with healthy kidneys, the results differed. The same study also examined 1,135 women with kidneys in tip-top shape and found high protein intake had little effect on GFR, concluding “a high protein diet was not associated with kidney damage in women with normal renal function.”Further studies by Poortmans and Dellalieux and Antonio et al. looked specifically into the effects of protein intake in bodybuilders and trained athletes. These studies saw participants consuming protein levels as high 2.8g/kg to 3.4g/kg (way over the recommended daily amount) and found neither level to impair kidney function.That said, even though a high protein diet won’t (as far as we know) damage healthy kidneys, researchers and industry experts continue to recommend you don’t exceed the 0.8g/kg level, primarily because you don’t really need to.Previous studies have found the optimal protein dosage to be around 1g – 1.25g… Any higher and you won’t see much of a difference. The quality of the protein is also important, with virtually everyone agreeing that animal sources provide greater quality compared to plant-based, alongside the argument that humans are biologically built to be omnivores.Something to mull over your next steamed chicken breast fillet.
No man has ever carved out his name by resting on his laurels. That’s why I always say that when you play hard, you work your arse off twice as hard.
For most men, garnering this level of productivity is a feat in itself. With the right surroundings? You’ll have all the inspirational mojo you need to get shit done your way, in your space, in your time.
Today we’re presenting you twenty of the coolest work spaces made for the stylish gent with big dreams. It’s a hard knock life, so look damn fine tackling it.
With the Australian car market hotter than a vinyl singlet, it’s a very tempting time to consider investing in automobiles – particularly when the housing market remains rather inaccessible and other forms of investment are offering such low or inconsistent returns.But the problem with this current bull market is that it’s completely obfuscated the value of many cars… And there’s the very real possibility that you could seriously “get your fingers burned” by investing in a vehicle right now.So if you’re looking to make the right purchase – or just want to get a nice car to drive around in while The Spicy Cough remains a reality of our daily lives – what are you to do? Never fear: DMARGE reached out to a number of Australian motoring experts for their takes on the cars worth buying right now.
Eurotrash? Hardly
A common theme across our experts was that compact European sports cars are a particularly good investment at the moment. It’s an interesting take, because generally speaking, European cars tend to depreciate quicker than, for example, Japanese cars.RELATED: Car Brands Australians Should Buy If They Want To Minimise Depreciation, According To Auto ExpertsBut with a real dearth of cheap but small fast cars in Australia right now – with cars like the Kia Picanto GT or the Suzuki Swift Sport better described as warm hatches rather than hot – the prospect of something that’s got a bit of pep that sips on fuel and is easy to park in our increasingly crowded cities is rather enticing.“If I had $10,000 to spend on a car right now, I’d buy a Euro hot hatch, like a Renault Sport Clio 182 or 200, or a Ford Fiesta XR4,” Carsales‘ Editor-in-Chief Mike Sinclair shared with DMARGE.CarExpert Founder & Publisher Alborz Fallah also supports purchasing something small and European: “I would try and find an old Audi TT for that sort of money,” he responded in relation to that $10,000 figure.Clockwise from top left: a Renault Sport Clio 182 Trophy, a Ford Fiesta XR4, a BMW E30 four-door, and a first-gen Audi TT convertible.Diving deeper into the automotive history books can also be a good idea, Martin “Marty” Mulholland and Blair “Moog” Joscelyne from Mighty Car Mods shared with us.“The ’80s certainly was an interesting time for cars. Japan was making some really weird, wild and wonderful stuff, European manufacturers were jumping ahead in leaps and bounds with the quality of the stuff they were coming up with, all while dealing with tightening emissions laws and the fuel crisis and no end of other issues that we forget about these days nearly 40 years later.”The pair have put their money where their mouths are in that regard, with one of their most recent project cars being a BMW E30 3 Series: a car that thanks to its association with celebrities such as Ronnie Fieg and Tyler, the Creator continues to be a popular investment opportunity.But on that Japanese note…
JDM goodness
Accessible Japanese sports cars from the 80s and 90s continue to be solid investments thanks to their iconic status in film, TV and video games such as Gran Turismo or Initial D. That emotional factor can’t be overlooked, Sydney vintage car restorer The Motor Tailor shared with DMARGE.“People in their thirties or forties are now looking for their dream cars from their teens, now that they have a bit of money. For example, the R32 Skyline.”Clockwise from top left: a Mazda MX-5 (NB), a second-gen Mitsubishi GTO, a first-gen Suzuki Hayabusa, and a Nissan Pulsar GTi-R.Fallah suggested investing in Mitsubishi GTOs – something that he himself has recently gone and done. Other similar Japanese ‘supercar beaters’ like the first-gen Honda NSX or the fourth-gen Toyota Supra are steadily appreciating, too – especially unmolested examples.The Mighty Car Mods boys, for what it’s worth, back investing in turbocharged and/or all-wheel drive JDM nuggets, such as the Nissan Pulsar GTi-R or the Subaru WRX STi, as they’re increasingly uncommon combinations among modern cars.“[We] wish manufacturers would make more turbo and all-wheel drive stuff. They grip, they stop, they handle and you can add power. Front and rear-wheel drive is fun in its own way but turbo AWD stuff is where it’s at.”
An unexpected take…
Sinclair also suggested a rather different petrol-powered investment opportunity – getting into early ‘superbikes’ like the famous Suzuki Hayabusa.Another potentially valuable investment right now? A Toyota Land Cruiser. It might be one of Australia’s most popular cars of all time but prices are absolutely skyrocketing right now… It just goes to show you’ve always got to keep your eyes out.
French people often like to think of themselves as stylish. But they may be lacking when it comes to the swimwear department, a photo from the 1940s reveals.Though this assumption is rooted in the idea that what was once cool on a Cannes beach in 1948 will always be cool, if we take that as correct (and if the photo below is anything to go by, it is) then French beach fashion standards have flâneur-ed off a cliff.They have even, the latest evidence suggests, lowered the bar to the point they would rather wear Australian surfwear than the iconic humdinger huggers pictured in the image below.Small boats and sunbathers on the beach at Cannes, France in September 1948. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)As Bondi-based Parisian photographer Amaury Tréguer told DMARGE last week, 64% of his followers said they prefer board shorts to budgie smugglers in a recent Instagram poll.RELATED: Parisian Photographer Captures ‘Weird’ Beach Habit Australians Think Is Normal“Phew…. I’m glad to see that Morning Bondi followers have a sense of fashion and style. Please tell me the ones who inadvertently voted for ugly ‘dick stickers’ were just skipping my stories [winky face],” Amaury (half) jokingly wrote on the social media platform.Image: @paris_vs_sydneyBut, ironically, it’s the Australian men who rock speedos all year round who look most like the guys in the Cannes 1948 image pictured at the top of this article (which, as we have established hors de doute, is the epitome of cool).Your move, Amaury, your move…
For too long self-care and meditation have been plagued by ~cringe~ connotations. From Bondi hipsters lecturing you on their Vipassanā retreats (and how it enabled them to subsist on a diet of air and water, unlike you food eating peasants) to Instagram shamans selling enlightenment (and detox tea), it’s no wonder the wellness industry has given many of us the ick.Then when you look to Hollywood, often the pendulum swings too far in the other direction. Though the activities may be, in the most cliche terms possible, cooler, sex, drugs and rock and roll are not conducive, in the long term to the healthiest of lifestyles.Which brings us to Australian poster boy, gentle giant and Norse God Chris Hemsworth. Hemsworth has long been a global source of fitness inspiration for workout newbies all the way through to full-blown gym junkies. Forever on a quest to improve his body and overall health, Chris leads a life which many would benefit to live by. But for all his impressive feats when it comes to lifting weights and pushing serious loads, Chris is also someone to look up to if you want to improve your mental health.RELATED: The Ultimate Chris Hemsworth Workout GuideUnlikely source? Maybe. Even we admit a Hollywood megastar isn’t the first person we’d turn to if we want to work on our mental health, but a series of posts Chris uploaded to his Instagram account in October 2020 (which we recently stumbled across during a fitness inspiration binge) beg to differ.Offering some timely advice with regards to how to navigate the raging pandemic, Chris reminds us that affirmations – which, broadly speaking, are statements or ways of thinking we write down and repeat to ourself frequently – and positive thinking are key to achieving a healthier mind and soul, not just when there’s a pandemic forcing us to temporarily change the way we live, but for our everyday lives.He also escapes the classic ‘spiritual’ trope of taking yourself too seriously (thus, hopefully, broadening the audience who might benefit from his words of wisdom) by integrating humour into his approach.
Part of his Centr program, which along with workout and nutrition advice, also has over 200 meditations and sleep visualisations included, Chris’ posts are especially approachable is their use of smile-sparking (“inhale possibilities, not bugs”) to help soften the subject of mental health, something which many people can be freaked out by and unwilling to deal with. Is there anything the man can’t do?RELATED: I Ate Like Chris Hemsworth For 4 Months. It Nearly Broke Me.Posting 5 videos in all, the main message Chris puts across is to take some time to yourself, away from your phone, away from others and away from distractions. Meditating, essentially, but more so a way to challenge yourself, to take yourself away from your daily routine and simply take a break to reflect on what you’ve achieved in the previous 12 months in the face of unprecedented times.The pandemic has certainly seen mental health become more and more prominent in daily conversation, with many of us succumbing to the fact either 2020 has caused us much grief, or enabled us the time to actually focus on ourselves and to process any thoughts that pass through our minds.We’ve already heard from several experts here at DMARGE the ways we can actively improve our mental health, such as exercising, even if it’s just for a short period each day. But to closer examine Chris’ message of affirmations, we reached out to Soul Alive Meditation founder Luke McLeod and Briony Leo, Psychologist and Head of Coaching at Relish, to find out more.Briony begins by telling us “positive affirmations are useful for a number of reasons, firstly, they help us to shift our mindset and have some say over our thoughts and feelings – and this affects our behaviour.”“By intentionally being compassionate and gentle with ourselves, and choosing to look at things in a productive and compassionate way, we’re setting the scene for a productive and calm day.”
Luke agrees they can be beneficial but says we should make sure we understand exactly what they are first.“I think the term ‘affirmations’ gets thrown around quite loosely. To many people, affirmations have a ‘woo-woo’ connotation, as in, if I repeat to myself what I want, then it will come true and that’s just not the case. You have to do a lot more than just wish something into existence.”
“Where I think affirmations can become powerful is using them to affirm what you already have. Partnering it up with gratitude.”
“When you do this it shifts the affirmation from hope to reality and therefore doesn’t leave you waiting wishing for something to happen. It affirms and reminds you of what you already have.”You can easily search online for examples of affirmations if you’re interested in the idea of them but aren’t sure where to begin, but Luke also provided us with some good examples to get you on your way.
“I am thankful to be alive today.”“I am thankful to be able to see, breathe, walk and experience life.”“I am a wonderful unique human with special talents.”“I choose to share positive energy with those around me today.”
Briony mirrors Luke’s words, adding “keeping the idea that our words and internal monologues impact our thoughts, feelings and behaviours, helpful self talk could be something like ‘I’m strong enough to get through this’ and ‘I’ve achieved so much already.”“It helps to be accurate and realistic, see if you can choose affirmations that reflect your strengths and remind you of what you’ve accomplished so far in life.”For some, 2020 would have hit them harder than a table leg and an unsuspecting little toe, and so would have slipped into a negative state of mind. Depending on who you listen to, turning the frown upside down can either be a lengthy, or a pretty quick, process. It all comes down to you.RELATED: ‘Unfairly Maligned’ Bondi Trend The Rest Of Australia Can Learn FromLuke tells us “it’s absolutely possible to change how you feel within a second if you’re ready. The hard part is constantly reminding yourself.”“For most of us the pain isn’t big enough for the decision to have a lasting effect. The greater the pain, the longer the relief will tend to last when you decide to make that change.”“If you really want to try and make it all about one decision, then force yourself to experience a greater level fo pain. The people that tend to stick with meditation are the ones that have gone through the most pain.”Briony is equally positive in her ways of thinking: “One of the great things about being human is that every day is a new day, and we are endlessly faced with new choices and decisions.”“It takes a while to form a habit and break old habits (e.g. negative self talk) but you can start making changes today, even with something as simple as going to bed earlier, drinking more water, going for a walk or putting your phone in the other room to reduce distractions.”
“Rewiring our brain does take a while, behaviour change happens over time, but the more we look after ourselves, the more likely we are to create a ‘virtuous cycle’ whereby our new behaviour helps us to feel so good that we’re motivated to keep doing it.”
“Exercise is a good example of this, often it can be a struggle ton start, and then at some point we just do it automatically because we know that it is worth it.”Of course, we have the luxury of multiple tools and outlets to help us achieve a more positive mind other than affirmations, so if you find repeating statements back to yourself isn’t having quite the effect you want, what else can you try?RELATED: ‘More Energy & Better Decisions’: Simple Yet Genius Life Hack You Need To KnowFor Luke, naturally, the answer is meditation. “It’s been proven to be one of most beneficial exercises anyone can do to improve their mindset,” he relates.“Then there’s eating as healthy as possible, exercise, getting enough sleep and drinking water. Sounds simple but we really do take these actions for granted and they are by far the most beneficial.”Briony agrees, claiming “self care is a great practice to incorporate into your routine, from the moment you get up, to the moment you go to sleep at night.”Luke adds, “The other key suggestion is to try to remind yourself throughout the day to be a positive person and share positivity with others. It doesn’t have to be forced, just a genuine type of happiness to be here.”“This not only makes yourself feel good, but it could also have a positive impact on someone else’s mindset.”
This feature has been produced in partnership with Blancpain.
Many watchmakers produce diver’s watches, but Blancpain has the singular boast of bringing the world’s first modern diving watch to market – the famous Fifty Fathoms.
Borne out of a collaboration between Blancpain CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter and French Navy combat divers Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud, the Fifty Fathoms was a triumph of design. A double-sealed crown; a rotating, locking bezel; an extra-secure caseback and an anti-magnetic inner soft iron case… The Fifty Fathoms’ utilitarian yet handsome design remains an icon.
Over its long history, the Fifty Fathoms has been a canvas upon which Blancpain – the oldest watchmaking brand in the world – has experimented and introduced some of the most novel features in horological history.
In what’s sure to be exciting news for Antipodean watch fans, Blancpain has brought three of its most historically significant models to Australian shores in order to share the story and evolution of the Fifty Fathoms line. These ultra-rare references, on display to the public for the first time in Australia, are in exquisite condition and show off some truly unique features.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”top”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”287942″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]First up, we have the Fifty Fathoms Rotomatic Incabloc from 1953 – one of the very first Fifty Fathoms ever produced.
If you were to strap it on, you would be surprised just how modern it is despite its age: a 42mm case diameter, stark black dial (for maximum contrast while diving) and a self-winding movement (valuable for a diving watch in order to minimize wear on its crown and seals) make this an eminently wearable watch, even for day-to-day use.
These features really emphasise how forward-thinking Jean-Jacques Fiechter’s design was.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”287941″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The exhibition also includes the Fifty Fathoms LIP ‘Small Model’ from 1954-56.
Even as early as 1954, Blancpain was experimenting with different versions of the Fifty Fathoms – emphasising how immediately important the model was for the Le Brassus brand.
At 34mm, it’s rather small, but packs a mighty punch with its signature feature: the very first moisture indicator in a dive watch. In the event of moisture intrusion, a small disc at 6 o’clock will change colour– a very clever little feature.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”287940″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Lastly, we have the Fifty Fathoms 1000 Automatic Incabloc from the 1970s.
As the name implies, this was the first Fifty Fathoms model to be water-resistant to 1,000m – imagine taking a watch a kilometre underwater!
Despite this impressive hardiness, the watch boasts a date window and a remarkably slim case, something many modern dive watches fail to feature. A cushion-shaped case and ultra-legible indices add a beautiful aesthetic touch.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”288147″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_separator][vc_column_text]These references will be on display at Watches of Switzerland’s Sydney boutique on George St near Circular Quay starting this weekend until Sunday the 25th of April. In addition to these vintage watches, visitors can discover and try the current Fifty Fathoms collection.
The exhibition will then find a home at Watches of Switzerland’s new Perth boutique on Raine Square between Thursday the 29th of April and Sunday the 9th of May, followed by Partridge Auckland on Queen St from Tuesday the 18th to Sunday the 29th of May, and finally to Melbourne’s Monards 101 on Collins St from Tuesday the 8th to Sunday the 20th of June.
It’s a rare treat that you won’t want to miss, no matter which city you find yourself in.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_separator][vc_column_text]
(@luke.mcleod)