Citizen Red Arrows Watches

Written by Chris Derrer – Blogger for The Watch Hut

Citizen watches have been some of the most popular timepieces in world for many years, but since their partnership with the Red Arrows came into place in 2010, they have had a whole new range created that has become one of the most popular ranges in the brands history.

There are two World Time Chronograph watches and three Skyhawk watches as part of the Red Arrows range, offering an array of styles, but all giving that sleek and stylish look that is synonymous with the Red Arrows. Every watch in the collection also features that famous Eco-Drive system that Citizen are so proud of, meaning the watches never need a battery.

Starting at the more humbly priced pieces, we have the World Time Chronograph watches, one with a stainless steel bracelet strap and the other having a black leather reptile effect strap. Both watches feature chronograph function, a multi dial display and a large round dial, but when it comes to smartness, the leather strap version just edges it, as it offers something slightly different and with the contrasting red stitching, it really stands out.

If we double the price, we come to the Skyhawk Red Arrows series, similarly they have a black leather strap option with red stitch trim and reptile effect finish, but there is a choice of two stainless steel bracelet strap watches. All three have radio controlled atomic timekeeping but the most expensive piece in the collection, the JY0110-55E also boasts a perpetual calendar making it very accurate and reliable, so much so that you’ll never need to adjust it again.

All of the Red Arrows watches feature the Team logo on the case back and RAF logo on the dial so they can be worn with pride.

You can check out the entire Red Arrows collection from Citizen watches at The Watch Hut

Follow Chris on Google+ and on Twitter @WatchHut_Chris

An Interview with Scott Cassell – Giant Squid, Sharks and Luminox Watches

 
Luminox make smart diving watches perfect for telling the time no matter how dark and murky the depths are. They have recruited the services of expert diver Scott Cassell as a brand ambassador and they have even named a small range of their watches after him including the 1525 Deep Dive Special Scott Cassell dive watch and the 3054 Colormark Special Scott Cassell dive watch. Here is the Video Interview of Scott Cassell

Scott is a fascinating guy with lots of stories to tell, not only about his pride to be a representative of Luminox, but about his fantastic adventures as an oceanographer and a marine conservationist. He’s worked as a counter terrorism dive instructor, he’s hunted poachers and he’s even worked with National Geographic, Animal Planet and the BBC on some of their underwater projects.

I managed to catch up with Scott on his recent visit to the UK and we spoke about his recent 30 mile scuba dive, his amazing career underwater and his new partnership with Luminox. He now has a small range of watches from Luminox that carry his name and feature a logo from one of his two companies (Sea Wolves Unlimited and Undersea Voyager Project)  that he created to help to conserve the under sea world and its inhabitants.

He’s been attacked by giant Humboldt squid, man eating sharks and poachers, he’s been run over by a boat, been in helicopter crashes (yes, plural… crashes) and yet Scott remains a gentle character with a kind manner and a charm that puts you at ease. He was a pleasure to talk to and his enthusiasm for the undersea world, marine life and watches is utterly infectious.

You can watch the full interview here on The Watch Review Site, but to take a look at the range of Luminox watches, including Scott’s own, visit The Watch Hut.

88 Rue Du Rhone Launch in the UK at The Watch Hut

Written by Chris Derrer – Blogger for The Watch Hut

One of Switzerland’s newest watch companies has begun trading here in the UK, having only been founded back in 2011, 88 Rue Du Rhone watches may be the new kids on the block, but they’re showing some of the old boys how to do it.

Pierre and Elie Bernheim are the two men behind 88 Rue Du Rhone (88RDR) watches and they are the grandsons of non other than Swiss watch making legend Raymond Weil. We know from the family history, that these watches are from pedigree, but what’s different about them to Raymond Weil watches?

Well to be brutally honest… most things are different, in a good way. The watches in the range all have a far more contemporary feel to them than their relatives, with the influence being aimed at a more youthful audience. The designers have added the use of a red second hand on every men’s watch, with many pieces featuring simple and sleek designs.

Unlike many other Swiss brands, 88 Rue Du Rhone watches are also set at a far more friendly price point, with prices starting at just £275, opening the luxury and prestige watch market up to a whole new audience of people.

The quirky story behind the watches name and the presence of the number 8 on each individual piece is another unique selling point. They are named after the address where the River Rhone joins Lake Geneva, a gap on the Rue Du Rhone between buildings where a thing of true beauty happens. The number 8 is also a number of good fortune in many cultures, so having the double 8 on the dial and at the 8 o’clock for many, offers a quirky style and the opportunity of good fortune.

The Swiss spirit is still strong within these watches, but what is different is what is best about them, they bring the Swiss watch market up to the modern day, and open it to far more people who ordinarily would have never considered a watch brand such as this.

88 Rue Du Rhone chose The Watch Hut as one of their exclusive launch partners.

Article supplied by Chris Derrer you can follow Chris @WatchHut_Chris and @TheWatchHut

You can also see the entire range of 88 Rue Du Rhone Watches at The Watch Hut

Limited Edition Star Wars Series – An Introduction

Seiko Create Star Wars Watches Collection

Written by Chris Derrer – Blogger for The Watch Hut

A long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away… There was Darth Vader, Yoda, R2D2, Darth Maul, a Stormtrooper and C3PO… but who was your favourite Star Wars character? Well Seiko watches have now given you the opportunity to pick one of the aforementioned characters and own a watch designed around them, as long as you live in Japan that is! Seiko have done this to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of this cult…

Having partnered with LucasFilm, Seiko now has created the 6 watches, with only 5,000 being made in total, with each character watch having between 500 to 1,500 pieces each. If you were the kind of Star Wars fanatic collector then Seiko will be creating a special set including all of the watches, but this will set you back, probably by a few million yen.

The Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, C3PO, Darth Maul, and Yoda watches all have very similar basic designs. All feature round dials, chronograph analogue displays and feature the characters face on the back of the case. The Vader watch is black, much like the Stormtrooper, Darth Maul and C3PO watches, Yoda’s watch is silver tone, with a green dial and R2D2 has a completely different design from all the others.

Everyone’s favourite cheeky little droid has a watch in his honour that has a digital display (obviously) that comes on a rectangular screen. The screen also displays a picture of “Artoo”, we’re not sure yet if the screen will be animated, but we sincerely hope it will be, complete with bleeps and  lights!

We hope that with some success in Japan and with the apparent release of the Star Wars movies into 3D coming soon, there may a chance that these watches make the journey west and hit Europe and the US in the future, although sadly for now they are exclusive to Japan.

Article supplied by Chris Derrer you can follow Chris @WatchHut_Chris and @TheWatchHut

Keep an eye out for a detailed look at all the Seiko Star Wars watches here on The Watch Review Site over the coming weeks up to the launch of these Seiko Limited edition watches in October.