Jamie Weiss
Melbourne’s Collins Street – or ‘Watch Alley’ to those who are obsessed with timepieces like us – is easily the single best location to shop for watches probably in the Southern Hemisphere, as much as that burns me to say as a Sydneysider. Joining the ranks of watchmakers who’ve opened up lavish shops on this watch-shopping destination is Tissot, who earlier this week officially opened its first Melbourne boutique, shoulder to shoulder with some of the best in the business (and only a few hundred meters away from our Melbourne Discovery Studio). And Tissot did it in style, with a lavish red carpet ‘do hosting watch lovers and Melbourne notables.L-R: Nicholas Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne; Lauren Jackson AO, former basketball player and Olympian; Daniel Rugman, General Manager Tissot Australia; Megan Parker, Managing Director Swatch Group AustraliaThe prominent boutique, which features a dramatic internal facade made from red glass bricks, a bank vault-shaped heritage exhibition and NBA memorabilia dotting the walls, stands apart from most watch boutiques on Collins thanks to its modern look and dapper black and red colour scheme. Tissot pulled out all the stops for the opening, which saw a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor, Nicholas Reece as well as Lauren Jackson AO, the most decorated Australian women’s basketball player of all time. We even saw a lion dance troupe visit the boutique to bring good luck and fortune, with the opening coinciding with the last day of the Lunar New Year… I can’t help but think there’s also an auspicious connection between Tissot’s brand colour of red, the red carpet, the red ribbon and the red envelope offered to the lions.The Lord Mayor gave a memorable speech connecting Tissot’s Collins Street opening to Melbourne’s horological history.There were plenty of Tissots for people to try on, including the popular PRX range as well as new novelties like the new-generation Desir. I had the chance to slip on a Tissot Telemeter 1938 for the night, which in my opinion ranks as one of the most compelling chronographs in Tissot’s range. Boasting a charming design with vintage Tissot logos, an F.P. Journe-like crown and blued hands, as its name implies it features a telemeter scale – which can be used to calculate distance based on time for things like lightning bolts and thunder. Some of these Heritage models from Tissot are surprisingly hard to get one’s hands on – something that might change now that Melbourne has its own standalone Tissot boutique.L-R: getting the wrist shot, and the Telemeter in question.Collins Street has long been home to high-end watch brand boutiques, but it’s great to see a more accessible brand like Tissot muscle in and enter the fray. Tissot is a brand that Melburnians and Australians have long had an affinity for, so the chance to be able to experience the Le Locle brand’s entire range in a dedicated space is a great opportunity for Aussie collectors. You can find Tissot’s Melbourne boutique at 234 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. Find out more and book an appointment here – Happy Valentine’s Day and hope you have a wonderful weekend!Jamie and the Time+Tide TeamWatch meme of the week: “I’m thinking that I’m back”Rolex may have made a fatal mistake axing Carl F. Bucherer…Wristshot of the week: not your average strap monsterView this post on InstagramA post shared by Hiroshi Fujiwara (@fujiwarahiroshi)Who says you can’t put a NATO strap on a Cartier Tank? Fragment founder and Japanese streetwear legend Hiroshi Fujiwara shared this snap of a green Tank Must on a NATO, and it actually kind of works…Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Baltic Hermetique Dual Time x EnduropaleStart your engines: Baltic has partnered with Enduropale, the world’s biggest sand bike race, to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a new Hermetique Dual Time. An eclectic take on a motorsports watch, it sees the Hermetique’s 37mm case sprout a new crown at 9 o'clock, which controls an internal, 12-hour timing bezel outfitted in lairy colours reminiscent of 1990s motorbikes. Despite the addition of a second crown, the Hermetique Dual Time retains its 150-metre water resistance. A limited edition of 200 pieces worldwide, we’ve managed to snag some – but get in quick.Discover the Baltic Hermetique Dual Time x Enduropale in the Time+Tide Shop, either online or in-store at our Melbourne Discovery Studio. Price: A$1,100Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the weekRolex calls it quits on the Carl F. Bucherer brand, but I have a proposal for the Crown As we alluded to, the big watch industry news this week is that Rolex has apparently called it quits on Carl F. Bucherer (the watchmaking brand, not the Bucherer retailer arm). With Bucherer’s in-house brand reportedly long unprofitable, it makes sense Rolex would put an end to what’s been described as J?rg Bucherer's expensive hobby… However, Zach sees a solution that would benefit both Rolex and perhaps the legacy of CFB. Read his take here.How to make a chainmail watch braceletForget leather or rubber – how about chainmail? Buffy’s creativity and willingness to get hands-on with watches have always impressed me – but their latest guide on how to make a chainmail watch strap is something else. Do yourself a favour and give it a read here.Toledano & Chan: The definitive guide to the brand's past, present, and futureLooking for something to watch over the weekend? Tune into this in-depth conversation between our founder Andrew McUtchen, Justin Hast and Toledano & Chan co-founders Phil Toledano and Alfred Chan which explores the?Toledano & Chan story through the three watches they've released so far. If you’d rather read than watch, check out Andrew’s write-up here.
14.02.25