Citizen Releases Five Limited Edition Watches For World Oceans Day, Union Glashütte Shows Very Bold Viro Chronograph Silvretta Classic and Perrelet Turbine Label Noir Is A Surprisingly Affordable Unique Watch

Hey friends, welcome back to It’s About Time. It’s a hugely busy day today so please don’t mind the briefness of this issue. Also, I heard from a lot of you and have an update on the Hamilton Khaki Field giveaway. I’m making the invite system a lot easier. No need to invite five friends any more to qualify for the giveaway. Each person you invite will count as a “ticket” for the giveaway, increasing your chances. Invite one person and you’re currently subscribed? You get two entries into the pool from which a random winner is chosen. Invite five and are subscribed? You get six entries. Makes sense, right?

Also, fill out the survey or invite five friends to entered the Hamilton Khaki Field giveaway.

In this issue:

• Citizen Celebrates World Oceans Day With Five Limited Watches

• Union Glashütte Shows Very Bold Viro Chronograph Silvretta Classic

• Perrelet Turbine Label Noir Is A Surprisingly Affordable Unique Watch

• Hublot Releases Third Generation Of Ceramic-Encased Smart Watches

Today’s reading time: 6 minutes and 47 seconds

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👂What’s new

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Citizen Celebrates World Oceans Day With Five Limited Watches, Including New Promaster Dive With Fantastic Green/Blue Dial

It was just the other day - Friday, I think - that I wrote about the Ulysse Nardin Diver Net Azure And Diver X Skeleton Azure which the brand released to mark World Oceans Day. This is, obviously, a big day for watch companies that produce divers, and most have some sort of cooperation with programs that conserve the oceans. Blancpain has their Ocean Commitment, Seiko has Save the Oceans and PADI collaborations and now Citizen has launched their new Unite with Blue collection for World Oceans Day.

This new collection for Citizen includes a classic Promaster Dive model, a pair of feature-packed Attesa watches, and two women’s pieces from the xC and CITIZEN L lineups. All five are powered by the brand’s Eco-Drive movements and all are fitted with dials with a very pleasing asymmetric pattern of green and blue, treated with a structural color ink created by Fujifilm Corporation, that pays tribute to the world’s oceans and the marine life that inhabit them.

The two Attesa watches come in titanium cases with blue gradation in a structural effect. The AT8188-64L comes in a 42mm case that’s 10.82mm thick and has a black DLC-finished bezel with engraved markings for its worldtime function. You get 100m water resistance, a date window at 3 and a chronograph function that’s powered by the Cal. H800 Eco-Drive movement, which is solar-powered with radio-controlled atomic timekeeping. This is also the most expensive watch of the collection coming in at $1,995 and is limited to 2,400 pieces.

The second Attesa is the CB0215-18L in a black DLC-finished Super Titanium case that measures 42.5mm diameter by 10.1mm thick. Unlike the AT8188-64L which comes on a titanium bracelet, this comes on a black leather strap. It’s powered by the Cal. H145 Eco-Drive movement, which means that in addition to running on light, it also offers the added functionality of radio-controlled atomic timekeeping, a world time feature with 26 time zones, and a perpetual calendar for its date display. This model is limited to 2,200 and will set you back $1,025.

The Promaster Dive BN0166-01L is the stainless steel 44mm wide and 11.5mm thick case you known and love. It comes on the familiar black rubber strap is made from biomass-based polyurethane, which includes plant-based materials. The dial of the is manufactured from 100% recycled polycarbonate materials, and it uses a pigment-free ink to create a variety of different ocean-inspired blue and green hues that blend into each other with a subtle gradient effect. To complement its dial, the outer rotating bezel ring of the watch is fitted with an anodized aluminum insert that echoes the blue and green tones present throughout its dial. Powered by the Citizen Cal.E168 with an accuracy of +/-15 seconds per month, the Promaster Dive UNITE with BLUE edition is accompanied by an official retail price of $475 USD, and it will be produced as a limited edition of 7,000 pieces worldwide.

Moving onto the more petite xC and Citizen L Bianca models, the two are offered in a limited run of 1,700 units each. The elegant xC model comes attired in a 29mm case crafted from Super Titanium, along with an integrated bracelet. It will cost you $1,495, and it’s limited to 1,700 pieces worldwide.

As for the Citizen L Bianca, the timepiece is housed in a contemporary-looking, 21.5mm square case composed of stainless steel. On top of that, dainty diamonds and precision-cut embellishments reminiscent of bubbles on the surface of the sea are added to the dial. Created as a limited edition of 1,700 pieces worldwide, the new Citizen L Bianca UNITE with BLUE EW5591-51L is accompanied by an official retail price of $525.

Just a PSA regarding the link I posted for this watch - it’s a sponsored post from A Blog To Watch. While I always avoid posting sponsored posts, this is the best resource I could find on the new watches, with in depth descriptions of each one so I believe it’s worth it. If you would rather check out the watches on Citizen’s website, feel free to click here.

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Union Glashütte Shows The Very Bold, Very Different Viro Chronograph Silvretta Classic 2023

The Silvretta Classic is not a hugely famous race. But it is a wonderful annual vintage car rally that has taken place in the Austrian and Swiss Alps since 1998. And for the third year they have partnered with Union Glashütte to create a watch for the event. This year the watch brand has released their Viro Chrongraph in what they call racing cars paint from the 1960s - a bright red dial and three white horizontal stripes in the middle.

Behind the bold dial is Union Glashütte’s known Viro chronograph that comes in a very, very, very large 44mm stainless steel case that is 14mm thick. Also, don’t forget that oversized crown that adds to the diameter. You get a flat sapphire crystal and screwed exhibition caseback, 100m water-resistant. The Union Glashütte Viro Chronograph Silvretta Classic 2023 is powered by the UNG-14.01 automatic movement with 60 hours of power reserve. The chronograph mechanism is cam actuated, and the watch also features the stop-second device for accurate settings.

So, the main difference with this limited edition is the dial and strap. The hyper-red dial, framed with a black tachymeter scale, gets two 30-minute and 12-hour black chronograph counters positioned at 12 and 6 o’clock feature white dials with black rings. White dots filled with Super-LumiNova serve as the hour markers. The Union logo and the day and date indication are executed in black on a white background, and together with the Super-LumiNova-treated nickel-black hands provide an eye-catching image, in contrast to other Union Glashütte Viro line timepieces which are much more restrained. The watch comes on a perforated leather racing-style strap or on a three-link stainless steel bracelet.

The new Union Glashütte Viro Silvretta Classic 2023 chronograph is a limited edition of only 200 pieces and the price is set at EUR 2,980.

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The Perrelet Turbine Evo Label Noir Is A Unique Watch That Costs Far Less Than It Should

It might not be a household name in everyday watch conversations, but Perrelet is one of the most important watchmakers of all time. Well, at least the company founder Abraham-Louis Perrelet is, seeing as he invented the self-winding movement in 1777. But Perrelet does not rest on the laurels of history and has thoroughly modernized it’s offering with a unique Turbine model. Now the historic brand has collaborated with Label Noir, an independent Genevan watchmaker to make a co-branded Turbine.

The Turbine has a unique look, even before the Label Noir collaboration. It is inspired by an oscillating weight and the turbine on the dial is made up of 12 blades that freely rotate with subtle wrist motion, delivering a dynamic dial that we don’t get to see every day. While it looks awesome, it’s purely an aesthetic feature - the turbine on the dial moves freely, while the oscilating weight is on back of the watch and that is what energises the mainspring. Over the turbine dial are plump hands that help with readability, while the indexes are presented on a static track, partly projecting over the rotating turbine. A sub-level sits beneath the turbine, becoming visible as the blades spin at speed.

This is where Label Noir takes over. It has taken the Turbine and just doused it in stealth colors and it should be noted that Label Noir specializes in materials and surface treatments. The turbine blades are executed in black ADLC, while the brass subdial has been subjected to an ‘electrocasting’ chemical treatment and it can be seen when the turbine shifts with hand movements. All the hands have been colored fully black, starting with the seconds hand that almost disappears now. The plump black hands and bold indexes are painted in black Super-LumiNova so you can at least read the time at night.

The hour track is presented in grey, delivering a monochromatic contrast with the numerous black tones. The stainless steel case, measuring 44mm in diameter, is treated with grey ADLC, a design signature of Label Noir. The black strap is leather and incorporates an alligator pattern, echoing the colour of the bezel and crown.

Inside the watch is the in-house automatic calibre P-331-MH which features an impressive list of refinements, including rhodium-plated components, satin-brush, colimaçon and perlage. The watch is also a COSC-certified chronometer, independent assurance that it is highly precise.

The Perrelet Turbine Evo Label Noir will be made in only 50 pieces and comes in at CHF 4,700 excluding tax. While this might not be cheap, it looks to be an absolute bargain - you get a highly limited watch from a respected watchmaker sporting an in-house movement with unique decorations and a dial you won’t see every day.

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Hublot Releases Their Third Generation Of Ceramic-Encased Smart Watches

It’s hard to argue that the Apple Watch is not the best smartwatch out there. There are great competitors, but overall, nobody can touch Apple. However, while the Apple Watch used to come in premium materials like ceramic and gold, there seems to have been low demand for these models and they no longer make them. So, enter the familiar high-end watch brands like TAG, Montblanc and Hublot who fill this spot of expensive smart watches. It’s not really a category I truly understand, but there are enough who do for Hublot to know introduce it’s Big Bang e Gen3 watch, offered in black or white ceramic.

The new version of Hublot’s smart watch gets micro-blasted and polished black or white ceramic 44mm wide and 14mm thick cases, with Hublot’s H-shaped titanium screws and black-plated titanium crowns with rubber inserts. Inside is the Qualcomm® Snapdragon WearTM 4100+ processor which can connect to both your iPhone and Android, and has the usual array of sensors and features: heart rate monitor (HRM), accelerometer, gyroscope, Low Latency off Body (LLOB), ambient light sensor (ALS), microphone, speaker, and DC Motor (Vibration), GPS, Bluetooth Wi-Fi, and NFC payment connectivity

you can display one of 11 digital dials on the 454 x 454 pixels, 327 dpi resolution screen. While the watches are paired with black or white rubber straps, you can easily swap them out to color-match the dial, thanks to the Big Bang e Gen3’s “One Click” strap system

The Hublot Big Bang e Gen3 Black Magic (ref. 450.CI.1100.RX) and White Ceramic (ref. 450.HX.1100.RX) connected watches are priced at $5,400 each and are available for sale immediately.

🫳On hand

Our selection of the best reviews we stumble upon

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A review of the funky Bremont MB Viper

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Hands on with the wonderful purple MB&F LMX Paris Edition

⚙️Watch Worthy

A look at an off beat, less known watch you might actually like

The Vario 1945 D12 Field Watch delivers vintage vibes for a bargain price

Although vintage accuracy is always seen as a box to tick with reissues, the 1945 D12 is much more about inspiration than imitation. It does its best to evoke the Dirty Dozen watches without trying too hard to be one, and as such it keeps some of that infectious Vario optimism that seems to run through their designs. Its case features a bezel with a brushed, flat face, similar to that of the Cyma design, but the lugs are a little more curvaceous and tucked in. Its alternation between brushed and polished surfaces definitely brings a contemporary touch, and the most glaring anachronism is the crown located at 4 o’clock.

⏲️Wait a minute

A bunch of links that might or might not have something to do with watches. One thing’s for sure - they’re interesting

• The war in Ukraine will be the real first war fought on social networks - something that people thought applied to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The daily influx of cellphone videos form the frontlines has bought brought us closer to the war, but also managed to remove most of the humanity and peril from these videos. As we scroll through the feeds, ti blends in the with the funny cat, cooking and bad driving videos. That’s why it’s always a good idea to read a first person account of what life is like on the Ukrainian frontline, the written word just allows you to focus more on the horor. You can start with this one form the New Yorker.

• As humanity tries to deal with establishing a better balance with nature, there’s one guy who thinks he may have a solution. Since ocean creatures soak up huge amounts of humanity’s carbon mess, he believes we value them like financial assets, leading to a trillion-dollar auction to save the world. It sounds weird, but hear the guy out.

• I was a huge fan of Alex Jones. He was my type of unhinged - screaming about gay frogs and losing his mind on air over government conspiracies. Like many, I saw him as a loony guy that was good for a laugh. Then he did what he did, and it suddenly became a lot less funny. And now his empire is crumbling in spectacular fashion, which is always a fun read if you’re on the outside.

👀Watch this

One video you have to watch today

Most of the videos posted here are short and fun bites to pass the time. This one is a monster - a feature length documentary that won a bunch of awards: The Range of Light is an intimate look into the lives of three hikers as they tackle the high routes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, covering over 400 miles in 35 days. The film explores the addictive nature of long-distance hiking, the creation of high routes, and the threats these wild places face.

💵Pre-loved precision

Buy and sell your watches. Think of this section like old school classifieds - i don’t guarantee anything except that a bunch of people will see your ad and I’ll put the buyer and seller in touch. Want to advertise your watch? Contact us 

• LOOKING TO BUY: One of our readers is looking to purchase three very specific watches: an Islander ISL-133 Mother of Pearl, a Sinn 556 Mother of Pearl or a Zelos 300m GMT Mosaic Mother of Pearl. If you’re selling any of these, reach out to us and we’ll put you in touch

• FOR SALE: Longines Heritage Skin Diver, box and papers. €1400. Reach out to us and we’ll put you in touch

Hamilton Khaki Field giveaway/

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