Inspired by the legendary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, the Baume & Mercier Riviera Magnum XXL (ref. 8835 aka MOA08835) is a relatively affordable piece of gadgetry for those not willing to spend a fortune on the real thing (or, as I think I need to add after meditating a minute or two on the subject sometime after this brief review was already published, it is not fair to use such a degrading combination of words as “a real thing” implying that this one is just a shameless ripoff: I think of it as more of an “homage” to the famous ROO, which is one of the best forms of flattery if you want my opinion.)
45 mm
Victorinox AirBoss Mach 6 Power Gauge “Aviator”
Featuring a cluttered dial and an oversized body, the Victorinox Swiss Army AirBoss Mach 6 Power Gauge doesn’t look like a practical choice. However, the exaggerated busyness of the exterior and the nice finish of its mechanical movement makes this “aviator” a nice fashion accessory for those who always dreamed about accomplishing a tour of duty on a real aircraft carrier.
Blancpain Speed Command Chronograph (5785F-11D03-63)
Here comes the big one. With its 45mm Speed Command Chronograph (ref. 5785F-11D03-63), Blancpain has introduced its sportiest model so far. Although the exterior defies the recent trend of making rugged-looking devices (inspired by real tools, they often come with lots of angles, lots of machine-brushed surfaces and feature deliberately rudimentary, even crude look to their components), the new Speed Command makes a strong impression thanks to its glossy black sapphire bezel and scratch-resistant body of the same color.
Code Orange: DOXA SUB 5000T Seaconqueror
The recently unveiled SUB 5000T Seaconqueror has been officially promoted to the flagship status. Featuring all the usual design traits from DOXA, the device is offered in a deliberately aggressive-looking design with lots of protruding parts that may make you hurt somebody if not used with care.