Showing posts with label Lawrence of Arabia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lawrence of Arabia. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

"It's Clean" The Tudor Ranger Beige

Which as we all know is what attracted Major Lawrence to the desert.

With those cinematic bon mots out of the way, on to the latest offering from Tudor -

Courtesy of Tudor

First impressions? Well, here gentle reader, I have to be honest -

Meh.... 
Meaning I was left unmoved, unimpressed, and uninspired. As mentioned on more than one occasion - I am the proud owner of a Tudor. I have had some desirous thoughts about the Tudor Professional (opaline dial), and although it's not everyone's baby, the pink dialed chronograph was an inspired release. And for once Tudor showed restraint by not flooding the market with a gazillion of them. What was mocked by some has become a hot ticket! 

So in fairness, Tudor can execute. It just seems that the execution is somewhat sporadic. The new Tudor Ranger in beige is not "born to dare". It is like my high school soccer coach - playing not to lose. When you're so fearful of losing, you become too afraid to win.

But with that said, and in all fairness, this might be just the ticket for you. So here are the pertinents, straight from Tudor -

Watch Specifications

Reference: M79930-0008



 

Monday, April 23, 2012

What watch would Lawrence of Arabia wear - an alternate view

This is another new offering from Hanhart that I got to try on at BaselWorld -

Courtesy of Hanhart
This is the Primus Desert Pilot - and it is REALLYYYYYYYY cool!



Here are the specs - straight from Hanhart:



Movement:
HAN3809 modified automatic chronograph movement (bicompax), based on the Valjoux 7750 calibre; 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz; 28 jewels; rotor with a skeletonised Hanhart logo; power reserve of min. 42 hours
Functions:
Small seconds at 9 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, date display at 6 o’clock
Case:
Stainless steel; anodised aluminium red button; fluted bezel with inlaid red marking; convex, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass; screwed-down, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass case back; screw-in crown; flexible lugs; diameter 44 mm, height 15 mm; water-resistance to 10 bar/100 m
Dial:
Sand; with Super-LumiNova®-coated, luminous Arabic numerals, index marks and hands
Strap:
Textile; folding clasp with inlaid red marking (anodised aluminium) made from stainless steel
Reference number:
740.250-372

You know I'm a sucker for all things Hanhart and this one was no exception!


Monday, January 17, 2011

What watch would Lawrence of Arabia wear?

Photo courtesy of JEANRICHARD
I want to start this out by saying I KNOW that  Thomas Edward Lawrence (more widely known as Lawrence of Arabia) wore an Omega.  But I have been reading Michael Korda's HERO - a truly well written biography on Mr. Lawrence, and seem to have the vast expanse of that desert landscape and all of its mysteries stuck in my mind.  As a side note, Mr. Korda is a well-respected collector of Patek Philippe, so there's the connection!


But at first (and even second and third) glance, this fantastic new timepiece from JEANRICHARD carries me off to a fantastic place, full of natural beauty, wonder - and adventure.


Courtesy of JEANRICHARD
This is the JEANRICHARD Highlands "SAND" - just released for the SIHH this week.  Rugged and romantic at the same time.  Here is what JEANRICHARD has to say -



A revival of a JEANRICHARD model from the 1990s, the Highlands Sand immediately brings to mind the exploration of the great outdoors, closeness to nature and simplicity.

In the mid-1990s, the ‘Highlands by JEANRICHARD’ watch celebrated ‘the quintessence of nature’. Peter Beard's superb photographs, used in the brand's advertising, illustrated the fantastic and richly evocative panorama of the African landscape. JEANRICHARD has now reinterpreted this timepiece, which retains the character of its predecessor and is equipped for all kinds of adventure.

The most notable aspect of this watch is the significant development in the design of the case.
Courtesy of JEANRICHARD
This reprises a theme close the Brand's heart: the use of a round bezel on a
tonneau middle. The aesthetics are the result of an unconventional approach based on well-defined shapes. The watch's generous proportions (44.5mmx40mm) emphasizes its robust construction. The case is water-resistant to 100 m and the screw-down crown gives optimal protection.

Courtesy of JEANRICHARD
Its notched rotating bezel lends it a technical feel and allows a second time zone to be displayed. The ecru dial is directly inspired by the original.

The hours are marked by large Arabic numerals and dynamic hands with a luminescent coating, offering excellent readability in even the murkiest conditions.

The Highlands Sand is equipped with a fabric strap featuring a folding safety buckle
perfectly adapted to the lifestyle with which it is associated. The use of the JR1000
movement, developed and manufactured in the Brand's workshops, was an obvious
choice.
Courtesy of JEANRICHARD
This automatic movement, which is renowned for its reliability and production
quality, can be seen through the watch's sapphire case-back.

This model is also available with a khaki dial on the Highlands Baobab or a black dial on the Highlands Ebony.




TECHNICAL INFORMATION

CASE

Sand-blasted stainless steel case
Dimensions: 44.50 x 40 mm
Height: 11.96 mm
Antireflective sapphire crystal
Sapphire crystal case-back secured with 4 screws
Water-resistant to 100 m
Screwed crown
Bidirectional rotating bezel

MOVEMENT

JEANRICHARD movement JR1000
Self-winding
Calibre: 11 ½’’’
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz)
Jewels: 27
Power reserve: min. 48 hours
Functions: hour, minute, second, date

DIAL

Ecru mat dial
Luminescent Arabic numerals and indexes
Black hands with luminescent material

STRAP

Delivered with two straps: khaki fabric and brown calfskin
Sand-blasted stainless steel folding buckle


http://jeanrichard.com