TIME

BRM

I remember a rather odd meeting a long time ago at the Saint James in Paris. I was driving across France with an old friend to review the then-new Ferrari California. We had taken a pit-stop at the St James and my colleague had arranged a meeting with a gentleman representing BRM watches. He said, “As a Frenchman, I am proud of my country. We have beautiful countryside, great wine, magnificent food. If it wasn’t for the French, it would be a beautiful place”. I tell you that story for no other reason than to point out that the engineers at BRM are a little eclectic. I am not a…

40,000 Leagues

Given that orange is one of the most visible colours in the spectrum, it makes sense that Alpina’s new Extreme Diver 300 timepiece features the colour heavily. I’m not a diver. I scuba a little and snorkel when I can, but 300 metres? No need. I can, however, appreciate a fine timepiece, and as the weather in our usually-cold-and-wet little country seems to be doing us proud, why not consider one just for the sheer hell of looking good. The new Extreme Diver collection features a three-hand auto and mid-size quartz. The range is indeed designed for professional divers. It has a serious bezel, an adjustable strap to go over…

du Maurier Maxim Watch

Please don’t call me Mr de Winter, I’ve a very impressive array of first names; George Fortesque Maximillion, but you needn’t bother with them all at once, my family call me Maxim. If you’re familiar Daphne du Maurier’s story of Rebecca then the character of Max deWinter will doubtlessly be on your list of top ten rouges of all time. The dashing ‘hero’, who murders his ex-wife and still gets the girl. Imagine a handsome trilby-wearing rake with a family residence that would make the Queen blush and breeding to shame Kauto Star. The leading man in the book oozes all of the charm that you would expect from a 1930s landed millionaire—and you’ll be no doubt pleased to learn that you too can…