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Hanhart Austrian Air Force AW169M | Image: Hanhart

The Wind Up – Watch News #277


In the wake of all the excitement of Watches & Wonders 2024, the watch releases simply don’t stop, so here’s another Wind Up ready and waiting. In this week’s instalment, we’ll be highlighting some pre-Watches & Wonders excitement, with new pieces from Breitling, Seiko, along with another OMEGA x Swatch collaboration. Enjoy!

Titanium Breitling Chronomat B01 Models | Image: Breitling
Titanium Breitling Chronomat B01 Models | Image: Breitling

Titanium Breitling Chronomat B01 Models

  • Brand: Breitling
  • Model: Chronomat B01 42 / Chronomat B01 44
  • Reference: Ref. EB0134101M1E1 / Ref. EB0136251M1S1
  • Diameter: 42mm / 44mm
  • Movement: Self-winding mechanical calibre Breitling 01
  • Water-Resistance: 200m
  • Power Reserve: 70 hours
  • Price: AUD$17,490 / AUD$14,990

Breitling unveiled two new Chronomat B01 references just days ago. We have a new 42mm as well as a monster 44mm model, both encased in titanium. The Chronomat B01 42 and Chronomat B01 44 look almost identical. They both feature a similar colour palette; they both have a titanium bracelet; and they’re both powered by the Breitling Manufacture Calibre 01, a genuine COSC-certified chronometer.

The telling difference from afar, and aside from the size, of course, is the bezel. The Chronomat B01 42 has a titanium bezel with four rider tabs at each 15-minute marker, while the Chronomat B01 44 has a ceramic, with similarly marked rider tabs in black. The other minor difference is the design of the pushers and crown, too.

Seiko 5 Sports SNXS | Image: Seiko
Seiko 5 Sports SNXS | Image: Seiko

Seiko 5 Sports SNXS

  • Brand: Seiko 
  • Model: Seiko 5 Sports SNXS Series
  • Reference Number: SRPKx
  • Diameter: 37.4mm 
  • Water Resistance: 100m
  • Calibre: 4R36
  • Power Reserve: 41 hours
  • Price: USD$395

A far cry from the often insanely complicated (and equally as insanely expensive) watches that we normally feature in the Wind Up, here is something perhaps more on the level of normality. Introducing the updated Seiko 5 Sports SNXS series.

Here we have three distinct dial variations made available in black, blue and ivory. The tell-tale signs of a typical Seiko 5 are there: day/date indicator at 3 o’clock, crown at 4 o’clock, and a refined aesthetic that is simple and effective. What more do you want in a sub-$500 mechanical watch?

OMEGA x Swatch MoonWatch Mission To The Moonphase New Moon | Image: OMEGA
OMEGA x Swatch MoonWatch Mission To The Moonphase New Moon | Image: OMEGA

OMEGA x Swatch MoonWatch Mission To The Moonphase New Moon

  • Brand: Swatch 
  • Model: MoonWatch Mission To The Moonphase New Moon
  • Reference Number: SO33B700
  • Diameter: 42mm
  • Water Resistance: 30m
  • Calibre: Quartz
  • Price: AUD$500

Could this be it, the very last one? If it is, boy did Swatch do an epic job on it. Here is the brand new OMEGA x Swatch MoonWatch Mission To The Moonphase New Moon. With its black on black aesthetic, the OMEGA x Swatch MoonWatch Mission To The Moonphase New Moon is quite obviously a carbon copy, sans the white and replace with black, of the all-white model released only a few weeks ago.

The coolest feature with the new OMEGA x Swatch MoonWatch Mission To The Moonphase New Moon is the moon phase disc which glows in blue, along with the secret message which says “I can’t sleep without a night light!”. 

Hanhart Austrian Air Force AW169M | Image: Hanhart
Hanhart Austrian Air Force AW169M | Image: Hanhart

Hanhart Austrian Air Force AW169M

  • Brand: Hanhart  
  • Model: Austrian Air Force AW169M
  • Reference Number: AW169M
  • Diameter: 45mm
  • Water Resistance: 100m
  • Calibre: ETA 7750
  • Power Reserve: 42 hours
  • Price: EUR€2,940

The Hanhart Austrian Air Force AW169M was designed with the Austrian Air Force in order to create a genuinely inspired military timepiece that resonates with both the watchmaking maison and the esteemed military outfit.

It features a military-inspired aesthetic complete with a camo-green dials, cathedral hands and bold lume-filled Arabic numerals. The single pusher chronograph is actually a conversion of the ETA 7750 movement, which I think is a cool little touch.