Articles|Column

Column: What made watches cool?


Collecting watches is cool. No longer is it exclusive to geeky forums and dusty fairs – it is now certified hip and happening.

Think about it; watch-focused Instagram accounts like Hodinkee, Watchmania and WatchAnish have hundreds of thousands of followers – well into the million even for the latter.

Watches are also a regular subject on trend-setting pages like Hypebeast and Highsnobiety. A vintage Paul Newman Daytona in 18k? They’ll feature it without blinking an eye. And perhaps without us realizing just how far we’ve come.

The popularity of watches new and vintage is a far cry from not-that-long ago, when the passion for watches was much more niche and private, best enjoyed on obscure fora and on dusty fairs. Watch collecting has finally arrived to the main stage. We made it!

But how did this come about? Below I’ll explore a few factors that I think played role in this. Fully personal and unsubstantiated, connecting dots where there are none, and leaving out substantial bits. Poor yourself a drink – it’s a long one.

Are you sure you’re ready for this?

Articles|How To

How to determine my ring size?

We all know that measuring your ring size without going to a professional can sometimes be a pain.

The Ace List will give you everything you need to know to measure it properly.

Indeed, we selected the two best methods to measure your ring size anywhere!

METHOD 1 – Measure finger with a strip of paper

Measure determine your ring size The Ace List

  • Cut a strip of paper and wrap it around your finger

Measure determine your ring size The Ace List

  • Mark the junction on the paper

Measure determine ring size The Ace List

METHOD 2 – Measure current ring

Print the PDF: “determine your ring size” (see above) and check that you are printing the page at full size (100%).

  • Select a ring that properly fits the intended finger.
  • Place the ring over the “ring’s circles”, matching the inside edge of the ring to the circle nearest in size. This measurement refers to the inside diameter of the ring.
Measure determine ring size The Ace List
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TAL TIPS

  • Measure 2 or 3 times. Be accurate.
  • If it falls between two sizes, order the larger one
  • Avoid measuring cold fingers as this is when fingers are the smallest.
  • Measure your finger when it is as its largest, at the end of the day.

And most importantly, have fun!

Articles|What to Wear

What to Wear: Five Cool Pilot’s Watches (and a budget option!)

Channel your inner Maverick with these five cool pilot’s watches.

What constitutes a pilot’s watch? On a meta level I’d say a watch for cockpit duty has to be superbly robust, reliable, and legible. It’s been well over a century since Cartier created a watch for aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, and in that time we’ve seen the pilot’s watch transform from a indispensable instrument to -basically- one of many styles in the luxury watch market at large.

Now that the pilot’s watch as an actual tool to aid in navigation and timing is all but a faint memory it’s basically free-for-all, allowing brand’s and their designers to have fun with materials, colors and complications. Accordingly we’ve seen everything from simple three-handers and chronographs to perpetual calendars and even tourbillons, in a range of shapes and sizes in every material and color imaginable. We’ve had the pleasure of shooting many of them over the years, and below you’ll find five of the best. (plus a cool budget-friendly option)

Take my breath away

Articles|Lifestyle

It’s a match! Pitti Uomo trends x TAL picks

Pitti Immagine Uomo TAL The Ace List 2018

Pitti Immagine Uomo is one of the most important event for menswear and men accessories. This B to B event takes place twice yearly in January and August at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Italy.

In 2017, 30,000 visitors came to see the exhibition where 1,220 brands displayed their new products in an area of 60,000 square meters.

Every year, the best street style looks are spotted at this major event for men’s inspiration and lifestyle.

Of course, The Ace List couldn’t resist matching some of our favorite watches with the best looks of Pitti Uomo 2018.

Longines Heritage Legend Diver Watch

Pitti Immagine Uomo 2018 The Ace List TAL
credits: Global Blue

 

Parmigiani Toric Chronometre

Pitti Immagine Uomo 2018 The Ace List TAL
credits: GQ

 

Longines Heritage 1945

Pitti Immagine Uomo 2018 The Ace List TAL
credits: Buro 24/7 Singapore

 

Omega De Ville Prestige Co-Axial 39.5MM 50th Anniversary

Pitti Immagine Uomo 2018 The Ace List TAL
credits: Buro 24/7 Singapore

 

Nomos Orion Neomatik 39 Silvercut At Work

Pitti Immagine Uomo 2018 The Ace List TAL
credits: Buro 24/7 Singapore

 

IWC Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days

Pitti Immagine Uomo 2018 The Ace List TAL
credits: GQ

 

Parmigiani Tonda 1950

Pitti Immagine Uomo 2018 The Ace List TAL
credits: Harper’s Bazaar Singapore

 

Breitling Navitimer 8 Automatic 41

Pitti Immagine Uomo 2018 The Ace List TAL
credits: menswear style