Frederique Constant Manufacture Open Heart Dual Time

2012 May 21

As we have said before many times on the Baily Blog, Frederique Constant is one of the best value-for-money brands in the entry-level luxury Swiss watch category. They make finely finished watches with clean styling that look far more expensive than they actually are. Their Manufacture models are particularly noteworthy, offering a unique in-house movement produced in their own facility at an unbeatable price. Starting at just under 3000$, FC makes one of the most affordable in-house alternatives to the usual ETA/Sellita/Dubois Depraz offerings.

Bell & Ross Promotion - BR03-90 Power Reserve

2012 May 16

For a limited time and while supplies last, we are offering the new Bell & Ross BR03-90 Reserve de Marche (Power Reserve, with big date) for 3995$ plus tax - regular MSRP 5280$.

U-Boat Promotion! 20-30% Off All In-Stock Models

2012 May 05

U-Boat watches are on sale – get 25-30% off all in-stock models including the popular Flightdeck and Classico models, and 20% off in-stock limited editions including the U-42 and U-1001. Visit us in store or contact us for more information.

Omega Seamaster 300

2012 April 23

Omega is one of the top Swiss brands in the world today, and is increasingly becoming a serious competitor against Rolex. The brand has evolved considerably in the last 10 years, and is gaining in popularity each year. The new series of watches are making use of finely engineered in-house calibres that offer a lot of watch for the money. It used to be that Omega was the more reasonable choice for a fine Swiss watch – less expensive than Rolex and the like, but exceptionally well made and very reliable. This was especially true from the 1950 to mid 70s - Omega’s golden era.

Rado Promotion - 30% off Until April 30th

2012 April 07

From now until April 30th, get 30% off all in-stock Rado timepieces for men and women! A partir de maintenant jusqu'au 30 Avril obtenez 30% sur tous les montres Rado en stock pour les hommes et les femmes!

Bell & Ross BR01 Red Radar

2012 March 30

Matt Baily was the first Bell & Ross retailer in Canada, and we have witnessed the evolution of the company from a quirky producer of professional watches into a powerhouse brand driven by distinctive industrial designs. Their BR01 and BR03 Instrument series are still the benchmark for modern military-industrial watches. To keep the design fresh, Bell & Ross has introduced numerous colour variations and complications over the years; the Red Radar limited edition in particular has garnered a lot of press in the watch media as a seriously cool design that takes the Instrument to another level.

Basel 2012 - New U-Boat U42 Limited Editions

2012 March 16

U-Boat announces two new U-42 53mm titanium models - the U-42 GMT and the U-42 Bronze and Black.

Basel 2012 - Bell & Ross BR01 Horizon

2012 March 07

New from Bell & Ross - the BR01 Horizon

Luck and Bell & Ross - a Story from a Client

2012 March 01

This week we share an interesting story of loss and recovery from one of our clients.

Pre-Basel 2012 - New Rado Hyperchrome Watches

2012 February 23

Baselworld 2012 is approaching, and we have more news from Rado about a new series of ceramic watches for men and women called the Hyperchrome.

Graham Chronofighter RAC

2012 February 20

I’ve written about Graham watches in the blog before. It’s an interesting brand that has its roots in classical English watchmaking (though nowadays everything is made in Switzerland). What I have here is the prototypical Graham Chronofighter RAC, a classic design that, along with the Swordfish, has come to define the Graham style. While most people are familiar with the Oversize series of gigantic watches, not that many are aware of Graham’s more modestly sized offerings. While the Oversize is a sport watch that will dominate the wrist, the classic Chronofighter is an elegant, distinctly English design that straddles the line between classic and sport.

Oris BC4 Retrograde Pilot Watch

2012 February 06

This week we here at Matt Baily received a new line of Swiss watches – Oris. Continuing our tradition of seeking out interesting small brands that offer good value for nice timepieces, we took on Oris as a way to round out our collection of cool sport watches. And the brand doesn’t disappoint – they offer a number of interesting models that are well made, good looking, and reasonably priced. One model in particular caught my eye – the BC4 Retrograde, a pilot-style watch with a cool complication that sets it apart from the crowd.

Pre-Basel 2012 - New Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer

2012 February 01

It's a watch, and a (sort of) marine chronometer - the new Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer limited edition celebrates the 120th anniversary of Hamilton with a convertible wristwatch that can be used as a desk clock.

Watches in Depth - Movement Calibres

2012 January 30

When perusing watch reviews and blogs, you’ll often read about ETA and Valjoux movements, or perhaps “manufacture” calibres. Perhaps you have heard of module complications or modified calibres in various brands. To the uninitiated this sort of under-the-hood jargon can be a bit confusing, and it warrants some clarification. Even seasoned watch lovers might not be aware of what is involved in the creation of a watch movement, and how many brands share common parts and calibres. So in the spirit of watch nut education, I present the latest instalment of Watches in Depth – Movement Calibres.

Alpina Extreme Sailing Automatic

2012 January 23

Alpina has been on a roll lately, after introducing several cool new models (including the Startimer and Extreme Sailing, and the upcoming Heritage Pilot) that have really put the spotlight back onto the brand. The new theme seems to be better design, better quality, and lowered retail prices overall. The new Extreme Sailing Automatic in particular offers exceptional value; it’s a clean, functional and good-looking watch that appears far more expensive than it is.

Pre-Basel 2012 : Frederique Constant Carrera Panamerica Limited Edition

2012 January 19

Frederique Constant unveils their latest limited edition series - the Carrera Panamerica - to honour its namesake, a classic road race held in Mexico.

Pre-Basel 2012 - Alpina Heritage Pilot 50mm Limited Edition

2012 January 18

Alpina introduces its new 50mm Heritage Pilot model, a limited edition watch inspired by 1930s aviation designs set to debut at the Baselworld 2012 show.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari

2012 January 16

When it comes to big, bold, haute-horlogerie sport watches Audemars Piguet is the brand to beat. Since 1972 their signature Royal Oak series has become a legendary model that has aged gracefully and received numerous evolutionary updates over the decades to keep it fresh. The Royal Oak Offshore, in particular, has become a huge hit for the brand since it was introduced in 1993, and it remains their signature model. This week I will be profiling one of the most popular Offshores, the so-called “Safari” edition.

Orbita Watchwinders

2012 January 09

Rado D-Star 200 Diver Announced

2012 January 05

Matt Baily is Montreal’s latest Rado retailer, and we brought in the brand in anticipation of their new releases for 2012 that promised to bring the brand into the fore of the high-tech watch market after years of conservative design. Now we have our first glimpse of the direction that Rado is going with the new D-Star 200 diving models, announced this week on the Rado website.

Rolex 16710 GMT Master II

2012 January 02

When it comes to Rolex sport watches, the GMT-Master is one of the top choices among collectors and watch lovers the world over. More elegant and functional than the Submariner, and more popular than the Explorer, the GMT-Master is a modern classic that has been a brand favourite for over 50 years. The example we have here is the last of the traditional GMT-Masters, the 16710 with “coke” bezel.

New Rado Sintra XXL Skeleton Chronometer

2011 December 19

The latest addition to the Matt Baily lineup is Rado, a favourite brand among fashion conscious trend-setters who want avant-garde design and high-tech materials. A pioneer in the field of composites and ceramic watch cases, Rado has made a name for itself by innovating in a traditionally conservative Swiss watch market. One of the centrepieces of the Rado collection is the Sintra, a tonneau-shaped model available in a variety of ceramic colours with an integrated bracelet. And the flagship of the Sintra collection is the new XXL Skeleton Chronometer, which showcases a beautifully skeletonized automatic movement.

New U-Boat U-42 Chronograph and 47mm Limited Editions

2011 December 12

Last year U-Boat came out with the U-42 limited edition series, a 53mm titanium monster based on a diver’s watch designed in 1942 by Ilvo Fontana, grandfather of company president Italo Fontana. The U-42 was a very distinctive watch that offered a totally unique look in the U-Boat line, one that competed more with the likes of Panerai and Audemars Piguet (but for much less money). This year U-Boat has expanded the U-42 lineup to include an automatic chronograph, as well as a midsize 47mm model to suit more average wrist sizes.

New Bell & Ross WW1 Military and Heritage

2011 December 05

Bell & Ross watches have long been a Montreal favourite. We were the first dealer in Canada for the brand, and had them before they released their iconic Instrument series. Nowadays the Instrument is BR’s flagship, but they also produce a series of interesting round designs in the Vintage series. The latest additions to the Vintage line are the WW1 wristwatches, a series inspired by very early military watches that were adapted from pocketwatches.

Jason on ABlogToRead - Vintage Omegas

2011 November 30

This week I wrote a brief guide on collecting vintage Omega watches for Ariel Adams at ABlogToRead. Mr. Adams recently had the opportunity to visit the Omega museum at the Biel facility, and provided many excellent photos of some of the key pieces in their collection. I have a personal interest in Omegas made before the 1980s and have a small but growing collection of various models from the 1950s to 1980s, so I wrote this article to share my passion with budding collectors looking to get into Omega.

Watches in Depth - Minute Repeaters

2011 October 29

In the realm of complications there are certain functions that surpass all others in terms of complexity. You have the tourbillon, the most common superfluous complication out there. You have the perpetual calendar, the mechanical calculator that computes the leap year cycle. You can have a myriad of lesser complications combined together. But for the true watch lover, nothing beats the king of haute-horlogerie – the mighty repeater complication, one of the most difficult mechanisms to execute and one of the single most expensive complications to purchase.

New U-Boat U-51 46mm Limited Edition

2011 October 21

In the realm of big watches, U-Boat is king. Starting around 10 years ago, U-Boat was the first company to produce huge watches in 50mm plus diameters. At the time big watches were just beginning to come into vogue, since then big watches have become the norm and U-Boat has flourished. However, there are some folks (myself included) who just don’t have the wrist size to pull off a massive watch. Up until now there have been the 45mm Classico and Flightdeck models for people who want a big watch without going into the 50mms, but the limited edition pieces were always in the bigger size range. This year U-Boat has addressed this by introducing several new series of 46-47mm limited editions, including the U-1001, U-42, and the subject of today’s blog, the U-51.

Rolex Explorer I 214270

2011 October 10

Rolex has many storied models that have become legendary among watch aficionados and collectors alike. There are the ubiquitous Submariner and Sea-Dweller models, and the pilot’s favourite GMT Masters, and of course the ever-popular Datejust and Day-Date models that have become symbols of classic style and distinction. But one model range is often forgotten in favour of its more glamourous siblings – the Explorer series. Reaching back over 50 years, the Explorer has long been an understated and rugged sport model that has a rich history that should put it into the pantheon of other Rolex sport models.

New Hamilton Jazzmaster Auto Chrono

2011 September 26

Hamilton has long been a Matt Baily favourite here in Montreal, offering superb value for reasonable money. Hamiltons have elegant designs, are well built, nicely finished, and offer exceptional bang for buck compared to most Swiss brands. The latest Jazzmaster chronograph continues the tradition, while offering a subtle evolutionary upgrade of the existing series.

Bell & Ross Military Ceramic

2011 September 12

Ceramic is the latest trend in watch technology, having been dormant for many years (ceramic watches first emerged in the 1960s). The recent popularity of ceramic watches like the Chanel J12, not to mention the ceramic accents on high-tech watches from Hublot and Audemars Piguet, has created a demand for more and more ceramic designs from a variety of manufacturers. Entering the fray is Bell & Ross with a variety of new ceramic models, including the BR03-92 Military Ceramic (green, as we have here, and blue due later this year) and the upcoming BR01-92 Ceramic.

Watches in Depth - Calendars

2011 August 29

Calendar watches are the single most common complication in modern watchmaking. They are so ubiquitous that most people wouldn’t even think they are a complication at all – we’ve become so accustomed to having a date on our watches we take it for granted. The irony in this complacency is that the calendar mechanism can be one of the most difficult and expensive complications to produce when you have to factor in leap years.

Watches in Depth - The Tourbillon

2011 August 15

When it comes to complications, the tourbillon is the top tier of the watchmaker’s art. It is one of the most difficult complications to execute, one of the most expensive to buy, and one of the most superfluous in function. Tourbillons have had a sort of renaissance in the last 20 years, with ever more exotic and exponentially more complex variants, but the basic principle dates back to the 18th century when Abraham Louis Breguet was looking for a way to beat gravity.

New Alpina Startimers

2011 August 01

Since we introduced Alpina to the Montreal market some three years ago, we here at Matt Baily’s have seen the brand evolve from a small manufacturer of quirky sport watches into a well-respected marque producing very desirable watches for very reasonable prices. This year Alpina has introduced a slew of new entry-level models that are very reasonably priced while still showing a marked improvement in quality. Chief among these new models is the Startimer Pilot series, which was announced earlier this year alongside the Sailing collection. After several months of anticipation, we finally have the Startimer collection in store, and they do not disappoint.

Watches in Depth - Chronometers

2011 July 28

For centuries the pursuit of accuracy and stable rate in clocks and watches has been the driving force behind innovation and quality. The pursuit of accuracy is a cause that has significant trickle-down effects to even the least expensive mechanical watches, much moreso than the pursuit of ever-more complicated pieces. Where a highly complex watch is a bold and visible display of watchmaking prowess, the pursuit of absolute precision is the application of immense skill that often goes unnoticed by the consumer. The chronometer is a finely crafted mechanical watch that exhibits the highest degree of accuracy possible, with official certification to declare it as such. Outside of high-complications, the building of chronometers is one of the top tiers of watchmaking.

New U-Boat U-1001 47 In Store

2011 July 25

This week on the blog we introduce the U-Boat Classico U-1001 47mm Limited Edition, a scaled down and dressed up version of the U-1001 diving watch, now available in-store at Matt Baily's.

Watches in Depth - The Chronograph

2011 July 15

One of the most popular complications in watchmaking is the chronograph, the watch that doubles as a stopwatch as well as a timekeeper. It’s been one of the most prolific complication in the 20th century, second only to the basic calendar complication, and are accessible from entry-level Swiss brands all the way up to the top of the watchmaker’s craft. The chronograph has a long history in fine watchmaking, and has long been a symbol of mechanical prowess combined with everyday functionality. After having become so popular and commonplace, many people overlook just how complicated a fine chronograph mechanism really is.

New Frederique Constant and Alpina Models In Store

2011 July 04

New in-store are the latest offerings from Matt Baily favourites Alpina and Frederique-Constant. We have received a number of new luxury watches that run the gamut from supremely elegant to casual sport, including the much-anticipated Frederique Slimline Automatic and Alpina Startimer Chronograph.

New In-Store: Rubber B Straps for Rolex

2011 June 23

New in store is a very cool product for your Rolex watches – Rubber B straps. Made in Switzerland with high quality vulcanized rubber, these straps are designed to perfectly match Rolex cases with form-fitted lugs and special end-pieces that connect to the Rolex OEM fliplock clasp.

Watches in Depth - Mechanical vs Electronic

2011 June 20

Not too long ago I wrote an FAQ on watches and watch technology for the benefit of our readers and clients... In the spirit of my original FAQ I have decided to begin a series of in-depth blogs on specific subjects – different complications and their variations, the engineering and mechanical work involved in a movement, how a watch is serviced, and other topics for people who wish to learn more about luxury watches.

New Hamilton Thin-o-Matic In Store

2011 June 06

As I’ve mentioned in the blog before, we are seeing a return to classic and simple designs in the luxury watch industry after years of huge and bold sporty watches... A perfect example of this trend is the new Hamilton Thin-o-Matic, an updated re-edition of a classic dress watch from Hamilton’s golden age.

Vacheron Constantin Historique Toledo 1952

2011 May 30

Vacheron Constantin has always been a traditional luxury manufacture, preferring to make classic haute gamme timepieces rather than bowing to the market fads. They have made sporty designs in recent years, but they are still best known for their elegant dress watches that combine impeccable quality with a timeless understated style... Case in point – the Toledo 1952 annual calendar, which is part of the Historique collection of classically inspired timepieces...

VIDEO: New U-Boat Classico U-1001 47mm

2011 May 22

A video presentation of the new 2011 U-Boat Classico U-1001 limited edition watches in 47mm, from this year's Baselworld show in Switzerland.

VIDEO: Bell & Ross Watches Basel 2011

2011 May 15

VIDEO: New Bell & Ross watches from Baselworld 2011, including the Red Radar, the WW1 Vintage, the new Airborne, and the BR01 Ceramic.

U-Boat Titanium Flightdeck

2011 May 11

The U-Boat range is divided into three main models – Classico, Flightdeck and Thousands of Feet. One of the most popular models is the Flightdeck Chronograph which has become one of U-Boat’s signature designs, featuring an automatic Valjoux chronograph in a sporty case with very legible dials. Traditionally the Flightdeck features a stainless steel case, but a few lesser known variations exist – the ceramic and titanium models. What we have here is one of my favourite U-Boats and the latest addition to the Flightdeck line – reference 1881 in titanium...

Jaeger leCoultre ATMOS Clocks

2011 April 25

The most fascinating clock in the world that you can buy - the Jaeger leCoultre ATMOS clock is the closest thing to a perpetual motion machine you can own.

A Brief History of Marvin Watches

2011 April 18

The Marvin Watch company has been around for over 160 years, and this week Jason gives a short history of the brand from 1850 to the present, covering the development of the company, its disappearance, and its rebirth in 2002.

A Brief History of the Rolex Daytona - Part III

2011 April 11

In the final instalment of his Rolex Daytona profile, Jason reviews three modern examples of the Daytona - two 116520s in stainless steel and one 116509 in 18K white gold.

IWC Da Vinci Chronograph Review

2011 March 21

Vacheron Constantin Royal Eagle Chronograph

2011 March 14

This week Jason returns to his profiling of interesting pre-owned pieces with a look at the Vacheron Constantin Royal Eagle Chronograph.

Alpina Announces New Startimer Pilot Designs

2011 February 28

Alpina reveals a new series of Pilot watches - the Alpina Startimer automatic.

Azimuth Round 1 Regulator Retrograde

2011 February 26

In this week's blog Jason profiles the cool and quirky Azimuth Round 1 Retrograde Regulator, a very distinctive dress watch from a small manufacturer of interesting complications.

New Bell & Ross Vintages in Store

2011 February 16

In this week's blog, Jason takes a look at the new Bell & Ross Vintage series of watches.

New Marvin Malton and Loeb Models in Store

2011 January 27

In this week's blog, Jason gives a brief profile of the new Marvin Malton and Sebastien Loeb watches now available in store at Matt Baily's.