THE HOME OF WATCH CULTURE

tomaustin

Tom Austin

Contributor

Tom discovered watches at the young age of around 5, fascinated by a digital Super Mario Bros watch which was devastatingly lost on a Spanish holiday. Clearly scarred for life, Tom has spent the last 30 years attempting to recover from that tragedy by becoming a lifelong watch collector and enthusiast.

Tom’s taste has since matured from 90’s plastic cartoon watches and now favours Steel Sports watches with a bit more refinement. With a background in engineering and business management, Tom finds watches are a fun escape from all that stuff.

My favourite watch: Like picking a favourite song, it’s almost impossible for me, but I guess it’s whatever I get drawn to most when opening the box, and usually that tends to be my Rolex GMT Master II 116710BLNR. On my wrist during some of the most memorable parts of my adult life, it’s the one I couldn’t do without.

My Finale watch: A black dial Rolex Daytona 6240, I’m a guy who loves details and nuances which make a particular piece rare and collectible. For me nothing beats 4 digit Rolex Cosmographs and Daytonas for this. I also love that Rolex could barely give these away back in the day too, it makes me smile.

Articles by Tom Austin

Studio Underd0g and Massena LAB serve up a luxury pairing with the Champagne & Caviar 03SERIES
TAG Heuer celebrates Ayrton Senna’s enduring legacy with a pair of new Senna-inspired Formula 1 Chronographs
Straum & Time+Tide join forces to explore the Jan Mayen with an exclusive titanium special edition
Chronographs and carburetors: the timeless link between watches and motorcycles
Are you ready to binge-watch with Möels & Co’s TV-cased 528 Series 2?
Extreme measures: Christopher Ward delivers a hardcore explorer’s watch with the C63 Sealander Extreme GMT
A pop art performance from Piaget: introducing the Andy Warhol “Collage”
Studio Underd0g & Fears get behind the bar for one more cocktail with the 02SERIES Mim0sa
Jumping for joy with the new stainless steel Terra Nova Jumping Hour from Bremont
Sortie flies onto the scene with its inaugural release, the Battle of Britain-inspired BH1000
12 of the best square watches singing along to Huey Lewis and the News
Makina aims for a smash hit sequel with the Andras_II
Nivada Grenchen unleashes 5 customisable chronographs with the new Chronoking Racing
Hublot unleashes five new Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillons with a fresh twist of customisation
Swan & Edgar’s Horizon blends minimalist design with maximum story
Aera’s M-1 Dune draws unlikely inspiration for its unique pink dial
Louis Erard joins forces with artisanal engraver Maksym Shavlak on the surprisingly affordable Gravée Main
Norqain just dropped the perfect autumn watch: the panda-dialled, limited edition Freedom 60 43mm Off-White
Bianchet’s new UltraFino is here to break records with a new full sapphire tourbillon
Gérald Genta expands the Gentissima collection with a contrasting pair of studded Oursin showstoppers
Speake-Marin’s new Openworked Tourbillon Purple Hour is a purple power play
Breguet continues its 250th anniversary celebrations with the stunning dual-dialled Marine Hora Mundi 5555
Hamilton deploys a platoon of more complicated Khaki Fields for September 2025
Furlan Marri puts on its diamonds for the disco with the new Disco Volante Diamonds Onyx
Dennison doubles down with the ALD Dual Time
Fears gets ready for Geneva Watch Days 2025 with three atypical takes on its best-sellers
Longines brings the PrimaLuna bang up to date with a classy, all-new design
Mido goes retro with the adventurous, vintage-inspired Ocean Star Worldtimer
How to safely store your watches
Omega tweaks the turqouise fumé Seamaster Aqua Terra with an ultra-cool ceramic bezel
Helvetus Straps will help you level up your watch wardrobe
The C1 Bel Canto versus the C12 Loco – which Christopher Ward are you?
When your grail watch wears you instead
Why exhibition casebacks aren’t always a selling point
Cuervo Y Sobrinos defines 1930s Cuban elegance with the cigar-inspired Espléndidos Heritage
Glashütte Original turns the retro vibes up to 11 with a panda-dialled Seventies Chronograph