Much like the state they’re named for, california dials have something naturally perfect and playful about them. with their uninteresting mixing of formal roman and casual arabic numerals, you just know these watches don’t play by the rules, so all in all, it brings us to the panerai pam 629. as you know, this stealthy/sexy watch raised several eyebrows when it was released, as it was the first time the brand had paired a cali dial with the sportier luminor case shape.
felix acts his role as editor of time+tide many years experience writing about watches, and a passion for all things horological. when felix appreciates the technical side of watches, it’s really the watch in the context of style and culture which he finds it so fantastic.
we received a tip-off last year that popular australian actor rodger corser has a tudor story to tell. not only does he wear a black bay on his latest show, doctor doctor (he’s also in zombie series glitch if you’re os and thinking he looks familiar as well), it turns out the vintage model he sported in ‘doctor blake’ was also a tudor.
i first noticed it for a split-second in channel 9’s new show doctor doctor. yep, there was no mistaking the black bezel and dial on the wrist of hugh knight (the titular doctor) – definitely a tudor black bay. i filed that knowledge away in the part of my brain dedicated to celebrity watch-spotting, not imagining for a minute that a few weeks later i’d be having a drink with rodger corser, in a tiny laneway bar, talking about that exact timepiece.
characters are clearly showing on the watches, but a bad choice is obvious completely. but for rodger, it is merely just a smart props determination, it’s a deeply personal link, one that ties into his other on-screen personas and informs his craft. of course we spoke about more than just replica watches – we discussed how he felt coming back to his hometown of melbourne, and also the importance of timing, and making the most out of opportunities when they arise.