It’s Friday. It’s six o’clock in London. That means it’s time to down tools, pour yourself a drink and look back at what A Prodigal Week it has been.
Glass in hand? Let me offer you some canapés of news and views.
BUT FIRST
New for subscribers
💻 The Apple MacBook Pro, all 16 inches of it, has landed at Prodigal Towers. But does Cupertino’s chunky child make up for the sins of its father?
Here’s what others won’t tell you >
WATCHES
Desert island delight
This week, Hodinkee did that thing it does that no other watch blog ever comes close to: it wrote a great travel story disguised as a watch review. Cole Pennington - who has the audacity to call this ‘work’ - took the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Diver to the Dry Tortugas, a group of islands west of Key West to see whether it could be his “desert island watch”.
For most, this story is really about 🎵 a watch nerd dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence 🎵. But, to me…to me, it’s another reminder of how torn I am about AP’s most gauche line of watches. I talked about it on episode 9 of Prodigal Persiflage: I like the Offshore despite myself. It’s too big, too loud, too vulgar. As Cole writes:
It's the very definition of a hype-watch, and my guess is that most people that buy one aren't buying it for the 300m water resistance or the in-house caliber 4308.
And yet, the Diver in particular - slightly stripped back and more focused than the rest of the Offshore range - has an undeniable appeal, particularly when it’s actually being used and abused as a dive watch. I love seeing watches like this in the environment they belong. The Diver should be earning a living in a warm sea, not sauntering down Mount Street.
Also worth your time
Our favourite dive watches of the year: “Dive watches, even though not used for the initial purpose, are perfect for weekends or holidays, and are no-brainer choices when it comes to a robust sports watch.”
Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403 introduced: “Perhaps the most significant reflection on the Big Crown Pointer Date Calibre 403 is that six, maybe seven years ago, it would have appeared wildly and impressively out of character for Oris. Not so anymore.”
CARS
What’s that in the e-tron GT’s mirror?
So, you know I said the Audi e-tron GT was far and away the most compelling car on sale today? That may be about to change. This week, Polestar announced the production version of its Precept Concept car and it’s…it’s…well, just look at it. Evo reports:
The Polestar 5’s Precept-derived design looks just as sharp as the concept’s, with only the most subtle of changes visible. The proportions are the first thing that look accurate, with a long bonnet, wheelbase and sloping roofline. This proportion set is not unusual in the world of modern electric cars, the Tesla Model S introduced the look as far back as 2009, but for one key element that’s visible from the image – the complete lack of a rear screen.
You can keep your Ferraris and Lamborghinis. To my eyes, the most exciting cars today are the new breed of electric saloons.
Also worth your time
Audi RS e-tron GT reviewed: “The 2021 Audi RS e-tron GT is hands down one of the best electric cars I’ve ever driven. It’s gorgeous, sophisticated, incredibly powerful, but it is also very, very expensive.”
Alpine A110 refreshed: “The GT and S version of the engine has been tweaked to give maximum torque at a lower end of the rev range, and maximum power closer to the redline. A new launch control function interestingly shuts off a cylinder when powering up for a 'more engaging engine note.'“
GADGETS
On yer bike!
The Verge reports that Porsche has bought a majority stake in high-end electric bike maker Greyp. This e-bike company is the brainchild of Mate Rimac, who also founded Rimac Automobili:
The company makes highly connected, extremely powerful electric mountain bikes, including the $10,000 flagship, full-suspension G6. The company sells its bikes in Europe and recently launched its US operations based in San Pedro, Calif.
I test rode a VanMoof e-bike about a year ago and came away hugely impressed. A little like EVs before them, e-bikes add a welcome dose of performance to traditional bikes then mix in a little dose of gadgety too. In VanMoof’s case you get a screen on the bike, an app to control it and cool anti-theft tech built-in.
If you live in a city, a good e-bike is a gadget you should be considering - if only to keep up off the Covid-ridden public transport system.
More for subscribers
🍎 Apple’s October event was its best in a very long time. Not least because we finally got the MacBook Pro we’ve been begging for.
Discover the highlights >
🎧 Prodigal Persiflage turns its attention to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, the Gérald Genta Arena Retro Mickey Mouse Disney, the Greubel Forsey GMT Earth Final Edition, and…er…the Breitling Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection.
Have a listen >
🍾 Talking Hands is back after a six year hiatus (not counting the NOS episode we unearthed). Eric and I sat down over a bottle of wine to discuss the vintage Omega Speedmaster and Breitling Navitimer.
Watch it here >