It’s Friday. It’s six o’clock. It’s time to down tools, pour yourself a drink and look back at what A Prodigal Week it has been. Here’s your bite-sized helping of news and views.
GADGETS
Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other…
Sorry Sony, your awesome £2,300 phone isn’t going to cut it this week. That’s because this week, on Star Wars day no less, Disney showed off the most desirable, awesome gadget in the galaxy: a real-life lightsaber featuring glowing blades that actually extend and retract. Behold:
According to a patent filed three years ago, it works thanks to two widened strips of plastic that function like tape measures. They’re extended by a motor and wrap around each other to create a cylinder with a strip of LEDs running down the middle to create the glow. Gizmodo has the story.
For now, you’ll have to book a holiday at Disney’s new Star Wars resort to see it in action but a long time from now, in a galaxy not too far away, surely we’ll be able to buy one to take home?
WATCHES
Over the moon
I’ve had a soft spot for MeisterSinger ever since we reviewed a couple of their early pieces on Talking Hands. It’s hard to argue with the wonderfully laid-back nature of their single-hand watches, the democratic prices, and the traditional style.
This week, we saw the release of the new MeisterSinger Stratoscope, single-hand and ultra-large moonphase. And, to my eyes at least, by designing such an usually large moonphase window and making the moon glow in the dark (that’s right, folks, it’s luminescent), they’ve done two great things. First, they’ve filled what was previously a lot of dead space on their dial and, secondly, they’ve very successfully made the moonphase - usually a small window tucked away amongst many others - the compelling star of the show.
I think it looks great - particularly on this vintage-inspired leather strap.
CARS
Bond’s Bentley
In a week in which Ferrari released a car powered by its highest-revving and most powerful V12 yet, it was always going to take something special to turn our head. Bentley did just that.
I was lucky enough to spend a week with a previous-generation Continental GT years ago and loved its
“hand-crafted British charm, deep technical ability, brute force, simple yet iconic looks and peerless lineage”.
The new model is all of that but ‘more’. In particular, they refined the styling to create something truly beautiful. And, this week, Bentley let journalists loose on the latest iteration of the Conti, the GT Speed, “its most performance-focused car ever.”
Bond aficionados will know that, in the novels, our favourite gentleman spy never drove an Aston Martin, he had a Bentley. And this muscular yet stylish Speed seems like the perfect car to take Daniel Craig’s Bond into battle.
In case you missed it…
✈️ My obsession with IWC Pilot’s watches is laid bare in the first of a new series, The Wish List, in which we explore the dozen or so pieces I’m clamouring to add to my watch box.
Discover the list >
⌚️ In the latest Prodigal Persiflage podcast, I talk to Eric Drosin about the dangerous, murky waters of vintage Rolex collecting. It’s a riveting tale of bravery, treachery and a perfectly-coiffed rascal of a watch dealer.
Have a listen >
📱 Apple’s Spring Loaded event didn’t deliver any big surprises but it did impress with the little things.
Read our take >
Welcome to the weekend, folks.