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
👑 Rolex will now sell you a pre-owned watch and our latest episode of Persiflage finds us dissecting the news in the name of downtrodden watch fans everywhere.
Listen in >
CARS
Darkarise it
Sometimes this newsletter just writes itself. The opening line this week was written for me by Friend of The Guide, Drew Meehan:
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Drew. Autocar has the details:
The Activesphere sits atop the new PPE platform being developed by Audi and Porsche for use by upcoming EVs from both marques, beginning in 2024 with the Q6 E-tron and Porsche Macan EV. […] At the touch of a button, the rear screen lifts and slides over the top of the car to create an open cargo bed reminiscent of that on a pick-up truck, complete with a pair of integrated bike stands (because “roof racks destroy the aesthetic of a vehicle” according to Audi design boss Marc Lichte) and a full-height bulkhead section that slides automatically into place behind the rear seats to keep the elements out.
Also worth your time
Porsche CarPlay expanded: “Porsche has expanded support for retrofitted Bluetooth and CarPlay infotainment systems to early-2000s cars… This is an extension of what Porsche has been doing for the past few years.”
Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate announced: “Its name hints at the huge amount of power on offer from the twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12. Maximum output is now a colossal 770hp. Only 499 examples of this special run-out model will be made, split between 300 Coupes and 199 Volante convertibles.”
Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years reviewed: “This is the most powerful, quickest accelerating and outright fastest Golf ever sold. So perhaps inevitably, it’s also the most expensive.”
GADGETS
Say cheese!
We all want a Leica, don’t we? Whether we’d actually come close to justifying the significant cost of one is less certain. My issue has always been that every year the camera in my pocket, that’s to say my iPhone, gets better and better. And, as it does, the prospect of Leica ownership slips ever further away. That said, every time I see one, I feel a flutter. CityAM reports on the £7,500 latest model:
Oozing excellence, it emits a confidence-inspiring aura of artisan craftsmanship. The next is its styling; its polished design ethos on par with van der Rohe’s “Barcelona Chair” and “that” lemon squeezer by Philippe Starck. Making the M11 not only a sublime camera but a thing of beauty too. […] This is a camera crafted for painting with light or fishing for shadows. Yet, like a racer shifting a manual gearbox, it’s only as good as the driver. So, whilst I can’t guarantee it will make you a better photographer, I can guarantee it will make you look at the world differently.
Also worth your time
Apple M2 MacBook Pro reviewed: “Everyone agrees it’s a beast of a machine, but many wonder whether it’s just too much Mac for even its target audience.”
Apple macOS 13.2 released: “This version brings more stability to the operating system than revolutionises with new software features.”
Apple HomePod mini abandoned: “According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is not actively working on a new iteration of the HomePod mini.”
WATCHES
Precisely
Moonwatch aficionados will tell you that Omega’s Speedmaster is the best watch in the world (indeed, Watchfinder said the same this week) and, all things considered, I’m not sure I’d disagree. It’s one of those iconic pieces that, while never changing, has somehow been released in countless variations over the decades. This week brought news of one of the best yet. Fratello has the story:
This new Omega release is not only about a new Speedmaster but also about pushing boundaries in terms of accuracy. […] The new Omega Speedmaster Super Racing features a Spirate (this name is a combination of spiral and rate) system. It’s a new patent-pending spiral that, according to Omega, allows for ultra-fine rate adjustments. With this new system, Omega can now achieve a precision of 0/+2 seconds per day on average, certified by METAS. […] It’s a great-looking variant with a 44.25mm steel case, the new-style bracelet, and a “honeycomb” dial (a nod to the 2016 concept watch in the Omega Museum that survived extreme magnetic fields of >100,000 gauss, tested at 16 Tesla).
Also worth your time
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 with black dial released: “The latest iteration of IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph was initially released with green and blue dials, but a stealthy matte black dial was missing from the collection until today.”
Jaeger-LeCoultre The Collectibles curated: “It has put together a capsule collection of 12 restored classics from its past catalogue that will both tour the world and be available to buy online from this month. This capsule follows similar restoration initiatives by Vacheron Constantin and Zenith. It will remain in continual revolution, with newly restored models swapping in as others are sold.”
Bremont stake bought: “Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has taken a minority stake in Bremont after he became one of its customers, providing financial backing as the company plans to bring large-scale watch manufacturing back to the UK. Ackman has invested in the group alongside existing investors Hellcat in a funding round worth £48.4mn, which gives Bremont a valuation of more than £100mn".”
More for subscribers
🏎️ Persiflage № 12 is about Eric’s Lotus. He’s finally seen sense and plans to sell it.
Should he let it go? >
🍎 Our despatch from Apple’s WWDC 2022 keynote in June is here for you in case you missed it live: all you need to know about Cupertino’s latest announcements.
Catch up >
🎧 Persiflage № 11 finds us bickering over different ways to replace an irreplaceable watch.
Which would you choose? >