WATCHES AND MORE:

Gucci got into the luxury Apple AirPods case game back in January with its GG Ophidia pouch, and now the Alessandro Michele-helmed label has delivered two new offerings: the beige AirPods Pro case and a GG Marmont pouch.

First up is the AirPods Pro case, which presents itself as a little trunk for your earphones. It references plenty from the Italian brand’s archives, delivering a case covered with the emblematic GG Supreme canvas monogram that features a handle drawn from the Bamboo line and a faux lock and key inspired by the Padlock range.

Furthermore, this piece can be worn round the neck in light of the miniature bag trend that’s still going strong. Inside, you’ll find a bright red AirPods Pro-sized holder complete with magnetic closure.

Joining this is the GG Marmont pouch — a smooth black leather carrying option indebted to the archives. It features gold-toned hardware and details such as the GG logo on the front, and is complete with a carabiner-like hook that can attach to your belt loop or another accessory, such as a bag.

The Gucci Beige AirPods Pro case retails for $1,100 USD and will be shipped by the end of the month, while the GG Marmont is available now on Gucci’s website for $460 USD.A COLLECTED MAN is selling a very rare wristwatch made by one of the greatest horologists/watchmakers to have ever existed, and the father of the Co-Axial escapement — George Daniels (MBE). The English watchmaker was known for making an extremely small batch of watches, and as his watches involved thousands of hours of labor (making every bit of the watch by hand), he was extremely selective on who he would make his watches for.

Celebrating his Co-Axial escape, a feature now prominent in OMEGA watches, 47 pieces of the Millennium were made in 1998, in which only 8 were made in white gold — this is one of the 8. This 37mm watch comes from the original owner, a pilot by the name of Mr. Norman, a close friend of Daniels who was not able to afford a Millennium at the time of its release. He would eventually purchase it at a special price after supplying Daniels with spare parts for a project car he was working on.

This watch keeps with Daniels’ penchant for making clean dials that incorporate Roman numerals, subdials, and interwoven chapter rings. The signature blued steel hands can also be found in the Millenium. The dial uses texture to differentiate both functions — engine turning for the date and basket-work for the main time. The watch is powered by a self-winding, Co-Axial escapement movement with an 18-carat gold guilloché winding weight and hand-engraved ornate outer ring.

It should also be noted that the watch caseback is engraved with “AVIATOR 99” which is a first as most Millenniums see the owner’s initials. The story goes that Mr. Norman wished to keep the watch free from his initials which was a surprise to Daniels. The watch ended up with the “AVIATOR 99” engraving you see today.

For the serious collector with the funds, this rare timepiece can be obtained for the asking price of £450,000 GBP (approximately $583,000 USD). Learn more over at A COLLECTED MAN.Ever since the launch of the collection more than half a century ago, the Seiko Astronhas long been affiliated with jetsetters and the skies. With the advent of GPS technology integrated into something as compact as a wristwatch, the lineup pushed its boundaries even further, moving into space. Now, to pay tribute to these monumental achievements, Japan’s biggest watchmaker is releasing two new models that take you to the stars.

With two color options to choose from — the SBXC077 and the SBXC079 — both variations come equipped with a new dial design resembling a starlit sky. The former takes on a deep blue night sky-inspired look, while the latter offers a deep green option paired with a blacked-out dial. Both models feature ceramic bezels as well as all the goodness Astrons are now known for, including GPS technology that can automatically sync your time zone to your current location, a dual-time function, support for Daylight Savings Time, and battery life that can last you up to six months.

For those interested, the two new Seiko Astron watches will be available for $2,200 USD. Head over to the Japanese watchmaker’s website to learn more.BlackEyePatch and G-SHOCK have teamed up for a set of watches that nod to the Japanese Daruma, a traditional doll that symbolizes perseverance and good fortune. Featured are the DW-6900, DW-5600 and GA-100, each colored in the bold red tone that Darumas are commonly painted in.

Leading the trio is the DW-6900, which comes with a face mimicking that of the Daruma’s. Set against a white foundation, sleek black lines, in the style of brushstrokes, appear above the watch’s circular timers and at the sides of the main display, resembling a Daruma’s eyebrows and beard. The DW-5600 comes with a more minimal design, etched with traditional motifs around all four corners of the rectangular display. These patterns come in white, popping out from its red and black base, alongside a bold “CASIO” logo as well as a handful of labels. Finally, the GA-100 features the most intricate design out of the set. Like the DW-6900, the circular timers on the face have been outlined in yellow to resemble a set of eyes. The watch’s “1/1000 Second” dial is colored in red, following the edge of the face, while the tiny hand at the topmost timer comes with a Daruma-shaped design. Besides the thematic details, the watch comes with a bevy of useful features, like water-resistance of up to 200 meters, daily alarms, an anti-magnetic structure and a battery life of two years.

Though no official dates have been revealed, BlackEyePatch and G-SHOCK’s Daruma-themed release is expected to arrive sometime this month on CASIO’s website — prices have yet to be confirmed.