It’s rare to find a watch that is universally desirable and pricey yet still common. Such is the case with the Rolex “Double Red” Sea Dweller, a proper tool watch, investment, and status symbol. Even more unusual, this watch comes from the 1970’s, the era of the collapse of the Swiss watch industry and many truly horrible designs. Yet it is so iconic, so sought-after, and so recognizable that prices continue to vault upwards!
Audemars Piguet Huitieme Chronograph: Tantalum and Gold
Exotic materials are fairly common in modern watches, with most manufacturers augmenting their lineup of stainless steel and gold cases with titanium, platinum, and ceramic today. But what about really-unusual materials like rhodium and even tantalum? Yes! Many manufacturers have used these materials, though they’re certainly not common…
Ulysse Nardin GMT ± Perpetual Limited Edition: Calendar Innovations
Perpetual calendars are one of the legendary “grande complications” that make collectors swoon, and this Ulysse Nardin GMT ± Perpetual Limited Edition is even more special. It features the ultimate perpetual calendar, along with an easy-to-use pushbutton GMT function in a compact and wearable 40 mm red gold case.
1965 Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox
We’re suckers for Jaeger-LeCoultre, and the Memovox is one of their coolest models. Introduced in 1950 with the hand-winding Calibre 489, the Memovox was updated with an automatic movement and larger case option in 1956. Today, it is one of the best-loved classic Jaeger-LeCoultre models, and has been a source of inspiration for recent tribute models from the brand.
Audemars Piguet “Equation of Time” Hyper-Personalized Watch
This 2004 Audemars Piguet watch is just waiting to become yours in a very deep, personal way. It is an “equation of time” watch, showing sunrise and sunset for your exact location, as seen in the video below. And it can even be personalized with your initials on the skeletonized rotor. What more could you ask?
Fame and Fortune, or Why Some Vintage Watches Are Worth More Than Others
Today, a vintage Rolex Explorer or Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic can command $10,000 or more, yet I just purchased a beautiful Nivada Antarctic at auction for just € 450.
Panerai PAM 64C Submersible 1000m “La Bomba”
Panerai isn’t for everyone, but if I was going to buy one, it would be this Panerai PAM 64C Submersible 1000m, the original “La Bomba” watch.
The Last Buren: High-Beat Calibre 82 Revival
We recently ran across a mystery: This Buren Calibre 82 wristwatch boasts an unknown 36,000 A/h movement and ambiguous date of production. What is it? We unravel the mystery and recommend a buy!
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Grande Date 8 Days
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is one of the most iconic watches of all time, especially among enthusiasts. The classic Reverso had a “flip over face” to protect the crystal on the polo grounds, making it one of the earliest “sports watches”, albeit for noble gentlemen. Even today, flipping over the face of a Reverso is a “wow” moment for everyone who witnesses it!
Breitling Co-Pilote 7651 Chrono-Matic
Here is a lovely early 1970’s Breitling “Co-Pilote” 7651 watch with the famous Chronomatic movement. It was seriously huge at the time, but today 48 mm is simply “large”. This makes it eminently wearable, not just a safe-queen. The black PVD bezel is cool, but the replacement bracelet is unfortunate.