Grail Watch

Always watching for holy grail timepieces

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    • Breitling Datora 592
    • Buren Calibre 82
    • Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX1
    • Junghans Mega 1
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    • Nivada Antarctic
    • Paul Picot Firshire Chrono
    • Seiko SCED “Aliens” Chronograph
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    • Junghans Mega 1
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Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gran’Sport: The First “Beefcake” Reverso

January 23, 2019 By Stephen 1 Comment

Given the clever retrograde chronograph movement, the Gran’Sport Chronograph is the pick of the Gran’Sport lineup today. It’s really too bad that gorgeous Reverso Chronographe Rétrograde is out of the price range for most people.

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: 829, 859, Chronograph, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Chronograph Retrograde, Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gran'Sport, Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gran'Sport Chronograph, retrograde

Surveying the 2018 Seiko x Giugiaro “Speed Master” LCD Reissue Series (SBJG)

January 18, 2019 By Stephen 5 Comments

Seiko has been collaborating with Giugiaro Design since the 1980s. The most famous fruit of this collaboration was the “Aliens” watch line, which have been reissued in recent years. In late 2018, Seiko introduced another reissue: The SBJG multi-function digital models we will discuss today.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: A825, A828, Giugiaro, LCD, quartz, SBJG, Seiko, Seiko Giugiaro, Speed Master, SSBA

Stainless Tonneau: Patek Philippe Calatrava 3574

January 26, 2016 By Stephen 1 Comment

This stainless tonneau is a genuine Patek Philippe Calatrava but Ref. 3574 is beyond rare. I bet most enthusiasts never even heard of this model!

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: 23-300, 3574, Breitling Datora 592, Calatrava, Calatrava 3574, Patek Philippe, Patek Philippe Calatrava, Robert Maron, stainless steel, tonneau, WatchCentre

1970 Breitling Datora 592: My Fixer-Upper

August 4, 2014 By Stephen 4 Comments

This is a web site about grails: Watches people spend their lives looking for. Approximately zero people will spend their lives looking for a beat up, common, 1970’s Breitling like this Datora 592. But I bought it, and I thought it might be interesting to my readers to know why and what I’m doing next.

Filed Under: Collection Tagged With: Breitling, Breitling Datora, Breitling Datora 592, Datora, Valjoux, Valjoux 7734

1950 Zenith “Scuderia Ferrari” Chronograph

May 27, 2014 By Stephen Leave a Comment

Sometimes when browsing watches one stumbles upon something that seems seriously out of place. Such was the case when I spotted a Scuderia Ferrari-branded Zenith Chronograph in the listings for tomorrow’s Chrono24/Auctionata auction: Sure, there are Ferrari-branded watches today, but this one dates to “around 1950” and has a yellow logo!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 1950 Zenith Chronograph, Excelsior Park, Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari

1984 Rolex Submariner 5513

May 13, 2014 By Stephen 1 Comment

Let’s say you wanted a classic Rolex Submariner to wear on a daily basis. What would you choose? If it was us, it would be this 1984 Rolex Submariner 5513. Here’s why…

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: Rolex, Rolex Submariner, Rolex Submariner 5513

1972 Rolex Double Red Sea Dweller (DRSD) Mark II

March 20, 2014 By Stephen 1 Comment

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!

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: Comex, Rolex Double Red Sea Dweller, Rolex Sea Dweller

Panerai PAM 64C Submersible 1000m “La Bomba”

February 27, 2014 By Stephen 1 Comment

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.

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: La Bomba, Panerai PAM 64C, Valjoux 7750

What Makes a Grail? Nostalgia!

February 14, 2014 By Stephen 4 Comments

What makes a watch into a grail? It’s all about the quest! And what triggers that quest? Sometimes, it’s nostalgia! A “holy grail” is defined more by the quest to find it than the object itself. If you could run down to Macy’s and buy the watch you have been seeking, would you love it? Maybe, but would you rhapsodize about it? Probably not.

Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: 1980's, Nostalgia, Timex, Titanium

1972 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “A Series”

February 13, 2014 By Stephen 1 Comment

Not everyone likes the Royal Oak, but it’s hard to understate its importance. It’s one of the most influential watches of the last half-century, creating a whole new niche that now accounts for much of the industry’s sales: Luxury sports.

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Gerald Genta

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