Grail Watch

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Retrograde Retrospective: A History of the Le Phare Sectora and Quarta

April 8, 2020 By Stephen Leave a Comment

Although unconventional time displays are popular today, very few watches had so-called retrograde hands to display the time until the 1990s. Sector displays first appeared in pocket watches as early as 1650 and were wildly popular in the early 1900s thanks to the Sector pocket watch from Record. But it was not until the Le Phare Sectora, LIP Secteur, and Wittnauer Futurama of the 1970s that this complication appeared on the wrist. These watches are rarely seen or discussed today, but were truly groundbreaking even as the quartz revolution challenged watchmaking.

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Jean d'Eve, Le Phare, LIP, LIP Secteur, Record, Record Sector, retrograde, Sector, Wittnauer, Wittnauer Futurama

The History of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph

April 12, 2019 By Stephen Leave a Comment

The Royal Oak Chronograph was a latecomer to this celebrated line and has remained remarkably consistent throughout its two-decade life. All share the same movement and a single lineage passes from the original Ref. 25860 to the subtly-redesigned Ref. 26300, the up-sized Ref. 26320, and the new Ref. 26331. It was only this year that a second model, the 38 mm Ref. 26315, was added. Yet on closer examination, a world of differences emerges, from the City of Sails to the Leo Messi, to the new 41 mm dial. Through it all, the Royal Oak Chronograph remains one of the classiest and most comfortable watches available.

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Audemars Piguet, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph, Chronograph, FP 1185

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, History 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

Movado 1891 Ultra-Slim “Museum Watch”

April 29, 2018 By Stephen Leave a Comment

Despite the sketchy history of the design, Movado’s “Museum Watch” remains an icon of horology. It’s one of the very few watches that is instantly recognizable even to the uninitiated, and thus belongs in any serious collector’s watch box, if not on their wrist.

Filed Under: Collection, Watch A Day Tagged With: dress watch, ETA 956, ETA 956.032, Movado, Movado 1891, Museum of Modern Art, Museum Watch, Nathan George Horwitt, quartz, ultra thin, Vacheron Constantin

Patek Philippe 5015 Moon Phase Power Reserve: Calatrava Plus

January 10, 2017 By Stephen Leave a Comment

I’ve got a thing for classic dress watches in general and Patek Philippe Calatravas in particular, so I get excited when I see a real classic come up for auction. Such is the case with this Ref. 5015 Moon Phase Power Reserve: It’s not technically a Calatrava, but it features all the best elements of that line. Starting at just €7,000, who’s bidding?

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: 240/152, hunter, micro-rotor, Moon Phase, Patek Philippe, Patek Philippe Calatrava, Power Reserve, PP 240

Seiko 6810-8000 (SCVL001): Japanese Piaget?

January 9, 2017 By Stephen Leave a Comment

This Seiko 6810-8000 (SCVL001) is as fine a timepiece as anything from a major Swiss maker, and this example is the one to buy!

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: Cal. 6810, Credor, F. Piguet 21, Grand Seiko, hand-winding, Patek Philippe Calatrava, SCVL001, Seiko, Seiko 5740, Seiko 6800, Seiko 6810, ultra thin

The Revolutionary Smart Watch from Apple’s Designers (Circa 1990)

March 9, 2015 By Stephen 2 Comments

Apple will today detail their Watch, ending years of speculation. But Jony Ive and Marc Newsome are not the first Apple designers to create a watch, and the first one out of the gate was truly revolutionary. Pushed by legendary designer Hartmut Esslinger of FROG Design, the Junghans Mega 1 was the first miniaturized atomic clock receiver and sported a distinctive ceramic case.

Filed Under: Collection, History Tagged With: Apple, FROG Design, Hartmut Esslinger, Junghans, Junghans Mega 1, smart watch

First In-House Chronograph: A Lange & Söhne Datograph Flyback

March 3, 2015 By Stephen Leave a Comment

Here is a Lange Datograph Flyback, model 453.135. This was the very first Datograph model, cased in platinum, and featuring the then-new Calibre L951.1. The black Roman numeral dial catches the eye, but one should note the bracelet which suggests that this is one of the earliest Datographs produced.

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: A. Lange & Söhne, automatic, Chronograph, Datograph, Flyback, in-house, Platinum

Two Rare Seiko Historical Watches

January 23, 2015 By Stephen 4 Comments

At this risk of this becoming “Grail Seiko” rather than “Grail Watch”, please allow me to present two wonderful and very rare watches for your consideration. Both are gaudy gold watches, both are relatively modern, and both are probably overpriced except in the eyes of a true Seiko fanatic. But one is an homage to Seiko tradition while the other was the first attempt by the company to take on the Swiss!

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: 6810, 9F61, Astron, quartz, SCQL002, SCQZ002, Seiko, Seiko Astron

1992 Svend Andersen Christopher Columbus Worldtimer

July 30, 2014 By Stephen 1 Comment

How would you like to own an extremely rare and interestingly complicated watch from a legend of independent Haute Horology? This worn but interesting world timer watch was constructed by Svend Andersen in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ journey to the new world. And it’s definitely worth the starting bid of € 4,000.

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: 1992 Svend Andersen Christopher Columbus Worldtimer, Christopher Columbus, Svend Andersen, Worldtimer

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