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Best Super NEWS Watches
Vintage Desk Clock Friday: A Gubelin World Time Clock From The 1950s
Editor's Note: Today we'll be featuring some great antique desk clocks.? Why, you ask? Because they don't get much love and they should! Many of you may not be familiar with Gubelin, but you should be.? E. Gubelin was a retailer and distributor in Switzerland and over the years, have produced some great watches - or rather, have had some great watches produced for them.? For example, they had Jaeger-LeCoultre make them a Memovox in the 1960's, IWC make them a traditional time-only piece in the 1950s, and more recently they collaborated with Breguet to make two platinum wandering hour pieces.Today, we have a Gubelin signed desk clock with world-time function.? It date...
Raymond Weil's Human Clock: Become a Fan, Own a Minute In Time
There is no doubt that watch companies have embraced social media. Likes and retweets are often evidence of brand loyalty and Facebook and Twitter are a great way to keep content fresh and keep fans engaged. After all, there is no better promotion than when people say nice things about you, rather than you having to say it yourself.Raymond Weil has launched a novel campaign on their Facebook page called, The Human Clock. The brand is inviting people to become fans of the brand and then own a minute of the day and tell the world why those minutes are important to them. Already there is a strong response. Some people are choosing minutes based on significant, life-changing events. ?One...
The Cartier Astroregulator, More Than Just A Cool Name And Pretty Face (VIDEO)
Last month Cartier presented a prototype dubbed the Rotonde De Cartier Astroregulateur at SIHH, boasting a viable alternative to the tourbillon escapement in dapper style.?The Astroregulator (in English) is just one more step the brand is taking towards putting Cartier on the horological map. A journey that began not long ago with the Calibre De Cartier has quickly evolved into the creation of an entirely original escapement design seen here.?For centuries the tourbillon escapement has been the watchmakers answer to the adverse effects of gravity on accurate timekeeping. This sees the escapement and balance wheel mounted within a rotating cage, averaging out the variances caused by gravity w...
Wednesday Afternoon Find: A 1960s New Old Stock Hamilton Thin-O-Matic with Box and Papers
FOUND: A New Old Stock Hamilton Thin-O-Matic on Stretch BraceletThis morning we showed you the exclusive Pre-Basel release of a killer new Hamilton watch called the Thin-O-Matic.? We told you it is indeed inspired by and named after a watch Hamilton made in the 1960s.? Many of you were surely wondering "Hey, this is HODINKEE - now where is the original Thin-O-Matic find?"Wonder no more.What we've found here is an original 1960s Hamilton Thin-O-Matic, complete with Buren derived micro-rotor automatic movement.? On top of that, it's actually a gold version with with matching stretch bracelet, the same bracelet Hamilton decided to bring back for the 2011 version.? Further, this bad boy is compl...
New Release: The Hamilton Thin-O-Matic, A Reasonably Priced And Modern Vintage Dress Watch
The 42mm Hamilton Thin-O-Matic - $875When you think of the 1960s horology, you can't help but think of Hamilton.? They produced some top-notch timepieces in those years, the types you, yes, would see on the Don Drapers of the world.?For Basel 2011, Hamilton has a new model with a old name, the Thin-O-Matic.? In the 1960s, Hamilton's Thin-O-Matic was a line that used the famous Buren micro-rotor movement.? The Buren micro-rotor was a pretty big deal, and it is a concept that lead to the development of the Chrono-matic / Caliber 11 modular chronographs you see in the original Hamilton Pan-Europ, several Breitlings, and of course, all those Heuers.? Hamilton liked the Buren micro-rotor so much,...
I'm not even sure we can call it a watch. Okay, it goes on the wrist, and it happens to tell the time, but that's about where the similarities between Apple's just announced watch and the hand-assembled, often painstakingly finished mechanical watches we write about, and obsess over, end. I was lucky enough to be invited to Cupertino to witness the announcement of the Apple Watch firsthand, and though I do not believe it poses any threat to haute horology manufactures, I do think the Apple Watch will be a big problem for low-priced quartz watches, and even some entry-level mechanical watches. In years to come, it could pose a larger threat to higher end brands, too. The reason? Apple got mor...
Introducing The Loupe System For HODINKEE, The Finest Portable Loupe Available Today
Handheld loupes have long been used to admire the intricate components of mechanical watch movements and fine details on watch dials and cases. We've handled many loupes, from single-element lens models given away as free gifts, to high end loupes made by companies who specialize in optics. But when we first tried the Loupe System, we were completely blown away. We knew that we had to find a way to share this exceptional piece of optical engineering with our readers, while adding a touch of HODINKEE to the design to make it special. So today, we're launching an exclusive Loupe System kit made expressly for us, available right now?in our relaunched online shop. ...
Introducing The Apple Watch, A New Player In The Ever Evolving Smartwatch Industry
Nothing will ever change our passion for mechanical watches. And while we've covered smart watches before, it's still rare to find a new digital device that actually makes us take notice. While the new Apple Watch won't replace the inherent beauty and elegant utility of a vintage Patek Philippe, it will disrupt the low-end market for overpriced quartz wristwatches (and maybe even some mechanical watches). The value proposition in this segment has long been questioned by the consumer market, and for some, this new release may be the final compelling reason to make the jump from gears and pinions to circuitry and accelerometers. ...
Photo Report: Inside The New A. Lange & Sohne Boutique In NYC
I've never seen more Langes, or more rare Langes for sale, anywhere. New York watch lovers, rejoice. Our dear friends from that sleepy little town in Saxony called Glashtte have opened a boutique in New York City! No, not these guys, or these guys, but none other than A. Lange & Sohne. Yes, the first Lange boutique in New York city is officially open, and here you have an early look at what you just might find inside. This new, 2,500+ square foot boutique located at 66th and Madison is one the lightest, and most airy of all Madison Avenue boutiques. It is the second Lange boutique in North America, after Palm Beach's Wor...
Introducing The Ulysse Nardin Original Marine Chronometer Series (Live Pictures and Pricing)
With all the certified chronometers around these days, its easy to forget that the term originally was applied to the accurate clocks necessary for navigating the worlds oceans in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Those timepieces were heavy hand-wound clocks mounted on gimbals inside of rubberwood boxes, a far cry from the wristwatches that keep to within the minus 4, plus 6 timekeeping criteria maintained today by the Contr?le Officiel Suisse des Chronomtres (COSC). Ulysse Nardin was one of the pioneering Swiss brands in chronometer production starting in 1846 and the companys anchor logo still recalls that legacy....
You would be hard-pressed to find a more somber blue on the color palette, but thats just how we like our Bauhaus C subdued and straightforward. The new True Blue Zurich Weltzeit is NOMOS chic take on its exquisite GMT that made headlines a few years back (check out this old-skool Week on the Wrist) and a recent appearance at HODINKEES event to welcome NOMOS to the States earlier this summer. Lets dive right in.Its unlikely for a HODINKEE reader to be unfamiliar with NOMOS, but just in case you havent had the privilege of being introduced to the younger German C heres a quick preface. NOMOS Glashtte was born in '91 in the little town of Glashtte, Germany. If that name sounds familia...
Bring a Loupe: Ten Lots To Watch At The Bonhams London Sale
Bonhams will be having an auction in London at its Knightsbridge location coming up on Tuesday, September 16. Here are 10 intriguing lots to watch, including a mid-1960s Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute, an early inking chronograph, a Cartier roulette wheel watch, a Blancpain from Jean-Claude Biver's early years restarting the brand, an Omega Chronostop driving watch, a modern Bremont, an Audemars Piguet gold tank-style watch, a Dunhill lighter with clock incorporated, a large 38 mm Tudor Date-Day, and a 1940s Heuer chronograph.Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute reference 809 The Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute from the mid-1960s is...
Introducing the H. Moser & Cie. Venturer Tourbillon Dual Time
H. Moser & Cie has a knack for doing the little things right. Theyve embraced practical complications and mastered the mechanics, right down to their own proprietary hairsprings. As such, they have yet to offer their take on the tourbillon. That changes with the introduction of the Venturer Tourbillon Dual Time, and in true H. Moser fashion, theyve put their own practical spin on it. At first glance, the Venturer Tourbillon Dual Time looks pretty straightforward, but theres more than meets the eye both in construction and function. There are a couple of elements that make this tourbillon a little different than the res...
Twenty-one years ago the Bulova School of Watchmaking in New York City closed its doors. As the staff was cleaning and packing, they came across an extensive library of horological books and ephemera. Some of the books were hand-bound in leather, adorned in gold leaf, with personal dedications from the authors. Others were extremely old, dating from the 18th century. In addition, they found hand-calligraphed meeting minutes and accounting records. All of these items comprised an incredible horological resource and they were not sure what to do with them. The staff needed to be out of the building at the end of the day and hand over the keys. Urgent calls were made and that same day a large v...
While perusing the wares of the brand new Blancpain boutique on Fifth Avenue a few weeks back, I stumbled across this guy here. It's called the VIlleret Tourbillon Squelette 8-Day, and while it was announced at BaselWorld 2014, there wasn't a lot of attention given to it C most was offered to the awesome new in-house chronograph movement seen in the Bathyscaphe Chronograph. But this new tourbillon has a lot going for it. First, it employs Blancpain's excellent in-house 8-day self-winding tourbillon caliber 25, which is quite thin at 4.85mm in thickness. That's not only thin for a tourbillon, it's also very thin for a tourbill...
Photo Report: Inside Panerai's Flagship Boutique In Florence
There are a few stores around the world that any watch lover must make a point of visiting C Panerai's flagship in Florence is certainly one of them. The historical home to Panerai dating back to 1860, the shop was just re-imagined and expanded in November of 2014. Here is a quick look inside. Located in the Piazza San Giovanni, facing the citys impressive Duomo, Officine Panerais historic boutique is now 285 square meters (the previous was 58), designed by famed architect Patricia Urquiola. Inside the duplex boutique you fill find a nod to Panerai's marine history, as well as many of the latest models. ...
It's that time of year! Yup, the finalists of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve (GPHG) have been announced. For those who don't remember, the GPHG is the watch industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards, wherein a group of distinguished judges comprised of collectors (think John Goldberger and John Mayer), retailers (think Laurent Picciotto), watchmakers (think Philippe Dufour) and journalists (think our own Ben Clymer) decide on who has done the most to advance watchmaking this year. Today, the finalists for each category have been announced. The winners will be announced on Friday, October 31st, 2014, in Geneva. The entire ceremony will be streamed live right here on HODINKEE.Click he...
There's just something about a watch with a black dial, in particular a chronograph. Today, we are bringing you four tough chronographs with black dials (although one of them has white registers): a Breguet Type XX issued to the French Air Force in 1954, a Heuer Autavia issued to the Argentinean Air Force in the early 1970s, a Lemania issued to the Swedish Air Force in the 1970s, and an IWC 3705 Ceramic Fliegerchronograph from the 1990s, also known as IWC's very first ceramic chronograph. Breguet Type XX from 1954 The Breguet Type XX is truly a classic chronograph. Arguably, the very first Type XXs, f...
Lou Gehrig's Hamilton Piping Rock Sells For $340,000, More Than Twice What It Sold For In 2011
Lou Gehrig needs no introduction. In 1928, he received a Hamilton Piping Rock wristwatch for winning the World Series. In 2011, it came up for sale, and we covered it here. The watch ended up selling for $155,000. Just this past week, it went under the hammer again at SCP auctions. The result? A final selling price of more than DOUBLE what it brought just three years ago. With a final sale price of $340,200, this continues to make a case for provenance driven sales. The Hamilton Piping Rock is a very interesting, and relatively desirable American wristwatch, but by no means very valuable. To see a result this strong, one twic...
Introducing The Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph From Ball Watch
Novelty comes in various guises, and when it comes to reinventing the chronograph layout, one might as well reinvent the wheel. But, bullhorns and single-pushers aside, Ball Watch now offers a surprisingly fresh take on the chrono complication. To see this newly patented system, look no further than its Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph.The Engineer Master II forgoes the classic double-pusher look (and the even more classic single-pusher one) by replacing it with a slide bar. This integrated start/stop/reset control is located on the case at 9 oclock, opposite the crown. Details of the mechanism are obviously hush-hush for now, but its mechanics are straightforward. Sliding the bar clock...