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Best Super NEWS Watches
Vintage Sunglasses, Curated By Silver Lining Opticians, On Gilt Man Today At 12 Noon
Our boys at Silver Lining Opticians, purveyors of fine vintage and independently made eye ware, are hosting a vintage sunglasses sale on Gilt Man today, starting at 12 noon.? The selection will include some absolutely timeless designs, including those from Persol as seen above next to a Rolex GMT Master II sitting portside in St. Tropez.Be sure to check out Silver Lining's vintage sunglasses sale right here.BTW, a week from today, we'll be back on GILT with one of the best selection of high-grade vintage watches we've ever found....
LIVE PICS: The Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days (PAM 422) In The Metal, Kind Of
Ever since we broke the news of the Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days (First!), people have been clamoring to see live photographs of it.? Well, we have live photographs that we took the day it was announced in Milan, but the watch is, well, under water and behind glass. Still, you get a better idea of the dimensions of this Luminor with power reserve indicator on the caseback than you do from the press shots....
Here's Something You Don't See Often: A 1940s Triple Date Moonphase Chronograph From Audemars Piguet
There is a reason AP is AP, and today that reason is the Royal Oak.? But, years before we saw that crazy expensive piece of steel hit the street, Audemars made some very serious complicated watches, though you rarely see them surface when compared to those from Patek Philippe and even Vacheron Constantin.? When they do, though, they make a splash.? For example, an oversized AP chronograph pulled down $386,000 at Christies last year.At Antiquorum Geneva is this TRIPLE DATE, CHRONOGRAPH & MOON PHASE in yellow gold dating to 1942, a watch that is just a really cool and really rare piece from Audemars.? It is not a perpetual calendar, but the fact that it is this complicated and so early mak...
Greubel Forsey, the masters of the tourbillon, have just announced a brand new piece with a brand new complication.? The Greubel Forsey GMT of course has an ingenious tourbillion, but what it also has is a three dimensional flying globe at 8 o'clock that is secured at just one end - the south pole - allowing for optimal viewing of this incredible titanium sphere. The globe makes one complete rotation every 24 hours anticlockwise C the Earths natural rotational direction C the position of the continents can be neatly cross-referenced with the 24-hour, day-and-night indicator on the equatorial chapter ring.The night-time hemisphere C 18:00 to 6:00 C is indicated by a blackened half of the...
This November 29, Jaeger-LeCoultre, alongside auction house Artcurial, will host the largest sale of JLC pieces in history.? This will be a veritable feast for vintage and important JLC collectors, and they have given us an early look at some of the piece available.? Included are, in our very humble opinion, some of the coolest watches of the 20th century.?The sale will include an original American Deep Sea diving watch (you can see 2011's tribute here), and original Polaris, an original Reverso from 1933 with blue enamel dial (a red enamel Reverso recently sold for around $35k), an unique Atmos clock, and a super cool watch called the Geophysic Chronometer, this one in gold.?The sale will t...
Found: A Universal Geneve Chronograph Retailed By Hermes (And Further Proof Vintage UG Kicks Ass)
In this post, we make the case for vintage Universal Geneve as one of the strongest and most interesting buys in affordable vintage watches.? Benefitting from fantastic designs (think 23 year old Gerald Genta), technical firsts (micro-rotor, et. al.), and incredible pedigree (distributed alongside Patek Philippe in the US), these Universal Geneve Compax chronographs are truly "the poor man's Patek," and the one we found today is fantastically rare.? Universal Geneve benefited from original distributorship in France via Hermes, and we found an original UG Compax with Hermes signed dial.? Click through for our case for Universal Geneve as a vintage watch that we love. ...
It's no secret we have a web-crush on IWC.com. The digital dudes in Schaffhausen really nailed it in terms of design, operability, and even partnerships. Now IWC.com is available in native Chinese, and it is just visually striking. No, we can't understand a word of it, but it sure is beautiful to look at. To view IWC.com in Chinese, click here.(ht to @TheSigOther)...
Pre-SIHH: Introducing The Piaget Altiplano Skeleton Automatic
It's November and it's time to start talking SIHH.? This announcement from Piaget brings us the Altiplano Skeleton Automatic, the world's thinnest automatic skeleton with the world's thinnest automatic skeletonized caliber.? Based on the caliber 1200P, the 1200S is a completely reworked movement that took over three years of development.Here the hour-wheel bridge has been slimmed down (to a minimum wall thickness of just 0.11 mm) in order to ensure the extreme thinness of this movement.? You'll also see an even greater level of finishing on the 1200S where attention has been payed to matte surfaces - you'll see alternated sunray brushed and sandblasted facades to create a contrast with polis...
Found: Two Bottles Of Incredibly Kitschy "Perpetually Yours By Rolex" Cologne
Did you know that Rolex made cologne in the 1970s? Bet you didn't, but they did, and they called it "Perpetually Yours By Rolex."? How awesome is that?? From time to time, you'll find an empty bottle of Perpetually Yours hit the 'bay or one of the Rolex nerd forums, but today we have something special.For sale on VRF are two Perpetually Yours bottles, complete with original packaging and still full of that great 1970s musk!?The seller is asking 650 GBP for the pair, and while $1000 may seem like a lot for two bottles of stinky old scent, these bottles and boxes would make for some great decoration in any man-cave.? To view the listing for these two full bottles of Perpetually Yours, by Rolex...
Roger Dubuis Introduces La Mongasque Collection, We Go Hands-On
Earlier this month, Swiss manufacturer Roger Dubuis introduced their entirely new La Mongasque line of watches within the historic Monte Carlo district of Monaco. The venue served as the inspiration for the young brand, who refers to their newest creations as "an ode to gaming, glamour and the Riviera." In their attempt to capture this spirit, they've built no less than eight models to comprise the La Mongasque collection. We were there, and we've got the skinny on the best of the new releases.?Roger Dubuis (first seen here) has managed to scale their manufacturing capabilities to near 100% since their inception in 1995. Production is handled entirely within the walls of their Geneva facil...
Weekend Report: The F1 Experience At Catalunya With TAG Heuer
Introducing "FIELD NOTES": From time to time, the HODINKEE crew will be signing in to give readers a look at some of the noteworthy people, places, and experiences we encounter along our horological journey. Say hello to HODINKEE Field Notes. There is fast and then there is fast. ?In the first category, you'll find a 575hp hand-built AMG Gullwing, a 621hp biturbo Bentley Supersport, and a prancing horse or two. ?In the second category, you'll find the fastest production car in history, the Bugatti Veyron. None of that would prepare me for what I piloted with the folks from TAG Heuer while at the Circuit de Catalunya outside Barcelona. ?None of that would prepare me f...
Introducing The IWC Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph For The Volvo Ocean Race
Announced today in Spain is a new limited edition IWC Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph built to commemorate the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race, dubbed the "Everest of Sailing."? To the winner of race will go these water proof chronographs built for yachting, and the very first Yacht Club chronograph to be built in titanium.? In addition to playing official timekeeper of the whole race, the IWC trophy will go to the team that travels the furthest distance over a 24-hour period.?The IWC Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph for the Volvo Ocean Race is sized at 45mm, built in titanium with a carbon fiber dial, and features IWC's very own Caliber 89361 with a great 68 hour power reserve, fly-back chron...
Damien Hirst For Panerai: Two Spin Paintings Using Panerai Dials Unveiled At The Triennale In Milan
Early this month in Milan, two new paintings were unveiled by famed British artist Damien Hirst in conjunction with a fantastic exhibit at the Triennale Art Museum, OClock - time design, design time (full report on that coming).?Hirst is an avid collector of Panerai watches and the brand has actually made appearances in previous examples of his work: a Panerai watch is painted on a table next to medicines and a skull in Skull with Watch from 2005 and is physically present in the installations The Tranquility of Solitude (for George Dyer) (2006), and Killing Time (2008).In these two works, Panerai is even more present.? Both of the works are examples of his now famous "spin paintin...
A Wittnauer Given To Slim Gaillard By Louis Prima
You never know what we'll run into. Last time we found a Vulcain Cricket with a Presidential seal on the dial, and this time we have a watch shared by two 20th century musical greats. This triple calendar chronograph from Wittnauer is a pretty cool looking watch. Nice dial, great complications, hell it even uses a Valjoux 72(c) movement, the same caliber that was used in the early Daytonas, and most other great chronos of the period. But, the real magic of this piece is revealed when you turn it over. Etched into the case back in the inscription "Slim From Louie Prima". Louie Prima or "Louis Prima" was, as you may know, a...
VIDEO: Roger Smith Pays Tribute To His Mentor, George Daniels
Over on the BBC is a short video of George Daniels protege Roger Smith talking about his mentor's body of work.? Click on over to view it....
Introducing The Parmigiani Toric Oval Watch With Telescopic Hands (Video + Gallery)
Yesterday in New York, we get a special early look at a watch just announced and shown to the public for the very first time today. Called the Toric Oval Watch, Parmigiani-Fleurier has designed this exceptional piece as an homage to a famous pocketwatch dating to the early 19th century designed by famed British watchmakers Vardon & Stedmann. This unique piece was designed with telescoping hands that shortened near 3 and 9 o'clock and lengthened at 12 and 6 o'clock to remain exactly the same distance from the bezel of the oval shaped piece. Only one of these exceptional watches is known to exist, and it belongs to the Sandoz foundation (more on that to come). We photographed this orig...
The Human Time Project: A Different Kind of Doctor's Watch (Think TOMS Shoes For Watches)
Weve shown you doctors watches before but today were bringing you a decidedly different kind. And while this one may not be collectible or feature a classic movement, it may just save more lives than all the rest.We sometimes forget that timekeeping is a necessity for physicians and nurses, whether its to take a pulse, time labor contractions, make detailed records or keep appointments. And while watches and clocks are often taken for granted in most places, in war-torn regions or in poor countries, access to a simple wristwatch can mean the difference between life and death. Thats what inspired Los Angeles-based watch enthusiast, Gustavo Saiz, to start The Human Time Project, with part...
Watch Spotting: A 1974 Omega Seamaster Big Blue In A 1976 Ferrari 308
The 1970s were a decade of capricious design trends. Some have stayed relevant and desirable to this day, like the Genta-designed Jumbos of AP and Patek and others have not fared so well. Omega was all over the design map in the 70s. The Speedmaster Professionals of the era, despite some funky cases on the Mark II, III and IV, remain classics. However, some of their pieces were design experiments gone horribly wrong and are better left to foggy memory.Omega took a left turn in their dive watch lineup, abandoning the classic lines of the 60s Seamasters for the oblong, geometric and bulbous of the 70s. One Seamaster that has stood the test of time despite its oversized helmet-shaped case an...
XETUM Watches Now Available On Bracelets, Look Awesome
XETUM is one of those rare upstart brands that actually got things right. Sure, they are using ETA movements, but they don't try to hide it and are priced right where they should.? XETUM pieces have an identifiable personality unlike any other watch in any price point, and they take a unique approach towards customer service and sustainability. We reviewed their Tyndall model when it launched a few years back, and loved it.Since then, brand founder Jeff Kuo has been hard at work developing a steel bracelet that was befitting of his brand and one that met the standards his customers and he would expect - steel bracelets on less expensive timepieces are often of very poor quality.Just announce...
Hands-On: With + The Making Of Vacheron's Unique Dove Watch
Click to expandOne of the most visually appealing and emotionally pulling pieces of the Only Watch 2011 auction is the "Dove Watch" from Vacheron Constantin.? The amount of work that went into the sculpting of this dial is hard to understand without seeing the piece in person, so here are two pictures we took last week so you can better understand (both will expand if clicked).?Still, to really understand why this watch is so impressive, the Hour Lounge has put together a nice photo essay of the Dove watch being assembled.? Click here for that. Related Content: To see how Van Cleef & Arpels applies similar techniques to their own dials, click here....