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Best Super NEWS Watches
AUCTION RECAP (Vintage Sport Watches): Antiquorum Hong Kong 2011 - A Record-Setting Royal Oak
While the MB&F HM2 and Ma?tres du Temps Chapter Two were the most interesting of the modern watches to sell in Hong Kong over the weekend, the most interesting vintage piece was not from Rolex or Patek, but rather a continuation of a spectacular (or spectacularly frustrating) rise in value - depending, of course, which side of the buy/sell equation you reside.? The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref 5402 "A-Series" is a watch we've discussed before.? It is one of the most important sport watches in the world, and last time we showed you one for sale, it set a record price at auction of about $23,750.?This past saturday, that record was broken when A-Series number 745 sold for 212,500 HKD, or ...
AUCTION RECAP (Modern Haute Horology): Antiquorum Hong Kong June 2011 - MB&F and Ma?tres du Temps
This past saturday, June 25, Antiquorum held a sale in Hong Kong.? Beyond your typical selection of pricey Pateks and ridiculous Rolexes, there were two modern watches to which we were paying close attentionThe two came from independent brands creating haute horology that are united not by what they are, but by what they are not - and what they are not are manufacturers.? Yet, Ma?tres du Temps and MB&F are two of the most talked about modern independent brands and they are truly phenomenal at bringing people together.? In the case of MdT and their Chapter Two, we are talking about Daniel Roth, Peter Speake-Marin, and Roger Dubuis. In the case of MB&F and their HM2, we are talking abo...
'The Recession Proof Swiss Watch' From The WSJ
Is the Swiss watch recession proof? According to this article in the WSJ, yes, though we can think of a few brands who might have something else to say about that. Either way, this piece reports that Swiss watch exports rose 40.1% in May in real terms with virtually all markets showing a rise. Even Greece, yes the country with a government on the verge of defaulting, showed a 6.1% increase over May last year. Gold watches did particularly well with an increase of over 50% and fitting with a mantra we at HODINKEE have always tried to bestow on you, "watches priced under 200 Swiss francs were the big risers in May, with exports up around 40%. But at the other extreme watches with an export p...
The Ikepod Hourglass For Only Watch 2011 Visits HODINKEE Headquarters (Slideshow)
The Ikepod Hourglass for Only Watch 2011 is currently on a world tour.? Ikepod CEO Alexandre David is hand carrying the one-off Marc Newson design across the globe to show it to press and collectors in anticipation of September's Only Watch auction in Monaco.?? This special Hourglass has taken Ikepod months to perfect, and the specially applied red paint is actually on the outside of the glass - we are told that it took eight or nine prototypes to get it just right.The result is absolutely stunning, and the already smooth Hourglass gets a dose of exclusivity with this piece unique.? From what we hear, there is heavy interest in the Red Hourglass from both major timepiece and art collectors, ...
The Patek Philippe Purchased from Inside a WWII Prison Camp, Stolen, Then Replaced (VIDEO)
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economyWatches have been involved in many incredible moments in history over the last century, from sports victories and?high-profile gifts to groundbreaking changes in our political landscape.? For Lt. Charles Woehrle, his watch-moment came as a POW in World War II, as a prisoner in the Stalag Luft III, of The Great Escape fame.?While a prisoner, Woehrle came across a brochure for Patek Philippe and ordered a watch to be delivered to him at the POW camp, promising to pay for it once he was released.? In what boggles the mind in todays world of modern warfare, several months later the steel Patek was delivered to Woehrle at t...
If someone told you that the most expensive watch to go at Only Watch 2011 will be 33.3mm in diameter and made of stainless steel, would you believe them?? You should, because it will probably happen.?Only Watch 2011 has some truly spectacular watches being created for it, but Patek Philippe's entry is something special.? Beyond reference 3939A being a unique minute repeating tourbillon with enamel dial, it's made in steel.? Complicated Patek Philippe watches in stainless steel are about as desirable as they come (see?), and when September's Only Watch auction comes around, we'll see if this small steel watch can put the big boys to shame.Reference 3939 has existed in the Patek catalog for s...
Well, there was no way to see this one coming. Chad Ochocinco, the man who felt the surname "Johnson" was just a little to plain jane for an athlete of his talents has gone ahead and purchased an Omega Speedmaster Alaska Project.? For those who don't remember, the Alaska Project Speedmaster was a concept watch that Omega hoped NASA would choose to replace the standard Speedmaster Professional on space-bound missions.? The dial was white so it wouldn't absorb heat, and the red anodized aluminum case protects the watch in a temperature range from -148F to +260F.? NASA never purchased these watches and the project was called to a stop.Omega released a tribute to the Alaska Project a few years b...
In-Depth: Vacheron Constantin & The Art of The Chamfer (VIDEO)
When you spend real money on a wristwatch, you want to believe that before you buy it, it goes through some centuries-old finishing techniques at the hand of the Valle de Joux's finest craftsmen.? Nine times out of ten, it won't.? But, if you happen to be purchasing a piece of haute horology from Vacheron Constantin, it just might. Today we take a look at the age old technique of chamfering (also known as beveling) where some of Vacheron's most skilled craftsmen smooth and shape components using metal, rock, and wood. Seriously.? Most ownerswill never see the result of this process, but it is finishing like this that separates a truly fine timepiece from the rest of the world of watches. ?T...
Seiko's Sentiment of the 1970s As Told By One Advertisement
Image courtesy of SpencerPKAs an historical document, this ad for Seiko is interesting for a few reasons. It tells us what was perceived as desirable in a timepiece of the 70s; Colored dials. Self Wind. Instant day and date change.? Bilingual calendars.? It also, and more importantly, is an early salvo in the most serious threat to the Swiss watch industry C the emergence of cheap, mass produced quartz watches.None of the watches shown here are quartz, and at the time a quartz watch probably cost about as much as a car C but the signs are all there.? This ad challenged the perceived value of luxury Swiss products; pay only for the timepiece, not the time it took to make it. ?I once had a...
Who Wears It Better: US Open Champion Rory McIlroy or Watch Blogging Champion Robert-Jan Broer?
Sometimes you just have to ask the question that's on absolutely nobody's mind - the question that doesn't really make any sense at all.? We've pitted two of our favorite guys against each other for no real purpose other than the fact that they both happen to wear the same wrist watch, the Royal Oak chrono ref: 26300ST.? So you tell us - does newly crowned US Open champ Rory McIlroy represent this watch, or is it Fratello-maestro Robert-Jan who does it best??(PS - RJ, You're Welcome)...
Event Recap: A Private Dinner With MB&F in NYC
Last Thursday we hosted a small soiree and dinner reception for 12 of our friends and readers.? The dinner was a special presentation of ten horological machines, all created by MB&F.? The goal of this event, along with the goal of HODINKEE, was to bring you, the hot-blooded fans of horology, closer to the pieces that are changing the industry.? In our assessment, we did just that.With 12 guests and nine MB&F watches around one octagonal table, attendees had the opportunity to see, touch, feel, and fiddle with some of the most extraordinary interpretations of time telling devices on the market today.? For most, it was the first time they had ever held an MB&F, and for some, it wi...
Among watch collectors of the early 20th century, two men stand head and shoulders above all others: James Ward Packard and Henry Graves, Jr. Both men were prolific patrons of horology, custom purchasing only the best and most complicated pocketwatches from Switzerland. The collections of these two Americans?connoisseurs?remain legendary even today.? As John Reardon writes in his seminal history Patek Philippe in America, "The wealthiest collectors often accumulated watches and kept them out of the public eye. One such man was James Ward Packard (1864-1928), automotive mogul and founder of Packard Motor Company. During his lifetime, he acquired approximately 14 ...
The very first Royal Oak built by Audemars Piguet was purchased by the Shah of Iran.? Approximately five years later, the gold Royal Oak you see above was purchased by the Omani Royal Family and given to Carlos Andres Perez, the then president of Venezuela.? On top of this Royal / Presidential provenance, this watch has a dial previously unseen here at HODINKEE - it is signed by the retailer Bulgari.? This just might be the most interesting vintage Royal Oak in the world, and it's gold.? Strange, right?As you all know, the Royal Oak is what it is because it was made in steel.? And, despite the rising cost of gold, yellow gold examples of the early Jumbos are worth considerably less than thei...
Found: A Vintage JLC Deep Sea Alarm US Edition With Original Box, Papers, & Bracelet (Oh Snap!)
The Deep Sea Alarm from Jaeger-LeCoultre has always been a cult classic. Known by few, it was the brand's first alarmed diving watch, introduced in 1959 in two dial variations - one for the US market and another for the European market. The Deep Sea Alarm was built for two years only and in very small numbers, most JLC literature says around 950 pieces, for both the US and European editions combined. Few have survived, probably due to the environment for which it was built, and while the JLC revived the Deep Sea Alarm concept this year with two new faithtful recreations, there is nothing like an original. And that is exactly what we've found today, but it doesn't end there.The vintage JLC...
A (Second) Review of the Kello iPhone App + Giveaway!
Some time ago we introduced you the iphone app Kello, a program that used your smartphone to listen to, and determine the accuracy of your mechanical watch.? At the time we thought this app was one of the best examples of a horology focussed smartphone app.Unfortunately for watch fans obsessed with accuracy it seemed that Kello was released into the wild a little too early. Within days of its initial release it was pulled from the app store amidst a flurry of poor reviews from disappointed owners.Well, the developers of Kello were not defeated, they tweaked and refined their concept, optimised their app and have released a Kello that is much more functional for the real world.Weve been havi...
Ponzi-Schemer Scott Rothstein's Watch Collection Up At Federal Auction
Scott Rothstein pleaded guilty to a $1.2 billion ponzi scheme on January 26, 2010. He is now living out a 50-year sentence in federal prison. Rothstein was, by trade, an attorney, but in reality, the man spent most of his life pissing through an incredible fortune on boys' toys. He owned several Ferraris (including an F40), a Bugatti Veyron, a Bentley, two Rolls-Royces, a few vintage Vettes, a Lambo, and and SLR-McLaren. But, on top of the cars, Rothstein had one very serious watch collection (262 watches to be exact) - a collection you'll be able to buy through federal auction on July 13th.Like most of these guys that think owning hundreds of watches is a cool thing, there is a lot of c...
Audemars Piguet Sponsors 34th Street Heliport in NYC (VIDEO)
Have you ever taken a chopper into NYC from the Hamptons? No? Well if you should ever be so lucky, you'll be greeted at the 34th street heliport by some familiar friends, those friends from Audemars Piguet.? AP has actually sponsored the entire heliport through the remainder of the 2011 summer season.? This means that when landing on the tarmac at the 34th street heliport, you'll actually see a few "AP" logos and a watch or two painted right onto the ground.?This is a pretty cool initiative to target a set of buyers that are most certainly in the market for a luxury timepiece.? Check out the video above to see what the new AP sponsorship at the 34th street heliport looks like from above....
A. Lange & Sohne makes some unquestionably beautiful movements, and the Glashutte-bred brand is considered one of the world's finest.? But, as we've mentioned to you before, Lange went through a forty year period of dormancy after the brand's property was expropriated to the pro-Stalin government of East Germany, along with several of the other Glashutte watch manufacturers.? But, for the first few years of the GUB (Glashtter Uhrenbetrieb), the Government-run conglomerate of Glashutte watch makers known for some pretty unexceptional pieces (Eastern block Germany was vehemently opposed to all things luxury), they used a pretty exceptional caliber.? Caliber 28 and 28.1 as they are known, ...
Hands-On: The Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture 'Grand Feu'
When I introduced you to?the new Classico Manufacture earlier this week, I mentioned that it was this model Ulysse Nardin chose as the flag bearer of the manufactures first in-house movement. While this watch is very much the same as that original model, and still utilizes that in-house caliber, the real appeal of the Grand Feu isn't its caliber, but rather, its enamel dial and the value-for-money proposition that comes with it. The Grand Feu will retail for $8,800 in the United States, which makes it one of the most affordable mechanical watches with a champlev grand feu dial. Not only is the price appealing, but also the watch itself cuts a fine figure ...
Introducing: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Night & Day In New 38.3mm 'Large' Size
It is no secret (or surprise) that the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control collection with sector dials was one of the true sleeper hits of SIHH this year. However, JLC had other great watches on offer this year, and one that I found quite impressive in the ladies' collection was the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Large. Here's a first look. This watch is a new addition to the existing Rendez-Vous collection, which is JLC's main women's line featuring round case shapes, as opposed to the classic rectangular Reverso. Rendez-Vous was first released in 2012, and has been gaining popularity ever since. The Rendez-Vous Night & Day Large features a guilloch sil...