Best Super NEWS Watches
One Of Twelve F.P. Journe Chronomtre Rsonance In Titanium And Pink Gold (Live Pics & Details)
The Chronomtre Rsonance is definitely a fan-favorite for devotees of F.P. Journe. First introduced in 2000, it was the second serial production watch for the brand. The original went out of production in 2003 and a new edition was unveiled in 2010 for the anniversary, but what we have for you here is a very special Rsonance. Made in only twelve numbered examples for the second anniversary of the Tokyo F.P. Journe boutique (in 2005), this Rsonance is made in titanium with pink gold accents and hands. You don't want to miss any of these live photos, we promise.? The Two-Balance Movement Of The Chronomtre Rsonance We wo...
We hope the holidays are treating everyone well so far. In our Post-Christmas What's Selling Where round-up, we bring you three very different grail chronographs plus the most insanely beautiful Rolex Datejust any of us have ever seen. These watches are the real deal, people. Patek Philippe Steel Chronograph (Reference 130) If the watch above looks familiar to you, it is probably because we included in our watch spotting at the Pop-Up Flea article from a couple weeks ago. The Patek Philippe reference 130 in steel is a rare and costly chronograph: one with a refinished dial sold in the Christies November Geneva sale for $122,000 and one w...
In-Depth: The Very First Heuer Carrera, Explained
Ben's in-depth article from this summer dissecting the 1963 Mark 1 "Double-Swiss Underline" Rolex Daytona on the occasion of its 50th anniversary has already become a reader favorite. And while just last month we saw an early 1963 Daytona sell for close to $300,000 at the Christie's "Lesson One" Daytona auction, we believe that it wouldn't be right to let 2013 pass without diving into the origin and details of the other legendary chronograph celebrating its 50th anniversary: the (TAG) Heuer Carrera. ? Mark 1 Rolex Daytona and First Series Heuer Carrera The Carrera and The Daytona The 1963 Carreras and ...
Follow Ben Clymer on eBay For The HODINKEE Holiday Reading List, And More Great Finds
eBay is one of the best places in the world to find great watches. ?I've long said it's one of of my daily visits (if you don't believe me, read the last line of this article in yesterday's NY Times), and with good reason. ?A watch is sold on eBay every five seconds - that's over 6.8 million timepieces per year. ?Sure they might not all be winners, but simple math will tell you that out of that many chances, you're bound to find some unbelievable things. ?That is why we've teamed up with eBay to give you an inside look at what I'm watching right now, with eBay's new collections tools. ?You can follow me and my collections here, and don't miss the HODINKEE holiday reading list right here....
Historical Perspectives: Just Because: Hands-On With A 1968 Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris
Every now and then, we like to show you something fun, not because it's timely, but just because one happened to make its way into the HODINKEE offices.? Today is one such example.? You're looking at a Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris.? It dates to approximately 1968, and and is, in the opinion of the house, one of the coolest vintage watches there is.? Why? Well, for a few reasons. First, it's rare.? It is far, far less common than the basic Memovox that we reviewed here, despite sharing the very same movement. ? Just 1,714 of these watches were made, and they remain very collectible.? Part of the reason this watch is so much fun is tha...
VIDEO: The HODINKEE 2013 Year In Review
Well, the end of 2013 is drawing near. ?And what that means is it's time to recap some of our favorite adventures of the past twelve months, from chats with legendary artisans to witnessing record setting auctions. ?In the video above, we've given you a little highlight reel of what HODINKEE showed you this year, but below, we'll tell you exactly where to see it all in its original form. This, dear readers, is your 2013 HODINKEE Year In Review... Seeing The Unseen With Vacheron Constantin In episode one of our "Road to Basel" series, we visited the historic maison of one of the world's greatest watchmaker...
A HODINKEE-Curated Vintage Watch Sale Begins Today at 12pm Noon on Gilt Man
Back by popular demand, we are proud to announce that at noon eastern-time today, Gilt Man will be hosting a special vintage watch sale curated by, well, us. ?The sale will include the very best of vintage watches, including some remarkable old Rolexes (think 5508 "no crown guards", an unbelievable Red Sub, a nice 1016 Explorer, and even a meters first 5513). ?Also in the sale will be a beautiful old Speedmaster Professional, an original IWC Ingenieur, and a lovely old JLC Memovox. Above, our Ben Clymer sits with Gilt Man's Tyler Thoreson to talk about some of the pieces in the sale. ?It's a nice preview for what you'll be able t...
John Mayer On Watches: My Thoughts On The Bell & Ross BR126 Chronograph, By John Mayer
This past November I had the rare opportunity to sit on the jury of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genve. For one day, myself and 22 other far-more-qualified watch lovers closely examined 71 watches in 14 categories, spanning the entire world of watchmaking from the $3,100 non-complication Tudor Black Bay to a womans tourbillion made by Bovet that retails for over $200,000. Of all the watches that I saw, one that really stood out to me was the Bell & Ross BR126 Sport Heritage Chronograph. An entry in the Sport Watch category, The Sport Heritage Chronograph didnt take home an award at the ceremony, but it left a lasting impression on me for holding its own against all the other watches...
In-Depth: A Critical Look At The A. Lange & Sohne Grand Complication
When the A. Lange & Sohne Grand Complication was first announced at SIHH 2013 it got the entire watch industry's attention C as you would expect an extremely complex, 50mm diameter, $2.6 million watch to do C though only a handful of people were able to actually see the watch in person. Large scale models and official press photos had to suffice for most. But a few weeks ago a prototype Grand Complication made its way to New York City and we sat down with CEO Wilhelm Schmid and Director of Product Development Anthony de Haas to get a closer look at exactly what this astounding watch means for the future of A. Lange & Sohne. Introduction ...
The New DB28 GS Is De Bethune's Intergalactic Take On The Waterproof Sport Watch
I will be completely honest: if this is the kind of waterproof watch that is strapped to your wrist while?having the time of your life with a Super-Soaker, then I'm jealous of your lifestyle. Despite potentially being part of vigorously entertaining summertime antics, the?DB28 GS has a pretty noble pedigree. The model can trace its roots to?the DB28, a marvel of contemporary horology that took home the top honor at the?Grand Prix in 2011.? The "GS" in the DB28 GS moniker stands for "Grand?Sport" C a reference to the more robust build of this model compared to other watches within the range. The 44 mm (x 11 mm) titanium case i...
Coming from Longines today is a killer looking new chronograph.? Dubbed the Heritage 1973, this cushion shaped chronograph takes on the look of a famous (though seldom seen) watch from, you guessed it, 1973.? This watch was called the Conquest, used the wonderful Longines 30 CH movement, and looked like this: img via eBay What you'll notice very quickly is that this new Longines, and the original Conquest from the early 70s resemble a watch that is much more widely known amongst collectors, and it doesn't come from Longines.? This is the Heuer Camaro, and it used the very same case the as the early Longines Conquest.? Neither ...
Hands-On: With The Shinola Runwell Chronograph 47mm (Live Pics & Pricing)
Shinola Runwell Chronograph 47mm We've been keeping you up to date with Shinola's offerings from the very beginning, with the time-only?Runwell 40mm. The Detroit-based brand is building upon great aspirations to return high-level manufacturing to the US by expanding its collection of watches. The newest release, the Runwell Chrono 47mm, is a solid addition to their existing range of affordable American-made wristwatches and the first with a complication.While the first Shinola watch, the Runwell, comes in both 40mm and 47mm case sizes, the Chronograph is available in 47mm and 41mm. Theres no doubt that this is a substantially sized timepiece, especially in 47mm. J...
Pre-SIHH 2014: Introducing The Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire (Live Pics & Pricing)
Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire On Monday we showed you the new Calibre de Cartier Diver, the first in-house tool watch from the maison. Today we have something for you from the opposite end of the spectrum. Here is the Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire, a perpetual calendar with a flying tourbillon that uses a multi-tier circular display for the perpetual calendar and a mechanism that is almost entirely free from the typical levers and springs. This is a seriously complicated watch that introduces a number of important new technologies, plus it just looks like it means business. Rotonde de Cartier Perpetual Calendar Chron...
The Two Vintage Chronographs I Wish I Had Bid Harder On At Bonhams NY
This week and last are some of my favorites of the year - because they are home to the December sales from Antiquorum, Sotheby's, Bonhams, and Christie's in my home town of NY. ?That means I can take my time in previewing, understanding, and bidding on some great watches right here without having to do it over the web or the phone.? Unfortunately I didn't do any of that, because I was traveling, and that really stinks.? There were two watches I really had my eye on this week but I didn't win either of them.? And here I'll show you what they were, and why I liked them so much.? My love for Universal Geneve is well documented. ...
Useful Again: Restored American Pocket Watches Turned Desk Clocks
American Pocket Watches As Desk Clocks Sometimes it is easy to forget that there was a long tradition of quality watchmaking right here in the USA that persisted until only a few decades ago. The gents over at Analog/Shift have taken this to heart and turned a handful of antique American pocket watches into desk clocks, fitting each fully-restored watch with an individually carved hardwood stand. Sure, you might not want to throw a Waltham railroad watch into your pocket, but it's a handsome option for sitting next to your iMac. Elgin Watch With Tiger Maple Stand Hamilton Watch With Padauk ...
Armin Strom Tourbillon Gravity Fire Armin Strom is a relatively young brand that for the past four decades has been creating watches that use skeletonizing to offer a unique take on the balance between mechanics and aesthetics. Today we have a new creation from Armin Strom, the Tourbillon Gravity Fire, which combines a one-minute rotating tourbillon and an automatic winding system that utilizes a micro rotor. Both are shown off on the dial side of the watch, giving the wearer a full view of what is going on inside.A few weeks ago, Blake gave everyone a look at the Armin Strom Gravity with his Week on the Wrist review. Here you can find more about the history of Arm...
Where Time Comes From: Meet Dr. Demetrios Matsakis, The Man Keeping America On Time
Ask Dr. Demetrios Matsakis the definition of time and he won't have an answer, but he can give you the definition of a second: "9,192,671,770 periods of oscillation of an undisturbed cesium atom." Dr. Matsakis, as Chief Scientist for the United States Naval Observatory's Time Services, is the man literally charged with keeping America on time C and the man whose work gives you the time on your cellphone and computer. We hope you enjoy this look at his work by The Atlantic.For further reading on Dr. Matsakis, check out this article and video by The Atlantic on the leap second from last year, another article on the leap second from this year, this profile of Dr. Matsakis from The Washingtonian...
Calibre de Cartier Diver Anyone who knows anything about watchmaking understands by now that Cartier is a manufacture to be taken seriously. Carole Forestier-Kaspi is leading the fine watchmaking department into uncharted territory, every year coming up with new and innovative complications and on the more consumer-oriented side of things the maison is creating modern, wearable watches with quality in-house movements. Today we unveil the Calibre de Cartier Diver, a true ISO-certified dive watch containing an in-house 1904 MC calibre. Last year, Cartier introduced the Calibre de Cartier Chronograph, a killer in-house chronograph priced just over $10,000, and even mo...
Introducing the Hublot Classic Fusion Aeromoon, Hublot's First Moon Phase
Hublot is no stranger to complication, but its lineup was missing a moon phase until this January, during which it released the Fusion Aeromoon. This new model combines familiar but also distinct elements from past Hublot models. The case is still wide, but now also quite slim. Above all, we have exotic design on the moon phase itself that is sure to enamor Hublot fans.The Fusion Aeromoon starts out with Hublot's conventional porthole case in 45 mm. Big like most Hublots, but seemingly slim as well (yes, Hublot is capable producing of slim watches) most likely aiding wearability for something of its size. The bezel employs eight titanium screws (which are functional in addition to being unal...
Interview: Vadim Kibardin, Creator Of The White & White Clock
White & White Clock By Vadim Kibardin The White & White clock from Vadim Kibardin is an exercise in aesthetic reductionism. Its an all-digital clock stripped down to the bare essentials: numbers and nothing more. Starting off as an ambitious concept using individual OLED components, a production-ready model contained in a white case was released to the public in 2011. Vadim Kibardin, the clocks designer and founder of the design studio Kibardindesign, answered a few questions about his design ethos and the process behind creating this horological design.HODINKEE: Tell us about your background and what first sparked your interest in industrial design?Vadim Kib...