Best Super NEWS Watches
A Week On The Wrist: The Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chronograph 220th Anniversary Model
In the world of traditional high-end chronographs, Patek Philippe's 5170, Vacheron Constantin's Patrimony Chronograph, and A. Lange & Sohne's Datograph reign as leaders in the field. ?They are all manually wound and they all sell for over $50,000. ?So, in this review, we give Jason a high-end chronograph that looks very much the part of a Vacheron or Patek chrono, only it features an automatic chronograph, and actually costs only $29,000. Of course, we understand that's the price of a really nice car, but everything is relative, and this review puts Girard-Perregaux's 1966 Chronograph in white gold and crystal blue dial to the test against some major competition. ...
Two Dudes Show Us Their Really Hardcore Patek Philippe Tattoos: Seriously, What Is Going On?
Is someone going around offering watchnerds money to ink up their skin with horologically flavored tattoos? It sure seems like it, because hot on the heels of that guy with the diamond-dial Rolex set to 4:20 permanently afixed to his wrist comes these two jokers.?The first guy, who started the thread over at the PuristsPro forum calling it "REAL PASSION FOR PATEK", has Patek Philippe's calatrava cross tattoo'd on the underside of his wrist.? He goes on to say he was invited to Patek's headquarters in Geneva and when he showed them his tattoo, they were "highly interested into why i had done this to myself."? Yes, I'm sure "interested" was the sentiment exactly.Next, we have another poster on...
Introducing the Urwerk UR-1001 Zeit Device U?ber Complication: From One Second To One Millennium
Urwerk has done did it again.? Announced just this morning is a true "uber complication" of a pocketwatch, the Zeit Device. What the Zeit Device can do is absolutely astonishing, and takes the concept of perpetual time keeping to a brand new level.? The Zeit Device UR-1001 marks the passage of time in seconds, minutes, hours, day/night, date, month, years, 100 years (centuries), all of the way to a monumental 1,000 years (millenia!!).The UR-1001 features a bevy of Urwerk's now trademark satellites and retrogrades and while the watch may sound complicated, because hey, a watch that can track a freaking millennium would have to be, it is actually really easy to read.The time (minutes and hours...
A 1958 Omega Constellation Cal. 505
This 1958 Omega Constellation is an uncommon reference 2887-2 and represents a great value for the money in today's market. The 2887-2 is a screw-in version of the 2852 and houses a caliber 505 automatic movement made by Omega. The 505, along with the 501, replaced the quirky "bumper" movements found in pre-1956 Constellations. This watch and other references like it are very collectable these days, and represent an accessible entrance to the world of vintage timepieces. These watches aren't difficult to find, and are in many ways far more interesting than modern watches that fall in the same price range of $1000 or so. At 34mm, the watch may be a bit small for modern sensibilities, but thos...
In 1920, the trench watches used during World War I were sold off by J. Selinger in Washington DC (820 F Street N.W.) at break-neck prices.? For example, a $25 grade watch would be sold for $5, some as low as $4.? The window here is indeed J. Selinger of Washington with a fully stocked window of timepieces available for purchase.? You have to remember, in 1920, the wristwatch was still in its infancy, and pocket watches were very common.? But you know what? Watches could always bring a crowd. These images are available in high-def and for purchase at Shorpy.?(hat tip to Bob O.)...
Bring a Loupe: 10 Great eBay Finds At Various Price Points
This week's What's Selling Where focuses on a range of timepieces suitably priced for entry-to-mid-level vintage watch collectors (with the exception of an awesome Patek 5196P that I couldn't help but include!). All of the watches are available to purchase on eBay, from a $200 Omega Seamster to a $6,550 Vacheron Constantin with hobnail guilloch dial and enamel logo. As a guy who has bought a lot of watches from eBay over the years, I think these 10 watches really show you a good range of what's on offer for vintage watch lovers of all sorts. Patek Philippe Reference 5196P If you are on the nice list ...
Watch Spotting: A Patek Philippe 5960 Annual Calendar Chronograph in Platinum...On A NATO Strap
Look, NATO straps are getting to be pretty played out. In NYC, some have even described their overuse by the thick-rimmed glasses and plaid shirt wearing set of 14th street and below as a "horological hipster epidemic," but that doesn't mean they don't belong on certain watches. On a vintage Submariner, they just work. On a vintage Speedmaster, they work. On just about anything old and military looking, they work. But, would a NATO strap work on an $88,000 modern Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph made of platinum? Actually, yes, totally.We spotted this bad boy on the wrist of William Massena over the weekend and much to our surprise, the thing just looks great. The grey NATO (cos...
Bremont To Auction Off Squadron-Only C-17 Globemaster Wristwatch For Charity, Bids Accepted By Email
The Brothers Bremont are making fifty specialty watches for the operators of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster 3 airplane.? The watches will never be sold to civilians, but now you have one chance to purchase one via a charity auction.? 100 percent of the proceeds from this sealed bid auction will go to charity, 50% to BLESMA and 50% to RAFA.The C-17 watches are in production right now and the delivery date will be before the end of October 2011.? Bidding starts at 1000GBP and bids are being taken via email at [email protected].? For more details, visit Bremont's Facebook page....
All Platinum Everything, With A Heart of Gold Everyone makes a watch with a platinum case, only Vacheron makes a watch with a platinum case, dial, hands, crown, buckle, and STITCHING. Yes, this watch is 100% platinum, and the coolness doesn't end there.? In fact, this ultra-thin Vacheron uses arguably the most famous automatic movement ever made, at least according to watchnerds like us.? But, let's start at the beginning.In 2006, Vacheron Constantin announced a new line of watches dubbed the "Collection Excellence Platine" which are a special series of pieces built entirely out of platinum.? They are typically limited to 150 units in each execution, and while the ca...
Breaking News: Grald Genta, Legendary Timepiece Designer, Has Died
In very sad news for watch fans the world over, legendary designer Grald Genta has died.?We have received confirmation of his passing from multiple sources and are awaiting further details.? For those who don't know, Gnta was responsible for a handful of the most iconic watch designs of the 20th century, including Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak, Patek Philippe's Nautilus, IWC's Ingenieur SL, Universal Geneve's Polerouter, Omega's Seamaster Constellation, Bvglari's "Bvlgari Bvlgari" and several more.We will update this post with details as they come in. Check this post later for more details....
Vintage Viewing: A Factory Tour Of Hanhart's Facilities Circa 1930 (VIDEO)
German watch brand Hanhart is perhaps most famous for its World War Two era chronographs - and the brand has not strayed far from this design DNA in its current line-up. But even before the company became (along with virtually every other watch company in Europe) co-opted into military production, Hanhart was known for their chronographs and stopwatches.?This footage gives a fascinating insight into the watch industry as it once was; how much it has changed and how much it has remained the same. As well as providing some great glimpses as to how precision watches were made in a pre-industrial era it's actually a pretty good and informative piece of journalism, and a great example of the earl...
Keegan Bradley Wins PGA Championship, Receives $1.45 Million And Omega Seamaster Annual Calendar
In case you hadn't heard, Omega has become the official timing partner of the PGA Tour.? This is certainly a choice strategic decision, as Rolex has always played a very strong role in professional golf, sponsoring several players and running heavy advertisements.? Also, Audemars Piguet has taken to sponsoring more than a handful of top-ranked players, including Rory McIlroy (as you can see in this picture of Rory drinking out of the US Open cup wearing his Royal Oak chrono).?So, as this was the first major that Omega officially played a role in, it is only fitting that the winner, Keegan Bradley would receive an Omega wristwatch...and he did!? And, it wasn't just any Omega, but a very nice ...
VIDEO: The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Grande Complication Boutique NYC In Action
The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle caliber 2755 Boutique New York is a grande complication made as one solitary unit for the new NYC store on Madison Avenue.? It consists of 602 individual components including the most poetic of all complications, the minute repeater.? A few months back, we got to see the unique grande comp in Vacheron's Vallee de Joux factory, before it was completed.? Here is a video of this amazing piece, still a work in progress at this point, when the minute repeater is activated.? Enjoy!...
In-Depth: Military One-Button Chronographs With Unsigned Dials From Omega And Breitling
Vintage Breiting can easily be grouped into two categories: 1) Navitimers 2) Not Navitimers. The Navitimer/Cosmonaute line is so fantastic that it often overshadows what else Breitling did back in the day. Their Top-Time was a nice, less expensive piece. Their world-timers were super duper cool, and their rattrapante duograph was cooler still. But, our favorite vintage Breitling was never sold at all - it was issued.For years, Canada's Air Force (RCAF) and Department of Defense (DND) was in the habit of ordering single-button chronographs from Omega, Lemania (who made movements for others), and Breitling. They were given to pilots and army folk often. But, Canadians, being the reasonabl...
European Union Examines Anti-Trust Allegations Against Large Watch Companies
We've long heard rumblings from independent watchmakers that it is next to impossible to receive parts for repair work on pieces from the larger groups (Swatch, LVMH, Richemont).? Three years ago, the European Confederation of Watch & Clock Repairers' Association filed a claim with the European Commission that the groups (Swatch admits it is a target, LVMH and Richemont gave no comment) were purposefully withholding parts required for repair so that customers will be required to send their watches directly to the manufacture, a costly process for the customer and a known profit center for watch companies.? But, when the CEAHR filed the complaint, it was quickly disregarded by the EC, utn...
Traveling Time: Blake Takes The Linde Werdelin Hard Black II To Haiti On A Mission To Help Children
On January 12th, 2010, the poorest nation in the western Hemisphere was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Haiti has since gone through a period of slow and sparse recovery.? I decided I wanted to help out, so I boarded a plan for Port au Prince. Accompanying me was a special watch from Linde Werdelin, a watch that I was told could take just about any amount of physical beating and remain strong. Over the next 4 days, Id find out.Sitting in the open bed of a pickup truck, driving over what can scarcely be described as a road through rural Haiti, I am struck by the unnatural juxtaposition before me. Haiti is a beautiful piece of land, home to a warm and friendly population. After ...
A Seven Part Series On Vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre Ads And Catalogs
Vintage watch advertisements and catalogs are one of the most useful ways to determine what a vintage watch should look like, and for what it was originally indended. Over on the Purists, member "Blomman," has crafted an excellent seven part series on the ads and catalogs of vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre.If you have an interest in JLC, this is not to be missed. Click here to be taken to part seven of the series, where you will also see links to the previous six entries....
Inside The Manufacture: A Look At A. Lange & Sohne's Balance Cock Engraving
Did you know that literally every single A. Lange & Sohne timepiece is unique? It's true, and that is because each timepiece that comes out of the Glashtte manufacture features one component (at minimum) that is hand engraved C the balance-cock.? The engraving of the balance-cock dates back to the early 20th century when Lange was buiding superlative quality "1A" pocketwatches. ?When the brand relaunched in the early 90s, it just made sense to continue on with one of Lange's greatest traditions. ?So, within the halls of the Lange manufacture exists a small group of six engravers that individually sculpt the balance cock via ...
Watch Spotting: A Unique AP Royal Oak Grande Complication with PVD Case...IN SPACE!
Let's be honest, the HODINKEE team has a preternatural ability to spot and identify wristwear, and every now and then, it can make some news.? Today, we are showing you a brand new space watch, and watch worn into orbit and previously unidentified by anyone.? And, the space watch we have for you today isn't your average manually wound chronograph or digital guy, it's a freaking unique perpetual calendar, split seconds, minute repeating grande complication from one of the most storied manufactures in the world.?For watches and the men that love them, nothing provides validation more than a trip to the heavens.? Omega still uses its trips to the moon as the focal point of its marketing campaig...
VIDEO: Peter Speake-Marin, A Watchmaker's Story
Director Simon Gargette delivers an intimate look at the world of independent watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin in this video made for Luxe TV. The artfully shot video features Speake-Marin discussing his journey into watchmaking and his views on the impact of independent watchmakers in the industry. We're also treated to a glimpse of what the Englishman has been working on of late, including a movement designed for Harry Winston.?See more of Peter Speake-Marin's work on our site here and here.(Hat tip to WatchTime)...