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Best Super NEWS Watches
Today is a big day for us. It marks the beginning of a few things for HODINKEE, and in this letter, I want to explain of all them so that you, our reader, understands them completely. Let's get right into it.In March of 2012, we launched a small e-commerce shop selling the straps, pouches, and rolls that I had been using myself for many years. We were the very first to sell straps such as this online, anywhere. And I did it out of my one-bedroom apartment in New York City, fulfilling every single order myself, while still a full-time graduate student. The response was overwhelming, and its success was one of the reasons I was then able to hire our first employees (who subsequently have broug...
The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute & Eterna Movement Team Up For Watchmaker Training
The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) and Eterna Movement are collaborating to begin training American watchmakers on Eterna movements at AWCI's headquarters in Harrison, Ohio. This is a vote of confidence in the American watchmaking industry by a Swiss manufacture, and deserves a close look. Since 2008, the Swatch Group's ETA movement manufacture has been slowly reducing its deliveries of movements and parts to outside companies. Because of this, brands outside of the Swatch Group need to either begin manufacturing their own movements (a lofty task) or find an alterative movement supplier. Eterna Movement SA is one of those alternatives; you may ...
You're Invited: The Horological Society Of New York 150th Anniversary Charity Gala
New York City, 1866. A group of watchmakers meet for a drink after a long day at the bench. They decide to form a society to support each other in their work, and agree to meet for monthly horological lectures by their peers. 150 years later, the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is still holding those monthly lectures, as well as teaching classes twice weekly. Now, it's time to celebrate this New York City tradition. On Tuesday, March 29, 2016, HSNY will hold a charity gala to celebrate 150 years, and you're invited. HSNY Horological Education Held at the landmark General Society Library, the Gala will feature speeches b...
Carl F. Bucherer And HODINKEE Congratulate The Winner Of Our Trip To Basel Contest!
We're absolutely delighted to be able to share with you all that we've found a winner for our Bring Me To Baselworld contest, which is being generously sponsored by Carl F. Bucherer. The winner, selected from among literally thousands of entries shared with us by HODINKEE readers (and, of course, watch lovers) is Mr. Nathaniel Coghlan. Nathaniel tells us:"My name is Nathaniel Coghlan and for as long as I can remember, I've been a collector. It went from comic books to action figures, to guitars, to bikes, and now watches. Embarrassingly, I think pogs belong somewhere in that list too. I currently work as the Director of Outreach for the Purdue Honors College. As someone who dropped out of co...
Hands-On: The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 2016 Edition
The Laureato is one of Girard-Perregaux's most important designs, with a history going back to its birth in 1975 as a quartz-based chronometer wristwatch. The first mechanical versions of the Laureato were released in 1995, with the GP caliber 3100 and this year, GP is going back to that year for inspiration, with the 2016 edition of the Laureato automatic. The vintage Laureato self-winding models are well thought of by GP fans and collectors, but the appeal of the Laureato has always been a bit niche. Does the new 2016 model have what it takes to become the break-out, entry level icon Girard-Perregaux needs? Let's take a look. ...
You probably noticed that the HODINKEE Shop started offering vintage watches last Tuesday. What does this mean for this column? Well, nothing really. Bring A Loupe is still alive and kicking; each week, you can expect to find the coolest watches from all over the world. And this week, BAL will include a dressy Rolex with Tiffany dial, a B series Royal Oak, and a Bovet Mono-Rattrapante. There is also a great selection of chronographs, from a tropical Wakmann to an early Zenith El Primero. This is your Bring A Loupe for March 11, 2016. An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Reference 5402 B Series With Original Papers ...
First Look: Five Unexpected Vintage Lots From The Upcoming Watches Of Knightsbridge Auction
By Louis Westphalen It's always exciting to flip thought the pages of a fresh auction catalog. So we were thrilled to discover the lots from this week's Watches of Knightsbridge auction. There are showstoppers of course, such as a big crown Submariner and an early Speedmaster CK2998. But we think we found a couple of sleepers as well. So we picked five and went to try them on. Chronographs are well represented, with an understated but handsome Omega DeVille and a colorful Tudor Monte Carlo, while an early diver from Longines and a rare Rolex Datejust also make our list. Omega DeVille Chronograph Reference 145.017, With Slate Grey Dial ...
Introducing: The Chopard L.U.C. Perpetual Chrono
Chopard is a company that began as a watchmaker, became famous as a jeweler, and then, in 1996, became famous again as a watchmaker. The company was founded in 1860; the Happy Diamonds designs debuted in 1976; and in 1996, Chopard surprised fine watchmaking enthusiasts with the introduction of its first L.U.C. movement, the caliber 1.96, from a design by none other than Michel Parmigiani. Like many enthusiasts I was first introduced to L.U.C. (the initials are those of Chopard's founder, Louis-Ulysse Chopard) by Walt Odets' Timezone article from 2002, which praised the movement as "perhaps the finest automatic movement being made in Switzerland today." In the years since then the L.U.C. fami...
TAG Heuer Will Relaunch The Autavia In 2017 C And Fans Get To Choose The Model
Have you ever caught yourself staying up way, way too late, looking at vintage watches online and wishing they would make a return to the market? I know I have C and a long time before my job made it acceptable. Well if youre part of that club, theres good news on the way from TAG Heuer. Following a conversation with Jeff Stein at On The Dash C a must read for vintage Heuer fans C ?TAG Heuer has announced a campaign asking the public which vintage Autavia chronograph they want to see re-launched in 2017. A racers watch, developed in the 1960s, its one of the Heuer's Big Three, along with the Carrera and the Monaco, and ...
Hot off the news that we'd see the Black Bay go bronze, 43 mm, and in-house late last night, we now have another Heritage Black Bay in something we'd never thought we'd see C a PVD case! On top of that, it's COSC certified, 41 mm, and in-house. A lot to like here, people. While yesterday's Bronze Black Bay was upped to 43 mm, the Dark remains at the familiar and welcomed 41 mm diameter. The case is steel but treated with PVD, a practice that, to be honest, feels a little outdated when we now have DLC, and indeed the possibility of ceramic cases (which Tudor themselves offer). The case is entirely satin finished and a matching...
Records in watchmaking are increasingly elusive, and generally transient. However, pursuing them has given rise to some very interesting watchmaking. Breaking a record may be hard, and holding it is even harder, but for now, it looks like Bvlgari has managed to do both, with the launch at Baselworld 2016 of its Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater. Ultra-thin wristwatch movements are rare; complicated ultra-thin wristwatch movements are even more rare, since the challenges in ultra-thin watchmaking tend to rise exponentially as the watch becomes more complicated. For that reason, the most complex watches are made in ultra-thin vari...
Get Ready For HODINKEE At Baselworld 2016 And The Return Of HODINKEE Live!
It's that time of year again, folks! Yup, the watch industry's week-long mega-orgy of new releases kicks off later this week and team HODINKEE will be there in full force. Baselworld 2016 will be an interesting one C with the the full impact of Apple and others' entrance into wrist wearables now being felt, and a seemingly slowing global economy, things seem tougher than ever for the Swiss watch industry. Will we see smaller, more wallet-friendly novelties C a trend we saw at SIHH? Stay tuned to HODINKEE to find out C and the best way to do that? HODINKEE Live, of course! Wait, What's HODINKEE Live Again? ...
One week ago, we re-launched the HODINKEE Shop with a totally new look and some incredible vintage watches for sale. Today we're back with a fresh batch after selling through most of the first run in a matter of days. Just like before, you're going to see some beautiful (and still untouched) hi-res photos, what we love about each piece, and what you should know. And because we are nothing without you guys, we listened to your feedback and now offer hi-res photos of the movement of each watch. Have at it people C we've got some killers for you this week, including an original Nautilus, 5513 Sub, and 321 Speedy, all with original boxes and papers! 1980s Rolex Subma...
The Black Bay and Pelagos dive watches are two of the most dramatically successful vintage-inspired, and eminently affordable, dive watches anyone is producing today, and while they're not the letter-perfect reboots of original vintage models that some would have preferred, we think Tudor's been smart to keep a lot of the salient details of their vintage dive watches, but avoid rote repetition. The worst-case scenario for vintage-inspired watches in general is when designers add unwanted features that break the spell of immersion in history and heritage, thereby making you feel as if you just have to try too hard to love a watch you really want to love. The newest Black Bay from Tudor is now...
Introducing: The New Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 43.5mm Auto
Omega has released a new addition to the Seamaster Ocean Planet Collection C the new 43.5 mm Auto. This brightly colored watch features the chronometer caliber 8900 with METAS certification. This Seamaster Planet Ocean 43.5 mm chronometer is made of titanium and is water resistant to 600 m (2,000 ft) and features the caliber 8900 movement with METAS certification (if you didn't notice all the new Planet Ocean Collections are receiving the new METAS Certification). The most interesting part about this colorful watch are the materials used. The 43.5 mm watch itself is made of titanium with gray silicon nitride rubber bezel ins...
Breaking News: Phillips To Hold Stainless Steel Chronographs Only Sale This Coming May (Early Look)
Nobody knows how to put on a more interesting watch auction than Aurel Bacs & Co. at Phillips C this much we know. But, after last May's very successful, if perhaps a little staid, thematic Day-Date sale, I think we were all hoping Phillips would come, guns blazing, back into its next thematic sale C and they did, and then some! This May, Phillips will host an evening sale of just chronographs. Stainless-steel chronographs. There isn't a hotter category in the world, and we have a look at some of the early lots C and boy, is this one going to be a killer.The first watch you'll notice at top is one you may know C it's the Rolex reference 4113 C otherwise known as the mack-daddy of the Rol...
The Planet Ocean Collection was first launched in 2005 and has become a mainstay, in the last 10 years, of Omega's sports watch collections. This year Omega has released a brand new Planet Ocean 45.5 mm Chronograph, with a new co-axial chronograph movement (METAS/Master Chronometer certified, a first for Omega chronographs) and in new materials. It's one of three Master Chronometer certified Seamasters in the new-for-2015 Seamaster Planet Ocean Master Chronometer Collection, along with the new Seamaster Planet Ocean 43.5 mm Auto, and the Seamaster Planet Ocean 43.5 mm GMT. As you may know, the current Planet Ocean Chronograph 45.5 mm features the co-axial caliber...
Introducing: The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 39.5mm
This year at Baselworld Omega has decided to revamp their old classics. Take the Seamaster Planet Ocean 39.5 mm for example, although this watch is already in existence, it is now available in 39.5 mm and features a new co-axial movement, the caliber 8801/8800 (as opposed to the caliber 8615). This new movement is certified by METAS and is self-winding with a power reserve of 55 hours. The new 39.5 mm case, as opposed to the 37.5 mm or 42 mm case currently in the collection, is a welcome addition to those looking for something in between the two sizes. Additio...
Introducing: The Omega Grey Side Of The Moon 'Meteorite,' The Most Exciting Grey Has Ever Been
How many sides does a sphere have? Luckily for OMEGAs marketing department, the answer is: an infinite number. After visits to the Dark, the Grey, and the White Side of the moon, the Swiss giant invites us to discover one we didnt even know existed: the Meteorite side.Modeled after other Speedmaster Co-Axial chronographs, the new GSOTM is the latest two-register, with small seconds at 9 oclock, a 60-minute and 12-hour recorder at 3 oclock, and a date window at 6 oclock. Again, it is presented in a brushed and polished case measuring 44.25 mm across and 16.14 mm tall. But the watch looks a whole lot different from its predecessor. ...
Made In Germany. This label, coined by the British to discourage the purchase of foreign goods, has since become a promise of quality sought by consumers around the world. And its armed with these three words that German watchmakers are hoping to appeal to collectors. But they also raise expectations. ?Hoping to match them, Glashtte Original have developed a brand new movement line that sets itself apart in terms of longevity, precision, and serviceability. And since were at Baselworld, theyve timed its release to coincide with a new collection called the Senator Excellence. I had the opportunity of wearing the watch during the first 100 hours of Baselworld, and here are my thoughts. ...