Archive for August 2021
Rolex 14000 Air King Domino’s Signed Dial
Somewhere inside the Venn diagram of horological significance, pop culture, and master-level trolling lies this: the very elusive Domino’s-signed Air-King. The standard Air-King is an oft-overlooked, undersized, and restrained bit of Rolex sports steel. The reference ran from 1989 to 1999. Inside that timeline, Domino’s was flying high. To commemorate the work of longstanding employees,…
Read MoreLaurent Ferrier Micro-Rotor Régulateur École
If you’ve spent time here, you’ll know I have an immense affection for Laurent Ferrier. The man’s work speaks for itself, very eloquently. Mr Ferrier is perhaps most famed for contrasting classic design and proportions with thoroughly modern movements, all finished to an exacting standard. He is also known for a damn great micro-rotor execution.…
Read MoreA Very Rough, Very Blueberry Ed White 105.003 Speedmaster
I find I am still subject to small dopamine releases when eBay presents me an alert for something very desirable. I defy you to tell me that this rough-around-the-edges, original, DON90 blueberry Ed White doesn’t turn you on at least mildly. I known I tend to favour either beautifully preserved pieces or utterly fucked and…
Read MoreWell-Preserved, Elegant 37mm Rose Gold IWC Cal 89
A 37mm sport Rolex would cause standing ovation across all of social media in today’s climate. Yet, set your year back a few decades and 37mm was absolutely massive. This rose gold IWC would have been a behemouth in its period, but a very sexy one. One may observe just how extreme this example varied…
Read MoreIraqi Air Force Issued 806 Navitimer
Breitling’s Navitimer and its logarithmic slide-rule bezel have remained a staple of aviation since inception. The 806 made its debut in 1954 at a massive 40mm with a very flat crystal. Those proportions, when combined with its distinctly flat crystal and . . .let’s be kind and call it ‘busy’ dial, are instantly recognizable to…
Read MoreA Very Pumpkin 1655 Explorer II ‘Freccione’ Mark 1
Halloween is coming in August this year, or so this 1655 would have one believe. The 1655 Explorer II is undoubtedly a grail sport Rolex for many and could be a real contender for my personal perfect one tool watch (I don’t frequent the Mariana Trench often, before you object). Initially designed for spelunkers, the…
Read MoreGrönefeld 1941 Principia Salmon
I’ve often said here that I tend to gravitate toward a given brand’s more minimal offerings. Pairing back the flying tourbillons, flyback chronographs, and deadbeat-seconds leaves room for a watchmaker’s design and finishing efforts to shine through. Leave it to the slightly unhinged Dutch brothers to design a time-only watch that has been more carefully…
Read MoreThe Earliest Travel Time: Patek Philippe 2597
Developed after the initial Worldtimers by Louis Cottier, the 2597 is damn cool Travel Time from the very start of the jet age. The reference can be thought of as a 570 with a little je ne sais quoi complication. The watch featured an early iteration of a travel time, effectively: its wearer could push…
Read MoreBulova Accutron Astronaut GMT Type 4
Polarizing is not a strong enough word to cover watch collectors’ vast opinions on this reference. Bulova has some heavy hitters in their back catalogue. If you don’t believe me, take a deeper dive with this 885104/01 worn on the surface of the moon which sold at auction in 2015. Accutron was hugely innovative, among…
Read MoreFirst Execution Heuer Carrera 73653
This is last bastion of manual-wind Carreras and it’s a damn attractive holdout. This early-70s iteration of the Carrera sported a sunburst silver dial, contrast subs, and tritium. That tritium is, in my opinion, what makes this example. That is in addition to a bulletproof caliber, strong 39mm case, and eBay value buy. This first…
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