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 sporting metal. The reference ran from 1989 to 1999. Inside that timeline, Domino’s was flying higher than ever....

1969 was quite the year. Aside from Omega’s all-time greatest product placement, the Swiss were manufacturing some seriously attractive metal. There was the iconic Speedmaster, the 6263 Daytona, and the El Primero. Zenith’s chronograph did not receive attention in proportion to the impressiveness of its engineering in period. The El...

It is possible for something to be expensive and massively undervalued. Much in the way that a multitude of collectors have only recently begun to acknowledge the exceptional watchmaking in early CPCP pieces or early Datographs, a subculture is forming around LUC. Chopard may be mostly known for the Alpine...

2889-1. There is no shortage of adjectives one could throw at this title . . .321, chocolate, radium, pre-moon, base 1000, and alpha-handed, I could go on. Save to say this: the 2998 is a sweet spot in pre-moon references for its alpha handset, chunky straight case, and historic significance....

We tend to think of inter-reference variation as something that only defines vintage Rolex. While alterations were certainly more common and easily discerned years ago, Rolex are still iterating . . .without telling anyone. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of this is the 14270. The 14270 is beloved by...

Modern Lange are, despite their reputation, still relatively young by comparison to their Swiss peers. Three decades of consistent excellence is a remarkable achievement and infinitely deserving of utmost respect. However, some Swiss contemporaries have been in constant production three to four times as long. In the younger years of...

1960s Seamasters and Constellations are, undoubtedly, one of the most tasteful and tempting buys in all of horology right now. This restrained Seamaster was in fact Omega’s halo product in the era of Sinatra, James Dean, and Mad Men. Chronometer certification was not economical or easy in this era, or...

This Zenith is, by definition, an oxymoron. Black rainbows don’t exist in the physical world, but do exist—if only just—in El Primero. The Rainbow is an El Primero with a complex and fascinating history, from 1992 introduction with one calibre, to 1995 Elite Rainbow introduction with another, to 1997 EP...

Aside from the strata of piece unique one-offs for royalty, this is unquestionably one of the rarest Rolex dials to ever be produced—in single digits. Moreover, it’s a Stella. Stella Day-Dates are increasingly sought after for many reasons; this is the original colorful OP with added complication, one of Rolex’s...

You don’t name a dive watch ‘Superman’ if you’re not at least a bit confident. It’s like naming your child Zeus or giving yourself the job title Chief of Excellence (which I’ve actually seen at a startup), a move so bold it must be motivated by either unbridled confidence or...

Apollo 15 was the fourth moon mission and first to focus on long duration lunar surface stays with a heavy focus on scientific operations. In total, the crew spent 18 hours and 37 minutes on the surface and twelve days from start to end. Perhaps most notably, however, it was...

I don’t even think it’s contentious for me to admit that I fundamentally distrust people who don’t love the 1016. An Alpinist for the affluent, the 1016’s humble can-do practicality and tritium dial prove irresistible in the long-term for the vast majority of watch collectors. Many Rolex devotees have a...

CPCP was an incredible undertaking and era of Cartier but, for me, two stand above the rest. Cartier’s Tank and Tortue Monopoussoirs represented the best of then-contemporary independent watchmaking, unrepresented. Let me explain. Think of the Monopoussoirs as a hipster’s 90s independent, with some of the greatest modern names contributing...

Although Doxa’s Sub 300 is not nearly as lauded by the market as Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms or Rolex’s early Subs, it was a serious tool widely circulated in commercial and recreational diving in the late 1960s and just as crucial to the category. Doxa’s first-generation of dive offerings are affectionately...

For many years, FP Journe’s Centigraphe remained one of the finest ever chronograph movements to be largely unrecognized, speaking volumes to François-Paul’s maniacal approach to complication but minimally popular. The concept was borne between conversation between FP and Jean Todt (then executive at Scuderia Ferrari and later president of the...

Comex is a sacred grail to those who worship at the altar of flat fours and frog feet. When one ventures deep into the details of meters first, underline dials, and exclamation points, all roads lead to milsubs or this: Comex. The 1960s gave birth to a partnership between Rolex...

The recent reissue of Zenith’s very 70s Defy Diver has brought some interesting variants out of the woodwork. Recently, collector Greg Selch discussed on the big H that he owns over 40 distinct Defy Diver examples. Then a friend, @livingstonatnight, added to that ledger with multiple more unique Defy Divers...

Often, that which was once violently unpopular has way of eventually coming back to grace with equal fervor: consider Eames chairs, the 993 911, high-waisted shorts, and even Ja Rule (okay, perhaps not that last one just yet). The Royal Oak chronograph’s versatile and anabolic sibling has long taken back...