It’s hard to objectively quantify why we like old watches. I trip over my own words writing here all the time in attempts to justify this insane fixation. However, I would assert that if I showed this 5513 and a modern 124060 to the everyman on the street side-by-side, they...

Vintage Heuer has been coming into its own in the last few years. The Autavia, Carrera, and Monaco are the lifeblood of that revival. While the Rindt and Siffert are likely the most recognizable Autavia chronographs, this, the silver orange boy, is the rarer 73463. It may not have been...

This is a mecca in vintage Patek Philippe collecting. The 1463 was Patek’s first water resistant chronograph, succeeding the previous and iconic 130 chronograph. The improvements were characterized by a larger, modern case, rounded pushers, and a screw-down back. Some call this the Patek’s first ‘sports’ watch, though it is...

Once in awhile I am truly blown away by what I find in random places. I remember spotting a 6265 in Bozeman, Montana and a vintage Omega officer’s chronograph in Chile. Where? eBay. Every time I post a round of finds here I usually also post a eBay find in...

As any niche grows, its more obscure and dark corners begin to illuminate. Since the advent of our church, Hodinkee, Speedmasters have become a genre onto themselves. Collectors used to just refer to any 321 as pre-moon, casually. An original Mitsukoshi wasn’t pretending to be any special until the mid-2000s....

Not often discussed, Eberhard Split Seconds chronographs were among the very first to attempt the complication. There is, of course, controversy over whether Rolex or Eberhard reached rattrapante first, but consensus seems to be that Eberhard were first to market. Demand was driven by the heyday of the Bentley Boys...

If there’s one thing I’ve taken away from this COVID era in the watch world, it’s that the market comes in waves. I’d waited two years without seeing a single decent 765 AVI. Then, all of sudden, three hit Chrono24 within a month. I waited even longer for an IWC...

The range of Royal Oak variants on offer today is hard to keep up with. There’s the perpetual, offshore, diver, concept series, and various limited editions. However, before the upsized offshore chrono, there was this: the Kasparov. Making any adjustment to the iconic Royal Oak was always going to be...

Glycine were among the first to offer a GMT complication, right on the heels of Rolex and Omega. Their pilot offering quickly gained favor with military and civilian aviators alike. It featured a 24-hour dial and lockable bezel with hacking seconds. The design was tool watch to the core. Perhaps...

The ‘snowflake’ sub is increasingly a classic. It’s like a 5513, but you’d have to actually be into watches to either own or notice one. That obscurity, when tethered to real watchmaking and history, is charm I go weak for. However, lemon-lume 9411s and MN milsubs are growing more expensive...

The Polerouter is probably the best entry point into our addiction. The model offers incredible breadth, engineering innovation across multiple fronts, and Genta design all at a not-yet-absurd entry point. The Polerouter was released in honor of a first flight over the North Pole, hence the title. More impressive, however,...

Dress pieces don’t come much more delicate than this humble but beautiful VC. The oldest running Swiss watch manufacture was just clawing back its territory in the early 90s after the quartz crisis. It did so with the 222/Overseas, a few classic chronographs, and a swathe of extremely elegant dress...

Certina has a varied history with many high points. At various intervals they have been a movement manufacture and later full watch manufacture. In the early 60s, Certina went wild for the dive watch. In truth, almost everyone went wild for the dive watch. But Certina did so with daring,...

The modern standard for the pilot has been set by the IWC mark series. From the original X & XIs on the wrist of RAF pilots to the clean design of the XV, the model has seen a slow evolution always fit to purpose. This is a tool watch. But...

When you think of Cartier watches, you probably imagine Jacqueline Kennedy and her tank. At a stretch, your mind may run to the crash or new asymetrique. What you almost certainly do not immediately imagine is a Cartier Paris Collection Privée (CPCP). Yet, if you’re reading this blog, you should....

If you were to press me to name the ultimate Universal chronograph, I would struggle but ultimately crown the 881101 ‘Eric Clapton’. However, for fun, wrist presence, and off-brand moonwatch vibes, you really can’t compete with this close second—the bizarre and beautiful Space-Compax. Origin and purpose of the Space-Compax remain...

Creating an icon is no easy task. AP, Patek, and Vacheron succeeded in this some 40 years ago. This holy trinity (a term created by AP, Patek, and Vacheron to describe the Royal Oak, Nautilus, and 222/Overseas) saw a rise to fame in the years after their introduction. All three...

Grand Seiko is all the rage right now. The horological enthusiast’s darling brand is enjoying a new found and well-deserved appreciation from the community at large. The SBGA211 snowflake is certainly almost entirely responsible for that reputation. Simply, there is not a more gorgeous dial with a more innovative movement...