Sector Dial 2326 Longines Calibre 12.68z
Watches really don’t have to be new, expensive, or complicated to be interesting. This is a Longines from 1938 with an exceptionally lovely sector dial. It might look like a famous Sei or Tre Tacche, but no, this is a snap-back with a flat bezel that goes by the reference 2326. Aesthetically, it is a…
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25654BA Audemars Piguet Royal Oak QP
While the Royal Oak was intended to be a time-only sports watch, its abilities quickly diversified after the 5402 with a range of metals and complications. The most iconic of these is easily the Quantieme Perpetual (or perpetual calendar to us peasants). It is a beautifully contrasted blend of sporting pretense and haute watchmaking that,…
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Fourth Series Patek Philippe 3970EP
If an alien was beamed down to Earth, or Mark Zuckerberg asked you (which amounts to the same thing, really), you’d have a hard time explaining why the 2499 is a million (and up) dollar watch in USD while this 3970 is a ‘mere’ 150-250K-ish watch, broadly speaking. But, show the Zuckerberg-alien a 5970 and…
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Cartier Tank Cabriolet Reversible
This is where the Basculante started, except this one is so vintage that back then Cartier just called it the Tank Cabriolet Reversible. The Basculante naming convention only became standardized around the ref. 2390 in the 90s and this incredible time capsule dates from the 1940s. If you’re a student of detail, you’ll notice almost…
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‘Andretti’ 3646 Heuer Autavia Second Execution
Early Autavias are amongst the beautiful professional chronographs ever made. They have the historic chops to rival pre-moon Speedmasters and even Daytonas. Speaking plainly, the other two evolved more gracefully with age in the decades that followed. The current TAG Autavia I regard as a shell of its former self. But the true vintage Autavias,…
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UAE Ministry of Defence 1675 Rolex GMT-Master
Middle Eastern signatures are one thing, but when you see a polychromatic painting of a Quraysh Hawk in enamel, it’s always an occasion. Made for the emir of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, examples are far less in number than say an Oman Khanjar dial. More importantly, for us Rolex lovers, they’re also more…
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Honeycomb Dial 6350 Rolex Explorer
Many will argue this is the first-ever Explorer, ref. 6350. But others will state it’s the ref. 6150. In the 6150, only some examples actually said Explorer on the dial and it wasn’t yet an officially certified chronometer. By this 6350, both traditions were firmly in place. It’s kind of like arguing when the Beatles…
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5240 IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater
When this IWC sold new in 1995, it had an MSRP almost identical to a top-of-the-range BMW 5 Series (thanks @alteuhrener for that excellent bit of trivia). Today, it’s far less than half that. And yet, today as back then, it’s one of the most elegant minute repeaters ever designed. It’s the IWC ref. 5240,…
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166.0195 Omega Seamaster Cosmic
If you thought integrated bracelets started and ended with the holy trinity, that’s not even close to accurate. Omega had an entire range by the 70s, an effort which is easily and often overlooked. But it really shouldn’t be, particularly if you’re out for a value. This is one of the most distinct of the…
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Mk2 ‘Freccione’ 1655 Rolex Explorer II
The 1655 isn’t just where the Explorer II began, it’s one of the strangest anachronisms in the Rolex back catalogue. By comparison to a GMT or Sub, it takes a very specific kind of collector: one that appreciates the start of a story to exclusion of all things. We usually think of the Explorer II…
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