Posts Tagged ‘Chronograph’
Black Galvanic Dial 6238 Rolex ‘Pre-Daytona’ Chronograph
This is a Pre-Daytona, but it’s way more interesting than it appears at first glance. This is the Pre-Daytona equivalent of a perfect Paul Newman: finding any 6238 with a black dial. For standard dials, the 6238 might hold the Rolex record for having the largest discrepancy between dial colors. The vast, vast majority of…
Read MoreWalser Wald Dial 591 Patek Philippe Chronograph, Pink Gold
It doesn’t appear this way, but this ref. 591 predates WWII. By one year. While the rest of the world was on fire, Switzerland was busy making this. Nonetheless, it’s entirely timeless and rather special in more than one way. First, it’s pink on pink, the ultimate. Second, its pulsations scale dial. Third, it’s signed…
Read More4537 Rolex Chronograph
Meet the Daytona’s rather handsome grandfather. Before the Daytona were series of chronograph references called Pre-Daytona: 6032, 6034, 6232, 6234, and 6238. Before the Pre-Daytona things get really complicated. This is from just before the 6032, the very end of Pre-Pre-Daytona. Did that make any sense? What you’re looking at is a ref. 4537, the…
Read More‘Hampton Court’ 405.047 A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Up/Down
405.047 is reference not likely to ring any bells, and that’s because it’s a piece unique. Lange have a long tradition of sponsoring automotive Concours, specifically Villa d’Este. They don’t necessarily indulge in one-offs often, which makes what we’re about to cover rather unique. The Lange-Concourso d’Eleganza partnership makes sense, and not just because Lange…
Read More‘Port Royal’ 95.0100.418 Zenith El Primero Calendar Chronograph, Titanium
This might be the most substantive 1980s integrated bracelet watch to not be famous whatsoever. It is a triple calendar with moonphase, just to start. It is a chronograph, based on the high-beat calibre 3019 (you know, the calibre that saved Zenith and, arguably, the first automatic chronograph?). It is, most importantly, a wildly lovely…
Read MoreTiffany Dial 130 Patek Philippe Chronograph
A 130 with Breguet numerals is special enough. Adding Tiffany, particularly above the Patek Philippe line, is just showing off. This is an incredible variation on the 130, Patek Philippe’s first chronograph produced at meaningful scale. The 130 holds a special place in many collector’s hearts. It also happens to be one of their most…
Read MoreH40 Roger Dubuis Monopusher Chronograph
Early Roger Dubuis, in design and finish, often feels closer to the Patek Philippe of old than a lot of Patek Philippe does today. It also could not feel more separate to the modern incarnation of Roger Dubuis. This brief flash of brilliance was created directly after Dubuis had worked for Patek, for nearly two…
Read More2762 Cartier CPCP Tortue Monopoussoir
The Monopoussoir is dead, long live the Monopoussoir. Yes, there’s a new Monopoussoir around but CPCP will always be a more significant moment in Cartier’s long and storied ascent out of the treacherous 1980s. There is just so much to this watch, culturally and tangibly. And I don’t even think one necessarily needs the sole…
Read MoreTechnicum Neuchâtelois Ecole D’Horlogerie Triple Calendar Chronograph
This Triple Calendar Chronograph is not a Rolex, Heuer, Girard Perregaux, or Zodiac; it has no brand, the generic label. It was the ultimate pride and joy of a budding watchmaker in the mid-late 1960s. This dial reads Technicum La Chaux-de-Fonds, short for Technicum Neuchâtelois. This was, at the time, the preeminent horological school. The…
Read MoreBlack Guilloché Dial 47101 Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph
In the world of 90s Holy Trinity chronographs, I don’t think you can argue that VC had the sexiest case. The 5070 is lovely, but not this voluptuous. It’s thoughtful enough to not be retro, yet a bastion of traditional watchmaking technique. It might just be the most elegant evening dress the 2310 has ever…
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