Vacheron Constantin 43032 Patrimony Perpetual

Vacheron-Constantin-43032-Patrimony-Perpetual-Skeleton

Describing to watch-civilians the mechanical distinction between a triple, annual, and perpetual calendar while watching their mind grapple with the complexity of the problem is one of the subtle joys of our obsession. This is assuming they are interested and/or you have them hostage; not everyone will appreciate the difference and it’s your responsibility to…

Read More

Openworked AP Royal Oak Quantième Perpetual 25829OR

Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-Perpetual-Openworked-25829OR

I have heard it said that art may have no other purpose than itself. I find this a useful mnemonic to delineate what I consider artful approaches in our sphere of horology. A 2446 Big Eye Autavia is beautiful, but in this light it is not art. That is a watch which was created to…

Read More

Vacheron Constantin 43031 Perpetual Calendar

Vacheron-Constantin-43031-Perpetual-Calendar

The 222 is not VC’s only underappreciated reference. The phrase ‘post-quartz perpetual’ brings to mind almost exclusively AP’s 5548, debuted in 1978. However, just a hair behind (in terms of the investment of time it takes to develop a perpetual calendar), were VC with this in 1983. Patek only introduced their 3940 offering in 1985.…

Read More

1 of 250 IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Rose Gold Bucherer Edition

IWC-Big-Pilot-Perpetual-Rose-Gold-Bucherer-Limited-Edition-IW502635

Once in a blue moon, one has to stare straight into the eye of discretion and say fuck it. For those outings, there is no piece which combines anachronism, flamboyance, or horological merit quite so effortlessly. It will even tell you when that blue moon is about to come. The evolution of the WWII pilot’s…

Read More

Quintessential Modern QP: AP Royal Oak White 25820ST Perpetual

Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-Perpetual-Calendar-25820ST

I have been accused once or twice of showing my vintage feed favoritism. This is perhaps fair, I do find myself drawn to bit a tritium, manual chronographage (that’s a word, just invented it), and acrylic crystal. However, I love modern watchmaking. An enduring favorite of mine within the genre is AP’s Royal Oak QP.…

Read More

Audemars Piguet Quantieme Perpetual 25657 BA

Audemars-Piguet-Quantieme-Perpetual-25657BA

AP’s first Perpetual Quantieme, the 5548, was conceived in secrecy during the height of Switzerland’s quartz crisis. At the time, the marque was struggling and contemplating leaning more on quartz for future models. Three senior watchmakers within AP (Michel Rochat, Daniel Golay, and Wilfred Berney) developed an ultra-thin perpetual calendar movement that would become an…

Read More

UAE Royal Oak Perpetual 26613ST

Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-UAE-Edition

Did you miss out on that ultra, ultra rare Yves Klein RO I featured a few weeks ago? Well, fate and K2 Luxury have smiled upon your downtrodden spirits. This modern and quite rare 26613ST surfaced in the secondary market yesterday, call it your shot at redemption. It’s like the Yves Klein Perpetual just with…

Read More

Anniversary Patek Philippe 3940G Salmon Dial

Patek-Philippe-3940G-Anniversary-Salmon-Dial

When the 5711 was discontinued a few weeks back, asking prices rocketed north of 100K. That is an astonishing sum for the humble Nautilus. When the market goes mad, you have to maintain logic. And in that vein, you have to consider this Anniversary 3940G. For a paltry additional 50K (laughable statement, I am aware)…

Read More

A Yves Klein Royal Oak Perpetual 25820ST

Audemars-Piguet-Royal-Oak-Perpetual-25820ST-Yves-Klein

Ultra-rare Royal Oaks don’t come much prettier than the electric-blue Yves Klein perpetual. Klein was a French artist who became known for frequent use of an electric blue hue which he later patented under code IKB 191. This Royal Oak perpetual and its electric blue dial seem to have been made in his likeness (though…

Read More